An articulating ultrasonic surgical end effector for use with a hand-held surgical instrument or a robotic surgical system includes an articulation assembly, a clevis operably coupled to the articulation assembly, and a transducer assembly pivotably coupled to the clevis. The transducer assembly includes a transducer housing and an ultrasonic transducer and a waveguide disposed within the transducer housing. The waveguide is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and extends distally from the ultrasonic transducer. The transducer assembly also includes an ultrasonic blade disposed at the distal end of the waveguide and extending from the transducer housing and a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the transducer housing and movable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a clamping position. Ultrasonic energy produced by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted along the waveguide to the ultrasonic blade for treating tissue.

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing assembly and an adapter assembly. The adapter assembly defines a longitudinal axis and is selectively attachable to the housing assembly. The adapter assembly includes an end effector and an articulation assembly. The articulation assembly includes an articulation drive screw, an articulation nut threadedly mounted to the articulation drive screw, an articulation yolk coupled to the articulation nut, and an articulation tube that is positioned to move in response to movement of the articulation nut. Movement of the articulation tube causes the end effector to articulate relative to the longitudinal axis.

A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw rotatable relative to said first jaw, and jaw drive system is disclosed. The jaw drive system comprises a drive screw and a closure member threadably engaged with the drive screw configured to close the second jaw. The jaw drive system further comprises an opening link connecting the closure member to the second jaw which acts to open the second jaw when the closure member is driven in an opposite direction. In the event that the second jaw is not opened by the closure link, the jaw drive system further comprises a pull member which is pushed by the closure member to dislodge the second jaw into its open position.

A surgical stapling system for stapling the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The stapling system comprises a housing, a shaft extending from the housing, and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a plurality of staples removably stored therein and, also, an anvil configured to deform the staples. The stapling system further comprises a firing mechanism configured to deploy the staples along a staple firing path longer than 60 mm, a camera configured to capture an image of the patient tissue, a display, and a controller configured to generate an image of the staple firing path, wherein the images are displayed on the display.

A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprises a first jaw and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw for selective movement between an open position and closed positions. The surgical instrument further comprises a closure member that is axially movable in response to closing and opening motions. The closure member comprises at least one opening cam that protrudes therefrom to movably engage a corresponding cam surface on the second jaw such that upon application of the opening motion, the at least one opening cam movably engages the corresponding cam surface to move the second jaw to an open position, even when the jaws are under a load.

A surgical stapling device includes a body portion that defines a longitudinal axis and a tool assembly that articulates about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. An articulation link assembly is supported in the body portion and is movable between retracted and advanced positions to pivot the tool assembly between a non-articulated position and articulated positions. The articulation assembly supports an articulation lock assembly that is movable from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to longitudinal movement of the articulation assembly to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly. The articulation lock assembly stabilize the articulation link assembly within the body portion when the surgical stapling device is fired to minimize occurrence of tremors in the tool assembly.

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.

Surgical tools and assemblies are employed for use in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures. A handheld surgical tool assembly includes a handle assembly and a frame assembly, among other possible components. Intermediate bodies and joints are provided in certain handheld surgical tool assemblies and architectures. A yaw rotational degree of freedom is furnished between certain intermediate bodies, and a pitch rotational degree of freedom is furnished between certain intermediate bodies. Amid use, a mechanical advantage generated about the yaw rotational degree of freedom is unequal to a mechanical advantage generated about the pitch rotational degree of freedom.

An end effector includes first and second jaws movable between open and closed positions, a guide track defined in the second jaw, and a cutting element extendable into the guide track and longitudinally movable within the guide track. A retention feature is positioned within the guide track and operatively couples the cutting element to a drive rod. The drive rod is actuatable to move the cutting element within the guide track, and the retention feature is larger than a width of an opening to the guide track such that the retention feature is retained within the guide track as the cutting element moves.

A surgical treatment instrument includes an elongated member an end effector that is bendable with respect to the elongated member, a bending operator operable to bend the end effector, a rotor rotatable about a rotation axis in response to operation of the bending operator, and a transmitter that transmits a driving force to bend the end effector. The bending operator, the rotor, and the transmitter are rotatable about the longitudinal axis together with the elongated member and the end effector.