A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having an anvil and a cartridge assembly that are movable in relation to each other between open and clamped positions. The cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge that can be replaced after each firing of the stapling device to facilitate reuse of the stapling device. The anvil includes a lockout mechanism that prevents operation of the stapling device when the staple cartridge has been previously fired. The lockout mechanism moves from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to movement of the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position.

A robotic system includes a base movable relative to a floor surface and a controllable arm extending from the base. The arm is configured to support and move a tool. The arm has a powered joint operable to position and/or orient a distal portion of the arm. The robotic system further includes a processor coupled to the powered joint and configured to drive the powered joint to reposition the base while the position and/or orientation of the distal portion of the arm is maintained.

A cover member for a surgical staple cartridge. The cover member is configured to retain a wedge sled within the staple cartridge in a starting position when the cover member is attached to the body of the staple cartridge. The cover member includes a top portion that covers all of the fastener openings in the deck of the staple cartridge when the cover is attached to the cartridge.

A method for assisting a surgical operator in performing a surgical procedure uses a surgical controlling system includes a controller having a processing means communicable with a controller's database, said controller configured to control the spatial position of a surgical tool. The controller's database is in communication with movement detection means. The controller's database is configured to store a predetermined set of rules according to which allowed and restricted movements of the surgical tool are determined, each detected movement by said movement detection means of said at least one surgical tool being determined as either an allowed movement or as a restricted movement according to said predetermined set of rules. The system automatically real-time analyzes and determines the location of each anatomical element in the surgical environment.

A surgical instrument includes an instrument shaft, two instrument branches that can be positioned relatively to one another in a working position and a rest position, a handle element on which an operating element is movably arranged for positioning the instrument branches, and a coupling mechanism having a translating unit that converts a movement of the operating element, non-linearly, into a relative movement of at least one of the two instrument branches. The coupling mechanism includes at least one bias element that biases the mechanism into the rest position and/or into the working position of the instrument branches.

The invention concerns a handle for a video endoscope for medical or industrial applications, comprising a housing and an interface portion, where the interface portion includes a first connector element at its distal end connected to an electric transmission element that is connectable to a connector element of an associated elongate shaft to form a detachable electrical and/or mechanical connection between the handle and the associated shaft. The includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection between the electric transmission element and a stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle. The handle also includes at least a first bearing for rotatably supporting the interface portion in and/or at the housing, such that when the shaft and handle are connected the shaft is rotatable via the rotatably supported interface portion relative to the housing of the handle.

An axis-aligning, force-limiting periarticular/intraarticular reduction forceps suitable for the reduction and realignment of specific anatomic structures includes a pair of medial and lateral forceps tines. A pair of tine tips may terminate the forceps tines, respectively. A pair of lateral and medial forceps handles may extend from the medial and lateral forceps tines, respectively. A first tine/handle junction may attach the lateral forceps handle to the medial forceps tine. A second tine/handle junction may attach the medial forceps handle to the lateral forceps tine. The second tine/handle junction may be pivotally attached to the first tine/handle junction. A force quantifying and limiting mechanism limits the magnitude of clamping force the medial and lateral forceps handles apply to the medial and lateral forceps tines. A pair of X-ray-visible targets on the medial and lateral tines assist with axis alignment for the insertion of fixation devices.

A surgical system includes an arm extending from the base and having a distal end configured to be coupled to a tool, a first marker coupled in fixed relation to the base, and a tracking system. The tracking system is configured to collect first data indicative of a position of the first marker and collect second data indicative of a position an anatomical feature of a patient. The surgical system also includes a processor configured to calculate a position of the tool relative to the anatomical feature based on the first data and the second data.

A transection device including a curved tubular body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, having a wall and an internal chamber and a receiving chamber. The receiving chamber may be defined by the distal end and an opening in the wall, and said distal end may have a surface facing the receiving chamber and an outside surface comprising an elongated region. A protrusion may extend from the distal end towards the center of said opening. A cutting member may be positioned within said curved tubular body and may be moveable between an initial position and an extended position and at least a portion of the cutting member may extend into the receiving chamber. A depressible member may be configured to move the cutting member and a compression member may extend between the cutting member and the depressible member. Some embodiments may utilize an electrosurgical cutting member.

A medical supporting arm control apparatus that includes a memory, and processing circuitry that obtains a current spatial position of an operating point in a multi-link structure configured by coupling a plurality of links by a joint section, by detecting a current rotational angle of the joint section, compares a movable region of the operating point stored in the memory with the obtained current spatial position, the movable region being set in advance, and restricts an operation of the operating point on a basis of a result of the comparison.