Surgical end effectors are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can include a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member configured to translate relative to the first jaw and the second jaw during a firing stroke. The firing member can include at least one floating flange. The floating flange can be configured to shift or slide relative to a fixed portion of the firing member such as a fixed flange.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

A surgical system includes a robotic arm, an end effector coupled to the robotic arm, a divot at the end effector, a probe configured to be inserted into the divot, a tracking system configured to obtain data indicative of a position of the probe while the probe is in the divot, and circuitry configured to verify a proper physical configuration of the surgical system based on the data indicative of the position of the probe while the probe is in the divot.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

An imaging system includes an image generating device and two reflecting mirrors. The image generating device projects a light toward a gravity direction. The two reflecting mirrors are disposed with respect to each other and one of the two reflecting mirrors is disposed with respect to the image generating device. The light projected by the image generating device forms a virtual image through the two reflecting mirrors in sequence.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, a knife drive assembly, an electrode activation assembly, and a lockout assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a knife, and an electrode assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing associated with the first jaw and an arm associated with the second jaw, where the arm is configured to pivot the second jaw between an open position and a closed position. The lockout assembly is may transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The lockout assembly may prevent activation of the electrode and prevent actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the locked configuration. The lockout assembly may allow activation of the electrode and allow actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the unlocked configuration.

A surgical visualization system is disclosed. The surgical visualization system is configured to identify one or more structure(s) and/or determine one or more distances with respect to obscuring tissue and/or the identified structure(s). The surgical visualization system can facilitate avoidance of the identified structure(s) by a surgical device. The surgical visualization system can comprise a first emitter configured to emit a plurality of tissue-penetrating light waves and a second emitter configured to emit structured light onto the surface of tissue. The surgical visualization system can also include an image sensor configured to detect reflected visible light, tissue-penetrating light, and/or structured light. The surgical visualization system can convey information to one or more clinicians regarding the position of one or more hidden identified structures and/or provide one or more proximity indicators.

A powered surgical stapler comprising a handle including an electric motor configured to output rotary motions, a shaft extending from the handle, an end effector extending from the shaft, a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples, and a firing member operably responsive to the rotary motions is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position. The firing member is configured to move the second jaw into the closed position. The firing member is further configured to move distally within the end effector at a first rate to eject the plurality of staples from the staple cartridge. The firing member is further configured to move proximally within the end effector at a second rate that is different from the first rate.

Medical device used to cause hemostasis of blood vessels using a clip arrangement delivered to a target region through an endoscope. Method for using the device to cause hemostasis of a blood vessel through an endoscope. Medical device including a reversibly closeable clip, a locking arrangement, a control wire, a sheath, and a handle with an actuating trigger. Through the endoscope, hemostatic clipping device that is fully reversible and lockable. Hemostatic clip that reversibly targets and clips bleeding ulcers.

A method of using a robotic guidance system for performing surgery on a spine is provided. The method includes utilizing a computerized tomographic scan image of a location on a spinal column of a patient, such that the computerized tomographic scan image is connected to a computer and visible on a monitor connected to the computer. The method also includes attaching a coupling component to the spinal column of the patient, coupling a marker to the coupling component, and imaging, with a fluoroscope, the view of the spinal column of the patient, wherein the fluoroscope image is transmitted to the computer and visible on the monitor and the at marker is clearly visible in the fluoroscope image. The method also includes positioning a cannula, with a robotic mechanism, to a first position relative to a vertebra in the spinal column of the patient, drilling a passage through the cannula into bone of the vertebra in the spinal column of the patient, inserting a guidewire through the cannula into the passage in the bone of the vertebra in the spinal column of the patient, and positioning a screw into the bone of the vertebra in the spinal column of the patient.