A surgical instrument, comprising a handle and an end effector configured to perform a tissue-treating function. The end effector comprises a distal head comprising a rotatable jaw and an end effector frame comprising a longitudinal end effector axis. The surgical instrument further comprises means for rotating the distal head relative to the end effector frame, a display, and means for adjusting the contents of the display in relation to the rotation of the distal head.

A surgical device comprising a first jaw member, a second jaw member, a clamping member and a clamp apparatus is disclosed. The clamping member is slidably positioned to translate at least partially through the first jaw member. The clamping member engages the first jaw member and the second jaw member, and has a knife blade for cutting tissue. A flange of the clamping member is configured to engage a cam surface to pivot the second jaw member with respect to the first jaw member from an open position toward an approximated position. The clamp apparatus is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position for preventing a gap between proximal portions of the first jaw member and the second jaw member from exceeding a predetermined distance. The clamping member and the clamp apparatus are separately movable.

Improved tissue fasteners are disclosed that can be inserted into (and optionally through) tissue structures underlying a tissue surface for affixing overlapping tissues and tissue planes together, and the like. In some embodiments, an elongate anvil body may protrude distally and/or laterally from a fastener support disposed along the base. The anvil body may have a sharpened end and be configured to penetrate into the tissue, with the elongate anvil body optionally having a bend from a more distal orientation adjacent the clip support to a more lateral orientation adjacent the sharpened end during at least a portion of the deployment. The first leg can be driven through a desired location on the surface of the first tissue and against a receptacle of the anvil body so as to deform the fastener and affix it to the first tissue.

An adapter assembly includes a switch actuator, an actuation bar, and a latch. The switch actuator is movable between a proximal position, in which the switch actuator actuates a switch, and a distal position. The latch is movable between a first position, in which the latch permits proximal movement of the switch actuator, and a second position, in which the latch prevents proximal movement of the switch actuator. The latch is configured to move from the first position toward the second position in response to the actuation bar moving toward a proximal position.

A handheld electromechanical surgical device includes a non-sterile power-pack having a drive component(s) including a rotatable drive shaft extending therefrom, a main processor configured to control each drive component, a battery configured to power each drive component, an electrical receptacle, and a control interface(s) configured to control a functionality of the drive component. A sterile outer shell housing is configured to removably encase the power-pack to define a sterile barrier thus enabling use in a surgical environment without breaking sterility. The outer shell housing includes a coupler configured to transmit a rotation from the rotatable drive shaft through the outer shell housing, a control button(s) operatively positioned such that actuation of the control button actuates the control interface, and a pass-through connector configured to transmit electrical communications from the electrical receptacle through the outer shell housing.

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 surgical instrument module for powering a plurality of discrete surgical end effectors includes a motor, a planetary gear box, a high-torque/low-speed output operably coupled to the motor, and a high-speed/low-torque output operably coupled to the motor. The high-torque/low-speed output is configured to be operably coupled to a driven member of a first type of surgical end effector, and the high-speed/low-torque output is configured to drive an operation of a second type of surgical end effector.

An apparatus comprises a shaft, an end effector, an articulation joint, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft has a longitudinal axis. The end effector is operable to staple tissue. The articulation joint couples the shaft with the end effector. The end effector is pivotable at the articulation joint to selectively deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The articulation drive assembly is operable to pivot the end effector at the articulation joint. The articulation drive assembly comprises a first link and a second link. The first link is longitudinally translatable relative to the shaft assembly. The distal end of the first link is pivotably coupled with the proximal end of the second link. The distal end of the second link is pivotably coupled with the end effector. The articulation drive assembly articulates the end effector in response to longitudinal translation of the first link.

A surgical instrument assembly is disclosed which comprises a shaft, an articulation joint, and an end effector rotatably connected to the shaft about the articulation joint. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein, and an anvil configured to deform the staples. The end effector further comprises a drive input, a closure system configured to move the second jaw between an open position and a closed position, a staple firing system configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge, and a transmission positioned in the end effector, wherein the transmission is configurable in three operating states for operably coupling the closure system and the staple firing system with the drive shaft.

A surgical stapling device comprising a housing, an elongated portion, an end effector, and a movable handle disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing and movable between a first open position and a second approximated position for affecting a function of the end effector. A ratchet mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the movable handle and is configured to substantially prevent the movable handle from moving towards its first open position until the movable handle reaches a predetermined position.