An electrosurgical instrument comprising an end effector including a first jaw, a second jaw, and an electrical circuit is disclosed. The first jaw comprises a first conductive skeleton, a first insulative coating selectively covering portions of the first conductive skeleton, and first-jaw electrodes comprising exposed portions of the first conductive skeleton. The second jaw comprises a second conductive skeleton, a second insulative coating selectively covering portions of the second conductive skeleton, and second-jaw electrodes comprising exposed portions of the second conductive skeleton. The circuit is configured to transmit a bipolar RF energy and a monopolar RF energy to the tissue through the first-jaw electrodes and the second-jaw electrodes. The monopolar RF energy shares a first electrical pathway and a second electrical pathway defined by the electrical circuit for transmission of the bipolar RF energy.

An electrosurgical instrument comprising a jaw configured to define an electrode is disclosed. The jaw comprises a first electrically conductive portion, a second electrically conductive portion, and an electrically insulative layer. The first electrically conductive portion is configured to resist heat transfer therethrough. The second electrically conductive portion is integral with and extending at least partially around the first electrically conductive portion. The second electrically conductive portion is configured to define a heat sink. The electrode is defined by selective application of the electrically insulative layer to an outer surface of the second electrically conductive portion.

A robotic system includes a robotic manipulator configured to: manipulate a medical instrument having a basket; open the basket at a first opening speed and a second, faster opening speed; and close the basket at a first closing speed and a second, faster closing speed. The system includes an input device configured to receive one or more user interactions and initiate one or more actions by the robotic manipulator, including directly controlled movement and/or pre-programmed motions. Control circuitry of the robotic system is configured to: in response to receiving a first user interaction via the input device, trigger a first pre-programmed motion of the robotic manipulator to open the basket at the second, faster opening speed; and in response to receiving a second user interaction via the input device, trigger a second pre-programmed motion to close the basket at the second, faster closing speed.

An expandable trial can include an inferior portion, a superior portion, and a middle expanding portion as well as load cells for monitoring the load on the trial. The trial may also include recesses on its lateral sides to provide spacing to accommodate a disc removal tool so tissue can be cleared monitoring load. In addition, neural foramen spacing can be monitoring to provide information about how much neural release has been achieved as the disc is cleaned and the spine is positioned and repositioned.

A method of engaging a medical instrument with a medical instrument manipulator comprises receiving an indication that a first input coupling of the medical instrument is positioned adjacent to a first drive output of the manipulator. The first drive output is driven by a first actuating element. In response to receiving the indication, the first drive output is rotated in a first rotational direction. A determination is made, by one or more processors, as to whether a resistance torque is experienced by the first actuating element after rotating the first drive output in the first rotational direction. If the resistance torque is not experienced by the first actuating element after rotating of the first drive output in the first rotational direction, the first drive output is rotated in a second rotational direction. A determination is made, by the one or more processors, as to whether a resistance torque is experienced by the first actuating element after rotating of the first drive output in the second rotational direction.

A system and method of variable velocity control of an instrument by a computer-assisted device includes a computer-assisted device that includes an actuator and one or more processors. To perform an operation with an instrument coupled to the computer-assisted device, the one or more processors are configured to set a velocity set point of the actuator to an initial velocity, monitor force or torque applied by the actuator to actuate the instrument, when the applied force or torque is above a first force or torque limit, determine whether a total duration of a set of pauses occurring during the operation of the instrument is below a maximum pause threshold, and in response to determining that the total duration is below the maximum pause threshold, pause the operation of the instrument.

An ultrasonic electromechanical system for an ultrasonic surgical instrument may include an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm disposed opposite the ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic transducer configured to oscillate the ultrasonic blade in response to a drive signal, and a control circuit coupled to the ultrasonic transducer. The control circuit can be configured to determine a temperature of the ultrasonic blade, increase an amount of power of the drive signal when the temperature of the ultrasonic blade is less than a first predetermined value, and decrease the amount of power of the drive signal when the temperature of the ultrasonic blade is greater than a second predetermined value. The second predetermined value may be greater than the first predetermined value. An ultrasonic generator connectable to the ultrasonic electromechanical system may include the control circuit.

Surgical systems and methods are provided for controlling actuation and movement of various surgical devices.

Various robotic surgical systems are disclosed. A robotic surgical system comprises a first motor; a second motor; and a robotic surgical tool. The robotic surgical tool comprises: a first rotary driver configured to receive a first rotary motion from the first motor; a second rotary driver configured to receive a second rotary motion from the second motor; an output drive; and a shifter configured to selectively couple the first rotary driver and the second rotary driver to the output drive. The first rotary driver and the second rotary driver are configured to concurrently supply torque to the output drive in a high-torque operating state.

A control system for controlling manipulation of a surgical instrument in response to manipulation of a remote surgeon input device at a remote surgeon's console, the surgical instrument being supported by a surgical robot arm, the surgical instrument comprising an end effector connected to a distal end of a shaft by an articulated coupling, the articulated coupling comprising one or more joints enabling the end effector to adopt a range of attitudes relative to the distal end of the shaft, the control system configured to: receive a command from an input actuated by a user to straighten the surgical instrument; and in response to the received command, to command driving forces to be applied to joint(s) of the articulated coupling to drive the instrument to adopt a predetermined configuration in which the profile of the end effector is most closely aligned with the profile of the distal end of the shaft.