Abstract: An apparatus includes a staple, a body, a staple driver, and an alignment feature. The alignment feature is coupled to or formed with at least one of the staple driver or an inner surface of the staple aperture of the body. The alignment feature is configured to minimize rotation of the staple driver. The alignment feature includes at least one of a first contact feature, an alignment member, an alignment member, or an inwardly tapering portion. The first contact feature projects beyond a first lateral side of the staple driver. The alignment member extends through at least a portion of the staple driver. The first connecting portion rigidly connects the inner surface of the staple aperture with the staple driver in a connected state. The inwardly tapering portion of the inner surface or the staple driver is configured to guide the staple driver.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powered surgical stapler that includes an end effector with jaws that are movable between an open and a closed position and a firing member that is movable between a starting position and an ending position within the end effector. The jaws and firing member are controlled by separate rotary systems and the end effector includes a firing member lockout system that prevents axial movement of the firing member unless the surgical staple cartridge is in ready to fire condition.

Abstract: A method of applying a buttress to a surgically cut and stapled site uses an end effector with a buttress applier cartridge assembly to load one or more buttress assemblies to the end effector. The buttress assemblies each include a buttress to support a staple formed therein as well an adhesive for adhering to the end effector. The adhesive of the buttress assemblies can include a pattern to assist in both attachment to the end effector and release from the end effector after cutting and stapling a tissue site. The buttress applier cartridge can include features that accommodate end effectors having various tip configurations, including straight tips and curved or bent tips.

Abstract: A system for stapling tissue is disclosed. The system can include a channel and a compatible staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples. The channel and the compatible staple cartridge comprise mating or cooperating alignment features for permitting complete insertion of the compatible staple cartridge and for preventing an incompatible staple cartridge from being completely inserted in the channel.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor, a control circuit, and a position sensor. The displacement member is configured to translate. The motor is coupled to the displacement member to translate the displacement member. The control circuit is coupled to the motor. A position sensor is coupled to the control circuit. The position sensor is configured to measure the position of the displacement member and to measure an articulation angle of an end effector relative to a longitudinally extending shaft. The control circuit is configured to determine the articulation angle between the end effector and the longitudinally extending shaft and set motor velocity based on the articulation angle.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: An interactive and dynamic surgical simulation system may be used in the context of a computer-implemented interactive surgical system. An operating-room-based surgical data system may aggregate surgical activity data that is indicative of a performance of a live surgical procedure. The surgical simulation device may receive the surgical activity data from the operating-room-based surgical data system. And the surgical simulation device may simulate a surgical task based on surgical activity data. The surgical activity data may be structured by a procedure plan data structure. The procedure plan data structure may be common to the operating-room-based surgical data system and the surgical simulation device. The procedure plan data structure may be configured to covey information indicative of equipment, technique, and surgical steps in a structured format such that the equipment, technique, and surgical steps of the live surgical procedure are reflected in the simulated surgical procedure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that includes a first jaw and a second jaw that are movable between a closed position and an open position. An axially movable closure member is supported relative to the jaws to apply closing and opening motions thereto. A closure actuator operably interfaces with the closure member and is movable from an unactuated position corresponding to the open position in a closure direction during a closure procedure. A first control system is configured to apply an opening control motion to the closure actuator to return the closure actuator to the unactuated position upon completion of the closure procedure. A second control system is configured to apply a variable closure force to the closure member as the closure actuator is moved in the closure direction.

Abstract: A surgical stapler is presented having a firing assembly, a motor, and a motor control circuit. The firing assembly is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis such that translation of the firing assembly in a distal direction is configured to deploy staples from an end effector during a firing stroke. The motor assembly includes a motor configured to drive the firing assembly along the longitudinal axis. The motor control circuit is configured to receive a firing signal indicating initiation of the firing stroke, drive the motor with a motor drive signal comprising a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a first constant duty cycle such that the firing assembly is translated through an initial distance, and increase a duty cycle of the PWM signal based at least in part on movement of the firing assembly through the initial distance.

Abstract: Various systems and methods providing recommendations based on analysis of surgical procedure variables are disclosed. A computer system, such as a surgical hub, can be configured to be communicably coupled to a surgical device. The computer system can be programmed to determine contextual data related to the surgical procedure being performed based at least in part of perioperative data received from the surgical device paired with the computer system. Further, the computer system can determine a procedural variable associated with the determined surgical context and then compare the procedural variable to a baseline. Depending upon the outcome of the comparison, the computer system can provide intraoperative or postoperative recommendations to the surgical staff.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of creating an anastomosis is provided using a stapling assembly including a body extending distally along a longitudinal axis and a deck member defining a deck surface. The deck surface includes a first array of staple openings comprising a herringbone pattern, and each staple opening of the first array of staple openings has a same size. The method includes positioning an anvil within a first lumen of a patient and positioning the stapling assembly within a second lumen of the patient. The method also includes releasably coupling the anvil with the stapling assembly and compressing tissue of the first and second lumens between the anvil and the deck member. The method further includes actuating a plurality of staple drivers to drive a first plurality of staples distally and parallel to the longitudinal axis from the first array of staple openings into the tissue to define the anastomosis.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is configured to compensate for battery pack and drivetrain failures. One method includes generating a firing sequence, determining whether a subset of rechargeable battery cells is damaged during the firing sequence, and stepping-up an output voltage of the battery pack to complete the firing sequence in response to a determination that a subset of the rechargeable battery cells is damaged. Another method includes generating a mechanical output to motivate a drivetrain to transmit a motion to a jaw assembly of the surgical instrument, activating a safe mode in response to an acute failure of the drivetrain, and activating a bailout mode in response to a catastrophic failure of the drivetrain. Another method includes driving a drivetrain, sensing and recording vibration information from the drivetrain, generating an output signal based on the vibration information, and determining a status of the surgical instrument based on the output signal.

Abstract: Various surgical systems configured to analyze surgical procedure trends are disclosed. The surgical systems can further be configured to provide recommendations and/or adjust control algorithms executed by the surgical systems according to the identified trends. The identified trends can be utilized to determine a baseline or recommended action to be performed at a decision point in a surgical procedure. The surgical systems can be configured to provide preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative feedback to users based on their decisions at the decision points relative to the determined baseline or recommended actions.

Abstract: A method for evacuating particulates from a surgical site is disclosed. The method comprises communicatively connecting a particulate evacuation module and a surgical hub, wherein the surgical hub comprises a surgical hub enclosure, and wherein the particulate evacuation module is configured to be received within the surgical hub enclosure. The method further comprises removing a particulate from the surgical site and into the particulate evacuation module, analyzing the removed particulate, and modifying an operation of the particulate evacuation module based on the analysis of the removed particulate.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided in which movement of a tool is controlled based on sensed parameters. In one embodiment, an electromechanical tool is provided having an instrument shaft and an end effector formed thereon. The electromechanical tool is configured to be mounted on an electromechanical arm, and the electromechanical tool is configured to move with or relative to the electromechanical arm and perform surgical functions. A controller is operatively coupled to the electromechanical arm and the electromechanical tool and is configured to retard advancement of the electromechanical tool toward a tissue surface based on a sensed amount of displacement of a tissue surface, a strain on the tissue of the patient, the temperature of the electromechanical tool, or the like.

Abstract: A portable electronic device may include a housing having a wall defining an opening in the housing and at least a portion of four side surfaces of the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device may further include a display at least partially within the housing, a front cover positioned in the opening in the housing and over the display, the front cover defining a front surface, a peripheral side surface extending from the front surface and at least partially surrounded by the wall of the housing, and a notch that, together with a portion of the wall of the housing, defines an acoustic port of the portable electronic device. The electronic device may further include an acoustic port cover positioned at least partially in the acoustic port and a speaker at least partially within the housing and configured to direct sound through the acoustic port cover.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that includes a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a proximal articulation joint that defines a first articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and a distal articulation joint that defines a second articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the first articulation axis. The instrument further includes an anvil that is non-removably attached to the shaft assembly and a channel that is removably attachable to the shaft assembly and configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge.

Abstract: An end effector is disclosed comprising a cartridge channel, a staple cartridge positionable in the cartridge channel, and a firing assembly configured to lock itself if the staple cartridge is not positioned in the cartridge channel. Moreover, the firing assembly is configured to lock itself if the staple cartridge has been at least partially spent.