A surgical assembly comprising a distal connector portion, a stapling assembly, and a sensor is disclosed. The stapling assembly comprises an end effector and a proximal connector portion configured to releasably connect to the distal connector portion. The end effector comprises an anvil and an elongate channel adapted to receive a staple cartridge. At least one of the anvil and the elongate channel is movable to a clamped configuration. The proximal connector portion comprises first bayonet-mount lugs and second bayonet-mount lugs. The sensor is configured to detect connections by the proximal connector portion. The surgical assembly further comprises an end-of-life indicator for the stapling assembly based on connections by the proximal connector portion.

A jaw restraint is provided to temporarily secure an anvil assembly relative to a cartridge assembly during shipping. The jaw restraint generally includes a body portion having an upper arm for releasably securing the anvil assembly and a lower arm for releasably securing the cartridge assembly. An inwardly projection is provided between the upper and lower arms. The anvil assembly is secured between the upper arm and the inwardly directed projection and the cartridge assembly is secured between the lower arm of the inwardly directed projection. One or more finger members extending proximally from the body portion may be provided to facilitate biasing the upper arm away from the lower arm to release the anvil and cartridge assemblies from the jaw restraint. The jaw restraint may be provided with structure for engagement with shipping packaging.

A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The loading unit comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw that comprising an anvil, and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other to grasp tissue. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising retaining features, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge pan, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position toward a second position. The retaining features are configured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.

An end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a deck having steps defined thereon for compressing tissue positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly to different pressures. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples having different unformed heights removably stored therein. The staples are deformed against the anvil to different formed heights.

A tympanostomy tube delivery device comprises a drive assembly and a force limiting shaft assembly. The shaft assembly comprises a cannula and a piercer operable to translate relative to the cannula so as to pierce the tympanic membrane of a patient. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly such that actuation of the drive assembly causes translation of the piercer relative to the cannula. The piercer is mechanically coupled with the drive assembly by a clutch. The clutch is resiliently biased to couple the piercer with the drive assembly. The clutch is configured to uncouple the piercer from the drive assembly in response to a threshold force being imposed upon the piercer so as to inhibit translation of piercer relative to the cannula.

A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical instrument. The cartridge may include a cartridge body that has a series of staple pockets therein. A driver is movably supported in each staple pocket and is configured to operably support at least one surgical staple thereon. In one arrangement, at least some of the drivers may be formed with one or more laterally extending features that are configured to be received in correspondingly-shaped grooves in the cartridge body to provide lateral support to the driver as it is operably moved within the staple pocket. In other arrangements, at least one inwardly-extending features is formed in the inner wall surface of the pocket and is configured to be movably supported within correspondingly-shaped groove in the driver.

Devices and methods for cutting a tether are described herein. Devices described herein generally comprise a proximal handle, a catheter, and an inner shaft and a cutting blade disposed within the lumen of the catheter, where the cutting blade is movably disposed over the inner shaft. The proximal handle comprises an actuation mechanism to control the movement of the components of the device. Methods described herein generally comprise advancing a tether-cutting device over a tether, loading the tether through the catheter and inner shaft, applying tension to the tether, and rotating and distally translating a cutting blade in order to cut the tether.

A surgical suturing and knotting integrated device includes a knotting assembly and an operation/control apparatus. The knotting assembly has a suture pre-tied with a slipknot and a loop. In use, the knotting assembly is mounted on a front end of the operation/control apparatus and the front end of the operation/control apparatus is extended into a patient's abdominal cavity to perform laparoscopic surgery. In suturing process, the operation/control apparatus is used to enlarge the loop of the suture, whereby the suture and one end of the suturing needle can be easily passed through the loop. Then, the operation/control apparatus is used to minify the loop and detach the slipknot of the suture from the knotting assembly and change the slipknot into a fixed knot.

An apparatus includes an elongate body, at least one latch member, and a cartridge removal feature. The elongate body is sized and shaped to correspond with a deck of a surgical staple cartridge such that the elongate body is configured to cover a plurality of staple apertures of the surgical staple cartridge. The at least one latch member is configured to removably secure the elongate body to the surgical staple cartridge. The cartridge removal feature is integral with the elongate body. The cartridge removal feature defines a gap that is configured to receive a portion of the surgical staple cartridge. The cartridge removal feature is further operable to remove the surgical staple cartridge from a surgical stapler.

A surgical system is disclosed including a surgical instrument including a replaceable staple cartridge. The replaceable staple cartridge includes a first RFID tag including a first set of information and a sled including a second RFID tag including a second set of information. A retainer includes a third RFID tag including a third set of information. The first set of information, the second set of information, and the third set of information collectively form a unique combination representative of the replaceable staple cartridge. A remote storage system includes a set of compatible combinations. The controller compares the unique combination to the set of compatible combinations to determine if the replaceable staple cartridge is compatible for use with the surgical instrument. The controller prevents at least one operation of the surgical instrument if the controller determines that said unique combination is not compatible for use with the surgical instrument.