FIRING TRIGGER LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
A surgical instrument system can comprise, one, a surgical instrument including a handle, a shaft comprising a distal end, and a trigger and, two, an end effector attachable to the shaft. The instrument can further include a firing member and a motor configured to move the firing member toward the distal end, wherein the trigger is configured to operate the motor. The surgical instrument system can further include a plurality of sensors configured to detect one or more error conditions, a plurality of indicators, and a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors and the indicators, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the indicators to indicate the error conditions detected. A surgical instrument can comprise a plurality of actuators and a plurality of actuator locks, wherein the controller can actuate one or more of the actuator locks to indicate the error condition detected.
1 - 22 . (canceled)
23 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
an attachment portion extending distally from said handle;
a display;
a disposable loading unit, comprising:
a shaft configured to be attached to said attachment portion;
an end effector, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;
an anvil; and
a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein; and
a firing member movable between a plurality of zones to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw and to fire said staples from said staple cartridge; and
a sensor configured to evaluate the position of said firing member through said plurality of zones; and
a controller in signal communication with said sensor and said display, wherein said controller is configured to:
determine which zone of said plurality of zones said firing member is located; and
determine the configuration of said disposable loading unit based on the determined zone of said firing member, wherein said display is configured to sequentially depict the determined configuration of said disposable loading unit.
24 . The surgical instrument of claim 23 , wherein said plurality of zones are defined by:
a first zone corresponding to an open, unfired configuration of said disposable loading unit;
a second zone distal to said first zone, wherein said second zone corresponds to a partially-clamped, unfired configuration of said disposable loading unit; and
a third zone distal to said second zone, wherein said third zone corresponds to a fully-clamped, unfired configuration of said disposable loading unit.
25 . The surgical instrument of claim 23 , wherein said controller is configured to continuously evaluate the position of said firing member, and wherein said controller is configured to continuously update said display in real-time.
26 . The surgical instrument of claim 23 , wherein said controller is configured to continuously evaluate the position of said firing member, and wherein said controller is configured to update said display when said firing member is not moving.
27 . The surgical instrument of claim 23 , wherein said display comprises three indicators each corresponding to a discrete configuration of said disposable loading unit, and wherein said controller is configured to illuminate two adjacent indicators to represent a configuration in which the firing member is substantially intermediate two of said discrete configurations.
28 . The surgical instrument of claim 23 , wherein said controller is further configured to assess tissue thickness and to adjust the speed of said firing member during a staple-firing stroke based on said assessed tissue thickness.
29 . A surgical assembly, comprising:
a surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
an attachment portion extending distally from said handle;
a display comprising a first indicia, a second indicia, and a third indicia; and
a loading unit, comprising:
a shaft configured to be attached to said attachment portion;
a firing member;
a first jaw; and
a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw between first, second, and third positions to clamp tissue against said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises a cam surface, wherein said firing member is movable distally to engage said cam surface and position said second jaw relative to said first jaw, wherein said firing member is movable distally through a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone, wherein said second jaw applies a first compressive force to the tissue when said firing member is in said first zone and said second jaw is in said first position, a second compressive force to the tissue when said firing member is in said second zone and said second jaw is in said second position, and a third compressive force to the tissue when said firing member is in said third zone and said second jaw is in said third position, and wherein the first compressive force, the second compressive force, and the third compressive force are different; and
a control system configured to assess the position of said firing member, wherein said control system is in signal communication with said display, wherein said control system illuminates said first indicia when said second jaw is in said first position, wherein said control system illuminates said second indicia when said second jaw is in said second position, and wherein said control system illuminates said third indicia when said second jaw is in said third position.
30 . The surgical assembly of claim 29 , wherein said first jaw comprises a staple cartridge including staples removably stored therein.
31 . The surgical assembly of claim 29 , wherein said staple cartridge is removable.
32 . The surgical assembly of claim 29 , wherein said control system is configured to drive said firing member through said first zone, said second zone, and said third zone, and wherein said control system is configured to adjust the speed of said firing member in response to the thickness of the tissue captured between said first jaw and said second jaw.
33 . A surgical assembly, comprising:
a surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
an attachment portion extending distally from said handle;
a display configured to display a first indicia, a second indicia, and a third indicia; and
an end effector, comprising:
a shaft configured to be attached to said attachment portion;
a firing member;
a first jaw; and
a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw to clamp tissue against said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises an internal slot including a cam surface, wherein said firing member is movable distally to engage said cam surface and control the position of said second jaw relative to said first jaw, wherein said firing member is movable distally through a first zone to place said end effector in a first tissue compression state, a second zone to place said end effector in a second tissue compression state, and a third zone to place said end effector in a third tissue compression state, and wherein said first tissue compression state, said second tissue compression state, and said third tissue compression state are different; and
a control system configured to assess the position of said firing member, wherein said control system is in signal communication with said display, wherein said control system accentuates said first indicia when said end effector is in said first tissue compression state, wherein said control system accentuates said second indicia when said end effector is in said second tissue compression state, and wherein said control system accentuates said third indicia when said end effector is in said third tissue compression state.
34 . The surgical assembly of claim 33 , wherein said first jaw comprises a staple cartridge including staples removably stored therein.
35 . The surgical assembly of claim 33 , wherein said staple cartridge is removable.
36 . The surgical assembly of claim 33 , wherein said control system is configured to drive said firing member through said first zone, said second zone, and said third zone, and wherein said control system is configured to adjust the speed of said firing member in response to the thickness of the tissue captured between said first jaw and said second jaw.