Cilag

An apparatus includes a first jaw (16) and a second jaw (618, 718, 900) that cooperate to clamp and staple tissue (90). The second jaw includes a jaw body (620, 720, 902) and a distal tip (619, 719, 906) pivotable relative to the jaw body between a first discrete and a second discrete position. First and second openings (663, 784, 785, 932, 934) are both defined by one of the distal tip or a structure (621, 920) located proximal to the distal tip. A projection (637, 781, 918) is defined by the other of the distal tip or the structure. The projection is positionable within the first opening (663, 785, 932) to releasably retain the distal tip in the first discrete position, and within the second opening (663, 784, 934) to releasably retain the distal tip in the second discrete position.

A system includes an energy-based surgical instrument with an end effector having two electrodes. One of the electrodes has multiple electrode portions. A generator coupled to the surgical instrument supplies radio-frequency (RF) energy to an electrode portion for a tissue coagulation process and further supplies RF energy at a higher voltage or current to another electrode portion for a tissue transection process. A control element may monitor tissue impedance or tissue temperature. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A system includes an energy-based surgical instrument with an end effector having one or more jaw clamps. The end effector may include a segmented electrode with a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to one jaw clamp and a return electrode coupled to the other jaw clamp. The distal and proximal portions may be separately or cooperatively energized with radio frequency (RF) energy. A pressure varying mechanism may selectively limit or increase pressure at the distal portion of the electrode. The end effector may include a jaw clamp with a tissue pad positioned within a channel. The end effector may include a conformal or erodible electrode that extends to the distal tip of the jaw assembly. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A surgical instrument and associated method for controlling clamping force of a surgical instrument includes an end effector having a jaw assembly movable between an open state and a closed state, a trigger assembly operable to move the jaw assembly of the end effector between the open state and the closed state, and a clamping force augmentation system controllable to increase a clamping force of the jaw assembly of the end effector. A controller of the surgical instrument is configured to activate the clamping force augmentation system to increase the clamping force of the jaw assembly of the end effector in response to an RF mode of the surgical instrument being activated and (ii) the position sensor indicating that the present state of the jaw assembly is in the closed state.

Technologies for securing a tissue pad to a jaw clamp of an energy-based surgical instrument includes a surgical instrument having an end effector. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a jaw clamp. The jaw clamp includes a metallic frame and a tissue pad attached to the metallic frame. The tissue pad of the jaw clamp has a minimum width that is greater than width of the ultrasonic blade. Additionally, the sidewalls of the tissue pad and the metallic frame may be beveled so as to retain the tissue pad in the metallic frame.

A control method for an energy-based surgical instrument includes activating an energy control signal at a subtherapeutic level, measuring a system response at the subtherapeutic level, adjusting one or more parameters based on the system response, and then activating an energy control signal at a therapeutic level according to the determined parameters. The subtherapeutic and therapeutic signals may be ultrasound or radio frequency (RF) energy and/or a combination of ultrasound and RF energy. Controlled parameters may include mode, cycle time, power (e.g., ultrasound tip displacement), or crest factor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A system includes an energy-based surgical instrument with a mode selector capable of selecting a latch mode and an automatic or non-latch mode. The surgical instrument may send a message signal indicative of the state of the mode selector to a surgical generator, which outputs an audio tone indicative of the state of the mode selector. The surgical instrument may generate feedback, such as haptic feedback, when energy delivery is nearly activated, and generate different feedback when the energy delivery is activated. The surgical instrument may measure tension applied at an end effector of the surgical instrument and generate haptic feedback based on the measured tension. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A surgical instrument and associated method includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a metallic jaw clamp, and a partially conductive tissue pad coupled to the jaw clamp. The tissue pad comprises a polymeric substrate with a conductive trace formed on the surface of the polymeric substrate. The polymeric substate may be formed from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the surface of the PTFE substrate may be treated to improve adhesion of the conductive trace. The tissue pad is erodible during activation of the ultrasonic blade. The conductive trace may be a multilayer laminate. A method for constructing the surgical instrument includes forming the conductive trace on the surface of the polymeric substrate and securing the polymeric substrate to the metallic jaw clamp.

A system may adaptively recognize the abilities of surgical elements to adjust an automation strategy during a procedure. The system may be configured to obtain operational data for a first surgical element and a second surgical element. The system may determine an automation assistance parameter. The system may detect an adaptive recognition event. The adaptive recognition event may be at least one of a relationship between the first surgical element and the second surgical element, or a determination that the physiological parameter of the patient satisfies a life-threatening threshold. The system may select a second automation assistance parameter for the first surgical element. The system may transmit an indication of the second automation assistance parameter to the first surgical element. The system may cause the first surgical element to perform the second set of automated tasks based on the second automation assistance parameter.

A surgical system that may be associated with using smart devices for autonomous task performance. The system may include a processor configured to monitor the actions of a surgeon controlling a first smart device during surgery and to identify patterns in the actions. Based on identifying the patterns, the system may determine tasks that are suitable for autonomous performance by a second smart device.