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.

In an energy control device, a processor detects, based on a detection result of an electric characteristic value in relation to an electric energy which is output from an energy output source to an ultrasonic transducer, a gradual decrease start time at which the electric characteristic value starts a gradual decrease after a gradual increase. The processor executes, based on a fact that a time rate of change of the electric characteristic value become greater than a predetermined threshold after the gradual decrease start time, at least one of causing the energy output source to stop or reduce the output of the electric energy to the ultrasonic transducer, and notifying that the time rate of change become greater than the predetermined threshold.

A treatment device for treating a target tissue includes a drive source having a transducer configured to convert electrical energy to mechanical vibrations, an instrument having a blade connected to the drive source and configured to apply the mechanical vibrations to the target tissue, and a control unit configured to control a supply of electrical energy to the drive source. The control unit is configured to automatically adjust the supply of electrical energy to the drive source in response to a detection of a change in a resonance frequency of the blade. The change in resonance frequency of the blade occurs after the target tissue has been completely cut by the blade.

A method of compressing tissue during a surgical procedure is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a surgical instrument comprising an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, establishing a communication pathway between the surgical instrument and a surgical hub, and inserting the surgical instrument into a surgical site. The method further comprises compressing tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw, determining a location of the compressed tissue with respect to at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw, communicating the determined location of the compressed tissue to the surgical hub, and displaying the determined location of the compressed tissue on a visual feedback device.

A generator, ultrasonic device, and method of determining a temperature of an ultrasonic blade are disclosed. A control circuit coupled to a memory determines an actual resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade by an ultrasonic waveguide. The actual resonant frequency is correlated to an actual temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit retrieves from the memory a reference resonant frequency of the ultrasonic electromechanical system. The reference resonant frequency is correlated to a reference temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit then infers the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the difference between the actual resonant frequency and the reference resonant frequency.

An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic generator configured to provide an electrical drive signal, an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive the electrical drive signal and to produce ultrasonic mechanical motion in response thereto, and a blade coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and configured to receive the ultrasonic mechanical motion from the ultrasonic transducer for treating tissue in contact therewith. The ultrasonic transducer defines a saturation point and the ultrasonic generator is configured to drive the ultrasonic transducer substantially at the saturation point such that the ultrasonic mechanical motion produced by the ultrasonic transducer is substantially equal to a maximum ultrasonic mechanical motion of the ultrasonic transducer.

Various systems and methods for determining the composition of tissue via an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to monitor the change in resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system of the ultrasonic surgical instrument as the ultrasonic blade oscillates against a tissue and determine the composition of the tissue accordingly. In some aspects, the control circuit can be configured to modify the operation of the ultrasonic electromechanical system or other operational parameters of the ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the detected tissue composition.

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 staple cartridge comprising staple drivers including stability supports is disclosed.

A surgical instrument comprising a rotatable and translatable firing member is disclosed.