A staple cartridge assembly capable of coupling with a cartridge channel of a surgical stapler. The staple cartridge includes a staple cartridge body, a swing gate pivotably coupled with the staple cartridge body, and a bridge member extending across the central slot and located proximally relative to the swing gate. The staple cartridge body defines a central slot dimensioned to slidably receive a firing beam of the surgical stapler. The staple cartridge body includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a staple deck extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The staple deck defines staple openings. The swing gate can pivot between a first position and a second position. The swing gate extends across the central slot in the first position, while the swing gate extends alongside the central slot in the second position. The bridge member defines a closed proximal end of the central slot.

A surgical towel clamp apparatus includes a first elongated element having a curved tip and a right finger ring, a second elongated element having a curved tip and a left finger ring, wherein the first and second elongated elements are coupled at a first pivot point, a third elongated element having a straight tip and coupled to the right finger ring, a fourth elongated element having a straight tip and coupled to the left finger ring, wherein the third and fourth elongated elements are coupled at a second pivot point, wherein in an open orientation, the rings are apart, the curved tips are apart, and the straight tips are apart, and wherein in a closed orientation, the left and right finger rings are adjacent, the curved tips are in contact and the straight tips are in contact.

A method for characterizing a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device is disclosed. The ultrasonic device including an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency. The electromechanical ultrasonic system further including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. The method including applying, by an energy source, a power level to the ultrasonic transducer, measuring, by a control circuit coupled to a memory, an impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer, comparing, by the control circuit, the impedance value to a reference impedance value stored in the memory; classifying, by the control circuit, the impedance value based on the comparison; characterizing, by the control circuit, the state of the electromechanical ultrasonic system based on the classification of the impedance value; and adjusting, by the control circuit, the power level applied to the ultrasonic transducer based on the characterization of the state of the end effector.

A surgical gripping/holding instrument having two instrument branches which are coupled pivotably with respect to one another. Each branch has a distal gripping/holding portion, a proximal instrument actuating portion, and an intermediate region which connects the distal and proximal portions preferably integrally, and having an instrument lock, of which the locking elements which can be brought into latching engagement with one another are arranged or formed on the instrument branches. The actuation of the instrument for opening and closing is functionally separated from actuation of the instrument for locking and unlocking the instrument by the positioning of the instrument lock in the intermediate region of the instrument. Therefore, each actuation can be carried out individually.

A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal slot, a deck surface, and a plurality of staple cavities defined in the cartridge body is disclosed. The cartridge body further comprises a plurality of projections extending from the deck surface. A surface of each projection is flush with one of a proximal end wall and a distal end wall of each staple cavity. The staple cartridge further comprises staples removably stored in the staple cavities.

A surgical instrument comprising a jaw assembly is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises a motor-driven drive system configured to open the jaw assembly. The surgical instrument also comprises a control system configured to control the drive system and, also, control a power supply system configured to supply electrical power to electrodes defined in the outer surface, or outer surfaces, of the jaw assembly. In use, the surgical instrument can be used to apply mechanical energy and electrical energy to the tissue of a patient at the same time, or at different times. In certain embodiments, the user controls when the mechanical and electrical energies are applied. In some embodiments, the control system controls when the mechanical and electrical energies are applied.

Various embodiments are directed to battery unit for use with surgical instruments. The battery units may comprise a plurality of cells and include a translatable discharge drain. When attached to the surgical instrument, the discharge drain may electrically connect an anode of the battery unit to a cathode of the battery unit, for example, via a resistive element in order to drain the battery unit.

Various embodiments are directed to battery unit for use with surgical instruments. The battery units may comprise a plurality of cells and include a translatable discharge drain. When attached to the surgical instrument, the discharge drain may electrically connect an anode of the battery unit to a cathode of the battery unit, for example, via a resistive element in order to drain the battery unit.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, an articulation system, a firing system, a closure system, a lock system, and a control unit is disclosed. The end effector comprises a pair of movable jaws. The articulation system articulates the end effector when the articulation system is in an active state. The closure system is actuatable to move the pair of jaws. The lock system prevents the closure system from actuating when the lock system is in a locked state. The control unit controls the supply of power from a power source to the articulation system, the firing system, and the lock system. The control unit transitions the lock system to the locked state and prevents the supply of power from the power source to the firing system when the articulation system is in the active state.

Disclosed herein are forceps devices, for example, forceps devices for use in medical procedures such as those involving bone reduction. These forceps devices can comprise features that allow for locking or restricting the motion of the device, for example engagement features and corresponding and complementary opposing features. In some embodiments, the engagement features comprise teeth and the opposing features comprise indentations. In some embodiments, the engagement features comprise teeth, and the opposing features comprise teeth comprising a complementary opposing angle to the angle of the engagement features.