In various embodiments, a tissue thickness compensator can comprise a compressible extracellular matrix and a bioabsorbable material dispersed within the extracellular matrix, wherein the bioapsorption of the bioabsorbable material is configured to leave behind channels in the extracellular matrix. The tissue thickness compensator can also comprise generation means for generating the ingrowth of tissue into the channels. In at least one embodiment, the tissue thickness compensator can comprise dissolvable wicking members which, when dissolved, can leave behind channels in the tissue thickness compensator. In certain embodiments, the tissue thickness compensator can comprise at least one rupturable capsule.

A surgical stapler, or fastening instrument, may generally comprise a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator, for example, releasably attached to a fastener cartridge and/or anvil by a flowable attachment portion. The flowable attachment portion may be indefinitely flowable. The flowable attachment portion may be flowable from the time that layer is installed to the fastener cartridge to the time in which the layer is implanted to patient tissue. The flowable attachment portion may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive. The flowable attachment portion may comprise an adhesive laminate comprising a base layer comprising the tissue thickness compensator and an adhesive layer on at least a portion of a surface of the base layer comprising the pressure sensitive adhesive. Articles of manufacture comprising flowable attachment portion and methods of making and using the flowable attachment portion are also described.

An end effector for use to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a surgical procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. The anvil has an anvil face and a first staple pocket defined by the anvil face, where the first staple pocket comprises a first cup and a second cup for staple formation. The cartridge has a first staple and a first driver. The first staple, once deployed by the first driver and deformed by the first staple pocket, has a formed configuration in which a first portion of a first staple leg and a second portion of a second staple leg are bent relative to a crown and cross the midpoint of the crown and one of the first portion and the second portion overlaps the other of the first portion and the second portion.

A method for deforming a staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the base, the first staple leg, and the second staple leg are positioned within a common plane prior to being deformed, the method comprising positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of a staple pocket, the first cup comprising a first inner surface, applying a first compressive force to the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and the second staple leg, contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward a first side of the base, and deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg crosses a mid-line of the staple defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg.

Methods for selectively attaching a shaft assembly to a handle of a surgical instrument and an arm of a surgical robot are disclosed.

An assembly includes an applicator, which includes a housing defining a gap configured to receive an end effector jaw of a surgical stapler. The applicator also includes a platform positioned within the gap. The assembly also includes a buttress assembly having a first length and positioned on the platform. The assembly further includes a trimming feature presented by the applicator or the buttress assembly, and configured to facilitate trimming of the buttress assembly from the first length to a predetermined second length.

A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector operable to treat tissue, a shaft extending proximally from the end effector, and a housing assembly extending proximally from the shaft. The housing assembly includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner and a motor-assembly compartment including a motor assembly interchangeably retained by the motor-assembly compartment in an assembled configuration. The motor assembly is movable relative to the motor-assembly compartment between the assembled configuration and an unassembled configuration. The motor assembly includes a motor configured to drive the end effector to treat the tissue and an RFID tag detectable by the RFID scanner in the assembled configuration. The RFID tag stores motor-assembly information.

A method is provided for operating a powered surgical stapler having a motor unit, a controller, and a stapling assembly having a plurality of movable members that are actuatable longitudinally by the motor unit to clamp, staple, and cut tissue. The controller determines that a movable member of the stapling assembly is in a first predetermined position, and then executes an actuation algorithm to activate the motor unit to actuate the movable member longitudinally from the first predetermined position toward a second predetermined position. The controller observes an actual longitudinal displacement of the movable member between the first and second predetermined positions. The controller compares the actual longitudinal displacement to an expected longitudinal displacement and determines that the actual longitudinal displacement differs from the expected longitudinal displacement by a difference value. The controller then adjusts the actuation algorithm based on the difference value.

A surgical stapling system for treating tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical stapling system comprises an end effector, a firing member, a motor, a RF transceiver configured to transmit RF signals, and a sensing array. The end effector comprises an elongate channel, an anvil rotatable relative to the elongate channel from an open position toward a closed position, and a staple cartridge removably positioned in the elongate channel. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples removably stored therein. The firing member is movable between an unfired position and a fired position. The staples are deployed from the staple cartridge based on the firing member being moved toward the fired position. The motor is configured to drive the firing member toward the fired position. The sensing array is configured to sense compression of the tissue, properties of the tissue, and a presence of metallic elements within the tissue.

A surgical stapler includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member, a clamp member, and a firing assembly. The first elongate member includes a distal portion that supports an anvil surface that includes a plurality of staple forming pockets. The second elongate member includes a distal portion that is configured to receive a staple cartridge. The clamp member is operable to releasably clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member. The firing assembly is translatable from a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position to fire the staple cartridge. The firing assembly includes a slider and an actuator. The slider includes a first coupling feature. The actuator is configured to be selectively actuated by a user. The actuator includes a second coupling feature that is configured to generally surround the first coupling feature of the slider when the actuator moves relative to the slider.