An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic supported by the body, a shaft extending distally from the body and defining a shaft axis, a waveguide extending distally through the shaft, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade coupled to a distal end of the waveguide and having a primary blade treatment surface configured to treat tissue, and a clamp arm coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The shaft and the waveguide are selectively rotatable relative to one another about the shaft axis through a predefined range of angular motion between an assembly state and an operational state. In the assembly state, the clamp arm and the primary blade treatment surface are rotationally offset from one another. In the operational state, the clamp arm and the primary blade treatment surface are rotationally aligned.

In various embodiments, a tissue thickness compensator can comprise one or more capsules and/or pockets comprising at least one medicament therein. In at least one embodiment, staples can be fired through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules. In certain embodiments, a firing member, or knife, can be advanced through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules.

An apparatus comprises an electrically power surgical instrument having a handle assembly. The apparatus also comprises a communication device positioned within the handle assembly. The communication device is operable to communicate with at least a portion of the electrically powered surgical instrument. The apparatus further comprises an external device in wireless communication with the communication device. The external device is operable to receive information from the communication device and the external device is operable to provide an output viewable to the user.

A surgical system comprising an electric motor and a surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a housing, a shaft extending from the housing, a fastener cartridge, an anvil, a translatable drive member, and a rotatable actuator knob. The housing comprises an input shaft operably coupled to the electric motor. The input shaft is rotatable in a first mode by the electric motor. The fastener cartridge comprises a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein. The anvil is configured to deform the fasteners. The translatable drive member is configured to move the anvil toward and away from the fastener cartridge. The translatable drive member is movable by the electric motor in the first mode. The rotatable actuator knob is configured to be rotated multiple full rotations in a second mode to manually cause the input shaft to move the anvil.

The present application provides an endoscopic device having at least one shaft, which has at least one portion deflectable in at least one plane, and having at least one deflection mechanism, which is configured to deflect the deflectable portion and includes, arranged in series, at least one first connection member and at least one second connection member interacting for a deflection with the first connection member. The first connection member is formed at least partially from a first material, and the second connection member is formed at least partially from a second material, of which the elasticity differs from that of the first material.

A surgical stapling device includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly, and a tool assembly. The tool assembly is mounted onto the distal portion of the elongate body for articulation and includes a staple cartridge that supports a plurality of staples and pushers. An actuation sled is movable through the staple cartridge to eject staples from the staple cartridge and a clamp member is movable through the tool assembly to move the tool assembly from an open position to an approximated position and to advance the actuation sled through the staple cartridge to eject staples and transect tissue. In order to minimize the space for the firing assembly in the proximal portion of the tool assembly, the actuation sled and clamp member are supported in a nested relationship in a pre-actuated state of the tool assembly. The clamp member is subsequently moved to a position proximal of the actuation sled during a firing stroke of the stapling device.

A surgical instrument comprising motor-driven drive systems is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a control system configured to shift the surgical instrument between an end effector articulation mode and a staple firing mode.

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a tissue-supporting surface, a staple cavity defined within the cartridge body, a staple removably positioned in the staple cavity, and a staple driver movably positioned within the staple cavity, wherein the staple driver is configured to support the staple. The staple cartridge further comprises a wedge sled translatable between a proximal end and a distal end of the staple cartridge, wherein the wedge sled is configured to move the staple driver from an unfired position to a fired position during a staple firing stroke, and a driver retention member configured to retain the staple driver in a retention position that allows for the wedge sled to be retracted after the staple firing stroke.

A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members movable between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A knife assembly having a cutting blade disposed at a distal end thereof is also provided. The knife assembly is translatable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the cutting blade extends between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween. The knife assembly includes a proximal component and a first distal component that includes the cutting blade. The proximal and first distal components are removably coupled to one another to facilitate replacement of the first distal component. Methods of preparing such forceps for reuse are also provided.

A device is disclosed that can pierce and hold tissue and then pass suture through tissue. The device can have a shuttle that can removably attach to a suture and jaws that can be rotatably opened and closed with respect to each other. A method for using the device to repeatedly pass the suture through the tissue without removing the suture or device from the target site is also disclosed.