A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has a force delivery system which communicates a changing force to a user of the surgical instrument when a limit of a surgical function is reached. A sensor senses position of a moving element to communicate a signal to the force delivery system. In various embodiments, the system generates a vibratory force to signal the user.

A fixture for a fluoroscopic x-ray imaging system is discussed, wherein the fluoroscopic imaging system includes a C-arm, an x-ray source at a first end of the C-arm, and an x-ray detector at a second end of the C-arm. The fixture includes a processor and memory coupled with the processor. The memory includes instructions that are executable by the processor so that the processor is configured to detect an x-ray emission from the x-ray source toward the x-ray detector, determine an offset of the x-ray source relative to the x-ray detector responsive to detecting the x-ray emission, and provide an indication of the offset of the x-ray source to a medical navigation system. Related methods and robotic systems are also discussed.

An apparatus (100) for guiding a surgical needle with improved accuracy. The apparatus (100) having a base (1) for positioning the apparatus (100) on a patient; a second arc member (6) attached to the base (1); a first arc member (4) moveably attached to the second arc member (6); an arm (2) attached to a needle guide support (3) at one end and moveably attached to the first arc member (4) at a distal end, and an angle marking device (7) attached to the arm (2) to indicate a vertical reference point for measuring the angle of tilt of the arm (2) from the vertical reference point relative to the base (1). Wherein the first arc member (4) is configured to move on the second arc member (6) to facilitate movement of the needle guide support (3) in a cranio-caudal plane and the arm (2) is configured to move on the first arc member (4) to facilitate movement of the needle guide support (3) in an axial plane.

A fixture for a fluoroscopic x-ray imaging system is discussed, wherein the fluoroscopic imaging system includes a C-arm, an x-ray source at a first end of the C-arm, and an x-ray detector at a second end of the C-arm. The fixture includes a processor and memory coupled with the processor. The memory includes instructions that are executable by the processor so that the processor is configured to detect an x-ray emission from the x-ray source toward the x-ray detector, determine an offset of the x-ray source relative to the x-ray detector responsive to detecting the x-ray emission, and provide an indication of the offset of the x-ray source to a medical navigation system. Related methods and robotic systems are also discussed.

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a firing member, an electric motor, a first lockout, and a control system comprising a second lockout is disclosed. The end effector is configured to support a removable staple cartridge. The firing member is movable toward a distal end of the end effector during a firing motion. The electric motor is configured to drive the firing member during the firing motion. The first lockout is mechanically engageable with the firing member. The control system is configured to prevent delivery of electrical power to the electric motor based on respective states of the first and second lockouts.

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has a force delivery system which communicates a changing force to a user of the surgical instrument when a limit of a surgical function is reached. A sensor senses position of a moving element to communicate a signal to the force delivery system. In various embodiments, the system generates a vibratory force to signal the user.

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has a force delivery system which communicates a changing force to a user of the surgical instrument when a limit of a surgical function is reached. A sensor senses position of a moving element to communicate a signal to the force delivery system. In various embodiments, the system generates a vibratory force to signal the user.

A fixture for a fluoroscopic x-ray imaging system is discussed, wherein the fluoroscopic imaging system includes a C-arm, an x-ray source at a first end of the C-arm, and an x-ray detector at a second end of the C-arm. The fixture includes a processor and memory coupled with the processor. The memory includes instructions that are executable by the processor so that the processor is configured to detect an x-ray emission from the x-ray source toward the x-ray detector, determine an offset of the x-ray source relative to the x-ray detector responsive to detecting the x-ray emission, and provide an indication of the offset of the x-ray source to a medical navigation system. Related methods and robotic systems are also discussed.

A surgical stapling apparatus can comprise, in various instances, a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, a firing system configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge, and an electric motor configured to drive the firing system. The stapling apparatus can further comprise a lockout system configured to, one, detect whether a first jaw is in an open position or a closed position relative to a second jaw and, two, prevent the electric motor from driving the firing system when the first jaw is not in a closed position.