A surgical instrument comprising a housing, an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis, an end effector, a firing member, and a laminate firing actuator connected to the firing member is disclosed. The elongate shaft comprises an articulation joint defining an articulation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, a first lateral buckling support positioned on a first side of the articulation joint, and a second lateral buckling support positioned on a second side of the articulation joint. The laminate firing actuator extends through the articulation joint. The laminate firing actuator extends intermediate the first lateral buckling support and the second lateral buckling support. The first lateral buckling support and the second lateral buckling support engage the laminate firing actuator when the end effector is articulated about the articulation joint.

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 surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises an end effector that has a shaft coupled thereto that is coupled to a robotic system. A tool mounting portion includes an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train in the shaft for powering the drive train. A power pack that comprises at least one charge-accumulating device connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor is provided.

Surgical stapling instruments are disclosed comprising a staple cartridge, a firing member, and a cartridge lockout configured to prevent the firing member from being advanced through the staple cartridge if the staple cartridge has been already spent. The stapling instruments further comprise a lockout in the shaft that responds to the cartridge lockout blocking the firing member.

An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a surgical procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. Each of the anvil and the cartridge has a face that is positionable on the anatomical structure. The anvil is coupled to the cartridge at first and second ends. The anvil is movable relative to the cartridge to define a first gap between the faces at the first ends that is different from a second gap between the faces at the second ends.

A method is disclosed. The method can comprise obtaining a first staple cartridge and obtaining a second staple cartridge, wherein the first staple cartridge and the second staple cartridge comprise the same length and the same width. The method can further comprise inserting the first staple cartridge into a channel comprising a keyed profile, wherein complete insertion of the first staple cartridge into the channel is prevented by the keyed profile. Additionally, the method can comprise inserting the second staple cartridge into the channel, wherein complete insertion of the second staple cartridge into the channel is permitted by the keyed profile.

An endoscopic forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members. One of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from an open position, to a clamping position. One of the first and second jaw members includes one or more cam slots defined therein and configured to receive a cam member that upon movement thereof rotates the movable jaw member from the open position to the clamping position. A resilient member is operably coupled to the jaw member that includes the one or more cam slots. The resilient member is configured to provide a camming force to the cam slot and to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position.

A suture passing device includes a jaw assembly that is moved to an open configuration after exiting a hollow needle distal tip and moved to a closed configuration when retracted into the needle tip. The jaw assembly may include a pair of jaw members biased to a default diverging configuration. A suture capturing mechanism formed on the jaw members securely captures suture to both push and pull the captured when the jaw assembly is retracted into the hollow distal tip. The jaw members have configurations of teeth that may be staggered axially and vertically.

A surgical device comprising a shaft comprised of a first end and a second end; a clamp configured to be locked or unlocked attached to the first end of the shaft; an actuator shaft that is removably coupled to the shaft and configured to open and close the clamp; and optionally an anchor.

A treatment tool includes a first grasper and a second grasper. The first grasper includes a treatment portion that includes a treatment surface and an opposing surface, and a holder portion that is mounted on the opposing surface. The holder portion is formed of an elastically deformable material, and includes a first region having a first contact surface, a second region having a second contact surface, and a connection region that is arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact surface and that includes a concave portion. The holder portion is mounted on the opposing surface in an elastically deformed state such that the first contact surface and the second contact surface are in contact with the opposing surface and such that a depth of the concave portion is smaller than a depth of the concave portion is a non-elastically deformed state.