SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING LOCKOUT MECHANISMS

1 . A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument;

a housing, comprising:

a handle assembly;

at least one motor; and

a drive shaft;

a shaft assembly configured to be attached to a distal end of said housing, wherein said shaft assembly comprises:

a control circuit; and

a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism prevents movement of said drive shaft if said shaft assembly is not attached to said surgical instrument in an orientation which enables operation of said surgical instrument, and wherein said locking mechanism further comprises sensing means for determining whether said locking mechanism is actively engaged; and

an end effector attachable to a distal end of said shaft assembly.

2 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said control circuit further comprises at least one safety feature.

3 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism is configured to prevent the actuation of said surgical instrument.

4 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism is configured to prevent activation of said motor.

5 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism prevents movement of said shaft assembly when said shaft assembly is not attached to said housing.

6 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism is configured to detect whether said end effector is in a usable state.

7 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said sensing means is configured to enable haptic feedback of said motor in order to alert a user of a state of said surgical instrument.

8 - 28 . (canceled)

29 . A surgical instrument system configured to treat the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a longitudinal axis;

an end effector, comprising:

a movable member; and

an actuator configured to deploy a plurality of surgical clips;

an articulation joint rotatably connecting said end effector to said shaft;

a rotation drive shaft configured to rotate said shaft about said longitudinal axis;

a firing drive shaft configured to deploy said movable member; and

an articulation drive shaft configured to articulate said end effector relative to said shaft;

a first handle, comprising:

a rotation drive system configured to drive said rotation drive shaft;

a firing drive system configured to drive said firing drive shaft; and

an articulation drive system configured to drive said articulation drive shaft; and

a second handle, comprising:

a rotation drive lockout configured to lock said rotation drive shaft; and

a firing drive system configured to drive said firing drive shaft.

30 . A surgical instrument system configured to treat the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a longitudinal axis;

an end effector, comprising:

a movable member; and

an actuator configured to deploy a plurality of clips;

an articulation joint rotatably connecting said end effector to said shaft;

a rotation drive shaft configured to rotate said shaft about said longitudinal axis;

a firing drive shaft configured to deploy said movable member; and

an articulation drive shaft configured to articulate said end effector relative to said shaft;

a first handle, comprising:

a rotation drive system configured to drive said rotation drive shaft;

a firing drive system configured to drive said firing drive shaft; and

an articulation drive system configured to drive said articulation drive shaft; and

a second handle, comprising:

an articulation drive lockout configured to lock said articulation drive shaft; and

a firing drive system configured to drive said firing drive shaft.

31 . A surgical instrument system configured to treat the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a shaft assembly configured to perform a first function, a second function, and a third function, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:

a first drive shaft configured to perform said first function;

a second drive shaft configured to perform said second function; and

a third drive shaft configured to perform said third function;

a first handle, comprising:

a first drive system configured to drive said first drive shaft;

a second drive system configured to drive said second drive shaft; and

a third drive system configured to drive said third drive shaft;

a second handle, comprising:

a first drive lockout configured to lock said first drive shaft; and

a second drive system configured to drive said second drive shaft.

32 . The surgical instrument system of claim 31 , wherein said second handle comprises a drive lockout configured to lock said third drive shaft.

33 . A surgical instrument system configured to treat the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a first drive system configured to perform a first function;

a second drive system configured to perform a second function;

a first lockout configured to selectively engage said first drive system and prevent said first drive system from performing said first function; and

a second lockout configured to selectively engage said second drive system and prevent said second drive system from performing said second function;

a first handle comprising a first operating system configured to operate said first drive system and a second operating system configured to operate said second drive system, wherein said first lockout and said second lockout are disengaged when said shaft assembly is assembled to said first handle; and

a second handle comprising a first operating system configured to operate said first drive system but not comprising a second operating system configured to operate said second drive system, wherein said first lockout is disengaged and said second lockout is engaged when said shaft assembly is assembled to said second handle.

34 . The surgical instrument system of claim 33 , wherein said first lockout and said second lockouts are in their engaged states when said shaft assembly is not assembled to either said first handle or said second handle.

35 . A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle comprising a drive system including an electric motor;

a shaft assembly attachable to said handle, wherein said shaft assembly comprises a drive shaft that is operably engaged with said drive system when said shaft assembly is attached to said handle, wherein said drive system is configured to drive said drive shaft when said shaft assembly is in a usable condition;

a sensor system configured to evaluate the condition of said shaft assembly; and

a control system in communication with said drive system and said sensor system, wherein said control system is configured to prevent the operation of said electric motor if said shaft assembly is in an unusable condition.

36 . The surgical instrument system of claim 35 , further comprising a haptic feedback system in communication with said control system, wherein said control system is configured to actuate said haptic feedback system to provide haptic feedback to the user of said surgical instrument system when said sensor system detects that said shaft assembly is in an unusable condition.

37 . The surgical instrument system of claim 35 , wherein said handle further comprises a second drive system, wherein said shaft assembly further comprises a second drive shaft operably engageable with said second drive system when said shaft assembly is attached to said handle, and wherein said control system is configured to use said second drive system when said sensor system detects that said shaft assembly is in an unusable condition.

38 - 41 . (canceled)