An exemplary embodiment relates to an input unit (10) for operating a medical instrument (12) with a hollow shaft (14) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) for receiving guide wires (20), with a tool (16) arranged on the distal side of the shaft (14), extending along an extension axis (E) and a control unit (18) arranged proximally on the shaft (14) for handling the tool (16) by means of the guide wires (20), comprising first input means (22) for continuous, pivoting and rotation-true, preferably uninterrupted and/or absolute, conversion of an ergonomically limited user input, in particular a natural user movement of movable first operating means, into an adjustment movement of the tool (16) in a first handling mode, in order to pivot the tool (16) by means of the control unit (18) relative to the longitudinal axis (L) in a limited way and/or to rotate about the extension axis (E) in a limited way.

A surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments include a rotatable elongated body that extends from a rotatable shroud on handle assembly and has a distal end configured for attachment to a disposable loading unit. The apparatus further includes a lockable rotation system for selectively locking the rotatable shroud to prevent rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis.

A surgical instrument that limits the amount of force that a user can apply to the jaws of a surgical instrument by decoupling the handle lever from the drive shaft if the handle lever is moved beyond the closed position. A handle lever and a secondary lever are interconnected by a spring that can decouples the handle lever from the secondary lever when too much force is used. The handle lever and the secondary lever may be interconnected by a link pivotally interconnected both the first lever and the second lever, or the handle lever and the secondary lever may be mounted to a common pivot point. In the former, the spring is configured to bias the handle lever and the secondary lever together, and in the latter the spring is configured to bias the handle lever and the secondary lever apart.

Described herein are improved medical instruments, such as rongeurs. Some embodiments of the improved medical instruments include removable shafts, rotatable shafts, and mechanisms for removing and/or rotating the shafts or portions thereof. In some embodiments, the shaft has an upper and lower portion that are movable relative to one another and lock into one another using a pin-and-groove mechanism found on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower portions of the shaft.

A robotic surgical instrument, comprising: a shaft; an end effector element; an articulation at a distal end of the shaft for articulating the end effector element, the articulation comprising: a first and second joint permitting the end effector element to adopt a range of configurations relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the first joint being driveable by a first pair of driving elements having a first positional accuracy requirement and the second joint being driveable by a second pair of driving elements having a second positional accuracy requirement lower than the positional accuracy requirement of the first pair of driving elements; and an instrument interface at a proximal end of the shaft, comprising: a chassis formed from the attachment of a first chassis portion to a second chassis portion, the first chassis portion comprising a mounting surface to which the shaft is mounted; wherein the first pair of driving elements are secured relative to the first chassis portion.

A surgical fastener assembly includes one or more arrays of fasteners, each of the fasteners including a head portion opposite to a sharp portion. Each of the head portions of the fasteners is held by a fastener head holding member. A receiver member is aligned with each of the one or more arrays of fasteners. A fluid actuator is provided for each of the one or more arrays of fasteners, and it is contractible and expandable. Each of the fluid actuators is configured to provide a force against its corresponding array of fasteners to propel the sharp portions of the fasteners towards the receiver member and also configured to provide a force to free the head portions from the fastener head holding member.

A surgical instrument that includes a first jaw that has a pair of laterally aligned vertical slots formed in a proximal end portion thereof. Each vertical slot includes an open upper end. A second jaw is movably supported for selective pivotal travel relative to the first jaw between a fully open and a fully closed position. Pivot members protrude laterally from the second jaw and are each received in a corresponding one of the vertical slots in the first jaw such that the pivot members may pivot therein. A retainer member is configured to operably engage the proximal end portion of the first jaw and retain the pivot members in the corresponding vertical slots as the second jaw moves between the fully open and the fully closed positions.

A treatment tool includes: an end effector configured to implement treatment of living tissue; an operation input portion configured to receive operation; a tubular portion provided along a longitudinal axis of the treatment tool, the tubular portion having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the end effector, the second end being provided with a first engagement portion; a driver configured to move along the longitudinal axis according to the operation on the operation input portion, the driver including a second engagement portion configured to engage with the first engagement portion; and a pusher configured to connect the tubular portion and the driver to each other by coming into contact with the tubular portion toward a central axis of the tubular portion in a state where the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion have engaged with each other.

A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal slot, a deck surface, and a plurality of staple cavities defined in the cartridge body is disclosed. The cartridge body further comprises a plurality of projections extending from the deck surface. A surface of each projection is flush with one of a proximal end wall and a distal end wall of each staple cavity. The staple cartridge further comprises staples removably stored in the staple cavities.

The disclosed technology is directed to a treatment instrument having a vibration generating device and a handle for operation. The vibration generating device comprises a housing and a generator including a transducer disposed within the housing. The transducer generates vibration by using electric energy and a first electric contact disposed on the housing. A connector is rotatable about a predetermined rotational axis with respect to the housing of the generator. A coupler is disposed in the connector and having a second electric contact rotatable about the predetermined rotational axis with respect to the first electric contact in a state in which an electric connection of the second electric contact to the first electric contact is maintained. The connector further includes a conductive member forming a part of an electric path of a current that flows based on an operating input at an operating member provided on the handle.