Provided is a treatment tool including an elongated inserting section that is curveable or bendable, a wire that is disposed from an end effector to a proximal end side of the inserting section through the inserting section, the end effector being connected to a tip of the inserting section, and a power input section that is disposed on the proximal end side of the inserting section and configured to input power to a proximal end portion of the wire, and the wire transmits, to the end effector, power to drive the end effector, and the power input section is configured to increase the power to be input into the proximal end portion of the wire in response to displacement of the proximal end portion of the wire in a longitudinal direction, the displacement accompanying a curve or bend of the inserting section.

Various cartridge assemblies for surgical instruments are provided. Cartridge assemblies can include active sensors for applying stimuli to a tissue clamped by an end effector of the surgical instrument and a circuit configured to determine a tissue type of the tissue according to a change in the tissue parameter detected by the sensor resulting from a stimulus from the active element. Cartridge assemblies can also include physical features and/or stored data that identify the cartridge. Surgical instruments further can be configured to resolve conflicts when the physical features and/or stored data are not consistent with each other in their identification of the cartridge type.

A jaw member of an electrosurgical instrument includes an insulative spacer including a face and defining first and second elongated recesses on either side of the face, first and second cleats disposed at least partially within the first and second elongated recesses, respectively, a structural frame, and a tissue treating plate. The structural frame is configured to receive at least a portion of the insulative spacer therein such that first and second elongated sides of the structural frame at least partially overlap the first and second cleats, respectively. The first and second elongated sides are engaged with the first and second cleats, respectively, to thereby secure the insulative spacer relative to the structural frame with the face exposed. The tissue treating plate is disposed on the face of the insulative spacer and is adapted to connect to a source of energy to treat tissue therewith.

The present invention includes electrocautery devices and methods for surgery. The present invention includes an electrocautery device (or other surgical cutting and dissecting tool; harmonic scalpel; scissors capable of cutting, dissecting and obtaining hemostasis) comprising: (a) a handle portion; (b) an electrocautery unit integrated into said handle portion, and comprising a surgical electrode extending from said distal end thereof; (c) an ultrasonic transponder integrated into said handle portion and extending from said distal end thereof and disposed adjacent to said surgical electrode and so as to be adapted to detect differences in anatomical tissue types distally of said surgical electrode; (d) a source of current to said surgical electrode; (e) a feedback module adapted to either (1) signal the user of the electrocautery device or (2) change or interrupt the current provided by said source of current; and (f) data transmission module for transmitting data from said ultrasonic transponder, and for transmitting data to said feedback module. The present invention may be adapted to be used in conjunction with other types of scalpels, scissors, etc.; i.e., cutting and dissecting devices.

Methods and systems for sealing biological tissue using high frequency electrical energy determines a first-instance size of the biological tissue based on an initial impedance determination and applies electrical energy to the biological tissue based on the first-instance size determination, during which an in-process parameter is detected. A second-instance size of the biological tissue is determined based on the detected in-process parameter. When the second-instance size is different from the first-instance size, the second-instance electrical energy is different than the first-instance electrical energy; and when the second-instance size is the same as the first-instance size, the second-instance electrical is the same as the first-instance electrical energy. In-process parameter include (i) a value of in-process impedance of the biological tissue, (ii) a rate of change of the in-process impedance of the biological tissue, (iii) a value of in-process integrated power delivered to the biological tissue, or (iv) a combination thereof.

A treatment system includes a treatment tool and an energy source apparatus. The treatment tool includes a heater and bipolar electrodes to grip a treatment target. The energy source apparatus supplies electrical energy to the treatment tool. A processor controls the output to the bipolar electrodes and the heater. The processor causes a high-frequency electric power to be output to the bipolar electrodes and detects a parameter that varies depending on tissue volume of the treatment target. The processor sets a target value related to an output control process for controlling the output to the heater. The processor controls the output to the heater so as to modify the treatment target with the heat of the heater. The processor increases the output and temperature to the heater until at least a predetermined point of time after starting the output control process for controlling the output to the heater.

Examples herein describe a surgical instrument that deliver a first energy and a second energy configured to seal the tissue. The first energy may be operated by a first energy algorithm and second energy may be operated by a second energy algorithm. The surgical instrument may include an updatable memory that may store a default control algorithm that may control both the first energy algorithm and the second energy algorithm simultaneously. The surgical instrument may include a processor that may be configured to operate in a first mode at a first time, wherein in the first mode the processor may be configured to operate according to the default control algorithm. The processor may receive data at a second time that may cause the processor to operate in a second mode, wherein in the second mode the processor may be configured to operate according to an alternative control algorithm.

Examples herein describes a powered surgical end-effector that may include a controllable jaw configured to operate on a tissue, an updatable memory having stored therein a default actuation algorithm, and and a processor. The processor may be configured to operate in a first mode at a first time, wherein in the first mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to the default actuation algorithm. The processor may receive data at a second time, after the first time, that may cause the processor to operate in a second mode, wherein in the second mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to an alternative actuation algorithm.

An electrosurgical forceps includes first and second shaft members pivotably coupled to one another such that pivoting of the first and second shaft members between spaced-apart and approximated positions pivots jaw members thereof between open and closed positions. A handle of the first shaft member may be moved against a resilient bias of a spring element.

Conventional vasectomy techniques suffer from a number of potential complications, including, for example, a substantial risk for the development of hematomas, and swelling, and post-surgical pain, a potential for spontaneous duct reconnection and undesired resumption of fertility, a need for a highly skilled surgical professional, as well as a long recovery period, accompanied by severe limitations on post-surgical activity. The vasectomy methods of the present invention reduce and/or minimize contact with sensory nerves located on the distal side of the vas deferens, particularly the distal region of the outer vas deferens sheath, so as to minimize nerve damage and the post-surgical pain associated therewith. In addition, the methods of the present invention overcome the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art, resulting in a rapid, reliable, minimally-invasive male sterilization procedure that may be readily, reliably and successfully performed by minimally skilled personnel around the world in a variety of medical settings.