SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN END EFFECTOR LOCKOUT AND A FIRING ASSEMBLY LOCKOUT
Surgical stapling instruments are disclosed comprising a staple cartridge, a firing member, and a cartridge lockout configured to prevent the firing member from being advanced through the staple cartridge if the staple cartridge has been already spent. The stapling instruments further comprise a lockout in the shaft that responds to the cartridge lockout blocking the firing member.
1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a firing assembly movable through a firing stroke;
an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body;
staples removably stored in said cartridge body;
a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position to eject said staples from said cartridge body during said firing stroke; and
a spent cartridge lockout configured to block said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke if said sled is not in said proximal unfired position at the initiation of said firing stroke; and
a firing force lockout system configured to assist in preventing said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke when said firing assembly is blocked by said spent cartridge lockout.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said firing assembly comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein said firing force lockout system is at least partially positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion of said firing assembly.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said second portion is movable relative to said first portion, and wherein said second portion is configured to deploy said firing force lockout system into a locked configuration when said second portion is moved toward said first portion.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 3 , further comprising a biasing member positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said biasing member is configured to push said second portion away from said first portion.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein said firing force lockout system is biased into an unlocked configuration.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a frame, wherein said firing force lockout system is mounted to said firing assembly, and wherein said firing force lockout system is configured to engage said frame in response to said spent cartridge lockout blocking said firing assembly.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 6 , further comprising a longitudinal shaft, and wherein said frame is positioned within said longitudinal shaft.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor configured to move said firing assembly through said firing stroke.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said firing force lockout system is deployable into a locked configuration when said firing assembly is blocked by said spent cartridge lockout, and wherein said electric motor is operable to retract said firing assembly to reset said firing force lockout system into an unlocked configuration.
10 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot configured to receive said firing assembly, and wherein said spent cartridge lockout comprises a metal clip comprising:
a mounting portion mounted to said cartridge body; and
a lock portion deflectable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein said lock portion extends into said longitudinal slot to block said firing assembly when said lock portion is in said locked configuration.
11 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein said sled is configured to hold said lock portion in said unlocked configuration when said sled is in said proximal unfired position.
12 . The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein said lock portion is biased toward said locked configuration, and wherein said sled is configured to release said lock portion when said sled is advanced distally during said firing stroke.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said staple cartridge is a replaceable staple cartridge.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said staple cartridge is not a replaceable staple cartridge.
15 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a firing assembly movable through a firing stroke;
an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body;
staples removably stored in said cartridge body;
a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position to eject said staples from said cartridge body during said firing stroke; and
a cartridge lockout configured to block said firing assembly if said sled is not in said proximal unfired position at the initiation of said firing stroke; and
a firing lockout configured to prevent said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke when said firing assembly is blocked by said cartridge lockout.
16 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
a firing assembly movable through an actuation stroke;
an end effector, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw, wherein said firing assembly comprises a first cam configured to engage said first jaw and a second cam configured to engage said second jaw to control the position of said second jaw relative to said first jaw during said actuation stroke; and
a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body;
staples removably stored in said cartridge body;
a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position to eject said staples from said cartridge body; and
a cartridge lockout configured to block said firing assembly if said sled is not in said proximal unfired position at the beginning of said actuation stroke; and
a firing lockout in said shaft configured to block said firing assembly if said firing assembly is blocked by said cartridge lockout.