An apparatus is provided for applying an adjunct element to at least one of opposing first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler, wherein each of the first and second jaws includes a stapling surface and an external surface opposed from the respective stapling surface. The apparatus comprises: (a) a platform configured to be positioned between the first and second jaws of the end effector; (b) an adjunct element positioned on the platform; and (c) at least one closure surface opposed from the platform, wherein the at least one closure surface is configured to mechanically engage the external surface of at least one of the first or second jaws to thereby transition the end effector from an open state toward a closed state for placing the respective stapling surface of the at least one of the first or second jaws in contact with the adjunct element.

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a motor, and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle and/or the shaft can define a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein, an anvil configured to deform the fasteners, a closure drive configured to move the anvil toward and away from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and a firing drive configured to deploy the fasteners from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a transmission comprising a first operating configuration which connects the motor to the closure drive and a second operating configuration which connects the motor to the firing drive.

A surgical instrument system is disclosed which comprises a distal end and a staple cartridge assembly comprising staples removably stored therein. The instrument system further comprises a firing drive including an electric motor and a firing member operably couplable with the electric motor. The electric motor is operable to advance the firing member toward the distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The electric motor is operable to retract the firing member away from the distal end during a retraction stroke. The surgical instrument system further comprises a manually-operated bailout mechanism operable to perform the retraction stroke in lieu of the electric motor, a controller, and a display in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to display the progress of the retraction stroke when the firing member is being manually retracted by the bailout mechanism.

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument having one or more sensors at or a near an end effector and configured to aide in the detection of tissues and other materials and structures at a surgical site. The detections may then be used to aide in the placement of the end effector and to confirm which objects to operate on, or alternatively, to avoid. Examples of sensors include laser sensors used to employ Doppler shift principles to detect movement of objects at the surgical site, such as blood cells; resistance sensors to detect the presence of metal; monochromatic light sources that allow for different levels of absorption from different types of substances present at the surgical site, and near infrared spectrometers with small form factors.

A hand-held surgical instrument includes a handle housing and a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle housing. The shaft assembly includes an elongate body configured to translate from a distal position to a proximal position in response to an insertion of a surgical loading unit into a distal end portion of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has a cam plate configured to convert rotational motion into an articulation of an end effector of the surgical loading unit. When the elongate body is in the distal position, the elongate body is configured to prevent rotation of the cam plate.

A surgical instrument receives an indication to provide adaptive control of surgical instrument functions. The indication may indicate to provide adaptable staple height operating range, to control motors associated with tissue compression, and/or to operate using the operational parameters associated with previous surgical procedures. The surgical instrument may determine values for parameters associated with the identified function and adapt the control of the identified function based upon the determined parameters. The surgical instrument may adapt a display of staple height operating range based on parameters indicating a size of an anvil head. The surgical instrument may control motors associated with tissue compression based on parameters indicating force applied in the instrument. The surgical instrument may operate according to operational parameters identified by a surgical hub.

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 surgical device includes first and second curved gripping sleeves that can be secured to first and second curved jaws of the surgical device to allow the device to function as a grasper. The curved gripping sleeves include nonslip surfaces which are brought into juxtaposed alignment with each other when the surgical device is moved from an open position to a clamped position to clamp tissue between the nonslip surfaces of the gripping sleeves.

A stapling device includes first and second jaws. The second jaw defines first and second threaded bores. A drive member has a distal end portion supporting a rack. An approximation drive assembly includes a first lead screw received within the first threaded bore. A second lead screw is received within the second threaded bore. A first pinion is supported on the first lead screw. A second pinion is supported on the second lead screw. Moving the drive member from the retracted position toward the advanced position advances the rack to rotate the first pinion and the second pinion, the first lead screw within the first threaded bore, and the second lead screw within the second threaded bore to move the second jaw in relation to the first jaw from an open position to a clamped position.

An apparatus is provided for applying an adjunct element to at least one of opposing first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler, wherein each of the first and second jaws includes a stapling surface and an external surface opposed from the respective stapling surface. The apparatus comprises: (a) a platform configured to be positioned between the first and second jaws of the end effector; (b) an adjunct element positioned on the platform; and (c) at least one closure surface opposed from the platform, wherein the at least one closure surface is configured to mechanically engage the external surface of at least one of the first or second jaws to thereby transition the end effector from an open state toward a closed state for placing the respective stapling surface of the at least one of the first or second jaws in contact with the adjunct element.