A surgical clip applier is disclosed which is configured to automatically feed a clip from a clip cartridge once the surgical clip applier is positioned in the patient.

A surgical clip applier comprising an electric motor system is disclosed. The electric motor system is configured to drive one or more drive systems of the surgical clip applier. The surgical clip applier comprises a control system configured to control the electric motor system. The control system is configured to monitor a parameter of the electric motor system to assess the operation of the one or more drive systems. In at least one instance, the control system monitors the electric current drawn by an electric motor and adapts the operation of the electric motor based on the electric current being drawn by the motor. The control system slows the electric motor down when the electric current drawn by the electric motor exceeds a threshold. The control system modulates the width, or duration, of voltage pulses applied to the electric motor to control the speed of the electric motor.

An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus is disclosed including a housing including an actuator, an outer tube, an ultrasonic waveguide, an ultrasonically actuated blade, a clamp member pivotable with respect to the blade, and a force limiting mechanism including a first compression spring having a first spring constant, positioned between the actuator and the clamp arm, and a second compression spring having a second spring constant less than the first spring constant. The first compression spring transfers a force at a first rate as a function of a motion of the actuator to pivotably move the clamp member toward the blade. The second compression spring transfers a force as a function of the tissue thickness positioned between the clamp member and the blade. At least one of the first and second compression springs is pre-compressed to provide a preload less than the respective spring constant.

A surgical instrument system is disclosed comprising a plurality of outputs driven by an input. The input is selectively engaged with the outputs by a shifting system.

Surgical clip appliers are disclosed comprising a plurality of clips which are stored in a compressed state. When a stored clip is moved into the crimping chamber of the surgical clip applier, the clip can assume a configuration which is different than its stored configuration before it is crimped.

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle assembly is disclosed. The handle assembly comprises an actuation trigger comprising a curved proximal portion and a curved cylinder surrounding the curved proximal portion of the actuation trigger. The curved cylinder comprises an electroactive polymer. The surgical instrument system comprises an actuation rod which is configured to transmit an actuation force and a sensor system which is configured to detect the magnitude of the actuation force. The electroactive polymer is responsive to the actuation force and provides feedback to a user of the surgical instrument system.

The application relates to a medical instrument with a hollow shaft, at the proximal end a handle is arranged, and at the distal end a tool with two jaw parts is arranged, of which at least one jaw part is pivotable, wherein the distal end is configured as a tool tip that can be deflected, and the tool tip is rotatable, wherein the rotation of the tool tip is effected via a first actuation element which is operatively connected at the proximal end to the handle, and wherein the deflection of the tool tip is effected via a second actuation element which is operatively connected to the handle, and wherein the at least one pivotable jaw part is adjustable between a closed position and an open position via a pull/push element. The pull/push element is mounted eccentrically in the tool tip and parallel to the longitudinal axis.

A reposable surgical clip applier includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly releasably engagable with the handle assembly, and a clip cartridge assembly releasably engagable within the shaft assembly. The handle assembly includes a proximal drive member and a proximal pusher bar movable through the proximal drive member. When the reposable surgical clip applier is assembled, the proximal drive member of the handle assembly is positioned proximally adjacent an inner drive assembly of the shaft assembly such that movement of handle(s) of the handle assembly towards an approximated position actuates a jaw assembly of the shaft assembly. When the reposable surgical clip applier is assembled, the proximal pusher of the handle assembly is positioned proximally adjacent a distal pusher of the clip cartridge assembly such that movement of the handle(s) towards a spaced-apart position loads a distal-most surgical clip from the clip cartridge assembly into the jaw assembly.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a surgical dissector.

A modular surgical instrument is disclosed. The modular surgical instrument comprises a control interface, a shaft extending from the control interface, an end effector extending from said shaft, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to sense the electrical potential applied to the modular surgical instrument, determine if the sensed electrical potential is above a predetermined threshold, and adjust the operation of the modular surgical instrument when the sensed electrical potential exceeds the predetermined threshold.