A forceps includes a drive assembly and an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable between a spaced-apart position, a first approximated position, and a second approximated position. The drive assembly includes a drive housing and a drive bar. The proximal end of the drive bar is coupled to the drive housing, while the distal end of the drive bar is coupled to at least one of the jaw members. The drive housing and the drive bar are selectively movable in conjunction with one another between a first position and a second position to move the jaw members between the spaced-apart position and the first approximated position. The drive assembly is selectively activatable to move the drive bar independent of the drive housing from the second position to a third position to move the jaw members from the first approximated position to the second approximated position.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly including first and second grasping components each defining a tissue-contacting portion. One or both of the first or second grasping components is movable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the first and second tissue-contacting portions cooperate to define a grasping area therebetween. One or both of the first or second grasping components is configured to apply energy from the tissue-contacting portion thereof to tissue disposed within the grasping area to treat tissue. The tissue-contacting portion of the first grasping component defines a first opening therethrough. The first opening is disposed within the grasping area and in communication with a first lumen defined at least partially through the first grasping component. The first lumen is adapted to connect to a source of vacuum to enable aspiration through the first opening.

An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Various systems and methods for determining the composition of tissue via an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to monitor the change in resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system of the ultrasonic surgical instrument as the ultrasonic blade oscillates against a tissue and determine the composition of the tissue accordingly. In some aspects, the control circuit can be configured to modify the operation of the ultrasonic electromechanical system or other operational parameters of the ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the detected tissue composition.

A surgical instrument is disclosed including a transducer configured to provide vibrations along a longitudinal axis, an end effector operably coupled to the transducer, and a stationary lower jaw extending parallel to the end effector. The end effector extends along the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises a blade. The stationary lower jaw comprises a clamp face positioned distal to the blade. The end effector is movable relative to the stationary lower jaw to drive the blade distally towards the clamp face. The end effector comprises a hollow lumen. The end effector further comprises at least one member extended across a portion of the hollow lumen.

A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section includes a collar that is located distal to a nodal portion of the waveguide and is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section. The articulation drive assembly comprises at least one translating articulation driver coupled with the collar. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue even when the articulation section is in an articulated state.

A treatment system that includes a treatment instrument to apply a treatment energy to a living tissue from an end effector according to a supplied electric power to incise the living tissue, an imaging device to generate a captured image capturing a state in which the treatment energy is applied from the end effector to the living tissue, and a control device that includes a processor to control operation of the imaging device. The processor acquires the captured image, calculates a temporal change amount based on any one of a predetermined point and a predetermined area in the captured image as a determination value, determines whether incision of the living tissue has been completed based on the determination value, and in response to determining that incision of the living tissue has been completed, execute an instruction to stop supply of the electric power to the treatment instrument.

An ultrasonic surgical system is disclosed including an end effector, an elongate shaft, an articulation joint, and an articulation system. The end effector is rotatable relative to the elongate shaft about the articulation joint. The articulation system includes a distal plate, a first cable, a second cable, and a gear. The distal plate is configured to articulate toward a first side of the gear based on the gear rotating in a first direction and articulate toward a second side of the gear based on the gear rotating in a second direction. The end effector is configured to articulate in a first articulation direction about the articulation joint based on the distal plate articulating toward the first side of the gear. The end effector is configured to articulate in a second articulation direction about the articulation joint based on the distal plate articulating toward the second side of the gear.

A surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic waveguide extending through a body assembly. An ultrasonic blade connects to the ultrasonic waveguide. A clamp arm assembly of the surgical instrument is able to move from an opened position for receiving a tissue toward a closed position for clamping the tissue. The clamp arm assembly includes a clamp body and a clamp pad facing the ultrasonic blade. A clamp arm actuator of the surgical instrument is able to move from a first position toward a second position to direct the clamp arm assembly from the opened position toward the closed position. A modular coupling of the surgical instrument connects to the clamp pad such that at least the clamp pad can be disconnected relative to the ultrasonic blade for replacement thereof.

Various embodiments are directed to battery unit for use with surgical instruments. The battery units may comprise a plurality of cells and include a translatable discharge drain. When attached to the surgical instrument, the discharge drain may electrically connect an anode of the battery unit to a cathode of the battery unit, for example, via a resistive element in order to drain the battery unit.