This disclosure is directed to surgical fixation devices (e.g., staples, screws, etc.) which are able to bring bone fragments into close proximity with each other, generate a compressive load, and maintain that compressive load for a prolonged period of time while healing occurs. The surgical fixations devices are manufactured from a shape memory material (e.g., a material capable of exhibiting superelasticity and/or a temperature-induced shape change).

A fastener cartridge can include, one, a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities and, two, a plurality of fasteners positioned in the fastener cavities. The cartridge body can further comprise extensions extending from the deck having different sizes and/or configurations. The extensions can control the flow of tissue relative to the deck and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cavities.

An orthopedic fixation system includes an implant transitionable between a natural shape and an insertion shape and an implant retainer. The implant includes a transition section deformable to move the implant between the natural shape and the insertion shape. The implant includes a first post and a second post protruding therefrom across the transition section. The first post and second post each include an opening therethrough, whereby, when the implant resides in the insertion shape, the opening of the first post and the opening of the second post align. The implant retainer being configured to insert in the openings of the first and second posts when the implant resides in the insertion shape such that the implant retainer interconnects the first post and second post while spanning the transition section, thereby constraining the implant in the insertion shape.

A method for characterizing a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device is disclosed. The ultrasonic device including an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency. The electromechanical ultrasonic system further including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. The method including applying, by an energy source, a power level to the ultrasonic transducer; measuring, by a control circuit coupled to a memory, an impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer; comparing, by the control circuit, the impedance value to a reference impedance value stored in the memory; classifying, by the control circuit, the impedance value based on the comparison; characterizing, by the control circuit, the state of the electromechanical ultrasonic system based on the classification of the impedance value; and adjusting, by the control circuit, the power level applied to the ultrasonic transducer based on the characterization of the state of the end effector.

Various surgical systems are disclosed. A surgical system can include a surgical robot and a surgical hub. The surgical robot can include a control unit in signal communication with a control console and a robotic tool. The surgical hub can include a display. The surgical hub can be in signal communication with the control unit. A facility can include a plurality of surgical hubs that communicate data from the surgical robots to a primary server. To alleviate bandwidth competition among the surgical hubs, the surgical hubs can include prioritization protocols for collecting, storing, and/or communicating data to the primary server.

A method of stapling tissue is disclosed. The method can include obtaining a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples, wherein each staple has a base and a leg extending from the base. The stapling method can also include firing the staples from the staple cartridge, wherein the staples are fired into tissue in a staple line. The staple line can include a first portion having a first flexibility and a second portion having a second flexibility, wherein the second flexibility is different than the first flexibility. A method of stapling tissue can also include adapting an anvil with an anvil plate having an arrangement of staple-forming pockets that differs from the staple-forming pockets in the anvil.

A system for implant delivery includes an implant and an inserter. The implant includes a body that extends between first and second ends. The implant includes retainers extending outwardly from the first and second ends. The retainers are received in corresponding jaws of the inserter. When the implant is connected to the inserter and the inserter is actuated, the implant elastically deforms.

A lesion resection method includes a marking step of forming a three-dimensional marking in peripheral tissues of a lesion; a grasping step of grasping the lesion by a grasping forceps; a retracing step of pulling the marking to a hand side of a staple ejection position of a stapler by pulling the grasping forceps grasping the lesion; a ligating step of ejecting a staple from the stapler to ligate the peripheral tissues of the lesion; and a resecting step of resecting the lesion.

An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, a firing system moveable along a first axis, a handle extending upwardly from the housing along a second axis that defines an acute angle with the first axis, the handle having an upper free end that defines a top of the applicator instrument, a trigger coupled with the housing for activating the firing system, and an elongated shaft extending from the distal end of the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section extending along the first axis and a distal shaft section that is oriented at an angle relative to the proximal shaft section for extending upwardly toward the top of the applicator instrument. The trigger is squeezed for dispensing surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has at least one visual indicator for indicating a proper orientation for the applicator instrument in which the upper free end of the handle is positioned above the housing.

Disclosed herein are devices (e.g., needles (e.g., hollow needles), hollow staples, articles, apparatuses, and systems), kits, and methods for treating skin and skin conditions, for example, by promoting skin tightening, such as by reducing skin laxity and reducing tissue area or volume.