A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a shaft, a sensing array and a fluid detection circuit. The sensing array is positioned within the shaft. The fluid detection circuit is electrically coupled to the sensing array, and is configured to determine when a fluid originating from an environment external to the shaft is present within the shaft.

A staple cartridge configured to defeat a staple firing lockout is disclosed. Also disclosed is a staple cartridge configured to defeat a jaw closure lockout.

A surgical device for clipping tissue is disclosed. The surgical device comprises a housing comprising an electric motor, a shaft defining a central shaft axis, a clip magazine, and a clip crimping system. The clip magazine comprises a plurality of clips removably stored therein. The clip crimping system comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a distal portion comprising a clip receiving chamber defined between said first jaw and said second jaw. The distal portion is offset from said central shaft axis. The clip crimping system further comprises a proximal connection portion connecting said first jaw and said second jaw. The proximal connection portion is positioned along said central shaft axis. The clip crimping system further comprises a clamp operably coupled with said electric motor. The clamp is movable distally by said electric motor to perform a crimping stroke and engage said first jaw and said second jaw.

Various systems and methods for determining the state of an end effector of an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to measure a complex impedance of an ultrasonic electromechanical system including an ultrasonic blade and compare the measured complex impedance to reference complex impedance patterns that each correspond to a state of the end effector. Accordingly, the control circuit can further be configured to determine the state of the end effector according to which of the plurality of reference complex impedance patterns the measured complex impedance corresponds.

A computer-assisted device includes a first repositionable arm configured to support a first end effector, a second repositionable arm configured to support a second end effector, and a control unit. The control unit configured to monitor an actual motion of at least one structure selected from the group consisting of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector, determine a deviation threshold based on at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a mode of operation of the first end effector and a mode of operation of the computer-assisted device, and in response to determining that the actual motion of the at least one structure deviates from a desired motion of the at least one structure by more than the deviation threshold, halt motion of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector or halt motion of the second repositionable arm and the second end effector.

In certain embodiments, a system for sensing occlusions in an optical system includes a first laser source configured to generate optical signals and a set of optical elements arranged to receive the optical signals from the first laser source and to direct the optical signals along a beam path. The system also includes a detector arranged to receive reflections of the optical signals traveling along at least a portion of the beam path and a control system communicably coupled to the detector. The control system is configured to detect, based on signals generated by the detector, reflection signals associated with the reflections of the optical signals, and disable a second laser source based on detection of the reflection signals.

An electronic system for a surgical instrument is disclosed. The electronic system comprises a main power supply circuit configured to supply electrical power to a primary circuit. A supplementary power supply circuit configured to supply electrical power to a secondary circuit. A short circuit protection circuit coupled between the main power supply circuit and the supplementary power supply circuit. The supplementary power supply circuit is configured to isolate itself from the main power supply circuit when the supplementary power supply circuit detects a short circuit condition at the secondary circuit. The supplementary power supply circuit is configured to rejoin the main power supply circuit and supply power to the secondary circuit, when the short circuit condition is remedied.

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument having one or more sensors at or a near an end effector and configured to aide in the detection of tissues and other materials and structures at a surgical site. The detections may then be used to aide in the placement of the end effector and to confirm which objects to operate on, or alternatively, to avoid. Examples of sensors include laser sensors used to employ Doppler shift principles to detect movement of objects at the surgical site, such as blood cells; resistance sensors to detect the presence of metal; monochromatic light sources that allow for different levels of absorption from different types of substances present at the surgical site, and near infrared spectrometers with small form factors.

A stapling assembly configured to produce staples having different formed configurations is disclosed.

A powered surgical instrument including an end effector, which includes jaws that are configured to transition between various closure states. The surgical instrument includes a sensor configured to measure the closure state of the jaws and a display configured to display information indicative to the detected closure state. The surgical instrument further includes a firing member movable between a first position and a second position to transition the end effector between the plurality of closure states and a motor configured to drive the firing member between the first position and the second position.