Various electrical and slip ring connector arrangements configured to facilitate the passage of electrical current and signals between two components that are rotatable relative to each other such as an interchangeable surgical shaft assembly that includes portions that are rotatable relative to fixed mounting portions.

A surgical staple configured to close an opening in tissue is provided. The surgical staple includes a base including first and second base portions and first and second legs extending from respective first and second base portions. The first and second base portions form a bendable connection therebetween. The staple has a first substantially open position in which the first base portion defines an angle with the second base portion and a second substantially closed position.

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises a handle and an end effector connected to the handle. The end effector comprises upper and lower opposing jaw members, wherein the upper jaw member comprises a plurality of co-linear, separately actuatable, RF electrodes.

An instrument for deploying a surgical implant includes a handle, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, and a frame arm. The frame arm includes a clip pair for releasably attaching the surgical implant to the frame arm. The clip pair includes first and second clips operably coupled by a spring member. The first and second clips are repositionable from a closed position to an open position. The spring member biases the first and second clips towards the closed position. A lock bar is coupled to the frame arm and translatable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the locked position, the lock bar maintains the first and second clips in either the open or the closed position. When the lock bar is in the unlocked position, the first and second clips are freely rotatable between the open and closed positions.

A method of surgical stapling that uses a surgical instrument operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue. The instrument includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector with a pair of jaws. A placement tip extends distally from one of the jaws of the end effector. The method includes positioning the end effector at a desired site for surgical stapling. The method also includes controlling one or more of the jaws of the end effector to place the end effector in an open position. The method also includes positioning the end effector such that tissue is located between the jaws. The method also includes clamping the tissue between the jaws by moving at least one of the jaws toward the other jaw. The method also includes advancing a firing beam of the apparatus from a proximal position to a distal position.

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 surgical device for deploying a surgical implant includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes a frame arm. A spring clip system is coupled to the frame arm and includes a pair of clips and a spring member. The spring member is connected to each of the clips and biases the clips towards a closed position. In the closed position, the clips are configured to retain the implant in contact with the frame arm.

A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor, a control circuit, and a position sensor. The displacement member is configured to translate. The motor is coupled to the displacement member to translate the displacement member. The control circuit is coupled to the motor. A position sensor is coupled to the control circuit. The position sensor is configured to measure the position of the displacement member and to measure an articulation angle of an end effector relative to a longitudinally extending shaft. The control circuit is configured to determine the articulation angle between the end effector and the longitudinally extending shaft and set motor velocity based on the articulation angle.