A surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments include a rotatable elongated body that extends from a rotatable shroud on handle assembly and has a distal end configured for attachment to a disposable loading unit. The apparatus further includes a lockable rotation system for selectively locking the rotatable shroud to prevent rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis.

The present invention aims to provide a staple reinforcement for a surgical stapler that can be used in surgical staplers of various sizes, is easily passed through ports, and is less likely to shift during operation of the surgical stapler. Provided is a staple reinforcement for a surgical stapler, including a fabric layer containing a bioabsorbable material and a sponge layer containing a water-soluble polymer, the fabric layer and the sponge layer being integrally laminated.

A loading unit includes a staple cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and an anvil buttress. The anvil assembly includes an anvil plate including a tissue facing surface having apertures defined therethrough and an anvil cover disposed over an outwardly facing surface of the anvil plate. The anvil buttress includes a body portion positioned against the tissue facing surface of the anvil plate and arms extending into the apertures of the anvil plate. The arms releasably secure the anvil buttress to the anvil plate.

A staple driver actuator for a surgical stapler includes a base having at least one bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a plane and is configured to slide longitudinally relative to a jaw of the surgical stapler. The base also has at least one top surface parallel to the plane. The staple driver actuator further includes at least one rail extending upwardly from the base. The rail includes at least one first cam surface. The first cam surface is inclined relative to the plane, and the first cam surface is longitudinally aligned with at least a portion of the at least one top surface.

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a loading unit, a surgical buttress, and a buttress retention band. The loading unit includes an anvil assembly and a staple cartridge assembly. The staple cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge having a tissue facing surface including staple pockets and a central longitudinal slot defined therethrough, and a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom. The surgical buttress includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion is positioned over the protrusion of the staple cartridge. The buttress retention band is disposed around the proximal end portion of the surgical buttress and the protrusion of the staple cartridge to releasably secure the proximal end portion of the surgical buttress to the staple cartridge assembly.

A staple cartridge comprising staple drivers including stability supports is disclosed.

Disclosed is an electrosurgical instrument including an end effector with a cartridge having an asymmetric cartridge body.

Disclosed is a surgical instrument comprising an end effector with energy sensitive resistance elements.

A surgical device includes an end effector having a pair of opposing jaw members and a drive beam movable longitudinally through the pair of opposing jaw members thereby approximating the pair of opposing jaw members relative to each other. The device also includes an adapter assembly configured to selectively couple to the end effector. The adapter assembly includes an actuation assembly configured to mechanically engage the drive beam and to move the drive beam longitudinally. The device also includes a handle assembly configured to selectively couple to the adapter assembly. The handle assembly includes: a power source, a motor coupled to the power source, a sensor configured to measure a force imparted on the drive beam, and a motor controller configured to control the motor to maintain constant force on the drive beam based on the force measured by the sensor during longitudinal movement of the drive beam approximating the pair of opposing jaw members closer relative to each other.

A surgical instrument comprising a translatable closing bar and a translatable firing bar is disclosed.