A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument can include an end effector, comprising an anvil and a staple cartridge. The surgical instrument can further include a shaft defining a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can also include an articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatably connected to the shaft about the articulation joint between an unarticulated position and at least one articulated position. The surgical instrument can include means for adjusting the length of a firing stroke as a function of the degree in which the end effector is articulated relative to the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can include a sensor configured to defect shifting of lateral portions of a flexible firing bar that extends through the articulation joint. Additionally or alternatively, the surgical instrument can include a relief feature configured to accommodate shifting of lateral portions of a flexible firing bar.

A surgical device includes an outer member, an inner member, and at least one locking element. The inner member is at least partially supported within the outer member. The at least one locking element is configured in a first arrangement of the surgical device to lock the inner member in a first position and configured in a second arrangement of the surgical device to unlock the inner member from the first position. The at least one locking element is configured to change from the first arrangement to the second arrangement upon coupling the inner member in an operational arrangement to a hand piece.

A forceps includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, a drive rod assembly and a moveable handle attached to a fixed handle. The first jaw member and the second jaw member are in opposing relation relative to one another, and at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is relatively movable from a first open position to a second clamping position when the first jaw member and the second jaw member cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Moving the moveable handle relative to the fixed handle moves the drive rod assembly for imparting movement of at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member from the first position and the second position. The moveable handle has an actuator with a lost motion connection between the first and second jaw members and the actuator.

A surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to the housing. The elongated shaft defines a longitudinal axis and a mandrel at the proximal portion. An inner shaft member extends at least partially through the elongated shaft. An actuating mechanism is operably coupled to the mandrel and is configured to selectively cause movement of the elongated shaft in a longitudinal direction with respect to the inner shaft member. The surgical also includes an end effector that is adapted for treating tissue and includes an upper jaw member pivotally coupled to a distal portion of the inner shaft member about a pivot axis and a lower jaw member supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft. Longitudinal movement of the elongated shaft is configured to pivot the upper jaw member relative to the lower jaw member.

A method for deforming a staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the base, the first staple leg, and the second staple leg are positioned within a common plane prior to being deformed, the method comprising positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of a staple pocket, the first cup comprising a first inner surface, applying a first compressive force to the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and the second staple leg, contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward a first side of the base, and deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg crosses a mid-line of the staple defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg.

Forceps including a housing, a first body, a second body and a drive shaft. The first body has a passageway extending therethrough. The drive shaft extending through the passageway and connected to the first body such that the first body and the drive shaft are slidable with respect to the housing to drive jaws located at a distal portion of the drive shaft between an open position and a closed position. The second body having a second passageway. The drive shaft extending through the second passageway such that the second body is guided by the drive shaft and is slidable relative to the first body and the drive shaft to displace a blade shaft between a retracted position and an extended position.

Surgical devices and related methods are disclosed. An example end effector for a surgical device may include a first jaw, a second jaw, and an articulating mechanism operable to move the first jaw between an open position, an intermediate position, and a closed position. An example articulating mechanism may include a first jaw mount coupled to the first jaw so that movement of the first jaw mount along a path causes rotation and translation of the first jaw mount and the first jaw. A pivotably mounted crank may operably couple an actuator linkage to the first jaw mount so that moving the actuator linkage rotates the crank, and rotation of the crank may move the first jaw mount along the path.

A surgical device includes an elongate body, a tool assembly, a drive assembly, and an articulation mechanism for moving the tool assembly between a non-articulated position and articulated positions. The articulation mechanism includes an articulation link, a first pivot link that is positioned on a first side of a flexible beam, and a second pivot link positioned on a second side of the flexible beam. The first and second pivot links are configured to control the path of movement of the flexible beam of the drive assembly as the flexible beam is moved between its retracted and advanced positions in non-articulated and articulated positions of the tool assembly to maintain a predetermined distance of movement of the clamp member within the tool assembly constant.

Various torque-limiting screwdriver devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. The screwdriver can include a body, a motor that is configured to rotate a screw engaged with the screwdriver, and a processor configured to control operation of the screwdriver. The screwdriver can have torque-limiting functionality, such as by monitoring the amount of torque applied to the screw and reducing or stopping rotation of the screw when certain torque-limiting criteria are met. In some embodiments, the screwdriver can be switched between manual operation by a user, and automated operation by a motor within the screwdriver. In some embodiments, the screwdriver can be attached to a robotic arm.

A surgical drill includes a drill bit, a driving device connected and electrically coupled to the drill bit, and a smart module electrically coupled to the driving device. In a bone drilling work, the smart module monitors an electrical signal of the driving device, and if the electrical signal shows a step drop, the smart module will send a stop command to the driving device to stop the operation of the driving device.