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 aspect, a tissue fastening device may comprise a body configured to include a plurality of fasteners; an anvil rotatable relative to the body; and a tissue cutting device. The body may define a longitudinal channel configured to receive the tissue cutting device. The tissue fastening device may further comprise a fastener actuator configured to move proximally relative to the body to deploy the plurality of fasteners from the body; and an actuation wire coupled to the tissue cutting device and the fastener actuator. The actuation of the actuation wire may cause the fastener actuator to deploy at least one of the plurality of fasteners into tissue distally of tissue cut by the tissue cutting device.

An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises an anvil comprising a proximal camming member. At least one jaw is movable relative to the other to close the end effector. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising a proximal channel aperture and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a cartridge pan. The cartridge pan comprises a proximal pan aperture configured to be positioned partially distal to the proximal channel aperture when the staple cartridge is assembled with the elongated channel in an unlocked configuration. The camming member is configured to proximally translate the cartridge pan relative to the cartridge body from the unlocked configuration to a locked configuration during a transition of the end effector to a closed configuration.

A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body including staple formation features is disclosed.

According to one aspect, a fastening device may include a coupling body having (1) a portion configured to couple to a distal end of a medical device, (2) a cartridge holder, and (3) an anvil pivotably coupled to the cartridge holder. The cartridge holder and the anvil may extend distally from the portion and may be configured to extend distally of a distalmost face of the medical device when the portion is coupled to the distal end of the medical device. A flexible member may be configured to extend through a channel of the medical device. A fastener cartridge may be coupled to a distal end of the flexible member, including at least one fastener, and may be configured for releasable coupling to the cartridge holder.

A staple cartridge comprising staples that are lubricated before they are loaded into the staple cartridge and after they have been loaded into the staple cartridge is disclosed.

A surgical device includes an adapter assembly, a tool assembly supported on a distal portion of the adapter assembly, sensors supported on the tool assembly, a flex cable that is coupled to the sensors and extends from the tool assembly through the adapter assembly, and a tensioner mechanism that is engaged with the flex cable within the adapter assembly to maintain tension in the flex cable.

A surgical instrument and method of operating on a tissue includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector extends in a longitudinal direction from the shaft assembly and has a first jaw, a second jaw, and a deformable hydraulic member. The second jaw is movably mounted relative to the first jaw and is configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The first and second jaws are thus configured to have the tissue positioned therebetween in the closed configuration. The deformable hydraulic is configured to contain a fluid. With the fluid contained in the deformable hydraulic member, the deformable hydraulic member is configured to sever the tissue positioned between the first and second jaws in the closed configuration.

This document provides devices and methods for repairing a prolapsing mitral valve leaflet using minimally invasive catheter based approaches. For example, percutaneous procedures that involve folding and securing a segment of a prolapsing leaflet onto or pulling and securing a segment of a prolapsing leaflet through part of the greater mitral valve leaflet are provided. In some cases, artificial chordae are installed to stabilize and maintain desired orientation of the leaflets.

A surgical stapler is described herein which includes a shaft portion and a tool assembly supported on a distal end of the shaft portion. The too assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge body which rotatably supports a plurality of staples within notches. At least one firing cam is provided to sequentially to engage and rotate each of the staples to fire the staples from the cartridge body. In embodiments, the cartridge body includes two spaced legs which support two linear rows of staples. Each of the spaced legs of the cartridge body is supported within one of a first and a second cartridge channel. The cartridge channels are fixed to opposite sides of a pivot member which is pivotally supported at a distal end of the shaft portion between the shaft portion and the tool assembly such that translation of the first and second cartridge channels in opposite directions effects articulation of the tool assembly in relation to the shaft portion.