A stapling system that comprises a retainer for use with staple cartridges that are configured for use with multiple surgical stapling devices that comprise different lockout arrangements is disclosed. The retainer is configured to be releasably attached to a staple cartridge to form a cartridge assembly. The retainer comprises an authentication key that is configured to defeat a lockout arrangement in any one of the surgical stapling devices in which the cartridge assembly is seated.

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft and a distal head extending from the shaft is disclosed. The distal head comprises a tissue drive configured to engage the tissue of a patient and move the distal head relative to the patient tissue. The tissue drive comprises, among other things, a tiltable or pivotable portion which adapts to changes in tissue thickness.

A fastener applicator includes a body portion including a handle assembly, a cartridge assembly supported within the body portion, the cartridge assembly including implantable fasteners, a drive assembly supported within the body portion and operatively coupled to the cartridge assembly to engage the implantable fasteners, and an actuation assembly supported within the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the drive assembly to fire a distal-most implantable fastener upon actuation of the actuation assembly. At least one of the implantable fasteners includes a body including a tissue facing surface, a tissue penetrating portion extending from the body, and a capsule affixed to the tissue facing surface of the body, the capsule including radioactive material.

A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.

A surgical stapler that includes a body, a shaft extending from the body, and an end effector in communication with the shaft. The end effector is operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue. The end effector includes a first jaw; a second jaw opposed from the first jaw, and a tip member. The first and second jaws are operable to transition from an open state to a closed state to clamp tissue therebetween. The tip member is coupled with a distal end of the first jaw. The tip member is selectively rotatable along a rotation axis to toggle between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is configured to assume a first orientation relative to the second jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is configured to assume a second orientation relative to the second jaw.

Described herein are devices and methods for delivering implants that include multiple coupled anchors. The anchors are secured to tissue using a multi-opening guide tunnel that is configured to releasably retain one or more portions of the implant located between two of the anchors. The releasable retention of one or more intervening portions of the implant maintains the position of the implant and the guide tunnel until the implant is secured to the tissue. The multi-opening guide tunnel permits securement of the multiple anchors without requiring repositioning of the guide tunnel for each anchor.

A fastener applicator includes a body portion including a handle assembly, a cartridge assembly supported within the body portion, the cartridge assembly including implantable fasteners, a drive assembly supported within the body portion and operatively coupled to the cartridge assembly to engage the implantable fasteners, and an actuation assembly supported within the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the drive assembly to fire a distal-most implantable fastener upon actuation of the actuation assembly. At least one of the implantable fasteners includes a body including a tissue facing surface, a tissue penetrating portion extending from the body, and a capsule affixed to the tissue facing surface of the body, the capsule including radioactive material.

A surgical instrument for treating the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a housing including a handle, a housing frame comprising a housing connector, and a drive system comprising at least one electric motor. The surgical instrument further comprises a shaft assembly releasably assembled to the housing including a shaft frame comprising a proximal connector and a distal connector, wherein the proximal connector is releasably coupled to the housing connector and a shaft drive system comprising at least one rotatable shaft operably coupled to the electric motor. The surgical instrument further comprises an end effector releasably assembled to the shaft assembly including an end effector frame comprising an end effector connector releasably coupled to the distal connector of the shaft assembly, a plurality of staple cartridges removably stored in the end effector, and a plurality of end effector drivers operably coupled to the rotatable shaft.

A tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly, a shell, and an anvil assembly. The shell houses the cartridge assembly and defines a passage. The anvil assembly includes an anvil and a center rod extending from the anvil. The center rod defines a longitudinal rod axis and includes an alignment portion that is sized to pass through the passage. The alignment portion includes first and second splines that each extend in a direction parallel to the rod axis. The first spline has a first leading portion and the second spline has a second leading portion. The first leading portion is positioned along the rod axis proximal of the second leading portion.

The invention comprises a fusion implant system for a generally u-shaped bone staple in which the staple is provided on a storage block with the two side legs in an unsplayed position, and an inserter having two triangular shaped pivoting handles has detachable tips that engage the staple on the storage block such that when the handles are aligned one over the other in a congruent position, the tips force the side legs into a splayed configuration at 90 and a sliding block holds the handles in this position to allow the staple to removed from the storage block and tamped using the inserter handles into respective bone.