A surgical instrument comprising a firing system configured to perform one or more staple firing strokes, a power system, and a control system is disclosed. The firing system comprises a cutting member and an electric motor configured to drive the cutting member through each staple firing stroke and retract the cutting member after each staple firing stroke. The control system comprises a powered operating state in which the power system has enough power to drive the cutting member through a staple firing stroke, a limited-power operating state for placing the surgical instrument in a default condition that has sufficient functionality to retract the cutting member, a firing system lockout configured to prevent the firing system from performing a staple firing stroke when the control system is in the limited-power operating state, and a display configured to indicate that the surgical instrument is in the limited-power operating state.

An improved surgical sponge having a contrast agent, such as bismuth beads, secured to the sponge material in a unique pattern of a type not found in nature or in human anatomy. The unique pattern is preferably spaced dots or circles having various sizes and spacing, potentially arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. The desired unique pattern is arranged such that the dots or other non-natural shapes are large enough to remain visible, while small enough to avoid adversely affecting the pliability and absorption of the sponge.

A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly comprising a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and an anvil to form the plurality of staples upon firing; a drive assembly at least partially located within the handle and connected to the jaw assembly and the lockout mechanism; a motor disposed within the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the drive assembly; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the controller configured to control supply of electrical current to the motor and to monitor a current draw of the motor, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the supply of electrical current to the motor in response to a rate of change of the current draw indicative of a mechanical limit of at least one of the jaw assembly, the drive assembly, or the motor.

A surgical instrument operable to sever tissue includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing configured to couple with the transmission assembly. An information transmission system transmits instrument information received from a sensor, for example, to a secure server via a secure gateway connected to the instrument. The instrument may be previously tested on a calibration kit to pre-determine and load surgeon-specific settings onto the instrument prior to use.

A powered surgical stapler comprising a handle including an electric motor configured to output rotary motions, a shaft extending from the handle, an end effector extending from the shaft, a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples, and a firing member operably responsive to the rotary motions is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position. The firing member is configured to move the second jaw into the closed position. The firing member is further configured to move distally within the end effector at a first rate to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge. The firing member is further configured to move proximally within the end effector at a second rate that is different from the first rate.

Approaches to addressing asymmetric loads at the distal end of a flexible elongate device are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, symmetry is recovered by mechanically redesigning the flexible elongate device to counter the asymmetric load. In other embodiments, symmetry is recovered by altering the controls scheme for managing the control elements in a flexible elongate device. Generally, a flexible elongate device includes a plurality of control elements able to actuate the distal section. The amount of force applied to each control element can be changed so that the plurality of control elements is able to collectively apply a bending moment that counters the asymmetric load.

Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle.

An adapter assembly is provided and includes a housing for connection with a surgical device and for operative communication with at least one rotatable drive shaft of the surgical device; an outer tube having a proximal end supported by the housing and a distal end for connection with a selected end effector, wherein the distal end of the outer tube is in operative communication with each of the at least one force receiving drive member of the end effector; at least one drive transmitting/converting assembly for interconnecting a respective one of the at least one rotatable drive shaft of the surgical device and one of the at least one force receiving drive member of the end effector; and a circuit board supported in the housing and storing at least one of operating parameters and life cycle information which are unique to the adapter assembly.

A surgical instrument system can comprise a surgical instrument, a first end effector, and a second end effector, wherein the end effectors are attachable to the surgical instrument. The first end effector can comprise a first set of stored data pertaining to the first end effector, wherein the surgical instrument is configured to ascertain the first set of data and enter a first operating state. The second end effector can comprise a second set of stored data pertaining to the second end effector, wherein the surgical instrument is configured to ascertain the second set of data and enter a second operating state. The surgical instrument is further configured to enter a default operating state if said surgical instrument is unable to ascertain a set of stored data from an end effector.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for detecting the presence of a metallic surgical instrument. A metal detector for detecting insertion of a metallic surgical device into a hollow tube may include a switch, resonant circuit and a controller. The resonant circuit has a capacitor and a coil mounted to the hollow tube. The controller turn on the switch for a preselected time to temporarily provide a current to the resonant circuit and analyzes a resulting decaying voltage waveform originating from the resonant circuit when the switch is turned off in order to determine the presence and longitudinal depth of the metallic surgical device in the hollow tube.