A stapling end effector includes an anvil assembly having a distal end and defining a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a cartridge assembly pivotal relative to the anvil assembly such that the end effector is movable between open and clamped positions. The anvil assembly supports a plurality of staples corresponding to the plurality of staple forming pockets. The surgical stapling instrument further includes a sensing tip disposed on a distal end of the end effector. The sensing tip is formed of a flexible material and includes at least one sensor for measuring at least one mechanical property. The mechanical property may include force, pressure or torque.

A flexible electrode of a surgical instrument is disclosed. The flexible electrode includes a therapeutic electrode, a sensing electrode and an insulative layer. The therapeutic electrode is couplable to a source of radiofrequency energy. The insulative layer is positioned between the therapeutic electrode and the sensing electrode. The therapeutic electrode and the sensing electrode are configured to contact tissue positioned between first and second jaws of the surgical instrument.

A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing and a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle housing. The shaft assembly includes an elongate body configured to translate from a distal position to a proximal position in response to an insertion of a surgical loading unit into a distal end portion of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has a cam plate configured to convert rotational motion into an articulation of an end effector of the surgical loading unit. When the elongate body is in the distal position, the elongate body is configured to prevent rotation of the cam plate.

A method for downloading data from a surgical hub to a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method comprises assembling a first shaft assembly to a handle and downloading a first set of operational data from the surgical hub to the handle once the first shaft assembly is attached to the handle. The method further comprises assembling a second shaft assembly to the handle and downloading a second set of operational data from the surgical hub to the handle once the second shaft assembly is attached to the handle, wherein the second set of operational data is different than the first set of operational data.

A surgical hub may have cooperative interactions with one of more means of displaying the image from the laparoscopic scope and information from one of more other smart devices. The surgical hub may have the capacity of interacting with these multiple displays using an algorithm or control program that enables the combined display and control of the data distributed across the number of displays in communication with the surgical hub. The hub can obtain display control parameter(s) associated with a surgical procedure. The hub may determine, based on the display control parameter, different contents for different displays. The hub may generate and send the display contents to their respective displays. For example, the visualization control parameter may be a progression of the surgical procedure. The surgical hub may determine different display contents for the primary and the secondary displays based on the progression of the surgical procedure.

A radio frequency (RF) instrument may include a method of classifying a tissue in live time. The method may include activating the instrument for a first period of time T1 when the RF instrument contacts the tissue, plotting at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue to classify the tissue into distinct groups, and applying a classification algorithm to classify the tissue into a distinct group in live time. The parameters may include an initial impedance of the tissue, a minimum impedance of the tissue, and an amount of time that the impedance slope is ˜0. The instrument may collect the parameters during a predetermined amount of time, such as within the first 0.75 seconds of the activation of the device. The classification algorithm may include a support vector machine algorithm that may use a linear, polynomial, or radial basis set.

A load sensing assembly for a spinal implant includes a set screw having a central opening that extends from a first end of the set screw toward a second end of the set screw. The second end of the set screw is configured to engage with an anchoring member. The load sensing assembly includes an antenna, an integrated circuit in communication with the antenna, where the integrated circuit is positioned within the central opening of the set screw, and a strain gauge in connection with the integrated circuit. The strain gauge is located within the central opening of the set screw in proximity to the second end of the set screw.

An emitter assembly and waveform sensor assembly for visualizing a target is disclosed. The emitter assembly is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation and includes a first emitter configured to emit at least one of visible light, infrared radiation, or a combination thereof and a second emitter configured to emit structured electromagnetic radiation. The waveform sensor assembly is configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter assembly and obtain three-dimensional images corresponding to the detected electromagnetic radiation.

The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for a surgical tool or a surgical robotic system. One example system for handling hardstops includes one or more processors configured to calculate an articulation joint position for the articulation drive disk or the one or more corresponding rotary motors corresponding rotary motors, calculate an articulation joint torque for the articulation drive disk or the one or more corresponding rotary motors, determine a torque ratio based on the articulation joint position and the articulation joint torque, and adjust a commanded articulation joint position received from the user based on the torque ratio to compensate for collision involving the end effector.

An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to operate the drive mechanism in a first operating mode in which the atherectomy burr is operated at a speed reference and with a predetermined torque limit. The controller is adapted to determine when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck while in the first operating mode and is further adapted to, when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck, operate the drive mechanism in a second operating mode that is different from the first operating mode.