A method and apparatus for securing a suture to bone can include grasping a first suture portion with a grasping member on a positioning tool. The first suture portion can be located into a first cannulation defined in the positioning tool. A cutting member can be advanced through a second cannulation defined on the positioning tool and out through a distal opening defined on the positioning tool. A first bone hole can be cut into the bone with the cutting member. A flexible member advancing tool can be advanced through the first cannulation. The first suture portion can be urged out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole.

A surgical instrument includes a steering unit capable of articulation and a locking device connected to the steering unit and configured to lock or unlock at least any one of a pitch motion or a yaw motion of the steering unit, in which the locking device includes a first body part coupled to the steering unit, a second body part coupled to the steering unit and capable of moving relative to the first body part, and a locking unit capable of moving between the first body part and the second body part and simultaneously contacting the first body part and the second body part.

A surgical instrument includes a drive member movable by a drive motor between a home position and an end of stroke. A mechanical stop is disposed at or near the end of stroke and is structured to increase resistance to movement of the drive member from a first position to a second position. A control system detects a current spike associated with the increased resistance and interrupts power to the drive motor.

A surgical instrument comprising a shiftable transmission is disclosed. The transmission comprises a mechanism for assuring that the transmission is in one of a plurality of predefined configurations.

Surgical devices and methods are described herein that provide improved motor control and feedback, thereby combining advantages of manually-operated and powered surgical devices. In one embodiment, a surgical device includes a proximal handle portion that includes a motor, a distal end effector coupled to the handle portion, and a cutting element configured to cut tissue engaged by the end effector, wherein the motor is configured to supply power that moves the cutting element. The device also includes a motor control mechanism configured to cause the amount of the power to dynamically change in response to a manual user input when the cutting element is moving.

A surgical stapler includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector is actuatable between an open state for receiving tissue and a closed state for clamping the tissue. A closure system is operable to actuate the end effector from the open state to the closed state. A firing system is operable to actuate the end effector in the closed state to staple the clamped tissue. A firing lockout mechanism is movable between a lockout state that inhibits actuation of the firing system, and a bypass state that permits actuation of the firing system. The firing lockout mechanism is configured to maintain the lockout state until the end effector assumes the closed state, and is further configured to transition from the lockout state to the bypass state in response to the end effector assuming the closed state.

A surgical instrument including a handle, a hollow shaft, and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the hollow shaft, the end effector being operatively connected to the handle through operating means extending within the hollow shaft. A multiaxial joint couples a distal end of the handle to a proximal end of the hollow shaft, the multiaxial joint allowing multiaxial rotation of the hollow shaft in relation to the handle. The multiaxial rotation includes rotation of the hollow shaft around a center axis of the hollow shaft, and rotation in at least two planes in relation to the distal of the handle.

A forceps having at least a first jaw with a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The first jaw can include a body portion, a first flange, a second flange and a cam pin. The first flange can define a first cam slot with a longitudinal extent along the longitudinal axis. The second flange can be spaced from the first flange a distance transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first jaw and can have a second cam slot. The cam pin, with a longitudinal axis, can be moveably secured within the first cam slot and the second cam slot. A diameter of the cam pin can be less than a width between a first longitudinal edge that defines a first side of each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot and a second longitudinal edge that defines a second opposing side of each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot so that the cam pin is moveably received by both the first cam slot and the second cam slot. With the first jaw pivoted to at least a first position, the cam pin and first flange can be configured such that the first longitudinal edge is contacted by the cam pin but the second longitudinal edge is spaced from the cam pin. The cam pin and second flange can be configured such that the first longitudinal edge is spaced from the cam pin but the second longitudinal edge is contacted by the cam pin.

A surgical instrument with insulating grips is described. The grips can include internal metal frames that are arranged to limit electrical conductivity within the grips and to other components that attach to a grip, such as a ratchet. The internal metal frames can be constructed of multiple internal portions, spatially separated from one another to interrupt electrical conductivity between the internal portions, but coated with an insulating overmold to provide mechanical coupling between the portions. An internal metal frame can also include a notch, cut-out, or other region partially surrounded by the structure of the internal metal frame, which can be coated with an insulating overmold to define a region of the grip that does not have an internal metal frame therein but which can include an attachment point for mechanically coupling other components while limiting electrical coupling between the metal frame and the other components.

A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly comprises a firing member, a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, and a staple cartridge. The surgical stapling assembly further comprises a cartridge channel configured to receive the staple cartridge therein, a lockout configured to prevent the firing member from advancing distally from an unfired location when an unspent staple cartridge is not positioned within the cartridge channel, and an exterior access aperture defined in the cartridge channel, wherein the lockout is accessible through the exterior access aperture such that the lockout can be manually defeated to move the lockout into a into an unlocked configuration.