A surgical system includes a handle having a controller and a motor, an adapter releasably coupled to the handle, and a loading unit releasably coupled to the adapter. The motor is coupled to a drive shaft of the handle. The adapter including an adapter identification device in communication with the controller, configured to store adapter data, and to communicate the adapter data to the controller. The loading unit configured to affect tissue in response to a force transmitted by the adapter from the drive shaft. The loading unit including a loading unit identification device in communication with the controller, configured to store loading unit data, and to communicate the loading unit data to the controller. The controller is configured to adjust output of a motor based on at least one of the adapter data or the loading unit data.

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.

A buttress material for use with a surgical staple cartridge. In various forms, the buttress material comprises a buttress body that is sized to be operably received on a deck of the surgical staple cartridge. The buttress body includes at least four edges and a central portion. At least two of the edges have a plurality of edge notches formed therein. The central portion may include a plurality of cutout openings therein.

Embodiments include a surgical instrument having an end effector, the end effector including a first jaw having a first end, a second end, and an anvil, the anvil having an anvil face, a second jaw having a first end, a second end, and a cartridge to house a plurality of staples, the cartridge having a cartridge face, a first coupling that couples the first end of the first jaw to the first end of the second jaw, and a second coupling that movably couples the second end of the first jaw to the second end of the second jaw, where the second coupling includes a rigid link, an elongate tube, where a distal end is coupled with the end effector, a handle, where a distal end of the handle is coupled with a proximal end of the elongate tube, and a drive assembly comprising a motor.

A surgical tool assembly that includes an axially movable closure member and an axially movable firing member that is movable between an unfired position and a fired position. The tool assembly includes a second jaw that has a mounting portion and mounting walls that are movably mounted to a first jaw. The mounting portion defines a cam area that is configured for engagement by the movable closure member to move the second jaw from an open position to a closed position. The mounting walls define an open-topped parking area for accommodating the firing member therein when in the unfired position. A protective cap member is attached to the mounting walls such that it covers at least a portion of the open topped parking area.

A surgical device for enabling gastrointestinal anastomosis using one or more tissue couplers, the device comprising a first working element and a second working element, the first working element being displace ably arranged with respect to the second working element so that at least a first relative stand and a second relative stand between the first working element and a second working element are provided, wherein in the first relative stand a coupling space is provided between the first working element and the second working element, for receiving a first tissue portion and a second tissue portion for coupling, wherein in the second stand the first working element cooperates with the second working element for depositing one or more couplers in the said coupling space, for achieving said coupling along a coupling region, wherein the first working element and/or the second working element comprise one or more first couplers and one or more second couplers, wherein the one or more first couplers define a tissue sealing line, wherein the second couplers define a respective virtual plane (P; P′) that intersects the sealing line, and the second couplers spatially inter digitate with the first couplers, but do not overlap, with less compressive force on the tissues to be coupled in the healing line as compared to the compressive force on the tissues in the sealing line, defining a healing line in which circumstances are optimized for wound healing, and a sealing line that prevents bleeding and leakage of intestinal contents directly postoperatively

A cartridge assembly includes a cartridge channel, a support plate, a staple cartridge supported within the support plate and the cartridge channel, and compression members. The compression members are supported on support flanges of the support plate between the staple cartridge and the cartridge channel to facilitate movement of the staple cartridge in relation to the cartridge channel to accommodate tissue of different thicknesses.

A method is disclosed. The method can comprise obtaining a first staple cartridge and obtaining a second staple cartridge, wherein the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge comprise the same length and the same width. The method can further comprise inserting the first staple cartridge into a channel comprising a keyed profile, wherein complete insertion of the first staple cartridge into the channel is prevented by the keyed profile. Additionally, the method can comprise inserting the second staple cartridge into the channel, wherein complete insertion of the second staple cartridge into the channel is permitted by the keyed profile.

A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions is disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention include a cartridge body that movably supports first and second staple drivers. The staple drivers each support a staple thereon and serve to drive the staples into forming contact with the anvil upon actuation by the actuator. The various embodiments of the present invention enable the final formed heights of the staples to be varied so as to apply various clamping forces and pressures to soft tissue captured within the staples. In at least one embodiment, the staples can include crowns formed thereon which can be utilized to adjust or control the clamping force and/or pressure applied by the staples.

In various embodiments, a tissue thickness compensator can comprise one or more capsules and/or pockets comprising at least one medicament therein. In at least one embodiment, staples can be fired through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules. In certain embodiments, a firing member, or knife, can be advanced through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules.