An electronic system for a surgical instrument is disclosed. The electronic system comprises a main power supply circuit configured to supply electrical power to a primary circuit. A supplementary power supply circuit configured to supply electrical power to a secondary circuit. A short circuit protection circuit coupled between the main power supply circuit and the supplementary power supply circuit. The supplementary power supply circuit is configured to isolate itself from the main power supply circuit when the supplementary power supply circuit detects a short circuit condition at the secondary circuit. The supplementary power supply circuit is configured to rejoin the main power supply circuit and supply power to the secondary circuit, when the short circuit condition is remedied.

A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical suturing instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a surgical suturing instrument comprising a suturing needle configured to be mechanically advanced through a suturing stroke, analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the surgical suturing instrument, and adjusting the operation of the surgical suturing instrument to improve the operation of the surgical suturing instrument.

A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube configured to rotate relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis. The surgical instrument further includes a slip ring assembly configured to enable electrical communication between the shaft assembly and the body assembly while permitting relative rotation therebetween. The slip ring assembly includes a first electrical contact supported by the outer tube, and a second electrical contact electrically coupled with the first electrical contact and positioned radially outward of the outer tube. The first electrical contact is configured to rotate with the outer tube about the shaft axis relative to the second electrical contact while the first and second electrical contacts remain electrically coupled.

In one general aspect, various embodiments of the present invention can include a motorized surgical cutting and fastening instrument having a drive shaft, a motor selectively engageable with the drive shaft, and a manual return mechanism configured to operably disengage the motor from the drive shaft and retract the drive shaft. In at least one embodiment, a surgeon, or other operator of the surgical instrument, can utilize the manual return mechanism to retract the drive shaft after it has been advanced, especially when the motor, or a power source supplying the motor, has failed or is otherwise unable to provide a force sufficient to retract the drive shaft.

A surgical stapling system comprising an end effector, a shaft, a drive member, a first cable, a second cable, and a third cable is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position, and a staple cartridge comprising staples. The shaft defines first and second articulation joints. The end effector is movable about the first articulation joint in a first articulation plane and about the second articulation joint in a second articulation plane. The drive member traverses the first articulation joint and the second articulation joint and is configured to space the second jaw relative to the first jaw. Actuation of the first and second cables moves the end effector within the first articulation plane. Actuation of the second and third cables moves the end effector within the second articulation plane.

A surgical instrument that includes a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a proximal articulation joint that defines a first articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and a distal articulation joint that defines a second articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the first articulation axis. The instrument further includes an anvil that is non-removably attached to the shaft assembly and a channel that is removably attachable to the shaft assembly and configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge.

An end effector for a surgical instrument is provided that has different types of features for releasably retaining at least one adjunct material. The end effector has a first jaw having a cartridge and a second jaw having an anvil. The attachment feature includes a retaining filament having, an intermediate portion, and first and second ends disposed on opposed sides of the intermediate portion and having end features configured to mate with at least one jaw of the first and second jaws. The attachment feature is arranged to retain the adjunct material such that at least a part of the intermediate portion is disposed over the adjunct material and such that the first and second ends are spaced apart.

A surgical stapling system comprising an end effector, a firing member, a motor, and a control system is disclosed. The end effector comprises an elongate channel, a staple cartridge, and an anvil. The staple cartridge comprises staples removably stored therein. The elongate channel and the anvil are configurable in a closed configuration to capture tissue therebetween. The anvil comprises an impedance sensor configured to sense an impedance of the tissue. The firing member is moveable between a starting position and an ending position. The staples are deployable from the staple cartridge based on the firing member moving toward the ending position. The motor is configured to drive the firing member toward the ending position. The control system comprises a multiplexer configured to control the impedance sensor. The control system is configured to interrogate the impedance sensor to determine the impedance and control the motor based on the determined impedance.

A staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staples positioned within a cartridge body, wherein the cartridge body can comprise a tissue-contacting deck and a plurality of ridges extending from the tissue-contacting deck. The ridges can be configured to prevent, or reduce the possibility of, tissue from moving relative to the staple cartridge during use. The staple cartridge can further comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity can comprise an opening in the deck which is at least partially surrounded by a ridge. The ridges can comprise a uniform height or a height which varies along the length thereof. The height can vary relative to a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge body and/or between the center of the cartridge body and the side.

Surgical instruments are disclosed comprising a firing assembly including a fuse having a plurality of operating states.