Surgical clip appliers are disclosed comprising a plurality of clips which are stored in a compressed state. When a stored clip is moved into the crimping chamber of the surgical clip applier, the clip can assume a configuration which is different than its stored configuration before it is crimped.

A computer-implemented method for controlling delivery of electrosurgical energy to a vessel to seal the vessel, includes collecting data from an electrosurgical system including an instrument and energy source while the instrument is delivering electrosurgical energy from the energy source to a vessel, predicting by using a machine learning algorithm a burst pressure probability of the vessel based on the data, and determining if the vessel is adequately sealed based on the prediction. The data includes an electrical parameter associated with the delivery of the electrosurgical energy. In a case where it is determined that the vessel is not adequately sealed: determining an output by a second machine learning algorithm, communicating the determined output to a computing device associated with the energy source for use in formulating an energy-delivery algorithm, and delivering, using the instrument, additional electrosurgical from the energy source to the vessel to seal the vessel according to the energy-delivery algorithm.

An electrosurgical forceps includes first and second shaft members pivotably coupled to one another via a pivot member 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 knife is translatable between retracted and extended positions. A knife deployment mechanism is operably coupled to the first shaft member and includes at least one trigger and at least one linkage coupling the at least one trigger with the knife such that pivoting of the at least one trigger relative to the first shaft member translates the knife between the retracted and extended positions. A knife lockout biased towards a locked position inhibits distal translation of the knife. The knife lockout is movable from the locked position to an unlocked position upon approximation of the jaw members to permit distal translation of the knife.

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle assembly is disclosed. The handle assembly comprises an actuation trigger comprising a curved proximal portion and a curved cylinder surrounding the curved proximal portion of the actuation trigger. The curved cylinder comprises an electroactive polymer. The surgical instrument system comprises an actuation rod which is configured to transmit an actuation force and a sensor system which is configured to detect the magnitude of the actuation force. The electroactive polymer is responsive to the actuation force and provides feedback to a user of the surgical instrument system.

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.

An end effector includes a wrist having a distal clevis rotatably coupled to a proximal clevis, a shaft coupled to the proximal clevis and defining a radial shoulder, one or more jaw members rotatably mounted to the distal clevis, and a protective sleeve extendable over the wrist and a portion of the shaft and providing a cylindrical body having opposing distal and proximal ends, the protective sleeve being made entirely of a same flexible, and the cylindrical body defining an aperture at the distal end through which the jaw members protrude. An inner surface of the protective sleeve is smooth and forms an interference fit with an outer surface of the portion of the shaft. A positive indicator is discernible when the protective sleeve has moved from an assembled position, where the proximal end of the protective sleeve engages the radial shoulder, to a migrated position.

A scissor-style vessel sealing having a knife engagement mechanism that will automatically drive a knife between the jaws when the handles are moved into the closed position. The vessel sealer has a first shaft with a first jaw and a second shaft having a second jaw pivotally coupled to the first shaft so that the jaws are moveable between open and closed positions. A knife actuating assembly is coupled to the first shaft to move between a first position, where the knife is in a retracted position, to a second position, where the knife is in an extended position, in response to contact by the second shaft when the scissor-style vessel sealer is closed. A knife lockout may be used to disengage the knife engagement mechanism from the knife to prevent movement of the knife when the scissor-style vessel sealer is closed.

A forceps includes first and second shafts, each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. At least one jaw member is moveable from an open to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. At least one jaw member is configured for reciprocation of a blade therethrough. A trigger assembly includes a trigger and at least one linkage coupled to the trigger and to the blade such that rotation of the trigger translates the blade between the retracted and the extended position. An interference member moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position is also provided. The interference member is configured to engage the linkage(s) when in the locked position to inhibit translation of the blade from the retracted to the extended position.

A first subassembly includes a body and an ultrasonic blade. A second subassembly is configured to removably couple with the first subassembly and includes a first clamp arm and a first clamp arm actuator. The first clamp arm is configured to be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis of the body, and the first clamp arm actuator is configured to be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis, when the second subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly. The third subassembly is similar to the second subassembly except that the second clamp arm of the third subassembly is configured to be located on the second side of the longitudinal axis of the body when the third subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly.

A surgical instrument (203) includes a reusable instrument portion (204) and a disposable tip assembly (205). The disposable tip assembly (205) includes an end effector assembly (206) that in turn includes an end effector. The disposable tip assembly (205) also includes a locking tip cover (410) that locks the disposable tip assembly (205) to a lock interface element (448B) of a tip interface (245) of the reusable instrument portion (204). To facilitate mounting the disposable tip assembly (205) on the tip interface (245) of the reusable instrument portion (204), the disposable tip assembly (205) includes a first quick connect/disconnect element (409) and the tip interface (245) includes a second quick connect/disconnect element (447). The second quick connect/disconnect element (447) is coupled to a tendon (452). The tendon (452) is also coupled to an actuator assembly that provides forces that push and pull (push/pull) the tendon.