Surgical instrument having dual rotatable members to effect different types of end effector movement

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector coupled to the shaft, the end effector being configured to perform a first end effector function and a second end effector function;

a rotatable input shaft;

an output shaft;

a transmission operable in a drive configuration and a shifting configuration, wherein the output shaft is translatable between a first position and a second position by the rotation of the input shaft when the transmission is in the shifting configuration, and wherein the output shaft is rotated by the rotation of the input shaft when the transmission is in the drive configuration; and

a brake configured to hold the output shaft in the first position and the second position but permit the output shaft to rotate in the first position and the second position,

wherein the first end effector function is drivable by the output shaft when the output shaft is in its first position, and wherein the second end effector function is drivable by the output shaft when the output shaft is in its second position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises a jaw assembly, and wherein the output shaft is configured to drive the jaw assembly when the output shaft is in its first position and the transmission is in its drive configuration.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the end effector is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and wherein the output shaft is configured to rotate the end effector when the output shaft is in its second position and the transmission is in its drive configuration.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , further comprising an articulation joint connecting the end effector to the shaft, wherein the output shaft is translatable into a third position by the rotation of the input shaft when the transmission is in the shifting configuration, and wherein the output shaft is configured to articulate the end effector when the output shaft is in its third position and the transmission is in its drive configuration.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft comprises a rack portion, and wherein the transmission comprises a rack gear engaged with the rack portion configured to drive the output shaft between its first and second positions.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the transmission comprises:

a first drive path which rotates the output shaft;

a second drive path which translates the output shaft; and

a solenoid shifter comprising a shifter gear movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the shifter gear is configured to selectively couple the rotatable input shaft with the first drive path when the shifter gear is in its first position and the second drive path when the shifter gear is in its second position.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a brake actuator configured to disengage the brake from the output shaft when the output shaft is being shifted between its first position and its second position.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first lockout configured to lockout the first end effector function when the output shaft is in its second position; and

a second lockout configured to lockout the second end effector function when the output shaft is in its first position.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the movement of the output shaft from its first position to its second position engages the first lockout, and wherein the movement of the output shaft from its second position to its first position engages the second lockout.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the movement of the output shaft from its first position to its second position disengages the second lockout, and wherein the movement of the output shaft from its second position to its first position disengages the first lockout.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the end effector is configured to perform a third end effector function, and wherein the third end effector function is drivable by the output shaft when the output shaft is in a third position.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , further comprising a third lockout configured to lockout the third end effector function when the output shaft is in its first position or its second position.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the movement of the output shaft into its first position or its second position engages the third lockout.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the movement of the output shaft into its third position disengages the third lockout.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises a suturing instrument configured to stitch thread into the tissue of a patient.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises a clipping instrument configured to apply a clip to the tissue of a patient.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises a grasping instrument comprising jaws closable onto the tissue of a patient.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises a dissecting instrument comprising jaws openable to separate the tissue of a patient.

19. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector coupled to the shaft and comprising a jaw assembly;

a rotatable input shaft;

an output shaft comprising a rack portion; and

a transmission operable in a drive configuration and a shifting configuration and comprising a rack gear engaged with the rack portion, wherein the output shaft is translatable between a first position and a second position by the rotation of the input shaft when the transmission is in the shifting configuration, and wherein the output shaft is rotated by the rotation of the input shaft when the transmission is in the drive configuration, the rack gear being configured to drive the output shaft between its first and second positions,

wherein the output shaft is configured to drive the jaw assembly when the output shaft is in its first position and the transmission is in its drive configuration.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the end effector is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and wherein the output shaft is configured to rotate the end effector when the output shaft is in its second position and the transmission is in its drive configuration, and

further comprising an articulation joint connecting the end effector to the shaft, wherein the output shaft is translatable into a third position by the rotation of the input shaft when the transmission is in the shifting configuration, and wherein the output shaft is configured to articulate the end effector when the output shaft is in its third position and the transmission is in its drive configuration.