A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing, an elongated shaft portion configured to extend distally relative to the handle housing, and a surgical end effector configured to be coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft portion. An articulation screw is operably coupled to the surgical end effector, and an articulation nut is disposed about and operably coupled to the articulation screw. The articulation screw is configured to translate in response to a rotation of the articulation nut, whereby the articulation screw articulates the surgical end effector between a parallel orientation relative to the shaft portion and a non-parallel orientation relative to the shaft portion.

A two-part tissue thickness compensator assembly can include a first tissue thickness compensator configured to be positioned relative to an anvil of a surgical stapler, a second tissue thickness compensator configured to be positioned relative to a staple cartridge of the surgical stapler, and a hinge connecting the first tissue thickness compensator to the second tissue thickness compensator. The first and/or second tissue thickness compensators may include additional engagement features, such as a raised ridge that engages a slot in the anvil and/or the staple cartridge. In certain embodiments, the first and/or second tissue thickness compensators may include an encasement that contains a suitable biologic agent. An end effector assembly may be provided for attachment to a surgical instrument that includes, for example, a staple cartridge, an anvil, a first tissue thickness compensator positioned on the anvil, and a second tissue thickness compensator positioned on the staple cartridge.

A system for closing an aperture in a biological tissue includes at least one clip connected to at least one frame arm and for releasably retaining a surgical implant to the frame arm. The clip includes at least one locking structure for engaging a lock bar. A portion of the lock bar selectively engages or contacts the locking structure of the at least one clip to lock the at least one clip in a closed position by inhibiting rotation of the at least one clip when the lock bar is in a locked position. The lock bar allows the at least one clip to rotate to an open position when the lock bar is in an unlocked position. Methods for utilizing the system are also disclosed.

-- A surgical stapling apparatus includes a housing assembly, an elongated shaft assembly, an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly, and a firing drive screw coupled to a firing nut. The elongated shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis and has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The proximal end portion is selectively attached to the housing assembly. The anvil assembly is supported on the distal end portion of the elongated shaft assembly. The cartridge assembly is selectively attached to the anvil assembly to secure the cartridge assembly to the elongated shaft assembly. The firing nut is coupled to a firing tube. The firing tube is coupled to a firing rod. The firing rod is positioned to advance a drive beam assembly through the cartridge assembly.--

According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a portable monitoring device to be affixed to a user. The portable monitoring device including: 1) a set of one or more sensors to generate sensor data indicative of physical activity of a user when the portable monitoring device is affixed to the user; and 2) processing circuitry coupled with the set of sensors, to detect that the user has been sedentary for a period of time, and cause the portable monitoring device to alert the user responsive to the detection to encourage the user to move.

A surgical system is disclosed that includes an end effector, a firing member, a motor, a position sensor, a timer, and a control system. The end effector comprises a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples. The staples are deployable from the staple cartridge based on the firing member moving toward a distal position. The motor is configured to drive the firing member between the proximal position and the distal position. The position sensor is configured to measure a positon of the firing member. The timer is configured to measure elapsed time. The control system is configured to control the motor by comparing actual displacement of the firing member over a time interval to anticipated displacement of the firing member over the time interval.

Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the stapling assembly includes a cartridge having a plurality of staples disposed therein and a non-fibrous adjunct formed of at least one fused bioabsorbable polymer and configured to be releasably retained on the cartridge. Adjunct systems for use with a surgical stapler are also provided. Surgical end effectors using the stapling assemblies are also provided. Methods for manufacturing stapling assemblies and using the same are also provided.

A transverse surgical stapling system includes an elongated shaft assembly, a distal tube, an anvil assembly, and a cartridge assembly. The distal tube has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion of the distal tube supports the elongated shaft assembly. The anvil assembly is supported on the distal end portion of the distal tube. The cartridge assembly is supported on the distal tube in movable relation to the anvil assembly. The anvil and cartridge assemblies are movable between retracted and extended positions relative to the distal tube.

A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.

A continuous strip of staples for use with a surgical stapling device includes an elongated stock of corrugated paper defining a plurality of channels therein. An inner facing side of each channel is configured to support a row of staples thereon and extending therealong and is configured to be slidingly received in a corresponding plurality of slots defined within a cartridge assembly of a stapling device for loading the staples therein. A plurality of indexing apertures is defined in the elongated stock and extends therealong. The plurality of indexing apertures is adapted to engage a staple deformation element of the cartridge assembly during retraction thereof to automatically reload one or more new rows of staples after actuation of the stapling device.