An electrosurgical device comprises a body, an end effector, a cutting member, and a shaft. The end effector includes a pair of jaws that are operable to deliver RF energy to tissue that is clamped between the jaws. The cutting member is operable to sever tissue that is clamped between the jaws. The shaft extends between the body and the end effector. The shaft includes an articulation section that is operable to selectively position the end effector at non-parallel positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Some versions include a rotation section that is distal to the articulation section. The rotation section is operable to rotate the end effector relative to the articulation section.

A system is provided. The system includes an electrosurgical generator configured to measure, collect and record data pertaining to a characteristic of tissue as the tissue is being electrosurgically treated. A tuner configured to couple to the electrosurgical generator includes a tuning circuit providing a load having a variable complex impedance for the electrosurgical generator when the electrosurgical generator is connected thereto. A controller including stored data pertaining to impedance values is in operable communication with the electrosurgical generator for retrieving the recorded data pertaining to the characteristic of tissue. The controller is in operable communication with the tuner for varying a complex impedance of the load. The controller configured to compare the recorded data pertaining to the at least one characteristic of tissue with the stored data pertaining to the plurality of impedance values and to adjust the tuner to one of the plurality of impedance values.

A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

An electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing jaw members and an electrode positioned on each jaw member. One or both of the electrodes includes a tissue contacting surface that has an outer periphery and defines a side surface depending therefrom. The tissue contacting surface and the side surface include a conjoining edge formed at a first predetermined angle that defines a first linear transition zone dimensioned to reduce arcing between the opposing jaw members during activation of the electrosurgical instrument.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical device components, including components that can be incorporated into robotic and/or in vivo medical devices, and more specifically including end effectors that can be incorporated into such devices. Certain end effector embodiments include various vessel cautery devices that have rotational movement as well as cautery and cutting functions while maintaining a relatively compact structure. Other end effector embodiments include various end effector devices that have more than one end effector.

A surgical instrument includes a housing, an energizable member, and a deployment mechanism. The energizable member is movable relative to the housing between a storage position and a deployed position. The deployment mechanism includes a first actuator member movable relative to the housing from a first un-actuated position to a first actuated position to move the energizable member from the storage position to the deployed position and a second actuator member movable relative to the housing from a second un-actuated position to a second actuated position to move the energizable member from the deployed position to the storage position. Movement of the first actuator member from the first un-actuated position to the first actuated position effects movement of the second actuator member from the second actuated position to the second un-actuated position and vice versa.

A system includes a surgical instrument configured to perform a laparoscopic surgical operation, a location sensor configured to identify a spatial relationship between an anatomical structure and the surgical instrument, and a processor configured to receive a graphical representation of a patient, determine proximity of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument with the anatomical structure of the patient based on the spatial relationship, and generate a warning based on the determination of proximity.

An actuation mechanism for actuating an electrosurgical end effector includes a housing and a shaft assembly extending distally from the housing. The shaft assembly includes an elongate collar, a shaft extending through the elongate collar, and a longitudinal bar axially movable relative to the shaft. The elongate collar has an internal threadform extending along a length thereof. The longitudinal bar includes a proximal end having an extension engaged to the internal threadform of the elongate collar and a distal end configured to be coupled to a knife blade of an electrosurgical end effector. Rotation of the elongate collar axially moves the longitudinal bar relative to the elongate collar to move the knife blade.

A method of ultrasonic sealing includes activating an ultrasonic blade temperature sensing, measuring a first resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system that includes a transducer coupled to the blade via a waveguide, making a first comparison between the measured first resonant frequency and a first predetermined resonant frequency, and adjusting a power level applied to the transducer based on the first comparison. The first predetermined frequency may correspond to an optimal tissue coagulation temperature. The method may further include measuring a second resonant frequency of the system, making a second comparison between the measured second frequency and a second predetermined frequency, and adjusting the power level based on the second comparison. The second predetermined frequency may correspond a melting point temperature of a clamp arm pad. An ultrasonic instrument and a generator may implement the method.

A surgical instrument that includes first and second jaws that are movably coupled together to move between an open and a closed position. The first jaw includes a first proximal end, a first distal tip, and a first jaw midpoint between the first proximal end and the first distal tip. The second jaw includes a second proximal end and a second distal tip. The first jaw includes a first alignment feature that is distal to the first jaw midpoint and is configured to engage a corresponding portion of the second jaw when the first and second jaws are moved to the closed position to align the first distal tip with the second distal tip.