A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having an anvil, a cartridge assembly movable in relation to the anvil between open and clamped positions, a drive member, and a biasing mechanism or member. The biasing mechanism or member is configured to urge the cartridge assembly in relation to the anvil assembly to its fully open position to provide access to tissue during a surgical procedure.

Devices, systems, and methods for providing remote traction to tissue may include a grasper and a control element. The grasper may have a first jaw, a second jaw, a main body, and a first magnetic element. The control element may include a second magnetic element. The first and second magnetic elements may attract the grasper to the control element such that the grasper is oriented parallel, perpendicularly, or at an angle between parallel and perpendicular with respect to the control element and/or a body. In some instances, the grasper may include first and second magnetic elements and the control element may include third and fourth magnetic elements.

A forceps includes a shaft defining first opposed distal recesses, a drive bar slidably disposed within the shaft and defining second opposed distal recesses, and an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members. Each jaw member defines a proximal flange and a distal jaw body. The proximal flanges each define an aperture and a cam slot. A pivot pin extends through the apertures with ends of the pivot pin extending outwardly from the jaw members to be at least partially disposed within the first recesses and fixedly engaged therewith. A drive pin extends through the cam slots with ends of the drive pin extending outwardly from the jaw members to be at least partially disposed within the second recesses and fixedly engaged therewith such that translation of the drive bar relative to the end effector assembly pivots the jaw members between spaced-apart and approximated positions.

A control circuit configured to receive a control signal that defines a first phase and a second phase from a surgical generator. The control circuit may include a first resistor, a second resistor in parallel with the first resistor, and a switch in series with the second resistor. The switch may be configured to transition between an open state and a closed state corresponding to an operational mode of a surgical instrument. In the first phase of the control signal, the control circuit is configured to communicate surgical instrument information to the surgical generator. In the second phase of the control signal and in the open state of the switch, the control circuit is configured to provide a first output. In the second phase of the control signal and in the closed state of the switch, the control circuit is configured to provide a second output.

A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly that includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a channel member that includes structure for releasably engaging the anvil assembly to allow for separation of the entire cartridge assembly from the anvil assembly after each use of the stapling device.

A surgical instrument comprises first and second jaws movable relative to each other between open and closed positions, a cutting electrode with a cutting surface for tissue dissection and at least one sealing electrode for sealing or coagulating tissue. The cutting electrode includes one or more insulation layers for securing the cutting electrode to one of the jaws and for protecting the jaws from the heat and energy generated at the cutting surface during operation. An actuator mechanism is coupled to the first and second jaws for moving the jaws between the open and closed positions. At least one portion of the actuator mechanism comprises a conductive pathway for electrically coupling the cutting and/or sealing electrode(s) to a source of energy. Thus, the mechanical components of the actuator mechanism include electrically conductive pathways to reduce the number of conductors extending through the device, thereby providing a more compact and maneuverable instrument.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector with opposing jaws that open and close relative to each other. The jaws each include a cam slot for receiving a cam pin. Translation of the pin through the cam slots opens and closes the jaws. The cam slots are shaped such that at least one of the jaws applies a grip force that is substantially proportional to a force applied to the pin to translate the pin through at least a portion of the slots (i.e., the ratio between force input and the resulting force output remains substantially the same as the pin travels through at least one portion of the slots). This design provides a constant mechanical advantage between the force applied to the pin and the force applied by the jaws, thereby allowing a user to more easily regulate the forces applied to tissue held by the jaws.

Described here are methods, systems, and devices, useful for minimally invasive surgical procedures. The methods may include introducing a grasper through an opening into an abdominal cavity, grasping a portion of a left lobe of a liver with the grasper, rotating the grasper towards a control element located outside the abdominal cavity by applying a magnetic field to the grasper across a body wall, and moving the control element over a set of ribs such that the liver bends into a folded configuration.

A surgical instrument, comprising an articulatable end effector that is selectively articulatable about an articulation axis. The end effector comprises first and second jaws wherein the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw about a pivot axis by an axially movable closure member. One of the first and second jaws supports a fastener cartridge that defines a proximal most fastener location therein. A first distance between the pivot axis and an area of camming contact between a closure member cam surface on the closure member and a jaw cam surface on one of the first and second jaws divided by a second distance from the articulation axis to the proximal most fastener location is less than 0.5.

A surgical instrument with improved end-effector gripping force. The instrument comprises a shaft, which may be inserted into a body of a patient. The articulated end-effector is mounted on the distal extremity of the instrument shaft and comprises a plurality of links interconnected by a plurality of joints, whose movements are remotely actuated by the surgeon's hands. This remote actuation is accomplished through mechanical transmission, mainly along flexible elements, which are able to deliver motion from a set of actuation elements, placed at a proximal extremity of the shaft, to the instrument's articulated end-effector. The articulated end-effector further comprises one or more cam-and-follower mechanisms that are able to amplify the force transmitted by the flexible elements so that the actuation force at the instrument jaws is maximized and the tension on the transmission elements minimized, thus increasing the fatigue resistance and life of the instrument.