Various systems and methods of controlling the display of a knife position of a surgical cutting instrument according to the position of a displacement member. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member movable between a first position and a second position to drive a cutting member between an unfired position and a fire position, a sensor configured to detect a position of the displacement member and provide a signal indicative thereof and a display. The surgical instrument determines whether the knife is retracting and then only begins decrementing the displayed knife position once the displacement member has retracted from the distal or second position of its firing stroke by a particular distance.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of assembly with a predetermined alignment includes first and second modular assemblies and an electrical lockout. The first modular assembly includes at least a portion of an end effector configured to manipulate a tissue. The second modular assembly includes a transducer power circuit and an activation switch electrically connected to the transducer power circuit. The electrical lockout is electrically connected to the transducer power circuit and configured to inhibit the activation switch from powering the ultrasonic transducer with the first and second modular assemblies misaligned from the predetermined alignment such that the first and second modular assemblies are in a locked-out state. The electrical lockout is further configured to allow the activation switch to power the ultrasonic transducer with the first and second modular assemblies in the predetermined alignment such that the first and second modular assemblies are in an operational state.

A reverse retropulsion device can include a lithotripter, a collection passage, and an energy directing device. The lithotripter can be configured to deliver energy to tissue located at a tissue forming region. The collection passage can be positionable at or near the body lumen. The energy directing device can be positionable near the lithotripter and the collection passage. The energy directing device can be configured to propel the tissue toward the collection passage.

Provided herein as systems, apparatus, and methods for the effective and minimally invasive deployment of medical devices or therapeutic agents using a steerable guidewire/catheter assembly. The steerable guidewire and/or catheter has a bendable distal portion comprising an ionic electroactive polymer actuator, which is allowed to deform, bend or expand from its original shape in at least one dimension.

The present disclosure relates to a method of making an ultrasonic surgical handpiece assembly comprising a surgical handpiece for use with an irrigation sleeve and ultrasonic tip. The surgical handpiece may comprise a piezoelectric transducer disposed within a housing and configured to manipulate the ultrasonic tip. One or more lumens and/or a flex circuit including an antenna may be disposed within the surgical handpiece housing. The lumen(s) may be configured to provide irrigation and/or aspiration to the irrigation sleeve and/or ultrasonic tip. The irrigation sleeve may comprise a second antenna configured to communicate with the ultrasonic handpiece antenna. The irrigation sleeve may further comprise and an alignment and/or coupling feature configured to removably secure the irrigation sleeve to the housing and orient the second antenna relative to the ultrasonic handpiece antenna. The irrigation sleeve may further comprise a lumen for supplying irrigation and/or aspiration to the ultrasonic tip.

A lithotripter is provided that includes a lithotripsy apparatus for treatment of a urinary tract stone by fragmentation. The lithotripsy apparatus includes a lithotripsy wave guide shaft configured to transmit an energy form to at least one urinary tract stone. The lithotripter includes a sensing device configured to provide signal data for determining optimal application of energy during treatment with the lithotripsy apparatus. The lithotripter includes a processor configured to collect the signal data and provide feedback to a user. The processor has a control logic configured to determine at least one of: a) if the lithotripsy wave guide shaft is in contact with a tissue; b) if the lithotripsy wave guide shaft is in contact with a stone; c) type of stone; d) if a user is applying force in excess of a predetermined threshold; and e) physical characteristics of a stone. A method is also provided.

Surgical devices for use with robotic surgical systems and their methods of use are described. In some embodiments, the surgical device may include an actuator that interfaces with an end effector of an arm of a robotic surgical system. An output from the end effector may actuate the actuator to perform an operation of the surgical device. In some embodiments, the surgical device may include a retainer that retains at least a portion of the surgical device on a distal portion of the arm of the robotic surgical system during actuation. In other embodiments, the surgical device may include a portion that is engaged by a second robotic surgical arm to hold at least a portion of the surgical device stationary relative to the robotic surgical arm engaged with the actuator of the surgical device.

A method of adjusting a staple parameter of a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The method includes determining, by a control circuit of the surgical stapling instrument, a first stroke length for a first staple driver of the surgical stapling instrument to drive a first row of staples of a circular stapling head assembly of the surgical stapling instrument; detecting, by the control circuit, a malformed staple in the first row of staples; adjusting, by the control circuit, the staple parameter, based on the detection of the malformed staple; and determining, by the control circuit, a second stroke length for a second staple driver of the surgical stapling instrument to drive a second row of staples of the circular stapling head assembly.

An ultrasound transducer includes a transducer body configured to generate ultrasound vibration to vibrate a treatment portion that treats a living tissue. The transducer body includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements configured to alternately repeat expansion and contraction according to a supplied drive signal. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are integrally fastened in a state where the plurality of piezoelectric elements are stacked along a direction of expansion and contraction. The plurality of piezoelectric elements include a first piezoelectric element configured to expand at a first timing and contract at a second timing, and a second piezoelectric element whose expansion and contraction timings are different from expansion and contraction timings of the first piezoelectric element. The second piezoelectric element is arranged so that a polarization direction of the second piezoelectric element is a same as a polarization direction of an adjacent piezoelectric element.

An ultrasonic transducer assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a piezoelectric stack, an ultrasonic horn secured to and extending distally from the piezoelectric stack and including a body and a nose extending distally from the body, an overmold seal formed about the body of the ultrasonic horn, and a casing disposed about the piezoelectric stack, the body of the ultrasonic horn, and the overmold seal. The casing defines a distal opening through which the nose of the ultrasonic horn extends. The overmold seal establishes a hermetic seal with the casing to define a hermetically sealed interior enclosing the piezoelectric stack and the body of the ultrasonic horn therein.