MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH DRIVE SCREW

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:

a cartridge channel;

an anvil pivotably coupled to said cartridge channel, wherein said anvil is movable relative to said cartridge channel between an open position and a closed position;

a replaceable staple cartridge positionable within said cartridge channel, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:

staple cavities; and

staples positioned within said staple cavities;

a wedge sled assembly configured to drive said staples from said staple cavities during a staple firing stroke, wherein said wedge sled assembly comprises:

a plurality of distal-facing camming ramps; and

a distal-facing knife edge;

a drive screw extending longitudinally within said cartridge channel; and

a bearing, wherein said bearing receives a distal portion of said drive screw, and wherein said bearing permits said drive screw to rotate freely with respect to said cartridge channel.

22 . The end effector of claim 21 , further comprising a pan attached to said replaceable staple cartridge.

23 . The end effector of claim 22 , wherein said pan comprises:

a first lateral sidewall comprising a first window defined therein;

a second lateral sidewall comprising a second window defined therein; and

a base extending between said first lateral sidewall and said second lateral sidewall.

24 . The end effector of claim 21 , wherein said drive screw projects proximally beyond said cartridge body.

25 . The end effector of claim 21 , wherein said drive screw comprises a helical thread.

26 . The end effector of claim 25 , wherein a portion of said wedge sled assembly is threadably mounted to said drive screw.

27 . The end effector of claim 26 , wherein a rotation of said drive screw in a first direction causes said wedge sled assembly to translate distally through a staple firing stroke.

28 . An end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw pivotably coupled to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position;

a replaceable staple cartridge, comprising:

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of staples positioned within said plurality of staple cavities;

a wedge sled assembly comprising a knife;

a drive screw extending longitudinally through said end effector; and

a bearing, wherein said bearing receives a distal end of said drive screw, and wherein said bearing permits said drive screw to rotate freely with respect to said cartridge channel.

29 . The end effector of claim 28 , wherein said knife comprises a distal-facing cutting edge.

30 . The end effector of claim 29 , wherein said wedge sled assembly comprising a plurality of distal-facing ramps positioned to drive said plurality of staples out of said plurality of staple cavities as said wedge sled assembly is distally-advanced during a staple firing stroke.

31 . The end effector of claim 28 , further comprising a pan attached to said replaceable staple cartridge.

32 . The end effector of claim 28 , wherein said drive screw projects proximally beyond said cartridge body.

33 . The end effector of claim 32 , wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises a deck, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are defined in said deck in at least six longitudinal rows, and wherein said deck comprises a stepped-up portion.

34 . The end effector of claim 33 , wherein said first jaw comprises a channel, and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

35 . An end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw pivotably coupled to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position;

a replaceable staple cartridge, comprising:

a plurality of staple cavities; and

a plurality of staples positioned within said plurality of staple cavities;

a wedge sled assembly comprising a knife;

a drive screw extending longitudinally through said end effector, wherein a rotation of said drive screw in a first direction distally-advances said wedge sled assembly through said end effector during a staple firing stroke; and

a bearing, wherein said bearing rotatably supports a distal portion of said drive screw.

36 . The end effector of claim 35 , wherein said drive screw extends proximally beyond said cartridge body.

37 . The end effector of claim 36 , wherein said knife comprising a distal-facing cutting edge.

38 . The end effector of claim 37 , wherein said first jaw comprises a channel, and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

39 . The end effector of claim 38 , wherein said replaceable staple cartridge further comprises a cartridge body, and wherein said surgical stapling assembly further comprises a pan attached to said cartridge body.

40 . The end effector of claim 39 , wherein said pan comprises:

a first lateral sidewall comprising a first through hole defined therein;

a second lateral sidewall; and

a base extending between said first lateral sidewall and said second lateral sidewall.