Firing drive for a surgical system - Patents.com

Abstract

Disclosed is a staple cartridge insertable into a surgical stapling instrument. The staple cartridge includes a threaded rod and a firing member configured to move from a proximal, unfired position toward a distal position when the threaded rod is rotated in a first direction. The firing member includes a first portion including a first cam member, wherein an anvil of the surgical stapling instrument receives the first portion when the firing member is in the proximal, unfired position, and a second portion including a second cam member, wherein staple cartridge jaws of the surgical stapling instrument receive the second portion when the firing member is in the proximal, unfired position, the first portion and the second portion configured to maintain a distance between the anvil and the staple cartridge jaws during a staple firing stroke.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to surgical systems and, among other devices, to a surgical stapling and severing system and staple cartridge for use therewith. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0002] The various features of the embodiments described herein, together with their advantages, may be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an end effector of a surgical instrument system shown in an open or unclamped configuration, which includes a staple cartridge, staples removably stored in the staple cartridge, and an anvil configured to deform the staples. [Diagram 2] 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 1 shown in a closed or clamped configuration, illustrating the firing member in a pre-fired position prior to firing staples. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 1 showing a firing member of the end effector in a partially fired position; [Figure 4] 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 1 showing the firing member in a retracted position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 1, showing the end effector in a reopened configuration. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling system including an end effector in accordance with at least one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector of FIG. 6 showing the end effector in an open, unfired configuration. [Figure 9]FIG. 7 is another partial cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector of FIG. 6, illustrating the closing system of the end effector in an open configuration and the firing system of the end effector in an unfired configuration. [Figure 10] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector of FIG. 6 showing the closure system in a partially closed configuration and the firing system in an unfired configuration. [Figure 11] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector of FIG. 6 showing the closure system in a fully closed configuration and the firing system in a partially fired configuration. [Figure 12] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector of FIG. 6 showing the closure system in a fully closed configuration and the firing system in a fully fired configuration. [Figure 13] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector of FIG. 6 showing the closure system in a fully closed configuration and the firing system in a fully retracted configuration. [Figure 14] 7 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the end effector of FIG. 6 showing the closing system on its way back to the open configuration and the firing system in a fully retracted configuration. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of an end effector including a staple firing system configured to compensate for a non-planar gap between an anvil and a staple cartridge of the end effector in accordance with at least one embodiment; [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an end effector of a surgical instrument system shown in an open or unclamped configuration, which includes a staple cartridge, staples removably stored in the staple cartridge, and an anvil configured to deform the staples. [Figure 17] 17 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector of FIG. 16 with a portion of the anvil shown in cross-section, the closure nut in an initial open position, and the firing nut shown in a starting, pre-fired position. [Figure 18]FIG. 18 is another longitudinal cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 17, showing an overall view of the anvil portion. [Figure 19] FIG. 18 is another longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector of FIG. 17 with a portion of the anvil shown in cross-section, the closure nut in an "intermediate" fully closed position, and the firing nut in a pre-fire position located at the distal end of the neutral firing range. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is another longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector of FIG. 19, showing an overall view of the anvil portion. [Figure 21] 20 is another longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector of FIG. 19 with the firing nut in a terminal position after staples have been fired from the staple cartridge and with a portion of the anvil shown in cross-section; [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is another longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector of FIG. 21, showing an overall view of the anvil portion. [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional top view of a portion of a shaft assembly of a surgical instrument with an actuator member in an engaged configuration. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is another partial cross-sectional elevation view of the shaft assembly of FIG. 23. [Diagram 25] FIG. 25 is another partial cross-sectional top view of the shaft assembly of FIGS. 23 and 24, showing the locking system in a "pre-locked configuration." [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the shaft assembly of FIG. 25. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is another partial cross-sectional top view of the shaft assembly of FIGS. 23-26, with the actuator member in the disengaged configuration and the locking system in the locked configuration. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the shaft assembly of FIG. 27. [Figure 29] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of an end effector assembly of a surgical stapling instrument system, the end effector assembly including a threaded rod mounted within a jaw; [Diagram 30]30 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector assembly of FIG. 29 showing structure for mounting the threaded rod within a channel in the jaw. [Diagram 31] 30 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector assembly of FIG. 29 showing the interface between the jaws, threaded rod, staple cartridge and firing member of the surgical stapling instrument system; [Diagram 32] A cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector assembly of Figure 29 showing the interface between the first jaw, the threaded rod, the staple cartridge, and threads of the staple cartridge. [Diagram 33] 11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an end effector assembly of a surgical stapling instrument system showing an engagement surface of a threaded rod of the surgical stapling instrument system and an engagement surface of a thread of a staple cartridge contained within the surgical stapling instrument system; [Diagram 34] 34 is a graphical representation of thread torque transmittable through the engagement surfaces of FIG. 33. [Figure 35A] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an end effector assembly showing an engagement surface of a first portion of a threaded rod of the surgical stapling instrument system and an engagement surface of a thread of a staple cartridge housed within the surgical stapling instrument system; [Figure 35B] A cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector assembly of Figure 35A showing the engagement surface of the sled and the second portion of the threaded rod. [Diagram 36] 35C is a graphical representation of the thread torque experienced as the thread engages the uneven threads of the threaded rod of FIGS. 35A and 35B in the forward and reverse directions during a staple firing stroke. FIG. [Figure 37] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of an end effector assembly of a surgical instrument system, the end effector assembly including a first jaw and a staple cartridge having an integral threaded rod; [Figure 38]38 is a partial cross-sectional view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 37 showing structure for mounting the threaded rod within a channel of the first jaw. [Figure 39] 38 is a partial perspective view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 37 showing the connection interface between the staple cartridge and the drive system of the surgical instrument system; [Diagram 40] FIG. 38 is a partial cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 37 showing a staple cartridge seated within the first jaw; [Diagram 41] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the end effector assembly showing the staple driver and arcuate surfaces of the sled. [Figure 42A] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of an articulation assembly. [Figure 42B] FIG. 42B is a partial cross-sectional end view of the articulation assembly of FIG. 42A. [Figure 42C] FIG. 42B is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the articulation assembly of FIG. 42A. [Diagram 43] FIG. 42B is a partial cross-sectional view of the engagement surface of the articulation assembly of FIG. 42A. [Diagram 44] FIG. 44 is a partial cross-sectional view of the engagement surface of FIG. 43 including a backstop.

[0003] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set forth herein are illustrative of various embodiments of the invention in one form only, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0004] The applicant of this application has the following U.S. patent applications filed on even date herewith, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: - U.S. Patent Application, entitled "ARTICULATION DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL SYSTEMS," Attorney Docket No. END9006USNP1 / 180541; - U.S. Patent Application entitled "FIRING DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL SYSTEMS," Attorney Docket No. END9007USNP1 / 180542; and -U.S. Patent Application entitled "FIRING DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL SYSTEMS," Attorney Docket No. END9009USNP1 / 180544.

[0005] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on December 14, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,281, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH A HARDWARE-ONLY CONTROL CIRCUIT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,301, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ACOUSTIC-BASED MOTOR CONTROL"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,313, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF DRIVE SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,296, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CONTROL CIRCUIT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,309, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING BUTTON CIRCUITS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,318, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CONTROL SYSTEM THAT USES INPUT FROM A STRAIN GAGE ​​CIRCUIT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,273, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH A SENSING ARRAY"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 220,280, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ENVIRONMENT SENSING."

[0006] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on December 12, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 778,571, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 778,572, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS," and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 778,573, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS."

[0007] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on October 26, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,130, entitled "CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING INTERCHANGEABLE CLIP RELOADS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,066, entitled "CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING A MOVABLE CLIP MAGAZINE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,078, entitled "CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING A ROTATABLE CLIP MAGAZINE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,087, entitled "CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING CLIP ADVANCING SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,094, entitled "CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING A CLIP CRIMPING SYSTEM"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,128, entitled "CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING A RECIPROCATING CLIP ADVANCING MEMBER"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,168, entitled "CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING A MOTOR CONTROLLER"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,164, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING A SURGICAL TOOL AND A SURGICAL HUB"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,303, entitled "METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWERED ARTICULATING MULTI-CLIP APPLIER."

[0008] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on October 26, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,328, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,280, entitled "METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SMART ELECTRICAL SYSTEM"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,219, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,248, entitled "METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,198, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 172,155, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS."

[0009] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on August 24, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,129, entitled "SURGICAL SUTURING INSTRUMENT CONFIGURED TO MANIPULATE TISSUE USING MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL POWER"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,155, entitled "SURGICAL SUTURING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CAPTURE WIDTH WHICH IS LARGER THAN TROCAR DIAMETER"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,168, entitled "SURGICAL SUTURING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A NON-CIRCULAR NEEDLE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,180, entitled "ELECTRICAL POWER OUTPUT CONTROL BASED ON MECHANICAL FORCES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,193, entitled "REACTIVE ALGORITHM FOR SURGICAL SYSTEM"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,099, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ADAPTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,112, entitled "CONTROL SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR A MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,119, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAMS FOR A SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF CARTRIDGE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,097, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING BATTERY ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,109, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING HANDLE ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,114, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING FEEDBACK MECHANISMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,117, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING LOCKOUT MECHANISMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,095, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING A LOCKABLE END EFFECTOR SOCKET"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,121, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING A SHIFTING MECHANISM"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,151, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING A SYSTEM FOR ARTICULATION AND ROTATION COMPENSATION"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,154, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING A BIASED SHIFTING MECHANISM"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,226, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION DRIVE THAT PROVIDES FOR HIGH ARTICULATION ANGLES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,062, entitled "SURGICAL DISSECTORS AND MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,098, entitled "SURGICAL DISSECTORS CONFIGURED TO APPLY MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENERGY"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,237, entitled "SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER CONFIGURED TO STORE CLIPS IN A STORED STATE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,245, entitled "SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING AN EMPTY CLIP CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,249, entitled "SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING AN AUTOMATIC CLIP FEEDING SYSTEM"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,253, entitled "SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING ADAPTIVE FIRING CONTROL"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 112,257, entitled "SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER COMPRISING ADAPTIVE CONTROL IN RESPONSIBILITY TO A STRAIN GAUGE CIRCUIT."

[0010] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on May 1, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 665,129, entitled "SURGICAL SUTURING SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 665,139, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING CONTROL SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 665,177, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING HANDLE ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 665,128, entitled "MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 665,192, entitled "SURGICAL DISSECTORS," and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 665,134, entitled "SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER."

[0011] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on February 28, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 908,021, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH REMOTE RELEASE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 908,012, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING DUAL ROTATABLE MEMBERS TO EFFECT DIFFERENT TYPES OF END EFFECTOR MOVEMENT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 908,040, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ROTARY DRIVE SELECTIVELY ACTUATING MULTIPLE END EFFECTOR FUNCTIONS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 908,057, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ROTARY DRIVE SELECTIVELY ACTUATING MULTIPLE END EFFECTOR FUNCTIONS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 908,058, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MODULAR POWER SOURCES"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 908,143, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SENSOR AND / OR CONTROL SYSTEMS."

[0012] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on October 30, 2017, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 578,793, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH REMOTE RELEASE"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 578,804, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING DUAL ROTATABLE MEMBERS TO EFFECT DIFFERENT TYPES OF END EFFECTOR MOVEMENT"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 578,817, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ROTARY DRIVE SELECTIVELY ACTUATING MULTIPLE END EFFECTOR FUNCTIONS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 578,835, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ROTARY DRIVE SELECTIVELY ACTUATING MULTIPLE END EFFECTOR FUNCTIONS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 578,844, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MODULAR POWER SOURCES"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 578,855, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SENSOR AND / OR CONTROL SYSTEMS."

[0013] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on December 28, 2017, the entire disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 611,341, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL PLATFORM"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 611,340, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 611,339, entitled "ROBOT ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORM."

[0014] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on March 28, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,302, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,294, entitled "DATA STRIPPING METHOD TO INTERROGATE PATIENT RECORDS AND CREATE ANONYMIZED RECORD"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,300, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SITUATIONAL AWARENESS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,309, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SPATIAL AWARENESS TO DETERMINE DEVICES IN OPERATING THEATER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,310, entitled "COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,291, entitled "USE OF LASER LIGHT AND RED-GREEN-BLUE COLORATION TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF BACK SCATTERED LIGHT"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,296, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL DEVICES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,333, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR CUSTOMIZATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO A USER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,327, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION TRENDS AND REACTIVE MEASURES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,315, entitled "DATA HANDLING AND PRIORITIZATION IN A CLOUD ANALYTICS NETWORK"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,313, entitled "CLOUD INTERFACE FOR COUPLED SURGICAL DEVICES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,320, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,307, entitled "AUTOMATIC TOOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,323, entitled "SENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS."

[0015] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on March 29, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,641, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,648, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH CONDITION HANDLING OF DEVICES AND DATA CAPABILITIES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,656, entitled "SURGICAL HUB COORDINATION OF CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION OF OPERATING ROOM DEVICES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,666, entitled "SPATIAL AWARENESS OF SURGICAL HUBS IN OPERATING ROOMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,670, entitled "COOPERATIVE UTILIZATION OF DATA DERIVED FROM SECONDARY SOURCES BY INTELLIGENT SURGICAL HUBS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,677, entitled "SURGICAL HUB CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,632, entitled "DATA STRIPPING METHOD TO INTERROGATE PATIENT RECORDS AND CREATE ANONYMIZED RECORD"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,640, entitled "COMMUNICATION HUB AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR STORING PARAMETERS AND STATUS OF A SURGICAL DEVICE TO BE SHAREd WITH CLOUD BASED ANALYTICS SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,645, entitled "SELF DESCRIBING DATA PACKETS GENERATED AT AN ISSUING INSTRUMENT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,649, entitled "DATA PAIRING TO INTERCONNECT A DEVICE MEASURED PARAMETER WITH AN OUTCOME"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,654, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SITUATIONAL AWARENESS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,663, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,668, entitled "AGGREGATION AND REPORTING OF SURGICAL HUB DATA"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,671, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SPATIAL AWARENESS TO DETERMINE DEVICES IN OPERATING THEATER"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,686, entitled "DISPLAY OF ALIGNMENT OF STAPLE CARTRIDGE TO PRIOR LINEAR STAPLE LINE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,700, entitled "STERILE FIELD INTERACTIVE CONTROL DISPLAYS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,629, entitled "COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,704, entitled "USE OF LASER LIGHT AND RED-GREEN-BLUE COLORATION TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF BACK SCATTERED LIGHT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,722, entitled "CHARACTERIZATION OF TISSUE IRREGULARITIES THROUGH THE USE OF MONO-CHROMATIC LIGHT REFRACTIVITY"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,742, entitled "DUAL CMOS ARRAY IMAGING."

[0016] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on March 29, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,636, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL DEVICES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,653, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL HUBS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,660, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR CUSTOMIZATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO A USER"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,679, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR LINKING OF LOCAL USAGE TRENDS WITH THE RESOURCE ACQUISITION BEHAVIORS OF LARGER DATA SET"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,694, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR MEDICAL FACILITY SEGMENTED INDIVIDUALIZATION OF INSTRUMENT FUNCTION"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,634, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION TRENDS AND REACTIVE MEASURES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,706, entitled "DATA HANDLING AND PRIORITIZATION IN A CLOUD ANALYTICS NETWORK"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,675, entitled "CLOUD INTERFACE FOR COUPLED SURGICAL DEVICES."

[0017] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on March 29, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,627, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,637, entitled "COMMUNICATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,642, entitled "CONTROLS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,676, entitled "AUTOMATIC TOOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,680, entitled "CONTROLLERS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,683, entitled "COOPERATIVE SURGICAL ACTIONS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,690, entitled "DISPLAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,711, entitled "SENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS."

[0018] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on March 30, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 650,887, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH OPTIMIZED SENSING CAPABILITIES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 650,877, entitled "SURGICAL SMOKE EVACUATION SENSING AND CONTROLS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 650,882, entitled "SMOKE EVACUATION MODULE FOR INTERACTIVE SURGICAL PLATFORM"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 650,898, entitled "CAPACITIVE COUPLED RETURN PATH PAD WITH SEPARABLE ARRAY ELEMENTS."

[0019] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on April 19, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference: -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 659,900, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION."

[0020] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on October 25, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 750,529, entitled "METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWERED ARTICULATING MULTI-CLIP APPLIER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 750,539, entitled "SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 750,555, entitled "SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER."

[0021] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on February 21, 2019, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 16 / 281,658, entitled "METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A POWERED SURGICAL STAPLER THAT HAS SEPARATE ROTARY CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 16 / 281,670, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A LOCKOUT KEY CONFIGURED TO LIFT A FIRING MEMBER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 16 / 281,675, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLERS WITH ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAINTAINING A FIRING MEMBER THEREOF IN A LOCKED CONFIGURATION UNLESS A COMPATIBLE CARTRIDGE HAS BEEN INSTALLED THEREIN"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,685, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING CO-OPERATING LOCKOUT FEATURES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,693, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT AND AN EXTERIOR ACCESS ORIFICE TO PERMIT ARTIFICIAL UNLOCKING OF THE LOCKOUT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,704, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH FEATURES FOR BLOCKING ADVANCEMENT OF A CAMMING ASSEMBLY OF AN INCOMPATIBLE CARTRIDGE INSTALLED THEREIN"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,707, entitled "STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A DEACTIVATABLE LOCKOUT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,741, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A JAW CLOSURE LOCKOUT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,762, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH CARTRIDGE COMPATIBLE CLOSURE AND FIRING LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,660, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH FIRING MEMBER DRIVEN CAMMING ASSEMBLY THAT HAS AN ONBOARD TISSUE CUTTING FEATURE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,666, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH IMPROVED ROTARY DRIVEN CLOSURE SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,672, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH ASYMMETRIC CLOSURE FEATURES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,678, entitled "ROTARY DRIVEN FIRING MEMBERS WITH DIFFERENT ANVIL AND CHANNEL ENGAGEMENT FEATURES"; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,682, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH SEPARATE ROTARY DRIVEN CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS AND FIRING MEMBER THAT ENGAGES BOTH JAWS WHILE FIRING."

[0022] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on February 19, 2019, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 807,310, entitled "METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A POWERED SURGICAL STAPLER THAT HAS SEPARATE ROTARY CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 807,319, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH IMPROVED LOCKOUT SYSTEMS," and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 807,309, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH IMPROVED ROTARY DRIVEN CLOSURE SYSTEMS."

[0023] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on March 28, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,302, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,294, entitled "DATA STRIPPING METHOD TO INTERROGATE PATIENT RECORDS AND CREATE ANONYMIZED RECORD"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,300, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SITUATIONAL AWARENESS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,309, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SPATIAL AWARENESS TO DETERMINE DEVICES IN OPERATING THEATER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,310, entitled "COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,291, entitled "USE OF LASER LIGHT AND RED-GREEN-BLUE COLORATION TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF BACK SCATTERED LIGHT"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,296, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL DEVICES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,333, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR CUSTOMIZATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO A USER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,327, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION TRENDS AND REACTIVE MEASURES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,315, entitled "DATA HANDLING AND PRIORITIZATION IN A CLOUD ANALYTICS NETWORK"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,313, entitled "CLOUD INTERFACE FOR COUPLED SURGICAL DEVICES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,320, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,307, entitled "AUTOMATIC TOOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,323, entitled "SENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS."

[0024] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on March 30, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference: -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 650,887, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH OPTIMIZED SENSING CAPABILITIES."

[0025] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on December 4, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference: -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,423, entitled "METHOD OF COMPRESSING TISSUE WITHIN A STAPLING DEVICE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING THE LOCATION OF THE TISSUE WITHIN THE JAWS."

[0026] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on August 20, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,101, entitled "METHOD FOR FABRICATING SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,183, entitled "REINFORCED DEFORMABLE ANVIL TIP FOR SURGICAL STAPLER ANVIL"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,150, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS WITH STAPLE DIRECTING PROTRUSIONS AND TISSUE STABILITY FEATURES"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,098, entitled "FABRICATING TECHNIQUES FOR SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,140, ​​entitled "SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS WITH TISSUE STOP FEATURES CONFIGURED TO AVOID TISSUE PINCH"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,081, entitled "METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWERED ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,094, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH PROGRESSIVE JAW CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,097, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CLUTCHING ARRANGEMENTS TO CONVERT LINEAR DRIVE MOTIONS TO ROTARY DRIVE MOTIONS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,104, entitled "POWERED ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CLUTCHING AND LOCKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LINKING AN ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEM TO A FIRING DRIVE SYSTEM"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,119, entitled "ARTICULATABLE MOTOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH DEDICATED ARTICULATION MOTOR ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,160, entitled "SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR MOTOR POWERED ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; and -U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 660,252, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS."

[0027] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications and U.S. patents, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,185, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL ASSEMBLIES THEREOF" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168642); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,230, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168649); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 386,221, entitled "LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168646); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,209, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND FIRING MEMBERS THEREOF" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168645); - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,198, entitled "LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL ASSEMBLIES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168644); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,240, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND ADAPTABLE FIRING MEMBERS THEREFOR" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168651); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,939, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168629); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,941, entitled "SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLIES WITH CLUTCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHIFTING BETWEEN CLOSURE SYSTEMS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES AND ARTICULATION AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168630); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,943, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168631); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,950, entitled "SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLIES WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168635); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,945, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168632); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,946, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168633); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,951, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH JAW OPENING FEATURES FOR INCREASING A JAW OPENING DISTANCE" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168636); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,953, entitled "METHODS OF STAPLING TISSUE" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168637); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,954, entitled "FIRING MEMBERS WITH NON-PARALLEL JAW ENGAGEMENT FEATURES FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168638); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,955, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH EXPANDABLE TISSUE STOP ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168639); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,948, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168584); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,956, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168640); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,958, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING FIRING SYSTEM ACTUATION UNLESS AN UNSPENT STAPLE CARTRIDGE IS PRESENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168641); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,947, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168634); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,896, entitled "METHOD FOR RESETTING A FUSE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SHAFT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168597); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,898, entitled "STAPLE-FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENT TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168599); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,899, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING IMPROVED JAW CONTROL" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168600); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,901, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE AND STAPLE CARTRIDGE CHANNEL COMPRISING WINDOWS DEFINED THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168602); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,902, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CUTTING MEMBER" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168603); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,904, entitled "STAPLE FIRING MEMBER COMPRISING A MISSING CARTRIDGE AND / OR SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168605); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,905, entitled "FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168606); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,907, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN END EFFECTOR LOCKOUT AND A FIRING ASSEMBLY LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168608); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,908, entitled "FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FUSE" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168609); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,909, entitled "FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MULTIPLE FAILED-STATE FUSE" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168610); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,920, entitled "STAPLE-FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168620); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,913, entitled "ANVIL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168614); - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,914, entitled "METHOD OF DEFORMING STAPLES FROM TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH THE SAME SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168615); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,893, entitled "BILATERALLY ASYMMETRIC STAPLE-FORMING POCKET PAIRS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168594); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,929, entitled "CLOSURE MEMBERS WITH CAM SURFACE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARATE AND DISTINCT CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168626); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,911, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLERS WITH INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATABLE CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168612); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,927, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH SMART STAPLE CARTRIDGES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168625); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,917, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING STAPLES WITH DIFFERENT CLAMPING BREADTHS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168617); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,900, entitled "STAPLE-FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING PRIMARY SIDEWALLS AND POCKET SIDEWALLS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168601); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,931, entitled "NO-CARTRIDGE AND SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168627); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,915, entitled "FIRING MEMBER PIN ANGLE" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168616); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,897, entitled "STAPLE-FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING ZONED FORMING SURFACE GROOVES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168598); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,922, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FAILURE RESPONSE MODES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168622); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,924, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH PRIMARY AND SAFETY PROCESSORS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168624); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,910, entitled "ANVIL HAVING A KNIFE SLOT WIDTH" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168611); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,903, entitled "CLOSURE MEMBER ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168604); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,906, entitled "FIRING MEMBER PIN CONFIGURATIONS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168607); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 386,188, entitled "STEPPED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH ASYMMETRICAL STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168585); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 386,192, entitled "STEPPED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH TISSUE RETENTION AND GAP SETTING FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168643); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,206, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH DEFORMABLE DRIVER RETENTION FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168586); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 386,226, entitled "DURABILITY FEATURES FOR END EFFECTORS AND FIRING ASSEMBLIES OF SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168648); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 386,222, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS HAVING END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE OPENING FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168647); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,236, entitled "CONNECTION PORTIONS FOR DEPOSABLE LOADING UNITS FOR SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168650); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,887, entitled "METHOD FOR ATTACHING A SHAFT ASSEMBLY TO A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND, ALTERNATIVELY, TO A SURGICAL ROBOT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168589); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,889, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MANUALLY-OPERABLE RETRACTION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A MOTORIZED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168590); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,890, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SEPARATELY ACTUATABLE AND RETRACTABLE SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168591); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,891, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CLUTCH CONFIGURED TO ADAPT THE OUTPUT OF A ROTARY FIRING MEMBER TO TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168592); - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,892, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING A FIRING MEMBER ROTATABLE INTO AN ARTICULATION STATE TO ARTICULATE AN END EFFECTOR OF THE SURGICAL SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168593); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,894, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168595); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,895, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ARTICULATION LOCKOUTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168596); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,916, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168575); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,918, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168618); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,919, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168619); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,921, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH MOVABLE CAMMING MEMBER CONFIGURED TO DISENGAGE FIRING MEMBER LOCKOUT FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168621); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,923, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168623); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,925, entitled "JAW ACTUATED LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING ADVANCEMENT OF A FIRING MEMBER IN A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR UNLESS AN UNFIRED CARTRIDGE IS INSTALLED IN THE END EFFECTOR" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168576); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,926, entitled "AXIALLY MOVABLE CLOSURE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE MOTIONS TO JAWS OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168577); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,928, entitled "PROTECTIVE COVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR A JOINT INTERFACE BETWEEN A MOVABLE JAW AND ACTUATOR SHAFT OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168578); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,930, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTOR WITH TWO SEPARATE COOPERATING OPENING FEATURES FOR OPENING AND CLOSING END EFFECTOR JAWS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168579); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,932, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL END EFFECTOR WITH ASYMMETRIC SHAFT ARRANGEMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168628); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,933, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH INDEPENDENT PIVOTABLE LINKAGE DISTAL OF AN ARTICULATION LOCK" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168580); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,934, entitled "ARTICULATION LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCKING AN END EFFECTOR IN AN ARTICULATED POSITION IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF A JAW CLOSURE SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168581); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 385,935, entitled "LATERALLY ACTUATABLE ARTICULATION LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCKING AN END EFFECTOR OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT IN AN ARTICULATED CONFIGURATION" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168582); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,936, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATION STROKE AMPLIFICATION FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168583); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 318,996, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGES INCLUDING EXTENSIONS HAVING DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0297228); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,006, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING FASTENER CAVITIES INCLUDING FASTENER CONTROL FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,010,324); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 318,991, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGES WITH DRIVER STABILIZING ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,833,241); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,004, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH FIRING ELEMENT MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,844,369); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,008, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING NON-UNIFORM FASTENERS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0297232); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 318,997, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING DEPLOYABLE TISSUE ENGAGING MEMBERS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0297229); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,002, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING TISSUE CONTROL FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,877,721); - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 319,013, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLIES AND STAPLE RETAINER COVER ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0297233); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 319,016, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A LAYER ATTACHED THERETO" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0297235).

[0028] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on June 24, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 191,775, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0367695); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 191,807, entitled "STAPLING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0367696); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 191,834, entitled "STAMPED STAPLES AND STAPLE CARTRIDGES USING THE SAME" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0367699); - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 191,788, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING OVERDRIVEN STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0367698); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 191,818, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING OFFSET LONGITUDINAL STAPLE ROWS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0367697).

[0029] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on June 24, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,218, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER" (now U.S. Design Patent No. D826,405); - U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,227, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER" (now U.S. Design Patent No. D822,206); - U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,259, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGE"; and -U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,264, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGE."

[0030] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on April 1, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,325, entitled "METHOD FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281171; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,321, entitled "MODULAR SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281163; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,326, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY INCLUDING A RE-ORIENTABLE DISPLAY FIELD," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281172; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,263, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE ASSEMBLY WITH RECONFIGURABLE GRIP PORTION," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281165; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,262, entitled "ROTARY POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MANUALLY ACTUATABLE BAILOUT SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281161; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,277, entitled "SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING END EFFECTOR WITH ANVIL CONCENTRIC DRIVE MEMBER," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281166; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 089,296, entitled "INTERCHANGEABLE SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLY WITH A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR THAT IS SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE ABOUT A SHAFT AXIS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281168; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,258, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A SHIFTABLE TRANSMISSION," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281178; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,278, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO PROVIDE SELECTIVE CUTTING OF TISSUE," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281162; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,284, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A CONTOURABLE SHAFT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281186; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,295, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A TISSUE COMPRESSION LOCKOUT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281187; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,300, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN UNCLAMPING LOCKOUT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281179; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,196, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW CLOSURE LOCKOUT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281183; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,203, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW ATTACHMENT LOCKOUT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281184; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,210, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281185; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,324, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SHIFTING MECHANISM," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281170; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,335, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING MULTIPLE LOCKOUTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281155; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,339, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281173; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,253, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO APPLY ANNULAR ROWS OF STAPLES HAVING DIFFERENT HEIGHTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281177; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,304, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A GROOVED FORMING POCKET," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281188; -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,331, entitled "ANVIL MODIFICATION MEMBERS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281180); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,336, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH ATRAUMATIC FEATURES," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281164; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,312, entitled "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INCISABLE TISSUE SUPPORT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281189; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,309, entitled "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING ROTARY FIRING SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281169; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,349, entitled "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING LOAD CONTROL," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281174.

[0031] The applicant of this application also owns the following identified U.S. patent applications, filed on December 31, 2015, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 984,488, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR BATTERY PACK FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0189018; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 984,525, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0189019; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 984,552, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARABLE MOTORS AND MOTOR CONTROL CIRCUITS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0189020.

[0032] The applicant of this application also owns the following identified U.S. patent applications, filed on February 9, 2016, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,220, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ARTICULATING AND AXIALLY TRANSLATABLE END EFFECTOR," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224333; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,228, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE LINK ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224342; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,196, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ARTICULATION MECHANISM WITH SLOTTED SECONDARY CONSTRAINT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224330; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,206, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH AN END EFFECTOR THAT IS HIGHLY ARTICULATABLE RELATIVE TO AN ELONGATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224331; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,215, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH NON-SYMMETRICAL ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224332; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 019,227, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SINGLE ARTICULATION LINK ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224334; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,235, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH TENSIONING ARRANGEMENTS FOR CABLE DRIVEN ARTICULATION SYSTEMS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224336; - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,230, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-AXIS FIRING BEAM ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224335; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,245, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224343.

[0033] The applicant of this application also owns the following identified U.S. patent applications, filed on February 12, 2016, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,254, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0231623); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 043,259, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0231626); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 043,275, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0231627); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 043,289, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0231628).

[0034] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on June 18, 2015, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,925, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0367256; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,941, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH DUAL CAM ACTUATED JAW CLOSING FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,052,102); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,914, entitled "MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0367255; -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,900, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH COMPOSITE FIRING BEAM STRUCTURES WITH CENTER FIRING SUPPORT MEMBER FOR ARTICULATION SUPPORT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0367254; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,885, entitled "DUAL ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0367246; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,876 entitled "PUSH / PULL ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEMS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,178,992).

[0035] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on March 6, 2015, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 640,746, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT", now U.S. Patent No. 9,808,246; -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,795, entitled "MULTIPLE LEVEL THRESHOLDS TO MODIFY OPERATION OF POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 02561185; -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,832, entitled "ADAPTIVE TISSUE COMPRESSION TECHNIQUES TO ADJUST CLOSURE RATES FOR MULTIPLE TISSUE TYPES," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0256154; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,935, entitled "OVERLAID MULTI SENSOR RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ELECTRODE SYSTEM TO MEASURE TISSUE COMPRESSION," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0256071; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,831, entitled "MONITORING SPEED CONTROL AND PRECISION INCREMENTING OF MOTOR FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,895,148); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,859, entitled "TIME DEPENDENT EVALUATION OF SENSOR DATA TO DETERMINE STABILITY, CREEP, AND VISCOELASTIC ELEMENTS OF MEASURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,052,044); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,817, entitled "INTERACTIVE FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,924,961); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,844, entitled "CONTROL TECHNIQUES AND SUB-PROCESSOR CONTAINED WITHIN MODULAR SHAFT WITH SELECT CONTROL PROCESSING FROM HANDLE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,045,776); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,837, entitled "SMART SENSORS WITH LOCAL SIGNAL PROCESSING" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,993,248); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,765, entitled "SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE MIS-INSERTION OF A STAPLE CARTRIDGE INTO A SURGICAL STAPLER," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0256160; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 640,799, entitled "SIGNAL AND POWER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM POSITIONED ON A ROTATABLE SHAFT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,901,342); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,780, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A LOCKABLE BATTERY HOUSING," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0256161.

[0036] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on February 27, 2015, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,576, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INSPECTION STATION", now U.S. Patent No. 10,045,779; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,546, entitled "SURGICAL APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO ASSESS WHETHER A PERFORMANCE PARAMETER OF THE SURGICAL APPARATUS IS WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE BAND," now U.S. Patent No. 10,180,463; -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,560, entitled "SURGICAL CHARGING SYSTEM THAT CHARGES AND / OR CONDITIONS ONE OR MORE BATTERIES," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0249910; -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,566, entitled "CHARGING SYSTEM THAT ENABLES EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS FOR CHARGING A BATTERY," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0249918; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,555, entitled "SYSTEM FOR MONITORING WHETHER A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0249916; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 633,542, entitled "REINFORCED BATTERY FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT," now U.S. Patent No. 9,931,118; -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,548, entitled "POWER ADAPTER FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0249909; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,526, entitled "ADAPTABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0249945; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 633,541 entitled "MODULAR STAPLING ASSEMBLY", now U.S. Patent No. 9,993,258; -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 633,562, entitled "SURGICAL APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO TRACK AN END-OF-LIFE PARAMETER," now U.S. Patent No. 10,159,483.

[0037] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on December 18, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,478, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING AN ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTOR AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE FIRING STROKE OF A FIRING MEMBER," now U.S. Patent No. 9,844,374; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,483, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING LOCKABLE SYSTEMS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0174969; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,139, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,844,375; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 575,148, entitled "LOCKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES WITH ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL END EFFECTORS," now U.S. Patent No. 10,085,748; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,130, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH AN ANVIL THAT IS SELECTIVELY MOVABLE ABOUT A DISCRETE NON-MOVABLE AXIS RELATIVE TO A STAPLE CARTRIDGE," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0174972; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,143, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH IMPROVED CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 10,004,501; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,117, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,943,309; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,154, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND IMPROVED FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,968,355; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 574,493, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent No. 9,987,000; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,500, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKABLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent No. 10,117,649.

[0038] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on March 1, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,295, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTIVE PATHWAYS FOR SIGNAL COMMUNICATION," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0246471; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,323, entitled "ROTARY POWERED ARTICULATION JOINTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0246472; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,338, entitled "THUMBWHEEL SWITCH ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0249557; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,499, entitled "ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL DEVICE WITH SIGNAL RELAY ARRANGEMENT," now U.S. Patent No. 9,358,003; -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,460, entitled "MULTIPLE PROCESSOR MOTOR CONTROL FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0246478); - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,358, entitled "JOYSTICK SWITCH ASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (U.S. Patent No. 9,326,767); - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,481, entitled "SENSOR STRAIGHTENED END EFFECTOR DURING REMOVAL THROUGH TROCAR" (U.S. Patent No. 9,468,438); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,518, entitled "CONTROL METHODS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE IMPLEMENT PORTIONS" (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0246475); - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,375, entitled "ROTARY POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE DEGREES OF FREEDOM" (U.S. Patent No. 9,398,911); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,536, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SOFT STOP" (U.S. Patent No. 9,307,986).

[0039] The applicant of this application also owns the following patent applications, filed on March 14, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,097, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE," now U.S. Patent No. 9,687,230; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,193, entitled "CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR A DRIVE MEMBER OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT," now U.S. Patent No. 9,332,987; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,053, entitled "INTERCHANGEABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,883,860); - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,086, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0263541; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,210, entitled "SENSOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ABSOLUTE POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,808,244; -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,148, entitled "MULTI-FUNCTION MOTOR FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0263554; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,066, entitled "DRIVE SYSTEM LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,629,623; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,117, entitled "ARTICULATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,351,726; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,130, entitled "DRIVE TRAIN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,351,727; and -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,159, entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,888,919).

[0040] The applicant of this application also owns the following patent applications, filed on March 7, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 200,111, entitled "CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,629,629.

[0041] The applicant of this application also owns the following patent applications, filed on March 26, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,106, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0272582; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 226,099, entitled "STERILIZATION VERIFICATION CIRCUIT," now U.S. Patent No. 9,826,977; -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,094, entitled "VERIFICATION OF NUMBER OF BATTERY EXCHANGES / PROCEDURE COUNT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0272580; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,117, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT THROUGH SLEEP OPTIONS OF SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND WAKE UP CONTROL" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,013,049); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,075, entitled "MODULAR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES," now U.S. Patent No. 9,743,929; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,093, entitled "FEEDBACK ALGORITHMS FOR MANUAL BAILOUT SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,028,761); - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 226,116, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT UTILIZING SENSOR ADAPTATION," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0272571; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,071, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CONTROL CIRCUIT HAVING A SAFETY PROCESSOR," now U.S. Patent No. 9,690,362; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,097, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,820,738; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,126, entitled "INTERFACE SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,004,497); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,133, entitled "MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0272557; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,081, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A SEGMENTED CIRCUIT," now U.S. Patent No. 9,804,618; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,076, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT THROUGH SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND VARIABLE VOLTAGE PROTECTION," now U.S. Patent No. 9,733,663; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,111, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent No. 9,750,499; and -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 226,125, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0280384.

[0042] The applicant of this application also owns the following patent applications, filed on September 5, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,103, entitled "CIRCUITRY AND SENSORS FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,111,679); - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 479,119, entitled "ADJUNCT WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS TO QUANTIFY TISSUE COMPRESSION," now U.S. Patent No. 9,724,094; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 478,908, entitled "MONITORING DEVICE DEGRADATION BASED ON COMPONENT EVALUATION," now U.S. Patent No. 9,737,301; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 478,895, entitled "MULTIPLE SENSORS WITH ONE SENSOR AFFECTING A SECOND SENSOR'S OUTPUT OR INTERPRETATION," now U.S. Patent No. 9,757,128; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,110, entitled "POLARITY OF HALL MAGNET TO IDENTIFY CARTRIDGE TYPE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,016,199); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,098, entitled "SMART CARTRIDGE WAKE UP OPERATION AND DATA RETENTION" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,135,242); - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 479,115, entitled "MULTIPLE MOTOR CONTROL FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE," now U.S. Patent No. 9,788,836; and -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 479,108, entitled "LOCAL DISPLAY OF TISSUE PARAMETER STABILIZATION," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0066913.

[0043] The applicant of this application also owns the following patent applications, filed on April 9, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,590, entitled "MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKABLE DUAL DRIVE SHAFTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,826,976; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,581, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CLOSING DRIVE AND A FIRING DRIVE OPERATED FROM THE SAME ROTATABLE OUTPUT," now U.S. Patent No. 9,649,110; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,595, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND DRIVE SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,844,368); -U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 248,588, entitled "POWERED LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLER," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0309666; - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,591, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A GAP SETTING SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,149,680); - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 248,584, entitled "MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURES FOR ALIGNING ROTARY DRIVE SHAFTS WITH SURGICAL END EFFECTOR SHAFTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,801,626; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 248,587, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL STAPLER", now U.S. Patent No. 9,867,612; - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 248,586, entitled "DRIVE SYSTEM DECOUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,136,887); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,607, entitled "MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH STATUS INDICATION ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,814,460.

[0044] The applicant of this application also owns the following patent applications, filed on April 16, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,365, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,376, entitled "LINEAR CUTTER WITH POWER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,382, entitled "LINEAR CUTTER WITH MOTOR AND PISTOL GRIP"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,385, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE WITH MULTIPLE ACTUATION MOTORS AND MOTOR CONTROL"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,372, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR."

[0045] As described in the specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments. Well-known operations, components, and elements are not described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. The reader will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and illustrative. Variations and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0046] The terms "comprise" (or any form of comprise, such as "comprises" or "comprising"), "have" (or any form of have, such as "has" or "having"), "include" (or any form of include, such as "includes" or "including"), and "contain" (or any form of contain, such as "contains" or "containing") are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a surgical system, device, or instrument that "comprises," "has," "includes," or "contains" one or more elements has those one or more elements, but is not limited to having only those one or more elements. Similarly, a system, device, or apparatus element that "comprises," "has," "includes," or "contains" one or more features has those one or more features, but is not limited to having only those one or more features.

[0047] The terms "proximal" and "distal" are used herein with reference to a clinician manipulating a handle portion of a surgical instrument. The term "proximal" refers to the portion closest to the clinician and the term "distal" refers to the portion located away from the clinician. It will be further understood that for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," and "lower" may be used herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instruments are used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and / or absolute.

[0048] Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for performing laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. However, the reader will readily appreciate that the various methods and devices disclosed herein may be used in many surgical procedures and applications, including, for example, those associated with open surgical procedures. As the reader proceeds through the Detailed Description of the Invention section of this specification, the reader will further appreciate that the various instruments disclosed herein may be inserted into the body in any manner, such as through a natural opening, through an incision or puncture made in tissue, etc. The working or end effector portions of these instruments may be inserted directly into the patient's body or through an access device having a working channel through which the end effector and elongate shaft of the surgical instrument may be advanced.

[0049] The surgical stapling system can include a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw includes a staple cartridge. The staple cartridge is insertable into and removable from the first jaw, although other embodiments are contemplated in which the staple cartridge is not removable from the first jaw, or at least not easily replaceable from the first jaw. The second jaw includes an anvil configured to deform staples ejected from the staple cartridge. The second jaw is pivotable about a closure axis relative to the first jaw, although other embodiments are contemplated in which the first jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw. The surgical stapling system further includes an articulation joint configured to allow the end effector to rotate, i.e., articulate, relative to the shaft. The end effector is rotatable about an articulation axis extending through the articulation joint. Other embodiments are contemplated that do not include an articulation joint.

[0050] The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body. The cartridge body includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a deck extending between the proximal and distal ends. In use, the staple cartridge is positioned on a first side of tissue to be stapled and the anvil is positioned on a second side of the tissue. The anvil is moved toward the staple cartridge to press and clamp the tissue against the deck. Staples removably stored within the cartridge body can then be deployed into the tissue. The cartridge body includes staple cavities defined therein, the staples being removably stored within the staple cavities. The staple cavities are arranged in six longitudinal rows. Three rows of staple cavities are positioned on a first side of the longitudinal slot and three rows of staple cavities are positioned on a second side of the longitudinal slot. Other arrangements of staple cavities and staples may be possible.

[0051] The staples are supported by staple drivers within the cartridge body. The drivers are movable between a first, or unfired, position and a second, or fired, position that ejects the staples from the staple cavities. The drivers are retained within the cartridge body by a retainer that extends around a bottom of the cartridge body and includes a resilient member configured to grip the cartridge body and hold the retainer against the cartridge body. The drivers are movable between their unfired and fired positions by a sled. The sled is movable between a proximal position adjacent a proximal end and a distal position adjacent a distal end. The sled includes a plurality of ramps configured to slide under the drivers and lift the drivers, on which the staples are supported, toward the anvil.

[0052] In addition to the above, the sled is moved distally by a firing member. The firing member is configured to contact the sled and urge the sled toward the distal end. A longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body is configured to receive the firing member. The anvil also includes a slot configured to receive the firing member. The firing member further includes a first cam that engages the first jaw and a second cam that engages the second jaw. When advancing the firing member distally, the first cam and the second cam can control the distance between the deck portion of the staple cartridge and the anvil, i.e., the tissue gap. The firing member also includes a knife configured to cut tissue captured intermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil. It is desirable for the knife to be positioned at least partially proximal to the ramp such that the staples are ejected forward of the knife.

[0053] 1-5 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the end effector of the surgical instrument system. These figures show the end effector in an open position prior to placement on tissue (FIG. 1), in a closed position ready for firing (FIG. 2), during a firing motion to deploy staples in tissue (FIG. 3), after the firing motion has been completed (FIG. 4), and in a reopened position to release the end effector from tissue (FIG. 5). This surgical instrument system is similar in many respects to the surgical instrument system disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,667,517, entitled "ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL SYSTEM WITH SENSING MEANS," issued to Michael Dawson Hooven on September 16, 1997. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 5,667,517 is incorporated herein by reference.

[0054] The end effector of Figures 1-5 includes a shaft housing 60 and an end effector housing 70. The end effector housing 70 is connected to the shaft housing 60 in any suitable manner, such as, for example, by press fit or ultrasonic welding. A rotatable shaft 61 extends through the shaft housing 60 and is operably coupled to an electric motor, which can, for example, rotate the shaft 61. A threaded rod 71 extends substantially the length of the end effector and is connected to the rotatable shaft 61. The threaded rod 71 has a larger diameter portion 72 adjacent the shaft 61 and a smaller diameter portion 73 the remainder of the threaded rod 71. The end effector further includes a staple or staple cartridge portion 74 and an anvil portion 75. The staple cartridge portion 74 and the anvil portion 75 are pivotally connected to one another by an anvil pivot pin 76. Threadedly mounted on the larger diameter portion 72 of the threaded rod 71 is a closure nut 77 having a closure pin 78 extending therefrom which moves within a closure slot 79 disposed in a pivotally mounted anvil portion 75 of the end effector. As the shaft 61 rotates, the threaded rod 71 also rotates, and as it rotates in a first direction, the closure nut 77 lowers the threaded rod 71 and moves the closure pin 78 within the closure slot 79 to close the anvil portion 75 against the staple portion 74 of the end effector.

[0055] In addition to the above, tissue to be treated or manipulated by the end effector is disposed between the anvil portion 75 and the staple cartridge portion 74 of the end effector when the anvil portion 75 is in the open position. Once the tissue is properly positioned between the anvil portion 75 and the staple cartridge portion 74, a force is applied to the shaft 61 to rotate the shaft 61 and the threaded rod 71 to close the anvil portion 75. As will be appreciated, the amount of torque required to pivot the anvil portion 75 about the pivot pin 76 can be detected and, as a result, the thickness of the tissue between the anvil portion 75 and the staple cartridge portion 74 can be determined. The surgical instrument system may further include a microprocessor or controller that can process this information and inform the surgeon as to whether an appropriate amount of tissue is positioned between the anvil portion 75 and the staple cartridge portion 74 of the end effector when the anvil portion 75 is closed, or whether too much or too little tissue is positioned between the anvil portion 75 and the staple cartridge portion 74. The microprocessor can also be configured to inform the surgeon whether or not to re-operate the end effector. If the electric motor that rotates the shaft 61 is driven by a constant voltage, for example, the force required to close the end effector can be measured by monitoring the motor current. In various examples, the power delivered to the end effector can be controlled by varying the motor voltage and / or current to achieve a constant motor speed with varying loads, for example. In certain examples, pulse width modulation and / or frequency modulation can be utilized to control the electric motor.

[0056] Staple cartridge portion 74 includes a removable staple cartridge 80. Staple cartridge 80 may include any suitable number of staple rows, such as four rows of staples 81, or six rows of staples 81. The staple rows are parallel to one another, with adjacent rows offset relative to one another. Staple cartridge 80 is disposed within staple cartridge portion 74 such that it faces anvil portion 75 and snaps into staple cartridge portion 74 of the end effector, as shown. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a smaller diameter portion 73 of threaded rod 71 extends through staple cartridge 80. Staple cartridge 80 may include an opening defined in a bottom thereof, which allows staple cartridge 80 to be positioned above threaded rod 71 and to fit into position within staple cartridge portion 74. Other embodiments are contemplated in which threaded rod 71, or at least a portion of threaded rod 71, is part of staple cartridge 80. In one such embodiment, threaded rod 71 may be operatively coupled to drive shaft 61 when staple cartridge 80 is seated within staple cartridge portion 74. Some embodiments are also contemplated in which staple cartridge 80 is not easily replaceable within the end effector. In at least one such embodiment, the end effector may be replaceable in its entirety.

[0057] A knife member 82 and a driving wedge member 83 are mounted on the threaded rod 71 and are interconnected. The interconnected knife member 82 and wedge member 83 threadably engage the smaller diameter portion 73 of the threaded rod 71 and advance in a distal direction (i.e., the same direction as the threaded rod 71 rotates toward the anvil portion 75) as the threaded rod 71 rotates in a first direction. As it moves along the threaded rod 71, the wedge member 83 advances ahead of, or is positioned distally relative to, the knife member 82. As the wedge member 83 lowers the threaded rod 71, it drives the staples 81 out of the cartridge 80 via the staple driver 84. The staple driver 84 may include individual staple drivers or may be one or more staple drivers 84 interconnected. The staples 81 pass through the tissue and are forced against the anvil portion 75 to form the staples 81 in the tissue. Knife member 82 followed by drive wedge 83 severs tissue between two adjacent rows of staples 81. Drive wedge 83 may be two-piece, having one wedge piece on one side of knife member 82 for driving staples 81 on a first side of knife member 82, and a similar wedge piece on the opposite side of knife member 82 for driving staples 81 on a second (opposite) side of knife member 82.

[0058] The staples 81 have the same unformed height, but it is also contemplated that the staples 81 can have different unformed heights. The staples 81 have the same deformed height, but it is also contemplated that the staples 81 can have different deformed heights. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007 / 0131732, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS INCLUDING A CARTRIDGE HAVING MULTIPLE STAPLE SIZES," now U.S. Patent No. 7,398,908, filed November 3, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 7,635,074, entitled "STAPLE DRIVE ASSEMBLY," issued December 22, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference. The entire disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 527,398, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES COMPRISING DRIVER ARRANGEMENTS," filed Oct. 29, 2014, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 527,384, entitled "CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS," filed Oct. 29, 2014, are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0059] When the anvil portion 75 is closed as shown in FIG. 2, the closure nut 77 advances the stop member 85 which advances the firing nut 86, on which the knife 82 and wedge 83 are disposed, to engage the threads of the smaller diameter portion 73 of the threaded rod 71 and advance along the rod 71, driving the staples 81 to sever tissue. At the same time that the closure nut 77 switches the stop member 85 from the rearward configuration (FIG. 6) to the forward configuration (FIG. 7), the closure nut 77 disengages (or disengages) from the threads of the threaded portion 72. The firing nut 86 is biased using any suitable method so that it does not engage the threads of the threaded portion 73 until the stop member 85 is actuated or pushed forward as described above. Once the firing nut 86 has moved to its most advanced position, driving and forming all of the staples 81 and cutting the tissue, the firing nut 86 engages a suitable contact 87 which instantly reverses the electric motor to rotate the rod in a second (i.e., opposite) direction and retract the firing nut 86. Referring now to FIG. 9, when in the fully retracted position, the firing nut 86 moves the stop member 85 in a rearward direction which causes the closure nut 77 to reengage with the threads of the threaded portion 72. Simultaneously with the stop member 85 being pushed to the rearward configuration (FIG. 9), the firing nut 86 disengages (or disengages) from the threads of the threaded portion 73. Continued rotation of the threaded rod 71 in the second direction retracts the closure nut 77 and opens the anvil portion 75 of the end effector as shown in FIG. 10.

[0060] Another configuration of the above embodiment places contacts in the handle portion of the instrument or in the proximal housing attached to the robotic surgical stapler and uses a follower nut on the rotating shaft 61 to monitor the position of the closure nut 77 and / or firing nut 86. The entire disclosure of the document "US APPLICATIONS FOR USE IN AN ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0298719, is incorporated herein by reference. During surgery, various information may be communicated to and / or from the microprocessor of the surgical instrument system. For example, movement of stop member 85, such as pushing firing nut 86 onto the threads of threaded portion 73 and / or pushing closure nut 77 onto the threads of threaded portion 72, may be detected. A fully advanced position of wedge 83 and / or knife member 82 may be detected. Reversal of the motor may also be detected. Additionally, the presence of staple cartridge 80 in staple cartridge portion 74 and / or the presence of staples 81 in that cartridge 80 may also be detected. All of this information may be communicated back to the controller and stored and manipulated therein, allowing a surgeon using the instrument to receive information regarding the status of the surgical instrument system.

[0061] The surgical instrument systems disclosed herein can be utilized with a supplemental material, such as, for example, a buttress material. The supplemental material can include one or more layers of material releasably attached to the staple cartridge and / or anvil. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0012704, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS," published Jan. 21, 2010 (now U.S. Patent No. 8,413,871), is incorporated herein by reference.

[0062] The surgical instrument system shown in Figures 1-5 and described above is useful for its intended purpose. However, there are several aspects of the surgical instrument system that could be improved upon. For example, the closure nut 77 and the firing nut 86 advance sequentially. In other words, the closure nut 77 must fully complete its closing stroke on the threaded portion 72 of the rod 71 before the firing nut 86 begins its firing stroke on the threaded portion 73 of the rod 71. As a result, the tissue clamping system must be fully clamped before the staple firing system can be operated. Furthermore, the closure nut 77 must be fully retracted before the firing nut 86 can be retracted. As a result, the tissue clamping system cannot unclamp immediately after the staples 81 are fired. Rather, the tissue clamping system remains in the clamped configuration until the firing system is fully reset. In addition to the above, very precise tolerances may be required to adjust the closure nut 77 to disengage from the threads of the threaded portion 72 at the same time that the closure nut 77 switches the stop member 85 to the forward configuration. Similarly, adjusting the firing nut 86 to disengage from the threads of threaded portion 73 at the same time that the firing nut 86 switches the stop member 85 to the rearward configuration may require very precise tolerances.

[0063] 6-14 show a surgical instrument system 150. The surgical instrument system 150 includes a shaft 160 and an end effector 170 extending from the shaft 160. The shaft 160 extends from a housing 152 configured to be attached to a robotic surgical system (such as, for example, a DAVINCI robotic surgical system manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, Inc.). The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13 / 118,241, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012 / 0298719, is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the shaft 160 may extend from a handle of a surgical instrument configured to be grasped and manipulated by, for example, a surgeon. U.S. Patent No. 7,143,923, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A FIRING LOCKOUT FOR AN UNCLOSED ANVIL" (issued December 5, 2006); U.S. Patent No. 7,044,352, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SINGLE LOCKOUT MECHANISM FOR PREVENTION OF FIRING" (issued May 16, 2006); U.S. Patent No. 7,000,818, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING SEPARATE DISTINCT CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (issued February 21, 2006); U.S. Patent No. 6,988,649, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SPENT CARTRIDGE No. 6,978,921, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING AN E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM," issued on Dec. 27, 2005, are incorporated herein by reference.The shaft 160 includes at least one articulation joint, such as articulation joint 190, that is configured to allow the end effector 170 to articulate about at least one axis of rotation. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the shaft 160 does not include an articulation joint.

[0064] Referring primarily to FIG. 6, end effector 170 includes a staple cartridge portion 174 and an anvil portion 175. A staple cartridge 180 is positioned within staple cartridge portion 174. Staple cartridge 180 is removable from staple cartridge portion 174, thereby allowing for easy replacement with another staple cartridge. However, other embodiments are contemplated in which staple cartridge 180 is not easily replaceable. Anvil portion 175 is rotatable relative to staple cartridge portion 174 about a pivot pin 176 extending from anvil portion 175. Other embodiments are contemplated in which staple cartridge portion 174 is rotatable relative to anvil portion 175. As described in more detail below, anvil 175 is rotatable between an open position (FIGS. 6-9) and a closed position (FIGS. 10-13) by a closure drive. Also, as described in more detail below, staples (such as staples 81) can be removably stored within staple cartridge 180 and can be ejected from staple cartridge 180 and deformed against anvil 175 by a firing drive.

[0065] 7-9, shaft 160 includes a rotatable input shaft 161. As described in more detail below, input shaft 161 is utilized to operate the closure drive and the firing drive. Input shaft 161 is rotatably mounted within shaft 160 by one or more bearings and includes a threaded portion 172. The closure drive includes a closure nut 177 that includes a threaded opening 162 defined therein. Closure nut 177 further includes closure pins 178 extending from opposite sides thereof that are slidably positioned within closure slots 179 defined on opposite sides of anvil portion 175.

[0066] The threaded opening 162 of the closure nut 177 threadably engages the threaded portion 172 of the input shaft 161 such that rotation of the input shaft 161 in a first direction causes the closure nut 177 to move distally toward the end of the end effector 170 and rotation of the input shaft 161 in a second (opposite) direction causes the closure nut 177 to move proximally toward the housing 152, as shown in FIG. 10. Interaction between a closure pin 178 of the closure nut 177 and a sidewall of a closure slot 179 prevents the closure nut 177 from rotating with the input shaft 161 such that rotational motion of the input shaft 161 is translated into longitudinal translational motion of the closure nut 177.

[0067] In use, the closure nut 177 is advanced distally by the input shaft 161 to move the anvil portion 175 between an open position (FIGS. 6-9) and a closed position (FIGS. 11-13). In such an instance, the closure pin 178 engages a lower sidewall of the closure slot 179 to cam the anvil 175 towards the staple cartridge 180, as shown in FIG. 10. Similarly, with reference to FIG. 14, the closure nut 177 is advanced proximally by the input shaft 161 to move the anvil portion 175 between a closed position and an open position. In such an instance, the closure pin 178 engages an upper sidewall of the closure slot 179 to cam the anvil 175 away from the staple cartridge 180.

[0068] The input shaft 161 further includes a distal gear 165 fixedly mounted to its distal end. When the input shaft 161 rotates in a first direction, the distal gear 165 rotates in the first direction, and when the input shaft 161 rotates in a second direction, the distal gear 165 rotates in the second direction. The firing drive of the end effector 170 includes a rotatable firing shaft 171, which is rotatably mounted to a staple cartridge portion 174 by one or more bearings, such as bearing 163. The firing shaft 171 includes a proximal gear 185 and a threaded portion 173. The proximal gear 185 of the firing shaft 171 meshingly engages the distal gear 165 of the input shaft 161, such that the input shaft 161 can drive the firing shaft 171 when the input shaft 161 rotates. The proximal gear 185 is slidably mounted to the firing shaft 171. More specifically, firing shaft 171 includes splined portion 168, and proximal gear 185 is slidably coupled to splined shaft portion 168 and includes a splined opening 169 extending therethrough. As a result, proximal gear 185 can rotate firing shaft 171 about a longitudinal axis, and can also slide longitudinally along the longitudinal axis, as described in more detail below.

[0069] The firing drive further includes a firing nut 186 including a threaded opening 189 defined therein that is threadably engageable with the threaded portion 173 of the shaft 171. The firing nut 186 further includes a wedge 183 defined thereon that is configured to slide under the staple driver 84 and lift the staples 81 toward the anvil portion 175, thereby stapling tissue positioned between the staple cartridge 180 and the anvil portion 175. The firing nut 186 also includes a cutting member 182 defined thereon that is configured to cut the stapled tissue. When the firing nut 186 is threadably engaged with the shaft 171 and the input shaft 161 is rotated in a first direction, the firing nut 186 moves distally toward the end of the end effector 170 to eject the staples 81 from the staple cartridge 180 and cut the tissue. A firing nut 186 threadably engages the threaded portion 173 of the shaft 171, and when the input shaft 161 rotates in the second direction, the firing nut 186 moves proximally toward the housing 152, retracting the wedge 183 and the cutting member 182 to their unfired positions.

[0070] As can be seen from the above, the surgical instrument system 150 includes a system for switching between a clamping mode of operation and a staple firing mode of operation, which is an improvement over the switching system disclosed in connection with the surgical instrument system of FIGS. 1-5. Referring again to FIGS. 7-9, the closure nut 177 is movable from a proximal position to a distal position during a clamping stroke, thereby moving the anvil portion 175 from an open position to a closed position. When the closure nut 177 is in the proximal position, the closure nut 177 threadably engages with threads 172 defined on the input shaft 171. The closure system may include a biasing member (e.g., spring 164, etc.) configured to bias the threads 162 of the closure nut 177 into or maintain engagement with the threads 172 of the input shaft 171. The spring 164 is positioned intermediate the closure nut 177 and a shoulder 166 defined on the shaft 171.

[0071] As a result of the above, an initial rotation of the input shaft 161 in a first direction can immediately move the closure nut 177 in a distal direction to initiate closure of the anvil portion 175. Furthermore, if the input shaft 161 is erroneously driven in a second direction while the closure nut 177 is in a proximal position, the closure nut 177 can move proximally and disengage from the threads 172 to an idle state. However, the spring 164 can maintain the threads 162 of the closure nut 177 close to the threads 172 of the input shaft 161, such that as the input shaft 161 rotates in the first direction, the threads 162 can capture the threads 172 and the closure nut 177 can be pulled in a distal direction to close the anvil portion 175.

[0072] Notably, and in furtherance of the above, rotation of input shaft 161 utilized to initiate the clamping stroke of closure nut 177 is transmitted to firing shaft 171 via meshed gears 165 and 185. This rotation of firing shaft 171 does not drive firing nut 186 distally because this firing nut 186 is not threadably engaged with threads 173 of firing shaft 171 at this point in the operation of surgical instrument system 150. Rather, firing nut 185 is in an idle position and firing shaft 171 rotates within threaded opening 169 defined in firing nut 185. As described in more detail below, firing nut 185 is forced against threads 173 by closure nut 177 during the latter portion of the clamping stroke.

[0073] Referring now primarily to FIG. 9, the closure nut 177 further includes a distally extending switch arm 184. When the closure nut 177 is in a proximal position, as shown in FIG. 9, the switch arm 184 is not in contact with the slidable proximal gear 185. During distal movement of the closure nut 177, as shown in FIG. 10, the switch arm 184 contacts the proximal gear 185. As can be seen in FIG. 10, when the switch arm 184 first contacts the proximal gear 185, the anvil portion 175 has not yet reached its fully closed position. Thus, the closure nut 177 engages the proximal gear 185 prior to the completion of the clamping stroke. As the closure nut 177 moves further distally to complete the clamping stroke, the closure nut 177 moves the proximal gear 185 distally along the splined portion 168 of the firing shaft 171. This distal movement of proximal gear 185 causes pusher spring 181 to move distally, such that it is positioned intermediate proximal gear 185 and firing nut 186. Additionally, the distal movement of pusher spring 181 causes firing nut 186 to move distally and engage threads 173. Threads 189 of firing nut 186 include distal-most threads 188, which may initiate the threaded engagement between firing nut 186 and firing shaft 171.

[0074] 10 and 11, it can be seen that spring 181 can be compressed when utilized to push firing nut 186 distally as described above. In such an example, the pushing force between proximal gear 185 and firing nut 186 can increase as proximal gear 185 moves distally toward firing nut 186. In at least one example, the movement of proximal gear 185 can be linearly proportional to the force that spring 181 applies to firing nut 186. The force applied by spring 181 to firing nut 186 can increase until threads 189 of firing nut 186 capture threads 173, causing firing nut 186 to be pushed distally by firing shaft 171. Once firing nut 186 is threadably engaged with threads 173, firing nut 186 can be pulled away from spring 181, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0075] As a result of the above, the clamp operation mode can initiate the firing operation mode before the clamp operation mode is completed. In at least one example, it may be desirable to initiate the staple firing operation mode toward the end of the clamp operation mode, whereby the staples 81 are not fired until at least the anvil portion 175 is suitably positioned. Additionally, the surgical instrument system 150 may include a sensor system configured, for example, to detect that the staple firing operation mode has been initiated or is being initiated, and to pause the electric motor that drives the input shaft 161. Such a sensor system may be configured, for example, to detect the position of the closure nut 177, the firing nut 186, the proximal gear 185, and / or the spring 181. In at least one such example, pausing the electric motor allows the surgeon to assess whether to proceed with firing staples into tissue or whether to reopen the anvil portion 175 and reposition the end effector 170. In at least one example, the surgeon can be provided with two switches to selectively operate, for example, a first button to restart the electric motor to advance the firing stroke and a second button to reverse the electric motor to reopen the anvil portion 175. The first button can be, for example, green and the second button can be, for example, red. The first button can include indicia such as, for example, "forward," while the second button can include other indicia such as, for example, "back." Such switches can be located on the remote control console and / or on the handle of the surgical instrument, depending on the circumstances.

[0076] After advancement of the closure nut 177 initiates the firing mode of operation by forcing the firing nut 186 onto the threads 173 of the firing shaft 171, as described above, the closure nut 177 continues to move along the threads 172 of the input shaft 161 through the clamping stroke until the closure nut 177 disengages from the threads 172 and is operatively disengaged from the input shaft 161. At such point, the anvil portion 175 is in a fully closed position. Moreover, at such point, the closure nut 177 becomes idle and continued rotation of the input shaft 161 to operate the staple firing system will not advance the closure nut 177.

[0077] As described above, the firing nut 186 advances distally to eject the staples 81 from the staple cartridge 180. The firing nut 186 may advance to the distal end of the end effector 170 to complete the firing stroke, as shown in FIG. 12. The threads 173 of the firing shaft 171 may be configured such that the firing nut 186 remains threadably engaged with the firing shaft 171 when the firing nut 186 reaches the end of the firing stroke. In at least one such example, the firing nut 186, the wedge 183, and / or the cutting member 182 may change the state of a switch 87 located at the distal end of the end effector 170 when the firing nut 186 reaches the end of the firing stroke. The switch 87 is in communication with a controller of the surgical instrument system 150, which may reverse the direction of the electric motor to rotate the input shaft 161 in a second direction when the state of the switch 87 is reversed. When the input shaft 161 is rotating in the second direction, the firing nut 186 retracts toward its unfired position. Additionally or alternatively, the surgical instrument 150 can include a switch that the surgeon can activate to stop and / or reverse direction of the electric motor.

[0078] In addition to the above, and referring now to FIG. 12, when the electric motor operates in a second direction, firing nut 186 retracts back to its unfired position to reset the firing system. As firing nut 186 retracts, and referring now to FIG. 13, firing nut 186 contacts spring 181 and urges spring 181 proximally. Before firing nut 186 derails (or disengages) from threads 173, firing nut 186 contacts spring 181. As firing nut 186 urges spring 181 proximally, spring 181 urges proximal gear 185 and closure nut 177 proximally, which causes closure nut 177 to threadably re-engage threads 172 of input shaft 161, as shown in FIG. 13. The threaded opening 162 of the closure nut 177 includes proximal threads 167 that capture the threads 172 to initiate threaded engagement between the closure nut 177 and the input shaft 161. Once the closure nut 177 is threadably re-engaged with the threads 172, continued rotation of the input shaft 161 in the second direction moves the closure nut 177 proximally to cam the anvil portion 175 back to its open position, thereby resetting the clamping system. At the same time, continued rotation of the input shaft 161 in the second direction may cause the firing nut 186 to derail (or disengage) from the threads 173 of the firing shaft 171. Once the firing nut 186 is operatively disengaged from the firing shaft 171, the firing system is reset.

[0079] During use, the anvil portion 175 can be rotated away from its fully clamped position to release tissue captured between the anvil portion 175 and the staple cartridge 180. Additionally, the anvil portion 175 can be moved between open and closed positions as needed to clamp and release tissue and / or to position the anvil portion 175 relative to the staple cartridge 180 so that the end effector 170 can be inserted into a patient, for example, through a trocar. The pause feature described above allows the surgical instrument system 150 to be operated through a first range of motion to open and close the anvil portion 175 without firing the staples in the staple cartridge 180 and / or without cutting tissue.

[0080] 1-5 discussed above, the closure nut 77 engages the anvil portion 75 at its proximal end, such that the closure nut 77 may not be able to push the distal end of the anvil portion 75 to the fully closed position. Furthermore, the firing nut 86 does not include a cam engagement member that can pull the distal end of the anvil portion 75 to the fully closed position. As such, the tissue gap between the anvil portion 75 and the distal end of the staple cartridge 80 may be larger than the tissue gap between the anvil portion 75 and the proximal end of the staple cartridge 80, which may prevent the distal staples from being formed to the proper, or at least preferred, formed height. Improvements to this arrangement are discussed further below.

[0081] An end effector 270 of the surgical instrument system 250 is shown in FIG. The end effector 270 includes a staple cartridge portion 274 and an anvil portion 275. The end effector 270 further includes a staple cartridge 280 positioned within the staple cartridge portion 274. As above, the staple cartridge 280 is easily removable from the staple cartridge portion 274 and easily replaceable with another staple cartridge. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the staple cartridge 280 is not easily removable from the staple cartridge portion 274. The anvil portion 275 is rotatable relative to the staple cartridge 280 between an open position and a closed position to compress tissue T therebetween. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the staple cartridge portion 274 is rotatable relative to the anvil portion 275. In any case, the end effector 270 is movable between the open and closed configurations in any suitable manner. In at least one example, the end effector 270 is moved from the open configuration to the closed configuration by cams 256 and 257 extending from the firing nut 286. More specifically, the cam 257 is configured to enter a longitudinal cam slot 258 defined in the anvil portion 275, and the cam 256 is configured to engage the staple cartridge portion 274 and / or the staple cartridge 280, which cooperate to position the anvil portion 275 relative to the staple cartridge 280 as the firing nut 286 is advanced distally. In other embodiments, the firing nut 286 does not include a cam for moving the end effector 270 between the open and closed configurations. In at least one such example, the end effector includes a closure system that is separate and distinct from the staple firing system of the end effector. The examples provided herein are compatible with both embodiments.

[0082] The staple cartridge 280 includes a deck 291 configured to support and support tissue, and a plurality of staple cavities 253 defined within the deck 291. The staples 81 are, for example, removably stored within the staple cavities 253. Each staple 81 has the same configuration. For example, each staple 81 can have, for example, a U-shaped configuration or a V-shaped configuration. A staple having a U-shaped configuration includes a base portion and two parallel legs extending from the base portion. A staple having a V-shaped configuration includes a base portion and two non-parallel legs extending from the base portion. Each staple 81 stored within the staple cartridge 280 is defined by the same unformed height. The unformed height of the staple 81 is the overall height of the staple measured from a plane including the bottom surface of the base portion to a plane including the tips of the legs. The staples 81 can have an unformed height of, for example, 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 3.5 mm, or 4.0 mm. The staple cartridge 280 further includes a plurality of staple drivers 284a-g positioned within the staple cavities 253 that support the staples 81 within the staple cavities 253. The firing nut 286 includes a wedge surface 283 defined thereon that is configured to slide under the staple drivers 284a-g and sequentially lift the staple drivers 284a-g, and the staples 81 supported thereon, toward the anvil portion 275. Each staple driver 284a-g includes an angled surface 281 defined on a bottom surface thereof that engages the wedge surface 283 as the firing nut 286 advances distally. Anvil portion 275 includes a plurality of staple forming pockets 251 defined therein that are configured to deform staples 81 as they are ejected from staple cavities 253 .

[0083] In addition to the above, the anvil portion 275 further includes a tissue compression surface 292 defined thereon that is configured to compress tissue against the cartridge deck 291 when the anvil portion 275 moves to the fully closed position. When the anvil portion 275 is in the fully closed position, it may be desirable for the anvil compression surface 292 to be parallel to the cartridge deck 291. In such a position, the gap between the anvil compression surface 292 and the cartridge deck 291, i.e., the tissue gap, is constant along the longitudinal length of the end effector 270. In other words, when the anvil portion 275 is parallel to the staple cartridge 280, the tissue gap above the proximal-most staple cavity (i.e., tissue gap 255a) is the same as the tissue gap above the distal-most staple cavity (i.e., tissue gap 255g). However, such a parallel position of the anvil portion 275 may not necessarily be achievable in some instances. In certain instances, the tissue T positioned between the anvil compression surface 292 and the cartridge deck 291 may be thick, such that the anvil portion 275 does not reach a parallel position when the anvil portion 275 reaches its final, or fully clamped, position. Additionally, in some instances, the distal end 259 of the anvil portion 275 may deflect or bend upward, for example, when the end effector 270 is clamped on thick tissue. In either case, as shown in FIG. 15, the distal end 259 of the anvil portion 275 may be positioned further away from the cartridge deck 291 than the proximal end 258. In such instances, the tissue gap above the distal-most staple cavity (i.e., tissue gap 255g) is greater than the tissue gap above the proximal-most staple cavity (i.e., tissue gap 255a).

[0084] The firing nut 286 includes a cutting surface (e.g., knife 282) that is configured to cut tissue positioned intermediate the tissue compression surface 292 and the cartridge deck 291 when the firing nut 286 advances distally to drive the staples 81 toward the anvil portion 275, as described above.

[0085] Further to the above, each staple 81 is formed within a forming gap. The forming gap of staple 81 is the gap between a support surface of the staple driver supporting staple 81 (such as support surface 244 of staple drivers 284a-g) and a corresponding forming pocket 251 defined in anvil portion 254 when the staple driver reaches a fully fired position. The staple driver reaches a fully fired position when a ridge or tip of wedge 283 passes under the base of the staple driver. The tip of wedge 283 is defined by tip height 243. As firing nut 286 advances distally, the ridges of wedge 283 pass successively under staple drivers 284a-g to successively eject and deform staple 81. During the initial portion of firing nut 286 travel, wedge 283 lifts driver 284a toward anvil portion 275. As wedge 283 moves driver 284a to the fully fired position, wedge 283 begins to lift driver 284b towards anvil portion 275. As wedge 283 moves driver 284b to the fully fired position, wedge 283 begins to lift driver 284c towards anvil portion 275, and so on. In another embodiment, wedge 283 does not begin to lift driver 284b until driver 284a reaches the fully fired position, and similarly, does not begin to lift driver 284c until driver 284b reaches the fully fired position, and so on.

[0086] As discussed above, a forming gap for staple 81 is defined between the support surface 244 of the driver supporting staple 81 and the formed pocket 251 positioned opposite staple 81 when the driver reaches a fully fired position. With reference to FIG. 15, a forming gap distance 254a is defined between the support surface 244 of staple driver 284a and the formed pocket 251 positioned opposite staple driver 284a. Similarly, a forming gap distance 254g is defined between the support surface 244 of staple driver 284g and the formed pocket 251 positioned opposite staple driver 284g. However, it should be noted that the forming gap distances 254a and 254g illustrated in FIG. 15 do not represent the fully fired positions of staple drivers 284a and 284g. In fact, staple drivers 284a and 284g are shown in an unfired position in FIG. 15. It will therefore be appreciated that as staple drivers 284a and 284g are lifted toward anvil portion 275, distances 254a and 254g are shortened.

[0087] As discussed above, the orientation of the anvil portion 275 can affect the tissue gap between the staple cartridge 280 and the anvil portion 275. The orientation of the anvil portion 275 can also affect the forming gap for the staples 81 in the end effector 270. When the distal end 259 of the anvil portion 275 is positioned further away from the staple cartridge 280 than the proximal end 258, as shown in FIG. 15, the forming gap for the staples 81 at the distal end of the end effector 270 can be larger than the forming gap for the staples 81 at the proximal end of the end effector 270 in the absence of any compensation measures. In the absence of such compensation measures, the distal staples 81 are formed at a different height than the proximal staples 81. In at least one such example, the staples 81 can be formed within a range of heights that includes the highest formed staples at the distal end of the end effector 270 and the lowest formed staples at the proximal end of the end effector 270. In some instances, such a range of formed heights of staples 81 may be preferred, especially where there is a small gradient between the formed staple heights. In other instances, the proximal staples 81 may be deformed at a preferred height, while the distal staples 81 may not be deformed at a preferred height.

[0088] The end effector 270 is configured to compensate, for example, when the anvil portion 275 is not parallel to the staple cartridge 280. In other words, the end effector 270 is configured such that there is little, if any, difference in the formation gap of the staples 81 when the anvil portion 275 is not closed in a parallel position relative to the deck 291 of the staple cartridge 280. To achieve this result, the support surfaces 244 of the staple drivers 284a-284g can be elevated to different heights in a manner that corresponds to the orientation of the anvil portion 275. For example, the support surface 244 of the staple driver 284a is elevated to a first height relative to the cartridge deck 291, and the support surface 244 of the staple driver 284b is elevated to a second height (greater than the first height) relative to the cartridge deck 291. Similarly, the support surface 244 of the staple driver 284c is elevated to a third height (greater than the second height) relative to the cartridge deck 291. The arrangement of the first height, second height, and third height is aligned with the angled anvil portion 275. This arrangement further includes, for example, the support surface 244 of staple driver 248d elevated to a fourth height (greater than the third height), the support surface 244 of staple driver 248e elevated to a fifth height (greater than the fourth height), the support surface 244 of staple driver 248f elevated to a sixth height (greater than the fifth height), and the support surface 244 of staple driver 248g elevated to a seventh height (greater than the sixth height). When staple drivers 284a-284g are in their fully fired positions, the support surface 244 extends above the cartridge deck 291. However, other embodiments are contemplated in which a portion of the support surface 244 or the entire support surface 244 may not extend above the deck 291.

[0089] As described above, the staple drivers 284a-284g are raised to different heights. The first lift height of the support surface 244 is equal to the tip height 243 of the wedge 283 plus the driver height 241a of the staple driver 284a. Similarly, the second lift height of the support surface 244 is equal to the tip height 243 of the wedge 283 plus the driver height 241b of the staple driver 284b. Although the tip height 243 of the wedge 283 is the same for the first and second lift heights, the driver height 241a is lower than the driver height 241b, and therefore the first lift height is lower than the second lift height. Similarly, a third lift height of support surface 244 is equal to the tip height 243 of wedge 283 plus a driver height 241c of staple driver 284c, which is greater than driver height 241b of staple driver 284b. Along these lines, driver height 241d of staple driver 284d is greater than driver height 241c of staple driver 284c, driver height 241e of staple driver 284e is greater than driver height 241d of staple driver 284d, driver height 241f of staple driver 284f is greater than driver height 241e of staple driver 284e, and driver height 241g of staple driver 284g is greater than driver height 241f of staple driver 284f.

[0090] Each of the staple support surfaces 244 includes a trough or groove defined in an upper surface of the drivers 284a-g. Each trough is configured to receive a base portion of a staple 81. The troughs are configured to closely receive the base portion of the staple 81 such that there is little, if any, relative lateral movement between the staple base and the support surfaces 244. In addition to the above, the forming distance of the staple 81 is measured from the bottom surface of the trough to the top surface of the corresponding forming pocket 251 defined in the anvil portion 275. Each trough has a substantially U-shaped (rounded) bottom configuration. However, any suitable configuration may be used, such as a V-shaped or angled bottom. In either case, each trough may include a pedestal for supporting the staple 81.

[0091] As discussed above, the staple supporting surfaces 244 of the staple drivers 284a-284g are raised to different heights, thereby eliminating or at least reducing the difference in forming clearance for the staples 81 between the staple supporting surfaces 244 and the anvil forming pockets 251. In certain embodiments, it may be desirable for all of the staples in the staple cartridge 280 to be formed to the same, or at least substantially the same, formed height. In other embodiments, it may be desirable for all of the staples in a first longitudinal row to be formed to a first formed height and all of the staples in a second longitudinal row to be formed to a second formed height that is different from the first formed height. The examples provided above may be adapted to such embodiments. For example, a first set of staple drivers having a first driver height range may be used to deploy the first longitudinal staple row and a second set of staple drivers having a second driver height range may be used to deploy the second longitudinal staple row, the second driver height range being different from the first driver height range. In at least one such example, the second driver height range can be greater than the first driver height range. In certain embodiments, the first set of staple drivers are not connected to the second set of staple drivers. However, embodiments are contemplated in which a driver of the first set of staple drivers is connected to a driver of the second set of staple drivers. In at least one example, two or more drivers in the same longitudinal row can be connected to each other.

[0092] In addition to the above, embodiments are also contemplated that include three or more longitudinal rows of staples formed to different formed heights utilizing different formation gaps. In at least one embodiment, the formation gap of the staples in a first row is at least partially determined by a first wedge 283, the formation gap of the staples in a second row is at least partially determined by a second wedge 283, and the formation gap of the staples in a third row is at least partially determined by a third wedge 283. In one such embodiment, the peak height 243 of the first wedge 283 is different from the peak height 243 of the second wedge 283. Similarly, the peak height 243 of the third wedge 283 is different from the peak heights 243 of the first wedge 283 and the second wedge 283.

[0093] In various examples, the staples in the first longitudinal staple row can have a first undeformed height and the staples in the second longitudinal staple row can have a second undeformed height that is different from the first undeformed height. Similarly, the staples in the third longitudinal staple row can have a third undeformed height that is different from the second undeformed height.

[0094] 15, the staple cartridge 280 includes two staple drivers 284a positioned in a single longitudinal row, two staple drivers 284b positioned distally to the staple drivers 284a, two staple drivers 284c positioned distally to the staple drivers 284b, two staple drivers 284d positioned distally to the staple drivers 284c, two staple drivers 284e positioned distally to the staple drivers 284d, two staple drivers 284f positioned distally to the staple drivers 284e, and two staple drivers 284g positioned distally to the staple drivers 284f, all positioned in a single longitudinal row. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the staple cartridge 280 does not include staple drivers having the same driver height in the same longitudinal row. In at least one such embodiment, each staple driver in a longitudinal row has a different driver height. Various other embodiments are also contemplated, including any suitable arrangement of staple drivers in any suitable pattern.

[0095] The driver heights of drivers 284a-284g have a linear gradient: driver 284g is taller than driver 284f by height X, which is taller than driver 284e by height X, which is taller than driver 284d by height X, and so on. In various alternative embodiments, the driver heights of drivers 284a-284g may have any other suitable gradient, such as a geometric gradient.

[0096] As discussed above, the drivers 284a-g are shown in their respective unfired, or unraised, positions in FIG. 15. As also shown in FIG. 15, the drivers 284a-g are supported within the staple cartridge 280 in their respective unfired positions such that the leading ends of the staples 81 are positioned flush, or at least approximately flush, with the cartridge deck 291. In such examples, when the staple drivers 284a-g are in their respective unfired positions, the leading ends of the staples 81 may be positioned flush with the cartridge deck 291, may be positioned slightly below the cartridge deck 291, and / or may be positioned slightly above the cartridge deck 291. In another embodiment, when the staple drivers 284a-g are in their respective unfired positions, a substantial portion of the staples 81 may extend above the cartridge deck 291. In at least one such embodiment, supplemental material can be positioned on the cartridge deck 291 and the tips of the staples 81 can be embedded into the supplemental material before the staples 81 are lifted by the staple drivers 284a-g. Various supplemental materials can include, for example, tissue thickness compensators, buttress materials, and / or any suitable layers. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 8,393,514, entitled "SELECTIVELY ORIENTABLE IMPLANTABLE FASTENER CARTRIDGE," issued March 12, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.

[0097] In certain alternative embodiments, not shown in the figures, when the staple drivers 284a-284g are in their respective unfired positions, some of the staples 81 may extend above the cartridge deck 291 while some of the staples 81 may not extend above the cartridge deck 291. In at least one such embodiment, when the staple drivers 284a-284g are in their respective unfired positions, the proximal staples 81 are positioned below the cartridge deck 291 while the distal staples 81 are positioned above the cartridge deck 291. When the staple drivers 284a-284g are in their respective unfired positions, the staple drivers 284a-284g can be positioned and arranged such that there is a height gradient between the first (unfired) position of the proximal-most staple 81 and the first (unfired) position of the distal-most staple 81 in a longitudinal staple row. This gradient is a linear gradient, although other embodiments are contemplated in which the gradient includes, for example, a geometric gradient.

[0098] In addition to the above, alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the staple drivers 284a-g are stored within the staple cartridge 280 such that their drive bottoms are aligned with one another when the staple drivers 284a-g are in their respective unfired or unraised positions. In such an example, the staples 81 are supported at different distances relative to the cartridge deck 291. The initial positions of such staple drivers 284a-g do not affect the formation gap of the staples 81 described above, since the formation gap is set by the final positions of the staple drivers 284a-g.

[0099] Further to the above, the cartridge deck 291 of the staple cartridge 280 comprises a flat, or at least substantially flat, surface. However, alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the cartridge deck 291 is not flat. In at least one embodiment, the distal end of the cartridge deck 291 is higher than the proximal end of the cartridge deck 291. In at least one such embodiment, the cartridge deck 291 is linearly sloped between the proximal and distal ends. In other embodiments, the cartridge deck 291 is geometrically sloped between the proximal and distal ends. In various embodiments, the cartridge deck 291 includes longitudinal steps having different heights. For example, the cartridge deck 291 can include, for example, a first longitudinal step aligned with the longitudinal row of the first staple cavities, a second longitudinal step aligned with the longitudinal row of the second staple cavities, and a third longitudinal step aligned with the longitudinal row of the third staple cavities. The transition between adjacent longitudinal steps may be, for example, a vertical wall or may be a slanted or angled wall.

[0100] As discussed above, the staples 81 in the staple cartridge 280 have the same or at least substantially the same unformed height. Also, as discussed above, the unformed height of the staples in a first row can be different from the unformed height of the staples in a second row. In certain embodiments, the staples in one longitudinal row can have different unformed heights. In at least one such embodiment, the proximal-most staples in the row can have a first unformed height and the distal-most staples in the row can have a second unformed height. In one such embodiment, the staples between the proximal-most staple and the distal-most staple can be continuously increasing in height. The height of the staples can increase between the proximal and distal ends of the end effector according to a gradient. In at least one example, the gradient is, for example, a linear gradient. In certain examples, the gradient is, for example, a geometric gradient.

[0101] Embodiments including staples having different unformed heights within a staple row can be used with staple drivers having different driver heights. In at least one embodiment, for example, the most proximal staple in a row can be the lowest staple in that row and can be driven by the lowest staple driver. Further, in one such embodiment, for example, the most distal staple can be the highest staple in that row and can be driven by the highest staple driver. In at least one embodiment, the lowest staple in a row is paired with the lowest staple driver and the highest staple in a row is paired with the highest staple driver, and so on. In certain other embodiments, the lowest staple in a row is not paired with the lowest staple driver and the highest staple is not paired with the highest staple driver. For example, the lowest staple may be driven by the highest staple driver and the highest staple may be driven by the lowest staple driver. Ultimately, the staples and staple drivers can be paired in any suitable manner to properly fasten tissue.

[0102] As discussed above, the staples 81 in the staple cartridge 280 have the same or at least substantially the same configuration (e.g., a V-shaped configuration). Other embodiments are contemplated in which the staples in a staple row have different configurations. In at least one embodiment, each of the staples in a staple row can have a V-shaped configuration, but the angle of the staple legs forming the V-shaped configuration can be different for at least some (if not all) of the staples. For example, the most proximal staple in a staple row can have a narrow V-shaped configuration and the most distal staple in the staple row can have a wide V-shaped configuration. In at least one such example, the staple leg angle can increase from proximal to distal. In other examples, the staple leg angle can decrease from proximal to distal. In either case, the staple leg angle can affect the formed height of the staple and can be selectively used to secure tissue in a desired manner.

[0103] Another staple unformed configuration can include, for example, a W-shaped staple. A W-shaped staple can include a V-shaped staple with a portion of the staple base extending upward to form a substantially W-shaped configuration. A W-shaped staple is sometimes also referred to as an M-shaped or gull-wing staple. The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,554, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLE AND STAPLER," issued Mar. 10, 1998, is incorporated herein by reference. In at least one embodiment, a longitudinal staple row can include, for example, a V-shaped staple at a proximal end of the staple row and a W-shaped staple at a distal end of the staple row. A W-shaped staple can be formed differently than a V-shaped staple, for example, and can be more suitable for stapling tissue within a larger formed gap.

[0104] 16-20 show a surgical instrument system 350. The surgical instrument system 350 includes a shaft assembly 360 and an end effector 370 extending from the shaft assembly 360. In this embodiment, as well as others, the shaft assembly 360 extends from a housing of the type described above that is configured to be attached to a robotic surgical system (such as, for example, the DAVINCI Robotic Surgical System manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, Inc.). Alternatively, the shaft assembly 360 may extend from a handle of a surgical instrument that is configured to be grasped and manipulated, for example, by a surgeon. Such handheld surgical instruments may employ one or more electric motors for generating the closing and firing motions, or the closing and firing motions may be generated manually by manipulating one or more triggers or actuation arrangements supported on the handle or housing. All such variations may be effectively employed in the surgical instrument system 350 and may be encompassed within the scope of the claims appended hereto. Further details of such handles, housings, and shaft assemblies may be found in various disclosures incorporated herein by reference. Similar to the arrangements described above, the shaft assembly 360 may also include at least one articulation joint, such as articulation joint 364, that is configured to allow the end effector 370 to articulate about at least one axis of rotation. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the shaft assembly 360 does not include an articulation joint.

[0105] Referring primarily to FIG. 16, end effector 370 includes a staple cartridge portion 374 and an anvil portion 375. A staple cartridge 380 is positioned within staple cartridge portion 374. Staple cartridge 380 is removable from staple cartridge portion 374, thereby allowing for easy replacement with another staple cartridge. However, other embodiments are contemplated in which staple cartridge 380 is not easily replaceable. Anvil portion 375 is movable relative to staple cartridge portion 374 about anvil trunnions or pivot pins 376 extending from anvil portion 375. See FIGS. 18, 20, and 22. For example, anvil trunnions 376 extend laterally from each side of anvil portion 375 and are movably received within corresponding openings or slots (not shown) formed in staple cartridge portion 374. Alternate embodiments are also contemplated in which staple cartridge portion 374 is "rotatable," "movable," or "pivotable" relative to anvil portion 375. As described in further detail below, anvil portion 375 is movable between an open position (FIGS. 16-18) and a fully closed position (FIGS. 19-22) by a closure drive. Also, as described in more detail below, staples (such as staple 381) are removably stored within staple cartridge 380 and can be ejected from staple cartridge 380 and deformed relative to anvil portion 375 by a firing drive.

[0106] 16-18, shaft assembly 360 includes a rotatable input shaft 361. As will be described in more detail below, input shaft 361 is utilized to operate the closure drive and the firing drive. Input shaft 361 is rotatably mounted within a "base" or "backbone" portion 390 of shaft assembly 360 by one or more bearings 391 and includes a threaded portion 372. See FIG. 16. The closure drive includes a closure nut 377, which includes a threaded opening 362 defined therein. Closure nut 377 further includes closure pins 378 extending from opposite sides thereof which are slidably positioned within closure slots 379 defined on opposite sides of anvil portion 375.

[0107] The threaded opening 362 of the closure nut 377 threadably engages the threaded portion 372 of the input shaft 361 such that rotation of the input shaft 361 in a first direction causes the closure nut 377 to move distally in a distal direction "DD" toward the end of the end effector 370 and rotation of the input shaft 361 in a second (opposite) direction causes the closure nut 377 to move proximally in a proximal direction "PD" toward the housing, as shown in Figures 16-18. Interaction between a closure pin 378 of the closure nut 377 and a sidewall of a closure slot 379 prevents the closure nut 377 from rotating with the input shaft 361 such that rotational motion of the input shaft 361 is translated into longitudinal translational motion of the closure nut 377.

[0108] In use, the closure nut 377 is advanced distally by the input shaft 361 to move the anvil portion 375 between an open position (FIGS. 16-18) and a fully closed position (FIGS. 19-22). In such an example, the closure pin 378 engages the lower sidewall of each closure slot 379 and cams the anvil portion 375 towards the staple cartridge 380. Referring primarily to FIGS. 19 and 20, it can be observed that, at least in the illustrated embodiment, the closure slots 379 have a slightly arcuate shape. In other words, for example, each of the closure slots 379 has a proximal slot portion 392 and a distal slot portion 394. The point or location where the proximal slot portion 392 transitions into the distal slot portion 394 is referred to herein as the apex 395. See FIGS. 20 and 22. When the closure nut 377 is in its proximal-most position (e.g., "initial position" - Figs. 16-18), the anvil portion 375 is held in an open position. When the closure nut 377 is in its initial position, the closure pin 378 is at the proximal end of the proximal slot portion 392 of each closure slot 379. The mechanical advantage achieved between the closure pin 378 and the closure slot 379, and the engagement of the anvil trunnion 376 with the cartridge portion 374, serve to hold the anvil portion 375 in an open orientation. When the surgeon wishes to close the anvil portion 375, the input shaft 361 is rotated in a first direction to drive the closure nut 377 in a distal direction. As the closure pin 378 advances distally through the proximal slot portion 392, the anvil portion 375 begins to close the cam engagement. Once the closure pin 378 reaches the apex 395, the anvil portion 375 remains in the "fully closed" or "fully clamped" position. Continued rotation of the input shaft 361 continues to advance the closure nut 377 distally. As the closure nut 377 continues to move distally, the closure pin 378 continues to advance distally within the distal slot portion 394, all the while maintaining a camming or closing force against the anvil portion 375 and securely holding it in the closed position.When the surgeon wishes to return the anvil portion 375 to the open position, the input shaft 361 is rotated in the opposite (second) direction, thereby driving the closure nut 377 back in a proximal direction to its proximal-most (initial) position. Because the closure nut 377 is securely engaged with the input shaft 361, in other words, the closure nut 377 is threadably engaged with the threads 372 of the input shaft 361, a positive closure force is maintained on the anvil portion 375 throughout the closure and firing process. Thus, such an arrangement can reduce anvil movement or chatter that can occur with conventional arrangements in which the closure nut is loosely bearing on a portion of the input shaft during the firing process.

[0109] The input shaft 361 further includes a distal gear 365 fixedly mounted to its distal end. When the input shaft 361 rotates in a first direction, the distal gear 365 rotates in the first direction, and when the input shaft 361 rotates in a second direction, the distal gear 365 rotates in the second direction. The firing drive of the end effector 370 includes a rotatable firing shaft 371, which is rotatably mounted to a staple cartridge portion 374 by one or more bearings, such as bearing 363. The firing shaft 371 includes a proximal gear 385, a proximal threaded portion 396, and a distal threaded portion 397. In the illustrated embodiment, the proximal threaded portion 396 has a first thread "lead" that is different from a second thread lead of the distal threaded portion 397, as described in more detail below. A proximal gear 385 of the firing shaft 371 meshes and engages a distal gear 365 of the input shaft 361 such that the input shaft 361 can drive the firing shaft 371 as the input shaft 361 rotates. The proximal gear 385 is keyed to the firing shaft 371 such that rotation of the proximal gear 385 results in rotation of the firing shaft 371.

[0110] The firing drive further includes a firing nut 386, which includes a shaft opening 389 and a drive member 398. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive member 398 is received within the opening 399 of the firing nut 386, which may be biased into driving engagement with the threaded portion of the firing shaft 371 by a biasing member or spring (not shown). The firing nut 386 further includes a wedge 383 defined thereon that is configured to slide under the staple driver and lift the staples 381 toward the anvil portion 375, thereby stapling tissue positioned between the staple cartridge 380 and the anvil portion 375. The firing nut 386 also includes a cutting member 382 defined thereon that is configured to cut the stapled tissue. When the firing nut 386 is threadably engaged with the distal threaded portion 397 of the firing shaft 371 and the input shaft 361 is rotated in a first direction, the firing nut 386 moves distally toward the end of the end effector 370 ejecting the staples 381 from the staple cartridge 380 and cutting the tissue. When the firing nut 386 is threadably engaged with the distal threaded portion 397 of the firing shaft 371 and the input shaft 361 is rotated in a second direction, the firing nut 386 moves proximally. When the firing nut 386 threadably re-engages with the proximal threaded portion 396 of the firing shaft 371, the proximal advancement of the firing nut 386 is slowed due to the smaller or narrower lead of the proximal threaded portion 396 as it approaches the start position.

[0111] As can be seen from the above, surgical instrument system 350 employs a rotationally driven closure and firing system that is an improvement over the closure and firing systems disclosed in connection with the surgical instrument system of Figures 1-5. As will become more apparent from a reading of the Detailed Description herein, the closure and firing system of surgical system 350 acts to securely hold anvil portion 375 in a closed position throughout the firing cycle or stroke in a manner that prevents undesirable "chatter" of the anvil portion during firing.

[0112] 16-18, the closure nut 377 is movable from a proximal "start" position to a distal "end" position during a clamping stroke, thereby moving the anvil portion 375 from an open position to a fully closed position. When the closure nut 377 is in the proximal position, the closure nut 377 threadably engages with threads 372 defined on the input shaft 361. See FIG. 17. As a result of the above, an initial rotation of the input shaft 361 in a first direction can immediately move the closure nut 377 distally to initiate closure of the anvil portion 375. As the closure nut 377 moves distally, the closure pin 378 moves into the proximal portion 392 of the closure slot 379 until it reaches an apex 395, the point at which the anvil portion 375 is fully closed or clamped. Continued rotation of the input shaft 361 necessary to advance the firing nut 386 distally continues to advance the closure nut 377 distally on the input shaft 361. The interaction of the closure pin 378 within the distal slot segment 394 of the anvil portion 375 retains the anvil portion 375 in the fully closed position 375 during completion of the firing stroke.

[0113] In particular, and in furtherance of the above, the rotation of input shaft 361 utilized to initiate the clamping stroke of closure nut 377 is transmitted to firing shaft 371 via meshed gears 365 and 385. As firing shaft 371 initially rotates, firing nut 386 threadingly engages proximal threaded portion 396 of firing shaft 371, which has a narrower or smaller thread lead than the thread lead of distal threaded portion 397. As a result, as firing nut 386 threadingly engages proximal threaded portion 397, firing nut 386 moves slowly through a "neutral firing range," shown in FIG. 19 as "NFR." When firing nut 386 is in neutral firing range NFR, firing nut 386 does not advance distally enough to initiate tissue cutting and staple firing. However, in various arrangements, the firing nut 386 can be configured to slidably engage a portion of the anvil portion 375, which can securely hold the anvil portion 375 in a closed position and further maintain the spacing of the anvil portion 375 relative to the staple cartridge 380 as the firing nut 386 advances distally through the end effector 370. For example, the firing nut 386 can incorporate an I-beam-like shape, as described in the various disclosures incorporated by reference herein, that is configured to slidably engage the anvil portion 375. However, because the closure nut 377 maintains a positive closure force on the anvil portion 375, in at least some embodiments the firing nut 386 is not configured to securely engage the anvil portion 375, such that the firing nut 386 does not apply any closure or clamping motion to the anvil portion.

[0114] 19 and 20, continued rotation of the input shaft 361 and firing shaft 371 drives the firing nut 386 to the distal end of the proximal threads 396. Once the drive member 398 of the firing nut 386 engages the distal threads, continued rotation of the firing shaft 377 advances the firing nut 386 distally through the end effector 370. As a result of the above, the clamp operating mode is completed before the actual staple firing mode is initiated. In addition, the anvil portion 375 is ensured to be maintained in a closed position throughout the firing process. Furthermore, the surgical instrument system 350 may include a sensor system configured, for example, to detect that the staple firing operating mode has been initiated or is being initiated and to pause the electric motor driving the input shaft 361. Such a sensor system may be configured, for example, to detect the position of the closure nut 377, the firing nut 386, and / or the proximal gear 385. In at least one such example, pausing the electric motor or other drive actuator arrangement allows the surgeon to assess whether to proceed with firing staples into tissue or whether to reopen the anvil portion 375 and reposition the end effector 370. In at least one example, the surgeon can be provided with two switches to selectively operate, for example, a first button to restart the electric motor to proceed with the firing stroke and a second button to reverse the electric motor to reopen the anvil portion 375. The first button can be, for example, green and the second button can be, for example, red. The first button can include indicia such as "forward" while the second button can include other indicia such as "back". Such switches can be located on the remote control console and / or on the handle of the surgical instrument, depending on the circumstances.

[0115] As described above, the firing nut 386 may be advanced distally to eject the staples 81 from the staple cartridge 380. The firing nut 386 may be advanced to the distal end of the end effector 370 to complete the firing stroke, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The distal threaded portion 397 of the firing shaft 371 may be configured such that the drive member 398 of the firing nut 386 remains threadably engaged with the distal threads 397 of the firing shaft 371 when the firing nut 386 reaches the end of the firing stroke. In at least one such example, the firing nut 386, the drive member 398, the wedge 383, and / or the cutting member 382 may change the state of a switch located at the distal end of the end effector 370 when the firing nut 386 reaches the end of the firing stroke. The switch is in communication with a controller of the surgical tool system 350 which, when the state of the switch is reversed, can reverse the direction of the electric motor to rotate the input shaft 361 in a second direction. When the input shaft 361 is rotating in the second direction, the firing nut 386 retracts toward its unfired position. Additionally or alternatively, the surgical tool 350 can include a switch that the surgeon can actuate to stop and / or reverse direction of the electric motor.

[0116] During use, the anvil portion 375 can be moved away from its fully clamped position to release tissue captured between the anvil portion 375 and the staple cartridge 380. Additionally, the anvil portion 375 can be moved between open and closed positions as needed to clamp and release tissue and / or to position the anvil portion 375 relative to the staple cartridge 380 so that the end effector 370 can be inserted into a patient, for example, through a trocar. The pause feature described above allows the surgical instrument system 350 to be operated through a first range of motion to open and close the anvil portion 375 without firing the staples in the staple cartridge 380 and / or without cutting tissue.

[0117] A portion of another shaft assembly 460 that may be employed with the various end effectors disclosed above is shown in FIGS. 23-28. As seen in these figures, the shaft assembly 460 includes a threaded rotary input shaft 461. The threaded rotary input shaft 461 is configured to receive rotary input motion from a motor in a handle or housing that is attached to the shaft assembly 460 or a portion of a robotic system that is attached to the shaft assembly 460. In another embodiment, the rotary input shaft 461 may be manually actuated using a manual trigger(s) supported on a handle from which the shaft assembly 460 protrudes. The shaft assembly 460 includes a hollow outer shaft 510 through which the rotary input shaft 461 extends. A base member 512 is supported within the outer shaft 510 as shown. The base member 512 may be attached to the handle or housing and the surgical staple portion of the end effector, effectively functioning as a "spine" or mechanical "foundation" through at least a portion of the shaft assembly 460. The base member 512 also functions as a guide for slidably supporting the actuator member 469 within the outer shaft 510. For example, as can be seen in FIGS. 23-28, the base member 512 includes an axially extending guide trough 514 for receiving a lower portion 522 of a guide 520 that is attached to the actuator member 469. When viewed from the end, the guide 520 appears generally "T-shaped." As shown, one side of the base member 512 includes a lateral guide slot 516 for receiving a lateral arm portion 524 of the guide 520.

[0118] As shown in Figures 23-28, the actuator member 469 includes a closure nut assembly 477 configured to impart opening and closing motions to the anvil portion in a manner described herein. The closure nut assembly 477 includes a "clamshell" arrangement including a first closure nut segment 530 and a second closure nut segment 550 that are pivotally supported on a pivot rod or pivot member 560 attached to the guide 520. Such an arrangement allows the closure nut segments 530, 550 to pivot from an engaged configuration (Figures 23-26) to a disengaged configuration (Figures 27 and 28). The first closure nut segment 530 includes a first threaded engagement member 532 and the second closure nut segment 550 includes a second threaded engagement member 552. When the closure nut assembly 477 is in the engaged configuration, the first threaded engagement member 532 and the second threaded engagement member 552 engage the input shaft 461 such that rotation of the input shaft 461 causes axial movement of the closure nut assembly 477. It will be appreciated that one, and preferably two, laterally extending pivot pins are attached to structure extending from the guide 520 and / or the pivot member 560 which are received in corresponding anvil slots in the manner described above. Thus, axial movement of the closure nut assembly 477 causes the anvil portions to open and close in the manner described above.

[0119] 23 and 24, selective movement of the first and second closure nut segments 530 and 550 between engaged and disengaged configurations is controlled by a solenoid or switch member 570. In the illustrated arrangement, for example, the solenoid 570 includes a solenoid body portion 572 attached to the first closure nut segment 530. A solenoid rod 574 is movably supported within the body portion 572 and the first closure nut segment 530 and is movably received within the second closure nut segment 550. As can be seen in FIGS. 23-28, the solenoid rod 574 has a head 576 that is movably received within a U-shaped slot 556 in the second closure nut segment 550.

[0120] 23 and 24, a pair of base contacts 518 are located within the base member 512 and open into the guide trough 514 to facilitate sliding electrical contact with the solenoid contacts 578. The base contacts 518 are electrically coupled to a controller by electrical leads 519 that extend through the base member 512 and back to the appropriate portion, such as a handle, housing, or other portion for the robotic system. For example, the controller can cooperate with a trigger or other switch mechanism that can be used to control the current supply to the base contacts 518 and ultimately to the solenoid 570 through electrical leads 579 that extend between the solenoid 570 and the solenoid contacts 578. As seen in FIG. 23, in at least one arrangement, the range of axial movement of the closure nut assembly 477 can be defined by, for example, the length "L" of the base contacts 518. In one arrangement, the solenoid 570 is biased to the engaged position in a de-energized state and the solenoid rod 572 is maintained in a retracted state as shown in FIGS. 23-26. When the solenoid 570 is energized, the solenoid rod 572 is moved outwardly toward the second closure segment 550, thereby pivoting the closure nut assembly 477 to a disengaged configuration (FIGS. 27 and 28). In another arrangement, the solenoid is biased to a disengaged configuration when the solenoid is de-energized and then moves to an engaged configuration when the solenoid is energized. In yet another arrangement, the solenoid needs to be positively actuated between the engaged and disengaged configurations (i.e., there is no biasing member employed within the solenoid to bias the solenoid into either of the above configurations).

[0121] When the closure nut assembly 477 is in the disengaged configuration, rotation of the input shaft 461 is not transmitted to the closure nut assembly 477. Thus, in one arrangement, the closure nut 477 can be configured in an engaged position to close the anvil portion. Once the anvil portion moves to the closed position (which can be detected by sensors on the anvil portion and / or the surgical staple portion), the controller can de-energize the motor and solenoid, thereby moving the closure nut assembly 477 to the disengaged configuration. At that point, the controller can again activate the motor to rotate the input shaft 461 to initiate a firing action in the manner described above, without actuating or axially moving the closure nut assembly 477.

[0122] The surgical instrument system shown in Figures 23-28 also employs a locking system 580 to positively lock the closure nut assembly in place (e.g., prevent further axial movement) when in its distal-most disengaged orientation. As can be seen in these figures, the locking system 580 includes a movable locking link 582, which includes a distal link 583 that is pivotally pinned to a proximal link 586 by an upstanding central locking pin 587. A proximal end 588 of the proximal link 586 is pivotally pinned to the base member 512 by a proximal pin 589. A distal end 584 of the distal link 583 is pivotally pinned to the guide 520 by a pin 585. Thus, the locking link 582 moves between a folded configuration (Figure 23), an aligned "pre-lock" configuration (Figures 25 and 26), and a locked configuration (Figures 27 and 28).

[0123] 23-28, the locking system 580 also includes a locking arm 590 that is attached to or projects from the closure nut assembly 477, and in the illustrated embodiment, projects from the first closure nut segment 530. The locking arm 590 includes a locking pin bore 592 that is configured to retainingly engage and receive a portion of the locking pin 587 therein. As can be seen in FIGS. 24, 26 and 28, a lower end of the locking pin bore 592 includes a chamfered or tapered portion 594 that facilitates entry of the locking pin 587 therein.

[0124] One method of using the closure nut assembly 477 will now be described. When the physician wishes to close the anvil portion, the input shaft 461 is rotated in a first direction. This rotational motion can be applied to the input shaft 461 by an electric motor, a robotic system, or a manually operable closure system configured to generate the rotational motion in response to a ratchet engagement or other form of manipulation of a closure trigger or the like. When in that position, the solenoid is biased (by a spring or other biasing arrangement) into an engaged position and remains in a de-energized state. Rotation of the input shaft 461 moves the closure nut assembly 477 distally. As described above, distal movement of the closure nut assembly 477 causes closure of the anvil portion. This is due to a cam engagement interaction between the closure pin and the anvil slot provided in the anvil attachment portion. When the physician wishes to reopen the anvil portion (to reposition the end effector on the desired target tissue or for any other reason), the physician simply reverses the direction in which the input shaft rotates (second direction) relative to the motor or other actuation mechanism. In either case, application of rotational motion to the input shaft 461 is stopped once the closure nut assembly 477 has advanced distally to the "fully closed" (FIG. 25) position of the anvil portion. This can be accomplished manually by the physician, or, if sensors are employed to detect the position of the closure nut assembly 477 and / or the position of the anvil portion, the control system can "automatically" stop applying force to the motor. As seen in FIG. 25, when in its fully closed position, the movable locking link is configured in a pre-locked position with the end of the locking pin 587 aligned with the locking hole 592 of the locking arm 590. When in this position, if the physician wishes to open the anvil portion, the motor is simply re-energized to rotate the input shaft 461 in a second direction. However, if the physician does not wish to reopen the anvil portion and wishes to initiate the firing phase, the physician energizes the solenoid to move the closure nut segment to a disengaged configuration (FIGS. 27 and 28).As can be seen in these figures, as the first closure nut segment 530 pivots towards the closure link 580, the end of the closure pin 587 enters the hole 592 in the locking arm 590, securely holding the closure nut assembly 477 in a disengaged position and preventing axial movement of the closure nut assembly 477 during the firing sequence. When in that position, as can be seen in the figures, the links 586 and 584 are in a "bent" configuration and may abut a portion of the base member and / or an inner wall of the outer shaft 510, thereby adding additional locking resistance to the closure nut assembly 477. In another arrangement, the control system can "automatically" energize the solenoid 570 when the switch system determines that the closure nut assembly 477 and / or the anvil portion have reached a fully closed position. In such a case, the closure nut assembly 477 will automatically move to the disengaged, locked position. Once the firing nut has completed its firing stroke and returned to its starting position, a switch can be used to detect its state / position and cause the control system to de-energize the solenoid, thereby biasing it back to the engaged position. Other solenoid arrangements may not include a biasing member to bias the solenoid back to its starting position, but instead require a second signal to return it to the starting position. In such cases, the control system can send a second signal to the solenoid to re-engage the closure nut assembly with the input shaft. The control system can then automatically energize the motor to rotate the input shaft in a second direction to return the closure nut assembly to its initial position, thereby returning the anvil portion to the open position.

[0125] 29 illustrates a portion of an end effector assembly 1000 of a surgical instrument. The end effector assembly 1000 includes a first jaw 1010 defining a channel 1011. A staple cartridge 1020 is configured to be received within the channel 1011. A threaded rod 1030 is rotatably supported within the first jaw 1010 prior to the staple cartridge 1020 being received within the channel 1011. The threaded rod 1030 extends substantially the length of the first jaw 1010 and is connected to a rotatable drive shaft 1092 within a shaft assembly 1090 of the surgical instrument.

[0126] The threaded rod 1030 is configured to engage the rotatable drive shaft 1092 in any suitable manner. For example, the threaded rod 1030 includes a hexagonal proximal end that is received within a hexagonal coupling in the drive shaft 1092. The rotatable drive shaft 1092 is operatively coupled to, for example, an electric motor capable of rotating the rotatable drive shaft 1092. The electric motor is positioned, for example, within the handle of the surgical instrument and / or the housing of the robotic surgical instrument system.

[0127] The channel 1011 defined by the first jaw 1010 includes a base 1012 and two side walls 1013 extending upwardly from the base 1012. A longitudinal recess 1014 is formed in the base 1012 and configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod 1030. In this embodiment, the threaded rod 1030 is rotatably mounted within the channel 1011. A mounting bracket 1016 is positioned at a distal end of the longitudinal recess 1014 and configured to provide a bearing to prevent, for example, dislodgment and / or outward translation of the threaded rod 1030. The mounting bracket 1016, which will be described in more detail herein, is grounded to the base 1012. In various examples, the mounting bracket 1016 is integrally formed with the first jaw 1010. In various examples, the mounting bracket 1016 is a separate component that is attached to the first jaw 1010 using, for example, adhesive, welding, and / or soldering techniques, although any suitable attachment technique may be used.

[0128] Similar to the removable staple cartridge 80, the staple cartridge 1020 is configured to be easily removed from the channel 1011 of the first jaw 1010 after a staple firing stroke so that a used staple cartridge 1020 can be replaced. The staple cartridge 1020 is configured to fit within the channel 1011 of the first jaw 1010 as shown. The staple cartridge 1020 includes a longitudinal slot 1022 configured to receive a tissue-severing knife, as described in more detail herein. The longitudinal slot 1022 extends from a proximal end of the staple cartridge 1020 toward a distal end of the staple cartridge 1020. The longitudinal slot 1022 provides clearance for the tissue-severing knife within the staple cartridge 1020. The longitudinal slot 1022 is configured to at least partially receive the threaded rod 1030 such that the body of the staple cartridge 1020 does not interfere with the threaded rod 1030 when the staple cartridge 1020 is received within the channel 1011. A lateral portion 1024 is formed at a distal end of the longitudinal slot 1022 that is configured to receive the mounting bracket 1016 of the first jaw 1010 when the staple cartridge 1020 is received within the channel 1011. The longitudinal slot 1022 extends between the top deck surface and the bottom surface of the staple cartridge 1020. However, the lateral portion 1024 of the longitudinal slot 1022 does not extend entirely through the staple cartridge 1020, although in other embodiments it may.

[0129] As described above, the threaded rod 1030 is rotatably mounted within the first jaw 1010 of the end effector assembly 1000. The threaded rod 1030 terminates in a distal head 1032 positioned at a distal end of the threaded rod 1030. The distal head 1032 is positioned distal to the mounting bracket 1016 and a threaded portion 1034 of the threaded rod 1030 is positioned proximal to the mounting bracket 1016. The threaded portion 1034 extends proximally along the first jaw 1010 away from the mounting bracket 1016. As shown in FIG. 30 , the distal head 1032 of the threaded rod 1030 is separated from the mounting bracket 1016 by a bushing member 1018. The bushing member 1018 is configured to provide an interface between the mounting bracket 1016 and the distal head 1032 of the threaded rod 1030. Such an interface will withstand wear between the mounting bracket 1016 and the distal head 1032, for example, as the threaded rod 1030 rotates. The bushing member 1018 also prevents axial movement of the distal head 1032 relative to the mounting bracket 1016 and / or acts as a guide to maintain the threaded rod 1030 in its proper position.

[0130] The end effector assembly 1000 further includes a firing member 1040 that is threadably engaged with the threaded rod 1030. The firing member includes a cutting element 1042. The firing member 1040 advances distally when the threaded rod 1030 is rotated in a first direction, and the firing member 1040 retracts proximally when the threaded rod 1030 is rotated in an opposite second direction.

[0131] 31 and 32, the firing member 1040 includes a first portion 1044 configured to engage the first jaw 1010 and a second portion 1046 configured to engage the second jaw of the end effector assembly 1000. The second jaw may be, for example, the anvil 75 of FIGS. 1-5. At least a portion of the firing member 1040 is configured to move through the longitudinal slot 1022 of the staple cartridge 1020 as the firing member 1040 advances distally through the end effector assembly 1000 during a staple firing stroke. The first portion 1044 of the firing member 1040 includes a cam member 1045 sized to be received within a lateral slot 1013 defined in the base 1012 of the first jaw 1010. The lateral slots 1013 secure the firing member 1040 in place and / or maintain the alignment of the firing member 1040 within the first jaw 1010. The second portion 1046 has a similar arrangement in the second jaw. In addition to providing stability and alignment of the firing member 1040 within the end effector assembly 1000, the engagement of the firing member 1040 with both the first jaw 1010 and the second jaw also maintains the distance between the first jaw 1010 and the second jaw during a staple firing stroke and / or when the end effector assembly 1000 is in a closed configuration.

[0132] The end effector assembly 1000 further includes a sled 1050. The sled 1050 is configured to engage the threaded rod 1030 when the staple cartridge 1020 is seated within the channel 1011 of the first jaw 1010. Prior to distal advancement, the sled 1050 is in a proximal unfired position. The sled 1050 and the firing member 1040 are independent of each other and are not connected to each other. When the firing member 1040 advances distally by rotation of the threaded rod 1030, the firing member 1040 pushes the sled 1050 distally along the threaded rod 1030. The sled 1050 advances ahead of the firing member 1040, i.e., is positioned distally relative to the firing member 1040, as the sled 1050 and firing member 1040 advance along the threaded rod 1030. This distal movement causes sled 1050 to contact a staple driver in staple cartridge 1020, such as, for example, staple driver 84 of Figures 1-5, and drive a staple, such as, for example, staple 81 shown in Figures 1-5, from staple cartridge 1020. After the staple firing stroke is completed, or at least partially completed, firing member 1040 retracts proximally while sled 1050 remains in the distal position.

[0133] The thread 1050 includes a first leg 1052 and a second leg 1052 configured to fit over the top of the threaded rod 1030. The first and second legs 1052 are configured to at least partially surround the threaded rod 1030 when the staple cartridge 1020 is seated within the staple cartridge channel 1011. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second legs 1052 do not extend into the lateral slot 1013 with the cam member 1045 of the firing member 1040. However, in other examples, the first and second legs 1052 extend into the lateral slot 1013 defined in the base 1012 of the first jaw 1010. As discussed above, the thread 1050 is not threadably engaged with the threaded rod 1030. However, in other embodiments, the thread 1050 may be threadably engaged with the threaded rod 1030, as described in more detail below. In various examples, the thread 1050 may be located on the threaded rod 1030 and slide along the top of the threaded rod 1030, while in other examples, the first and second legs 1052 support the thread 1050 so that it is not located on the threaded rod 1030.

[0134] The sled 1050 further includes a central portion 1056 and lateral angled surfaces 1054. The central portion 1056 extends upwardly into the longitudinal slot 1022 of the staple cartridge 1020. One of the lateral angled surfaces 1054 extends upwardly into the staple cartridge 1020 on a first side of the longitudinal slot 1022 and the other lateral angled surface 1054 extends upwardly into the staple cartridge 1020 on an opposite second side of the longitudinal slot 1022. The lateral angled surfaces 1054 of the sled 1050 are configured to engage a staple driver to drive the staples of the staple cartridge 1020 upwardly during a staple firing stroke, as described in more detail herein.

[0135] In various examples, the end effector assembly 1000 includes a locking member configured to be spring biased into the path of the firing member 1040 when the sled 1050 is not in the proximal unfired position prior to the initiation of a staple firing stroke. In other words, when the sled 1050 is not and / or not present in the proximal unfired position, the locking member is configured to prevent distal advancement of the firing member 1040. When the sled 1050 is in the proximal unfired position, the locking member is deactivated by the sled 1050 and the firing member 1040 and sled 1050 can advance distally to perform a staple firing stroke.

[0136] As discussed above in connection with FIGS. 29-32, the firing member 1040 and the sled 1050 are separate elements. However, in certain embodiments, the firing member 1040 and the sled 1050 are interconnected. In other words, at least one of the firing member 1040 and the sled 1050 includes an attachment member for coupling the firing member 1040 and the sled 1050 when the staple cartridge 1020 is seated within the first jaw 1010. In such examples, the firing member 1040 and the sled 1050 are configured to move distally along the threaded rod 1030 as a unit during a staple firing stroke. Once the staple firing stroke is completed, in such examples, the firing member 1040 is configured to disengage from the sled 1050. Such disengagement allows the firing member 1040 to be retracted proximally to its unfired position while the sled 1050 remains in its distal fired position. Various staple driving devices are described in the disclosures of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265954, filed March 17, 2017, and entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DUAL DISTAL PULLEYS," and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265865, filed February 15, 2017, and entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DISTAL PULLEY," the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0137] 33, a threaded rod 1130 similar to the threaded rod 1030 shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 includes a threaded portion 1134. The threaded portion 1134 includes one or more continuous threads that define teeth 1135 extending along the length of the threaded rod 1130. In the illustrated embodiment, the threads 1135 all include the same shape. More specifically, the threads 1135 each include the same symmetrical frusto-conical shape. Each thread 1135 includes a proximal sidewall 1134, a distal sidewall 1136, and a top surface 1137. The top surface 1137 extends between the proximal sidewall 1134 and the distal sidewall 1136. A flat portion 1138 extends between the distal sidewall 1136 of the first thread 1135 and the proximal sidewall 1137 of the second thread 1135. Both the proximal sidewall 1134 and the distal sidewall 1136 intersect the upper surface 1137 of each thread 1135 to form a sharp edge.

[0138] A bottom surface of the thread 1150 includes partial individual threads and / or teeth 1155. The partial threads and / or teeth 1155 are configured to interact with the threads 1135 of the threaded rod 1130 when a staple cartridge 1120 including the thread 1150 is seated within a cartridge channel. The partial threads 1155 all include the same shape, however, the partial threads 1155 include an asymmetric shape. As shown in FIG. 33 , each thread thread 1155 includes a proximal sidewall 1154, a distal sidewall 1156, and a top surface 1157. The top surface 1157 extends between the proximal sidewall 1154 and the distal sidewall 1156 of the individual thread thread 1155. A flat portion 1158 extends between a distal sidewall 1156 of the first thread thread 1155 and a proximal sidewall 1154 of the second thread thread 1155. The distal sidewall 1156 intersects the upper surface 1157 to form a rounded, or radiused, edge, while the proximal sidewall 1154 intersects the upper surface 1157 to form a sharp edge. The rounded, radiused edge includes a radius of curvature R, but may include a complex radius of curvature that includes several radii of curvature.

[0139] The diagrammatic representation in FIG. 34 illustrates torque that can be transmitted through the threaded rod 1130 to the thread 1150 as the threaded rod 1130 rotates. Rotation of the threaded rod 1130 in a first direction advances the thread 1150 distally. Rotation of the threaded rod 1130 in an opposite second direction retracts the thread 1150 proximally. A first torque can be transmitted between the threads 1135 of the threaded rod 1130 and the thread threads 1155 when the threaded rod 1130 rotates in a first direction, and a second torque can be transmitted between the threads 1135 of the threaded rod 1130 and the thread threads 1155 when the threaded rod 1130 rotates in a second, opposite direction. A second torque transmissible through the threads 1135 and thread threads 1155 when the threaded rod 1130 rotates in a second direction is less than a first torque transmissible through the threads 1135 and thread threads 1155 when the threaded rod 1130 rotates in a first direction due at least in part to a rounded edge formed between the distal sidewall 1156 and top surface 1157 of the partial thread threads 1155. Thus, a torque transmissible between the threaded rod 1130 and thread 1150 when the thread 1150 retracts proximally is less than a torque transmissible between the threaded rod 1130 and thread 1150 when the thread 1150 advances distally.

[0140] The rod threads 1135 and thread threads 1155 are configured such that the threads 1150 remain engaged with the threads 1135 of the threaded rod 1130 throughout the staple firing stroke. However, the thread threads 1155 are configured such that the threads 1150 can disengage from the threaded rod 1130 when the threaded rod 1130 rotates in its reverse direction to retract the firing member 1140 to its proximal position. When the threads 1150 are removed, i.e., operatively separated, from the threaded rod 1130, the threads 1150 do not retract to its proximal position. In such an example, the threads 1150 are left behind. When the threads 1150 are left behind, the spent staple cartridge 1120 is not reset. The surgical stapling instrument can include a spent cartridge lockout that prevents a spent staple cartridge from being refired.Various spent cartridge lockouts are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0232200, filed May 20, 2003, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT," U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0232199, filed May 20, 2003, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A FIRING LOCKOUT FOR AN UNCLOSED ANVI," U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0232197, filed May 20, 2003, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING AN E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM," and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0232196, filed May 20, 2003, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A FIRING LOCKOUT FOR AN UNCLOSED ANVI." No. 2004 / 0232195, filed May 20, 3003, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SINGLE LOCKOUT MECHANISM FOR PREVENTION OF FIRING," and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0085123, filed August 17, 2017, entitled "ARTICULATING SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING A TWO-PIECE E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM," the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0141] As discussed above, the threads 1155 of the thread 1150 may be operatively separated from the threads 1135 of the threaded rod 1140 due to a radius R on the threads 1155 that allows the threads 1150 to slide relative to the threaded rod 1130. The larger the radius R, the less torque that can be transmitted from the threaded rod 1130 to the threads 1150. In various examples, friction between the threads 1150 and the staple cartridge body may cause the threads 1150 to disengage or separate from the threaded rod 1130 during the proximal retraction stroke. In certain examples, the staple driver may drop downward from the fired position to an unfired position. The dropped staple cartridge may block and / or obstruct the retraction path of the threads 1150, and when the threads 1150 come into contact with the dropped staple driver, the threads 1150 may fall off and / or otherwise disengage from the threads 1135 of the threaded rod 1130. The rounded edge of the distal sidewall 1156 of the threaded thread 1155 limits the reverse load capacity on the threaded rod 1130 without disengaging the threaded thread 1155 from the threads 1135 of the threaded rod 1130. If the threaded thread 1150 experiences an opposing force, such as a dropped staple cartridge, the rounded edge of the distal sidewall 1156 of the threaded thread 1155 stops the threaded thread 1150 in place. The shape of the threaded thread 1155 allows the threaded thread 1155 to skip from one thread 1135 on the threaded rod 1130 to another thread while maintaining the threaded thread 1150 in a stopped position. The skip between the threads 1135 further allows the threaded rod 1130 to continue rotating in a second direction, causing the firing member to retract and the threaded thread 1150 to remain in a stopped position instead of retracting.

[0142] In various alternative embodiments, the threads of the thread have a symmetrical shape and the threads on the threaded rod have an asymmetrical shape. As shown in FIGS. 35A and 35B, a bottom surface of the thread 1250 includes a plurality of partial threads and / or teeth 1255 configured to engage the threads 1235 of the threaded rod 1230 when the thread 1250 is attached to the threaded rod 1230. Each partial thread 1255 of the thread 1250 includes a proximal sidewall 1254, a distal sidewall 1256, and a top surface 1257. The top surface 1257 extends between the proximal sidewall 1254 and the distal sidewall 1256 of the partial thread 1255. A flat portion 1258 extends between the distal sidewall 1256 of the first thread 1255 and the proximal sidewall 1257 of the second thread 1255. Both the proximal sidewall 1254 and the distal sidewall 1256 intersect the upper surface 1257 of the partial thread 1255 to form a sharp edge.

[0143] However, the threads 1235 of the threaded rod 1230 include an asymmetric shape. The threads 1235 include a proximal sidewall 1234, a distal sidewall 1236, and a top surface 1237. The top surface 1237 extends between the proximal sidewall 1234 and the distal sidewall 1236. A flat portion 1238 extends between the distal sidewall 1236 of the first thread thread 1235 and the proximal sidewall 1234 of the second thread thread 1235. The proximal sidewall 1234 intersects with the top surface 1237 to form a rounded, radiused edge, while the distal sidewall 1236 intersects with the top surface 1237 to form a sharp edge.

[0144] 35A-36, the radius of curvature of the threads 1235 varies along the length of the threaded rod 1230. For example, a first rounded edge formed by the proximal sidewall 1234 and the top surface 1237 of the threads 1235 at the proximal end of the threaded rod 1230 includes a first radius of curvature R1. A second rounded edge formed by the proximal sidewall 1234 and the top surface 1237 of the threads 1235 at the distal end of the threaded rod 1230 includes a second radius of curvature R2. The second radius of curvature R2 is greater than the first radius of curvature R1.

[0145] 36, torques transmittable through threaded rod 1230 to thread 1250 for firing and retraction strokes are depicted. As described above, threaded rod 1230 includes threads 1235 having various asymmetric shapes, and thread 1250 includes symmetric threads 1255. A reference torque T0 is transmittable from threaded rod 1230 to thread 1250 as threaded rod 1230 rotates in a first direction, thereby advancing thread 1250 distally. A first torque T1 is transmittable through threaded rod 1230 and thread 1250 as threaded rod 1230 rotates in an opposite second direction when thread 1250 is located at a proximal portion of threaded rod 1230. The first torque T1 is at least partially determined by a first radius of curvature R1 of the rounded edge formed by the proximal sidewall 1234 and the top surface 1237 of the thread 1235 of the proximal portion of the threaded rod 1230. The second torque T2 is transmissible through the threaded rod 1230 and the thread 1250 when the threaded rod 1230 rotates in a second direction when the thread 1250 is located at a distal portion of the threaded rod 1230. The second torque T2 is at least partially determined by a second radius of curvature R2 of the rounded edge formed by the proximal sidewall 1234 and the top surface 1237 of the thread 1235 of the distal portion of the threaded rod 1230. The second radius of curvature R2 is greater than the first radius of curvature R1, and thus the second transmissible torque T2 is less than the first transmissible torque T1, as described in more detail herein.

[0146] 36 , the first and second torques T1, T2 transferable from the threaded rod 1230 to the sled 1250 when the threaded rod 1230 rotates in the second direction are less than a reference torque T0 transferable from the threaded rod 1230 to the sled 1250 when the threaded rod rotates in the first direction due at least in part to the rounded edges R1, R2 formed by the distal sidewall 1234 and top surface 1237 of the threaded rod 1230. Thus, the torque transferable from the threaded rod 1230 to the sled 1250 when the sled 1250 retracts proximally is less than the torque required to advance the sled 1250 distally.

[0147] Further to the above, the torque transferable from threaded rod 1230 to sled 1250 is lower at distal length T2 compared to proximal length T1. Thus, thread 1250 is more likely to become separated from threaded rod 1230 at the distal end of threaded rod 1230 compared to the proximal end. In either case, thread 1250 is not returned to its proximal unfired position.

[0148] FIG. 37 illustrates a portion of an end effector assembly 1300 for use with a surgical instrument. The end effector assembly 1300 includes a first jaw 1310 that defines a channel 1311. A staple cartridge 1320 is configured to be received within the channel 1311. As shown in FIG. 37, a threaded rod 1330 is integrated with the replaceable staple cartridge 1320 before the staple cartridge 1320 is received within the channel 1311. The threaded rod 1330 extends substantially the length of the staple cartridge 1320 and is connected to a rotatable drive shaft 1390 of the surgical instrument when the staple cartridge 1320 is received within the channel 1311. The rotatable drive shaft 1390 is operably coupled to, for example, an electric motor that rotates the rotatable drive shaft 1390 upon operation of the electric motor.

[0149] The channel 1311 defined by the first jaw 1310 includes a base 1312 and two side walls 1313 extending upwardly from the base 1312. A longitudinal recess 1314 is formed in the base 1312 and configured to receive at least a portion of the staple cartridge 1320 when the staple cartridge 1320 is seated within the first jaw 1310. A mounting bracket 1316 is positioned at a distal end of the longitudinal recess 1314 and configured to receive a distal end of the threaded rod 1330. Locating the threaded rod 1330 within the mounting bracket 1316 prevents, for example, dislodgment and / or undesired movement of the threaded rod 1330 and / or the staple cartridge 1320. The mounting bracket 1316 is grounded to the base 1312. In various examples, the mounting bracket 1316 is integrally formed with the first jaw 1310. In various examples, the mounting bracket 1316 is a separate component that is attached to the first jaw 1310 using, for example, adhesive, welding, and / or soldering techniques, although any suitable attachment technique can be used.

[0150] Similar to the removable staple cartridge 1020, the staple cartridge 1320 is configured to be easily removable from the channel 1311 of the first jaw 1310 and replaced with another staple cartridge 1320. The staple cartridge 1320 is configured to fit within the channel 1311 of the first jaw 1310. The staple cartridge 1320 is configured to snap-fit ​​within the channel 1311, but may be attached to the channel 1311 in any suitable manner. The staple cartridge 1320 includes a longitudinal slot 1322 that extends through the thickness of the staple cartridge 1320. The longitudinal slot 1322 extends from the proximal end toward the distal end of the staple cartridge 1320. The longitudinal slot 1322 provides clearance within the staple cartridge 1320 to allow for a threaded rod 1330 integral with the staple cartridge 1320. Side portions 1324 are defined at a distal end of the longitudinal slot 1322 to provide clearance for the mounting bracket 1316 of the first jaw 1310 when the staple cartridge 1320 is seated within the channel 1311 of the first jaw 1310. The side portions 1324 do not extend entirely through the staple cartridge 1320, although in other embodiments they may.

[0151] As discussed above, the threaded rod 1330 is configured to be integrated with the replaceable staple cartridge 1320 before the staple cartridge 1320 is received within the channel 1311. The threaded rod 1330 terminates in a distal head 1332 positioned at a distal end thereof. The distal head 1332 is configured to be positioned distal to the mounting bracket 1316 while the threaded portion 1334 of the threaded rod 1330 is positioned proximal to the mounting bracket 1316. The threaded portion 1334 extends proximally through the first jaw 1310 and away from the mounting bracket 1316. As shown in FIG. 38 , when the staple cartridge 1320 is received within the first jaw 1310, the distal head 1332 of the threaded rod 1330 is separated from the mounting bracket 1316 by a bushing member 1318. The bushing member 1318 is configured to provide an interface between the mounting bracket 1316 and the distal head 1332 of the threaded rod 1330. Such an interface resists wear between the mounting bracket 1316 and the distal head 1332, for example, as the threaded rod 1330 rotates. The bushing member 1318 also prevents axial movement of the distal head 1332 relative to the mounting bracket 1316 and / or acts as a guide to maintain the threaded rod 1330 in its proper position.

[0152] 37 and 39, the threaded rod 1330 includes a mating member 1338 at a proximal end of the threaded rod 1330. The mating member 1338 of the threaded rod 1330 is configured to engage a distal end 1380 of a rotatable drive shaft 1390. The mating member 1338 may engage the rotatable drive shaft 1390 in any suitable manner. In various examples, the mating member 1338 is sized to fit within a corresponding recess 1388 on the distal end 1380 of the rotatable drive shaft 1390. The mating member 1338 and the recess 1388 may include, for example, a hex drive. The rotatable drive shaft 1390 may be operably coupled to, for example, an electric motor capable of rotating the drive shaft 1390.

[0153] 37 and 40, a firing member 1340 including a cutting element 1342 is mounted on a threaded rod 1330 within the replaceable staple cartridge 1320. In other words, both the threaded rod 1330 and the firing member 1340 are integrated with the staple cartridge 1320 before the staple cartridge 1320 is seated within the first jaw 1310. The firing member 1340 is threadably engaged with a threaded portion 1334 of the threaded rod 1330 such that when the threaded rod 1330 is rotated in a first direction, the firing member 1340 advances distally. When the threaded rod 1330 is rotated in an opposite second direction, the firing shaft 1340 retracts proximally.

[0154] The firing member 1340 includes a first cam portion 1345 configured to engage the first jaw 1310 of the end effector 1300 and a second cam 1346 configured to engage the second jaw 1370 of the end effector 1300. The second jaw 1370 includes an anvil, for example similar to the anvil 75. As above, the base 1312 of the first jaw 1310 includes a longitudinal recess 1314 extending from a proximal end toward a distal end of the first jaw 1310. The longitudinal recess 1314 includes a lateral recess portion 1313 at its proximal end that is wider in dimension than a distal portion of the longitudinal recess 1314. The second jaw 1370 includes a longitudinal slot 1372 extending from a proximal end toward a distal end of the second jaw 1370. The longitudinal slot 1372 of the second jaw 1370 includes a lateral slot portion 1373 at its proximal end. In particular, the lateral recess 1314 and the lateral slot portion 1373 are aligned, or at least substantially aligned, with one another longitudinally.

[0155] The first cam portion 1344 of the firing member 1340 includes a first cam member 1345 sized to be received within a lateral recess 1313 defined in a proximal end of the longitudinal recess 1314 of the first jaw 1310. When the staple cartridge 1320 is attached to the first jaw 1310, the first cam portion 1344 of the firing member 1340 is aligned with the lateral recess 1313 defined in the first jaw 1310. As the threaded rod 1330 rotates in a first direction, the firing member 1340, and thus the first cam portion 1344, moves distally through a gap or slot 1318 defined by a bottom surface of the staple cartridge 1320 and the longitudinal recess 1314 of the first jaw 1310. The first cam member 1345 is closely received within the gap 1318 and provides stability and support to the firing member 1340 as it experiences forces and / or torque during a staple firing stroke.

[0156] The second cam portion 1346 of the firing member 1340 includes a second cam member 1346 sized to be received within a side slot portion 1373 defined in a proximal end of a longitudinal slot 1372 of the second jaw 1370. When the staple cartridge 1320 is attached to the first jaw 1310, the second cam portion 1346 is aligned with the side slot portion 1373 defined in the second jaw 1370, as described above. However, the second cam portion 1346 is not fully aligned with the side slot portion 1373 when the second jaw 1370 is in its open position. However, when the second jaw 1370 is in its closed position, the second cam portion 1346 is aligned with the side slot portion 1373. As the threaded rod 1330 rotates in a first direction, the firing member 1340, and thus the second cam portion 1346, moves distally through a longitudinal slot 1372 in the second jaw 1370. The second cam member 1346 is closely received within the longitudinal slot 1372 and provides stability and support to the firing member 1340 as it experiences forces and / or torque during a staple firing stroke. The engagement of the first jaw 1310 and the second jaw 1370 by the firing member 1340 also serves to set the staple forming spacing between the jaws 1310 and 1370 during a staple firing stroke.

[0157] During the staple firing stroke, in addition to the above, the firing member 1340 prevents the second jaw 1370 from opening. After the staple firing stroke has been performed, the firing member 1340 retracts to its proximal unfired position (FIG. 40). At such time, the first and second cam portions 1344, 1346 of the firing member 1340 are no longer engaged with the first and second jaws 1310, 1370, but instead are realigned with the lateral recessed and / or slotted portions 1313, 1373 of the first and second jaws 1310, 1370, respectively. At this point the second jaw 1370 can again be opened.

[0158] In addition to the above, a threaded rod such as threaded rod 1030 may be loaded into the jaws of the end effector assembly, for example, independent of the staple cartridge, or the threaded rod may be integrated with the staple cartridge before the staple cartridge is seated within the jaws. In either scenario, the presence of the threaded rod consumes a significant amount of space along a central longitudinal portion of the staple cartridge. To reduce the overall width of the end effector assembly and / or staple cartridge, the staple driver may be configured and arranged to allow for the reduced width. Reducing the width of the end effector assembly may, for example, allow the end effector assembly to be introduced into constrained, narrow spaces within a patient. Furthermore, in various examples, the staple driver may be configured and arranged to allow for six longitudinal rows of staples to be stored within the staple cartridge, as opposed to, for example, four longitudinal rows of staples.

[0159] 41 , the staple cartridge assembly 1400 includes a staple cartridge 1420 including a sled 1450. The staple cartridge 1420 includes a cartridge deck 1421 including a plurality of staple cavities 1422, 1424, 1426, 1428 defined therein. The staple cavities 1422, 1424, 1426, 1428 are arranged in four longitudinal rows. The two longitudinal rows of staple cavities 1422, 1424 are defined on a first side of a longitudinal slot 1412 and the longitudinal rows of staple cavities 1426, 1428 are defined on an opposite second side of the longitudinal slot 1412. The longitudinal row of first staple cavities 1424 extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the cartridge deck 1421 directly parallel to the longitudinal slot 1412, and the longitudinal row of second staple cavities 1422 extends parallel to the longitudinal row of first staple cavities 1424. In other words, the longitudinal row of first staple cavities 1424 defines an inner row relative to the longitudinal slot 1412, and the longitudinal row of second staple cavities 1422 defines an outer row relative to the longitudinal slot 1412. The longitudinal row of third staple cavities 1426 extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the cartridge deck 1421 directly parallel to the longitudinal slot 1412, and the longitudinal row of fourth staple cavities 1428 extends parallel to the longitudinal row of third staple cavities 1426. In other words, the longitudinal row of third staple cavities 1426 defines an inner row relative to the longitudinal slot 1412, and the longitudinal row of fourth staple cavities 1424 defines an outer row relative to the longitudinal slot 1412. A staple 1470 is positioned within each staple cavity.

[0160] The staples 1470 are supported in the staple cavities 1422, 1424, 1426, 1428 by staple drivers 1460. As shown in FIG. 41 , a first double staple driver 1460 is configured to support staples 1470 from the longitudinal row 1424 of the first staple cavity and staples 1470 from the longitudinal row 1422 of the second staple cavity. A second double staple driver 1460 is configured to support staples 1470 from the longitudinal row 1426 of the third staple cavity and staples 1470 from the longitudinal row 1428 of the fourth staple cavity. However, any suitable driver arrangement may be used. For example, the staple drivers may be, for example, a single staple driver configured to support and drive a single staple 1470 and / or a triple staple driver configured to support and drive three staples 1470.

[0161] During a staple firing stroke, the sled 1450 is configured to contact the staple driver 1460 and drive the staple driver 1460 upwardly toward an anvil positioned opposite the staple cartridge 1420. Upward displacement of the staple driver 1460 by the sled 1460 drives the staples 1470 from the staple cartridge 1420 and against forming pockets of an anvil positioned opposite the staple cartridge 1420. As discussed in more detail herein, the sled 1450 is configured to be operatively engaged with the threaded rod 1430 before the staple cartridge 1420 is delivered to an end effector, regardless of whether the sled 1450 is part of the staple cartridge 1420 or part of an end effector in front of the staple cartridge 1420. The sled 1450 includes a central portion 1452 that extends upwardly through at least a portion of a longitudinal slot 1412 defined in the staple cartridge 1420. The sled 1450 further includes a first cam member or ramp 1452 positioned within a longitudinal channel extending below the staple driver 1460 on a first side of the longitudinal slot 1412 and a second cam member or ramp 1454 positioned within a longitudinal channel extending below the staple driver 1460 on a second, opposite side of the longitudinal slot 1412. The first cam member 1452 and the second cam member 1454 are interconnected through a central portion 1455 of the sled 1450. However, the sled 1450 may include any suitable number of ramps for engaging a driver during a staple firing stroke.

[0162] Before the staple drivers 1460 and staples 1470 are driven upwardly by the sled 1450, the staple drivers 1460 are positioned in a low, unfired configuration. Each staple driver 1460 includes a first outer surface 1464 and a second outer surface 1462. The first outer surface 1464 faces toward the threaded rod 1430 and the second outer surface 1462 faces away from the threaded rod 1430. The first outer surface 1464 includes an arcuate profile 1466 that is configured to complement and / or mimic the arcuate shape of the threads 1450 and the threaded rod 1430. The arcuate profile 1466 is sized and configured to closely receive the threads 1450 therein, regardless of whether the threads 1450 are threadably engaged with the threaded rod 1430. The thread 1450 includes an arcuate portion 1456 that closely receives the threaded rod 1430 and an arcuate portion 1458 that closely receives within an arcuate profile 1466 of the staple driver 1460. The arcuate profile 1466 includes a single radius of curvature, but in various embodiments can include a compound radius of curvature. In either case, the thread 1450 is slidable relative to the staple driver 1460. In effect, the arcuate profile 1466 contacts the thread 1450 as the thread 1450 passes through, but in other embodiments, it may not contact the thread 1450. If the first outer surface 1464 did not include an arcuate profile or another clearance profile, the inner row of staple cavities 1424, 1426 would have to move away from the longitudinal slot 1412 to accommodate the centrally located threaded rod 1430. The clearance profile on the first outer surface 1464 allows the staple driver 1460 to remain as close as possible to the longitudinal slot 1412. Additionally, minimizing the distance between the longitudinal slot 1412 and the inner rows of staple cavities 1424, 1426 can allow the four rows of staples to be closer to the tissue incision and / or provide room for the four rows of staples to become six rows of staples.Additionally, two longitudinal rows of staples can be moved inward to provide room for additional rows of staples and staple cavities on each side of the tissue incision.

[0163] As described in more detail herein, a surgical instrument may include an articulation joint configured to allow an end effector assembly, such as, for example, end effector assembly 1000, to rotate or articulate relative to a shaft. FIGS. 42A-44 show an articulation joint 1530 of a surgical stapling instrument 1500. The surgical stapling instrument 1500 includes an end effector assembly 1510 and a shaft portion 1520. The articulation joint 1530 connects a proximal end of the end effector assembly 1510 and a distal end of the shaft portion 1520. A plurality of articulation drivers 1532, 1534 extend through the shaft portion 1520 and are connected to the end effector assembly 1510. The articulation drivers 1532, 1534 control the rotation of the end effector assembly 1510 relative to the shaft portion 1520 by an antagonistic motion. For example, when the first articulation driver 1532 is pulled proximally, the second articulation driver 1534 is pushed distally, causing the end effector assembly 1510 to rotate in a first direction about a first axis. When the second articulation driver 1534 is pulled proximally, the first articulation driver 1532 is pushed distally, causing the end effector assembly 1510 to rotate in a second direction about the first axis. However, when one of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534 is pushed distally to articulate the end effector assembly 1510, the other articulation driver 1532, 1534 may be pulled distally by movement of the end effector assembly 1510.

[0164] The proximal end of the end effector assembly 1510 terminates in a convex surface 1512 that includes a plurality of slots 1514 defined therein. The distal end of the shaft portion 1520 terminates in a concave surface 1522 that is configured to receive at least a portion of the convex surface 1512 of the end effector assembly 1510. Engagement of the convex surface 1512 and the concave surface 1522 forms a first ball and socket joint. However, the surfaces 1512, 1522 may include any suitable arcuate surfaces, for example. Various articulation drives are described in the disclosures of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265954, filed March 17, 2017, and entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DUAL DISTAL PULLEYS," and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265865, filed February 15, 2017, and entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DISTAL PULLEY."International Publication No. 2017 / 083125, published May 18, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH COMPOSITE CARDAN AND SCREW DRIVE"; International Publication No. 2017 / 083126, published May 18, 2017, entitled "STAPLE PUSHER WITH LOST MOTION BETWEEN RAMPS"; International Publication No. 2015 / 153642, published October 8, 2015, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SHIFTABLE TRANSMISSION"; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265954, filed March 17, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DUAL DISTAL No. 2017 / 0265865, filed Feb. 15, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DISTAL PULLEY," and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0290586, filed Mar. 29, 2017, entitled "STAPLING CARTRIDGE," are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0165] In the illustrated embodiment, four articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 control the rotation of the end effector assembly 1510 relative to the shaft portion 1520. The four articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 are arranged such that they can be used to rotate the end effector assembly 1510 relative to the shaft portion 1520 in two orthogonal planes. The end effector assembly 1510 can be rotated in each plane separately or with a compound motion in the two planes. The four articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 are received within a number of slots 1514 defined in the end effector assembly 1510. As shown in the end view of FIG. 42B, the slots 1514 are defined symmetrically around the circumference of the end effector assembly 1510. The distal end of each articulation driver 1532 , 1534 , 1536 , 1538 includes a convex surface or ball 1531 configured to be received in one of the slots 1514 defined in the convex surface 1512 of the end effector assembly 1510 .

[0166] 44 , the end effector assembly 1510 includes one or more backstops 1540 configured to hold the distal ends 1531 of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 in place. The end effector assembly 1510 includes four backstops 1540, one for each articulation actuator, but may include any suitable number and / or configuration of backstops. The backstops 1540 are mounted to the end effector assembly 1510 to prevent, or at least limit, relative movement between the distal ends 1531 of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 and the end effector assembly 1510. In other words, the backstop 1540 is attached to the frame of the end effector assembly 1510 and captures the distal ends 1531 in the slots 1514 so that there is little, if any, misalignment between the articulation of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 and the movement of the end effector assembly 1510. In various examples, the backstop 1540 may be welded, soldered, and / or brazed to the end effector assembly 1510 after the distal ends 1531 of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 are assembled into the slots 1514 of the end effector assembly 1510.

[0167] A plurality of ball and socket joints are formed between the distal ends of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 and slots 1514 defined in the end effector assembly 1510. More specifically, each of the backstops 1540 includes an articulation socket or surface defined therein and configured to receive a distal end or ball 1531 of one of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 therein and define rotational interfaces for the distal end 1531. These rotational interfaces allow the distal end 1531 to rotate within the arcuate socket while preventing translation of the distal end 1531 relative to the end effector assembly 1510. By connecting the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 to the end effector assembly 1510 in this manner, additional degrees of freedom are provided to the articulation joint because the connections are not rigidly fixed to the end effector assembly 1510. The additional degrees of freedom provide a greater range of overall articulation of the end effector assembly 1510 relative to the shaft portion 1520.

[0168] 41-43 prevents distal movement of the end effector assembly 1510 away from the shaft portion 1520. Among other things, alignment between the components of the surgical instrument is facilitated by the complementary shapes of the distal end of the shaft portion 1520 and the proximal end of the end effector assembly 1510. Given that the distal ends 1531 of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 are sized and configured such that they cannot be pulled proximally through the slots 1514, the end effector assembly 1510 may only move a certain distance, if at all, away from the shaft portion 1520 by the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538. Engagement of the articulation drivers 1532 , 1534 , 1536 , 1538 with the end effector assembly 1510 provides redundant support to maintain alignment between the end effector assembly 1510 and the shaft portion 1520 .

[0169] Further to the above, although the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 include tubes, any suitable drivers may be used. For example, the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 may include a solid cross-section. In various examples, the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 include a plurality of slits and / or integral cutouts 1533. The integral cutouts 1533 also allow the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 to be flexible while still maintaining the structural integrity of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 as the end effector assembly 1510 rotates relative to the shaft portion 1520. In various examples, depending on the degree of articulation, the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538 can wrap partially around the proximal end 1512 of the end effector assembly 1510. The slits 1533 can facilitate such wrapping of the articulation drivers 1532, 1534, 1536, 1538.

[0170] Various aspects of the subject matter described herein are illustrated in the following examples.

[0171] Example Set 1. Example 1 - An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector assembly includes a first jaw defining a channel therein, a second jaw, and a threaded rod extending into the channel. The end effector assembly further includes an exchangeable staple cartridge including a sled, the exchangeable staple cartridge configured to fit within the channel, and a firing member operably engaged with the threaded rod, the sled and firing member configured to move from a proximal position toward a distal position when the threaded rod is rotated in a first direction.

[0172] Example 2 - The end effector assembly of example 1, wherein the firing member is configured to move from a distal position toward a proximal position when the threaded rod is rotated in a second direction, and the sled does not move from the distal position toward the proximal position when the threaded rod is rotated in the second direction.

[0173] Example 3 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 and 2, wherein at least a portion of the firing member is configured to engage the second jaw during a staple firing stroke.

[0174] Example 4 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 to 3, wherein the sled snaps onto the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0175] Example 5 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 to 4, wherein the thread is configured to threadably engage with the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0176] Example 6 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 to 5, wherein the firing member is operably engaged with the threaded rod before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0177] Example 7 - The end effector assembly of any one of Examples 1 to 6, wherein the firing member includes a tissue cutting member.

[0178] Example 8 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 to 7, wherein the sled includes a bottom surface configured to connect at an interface with the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel, and at least a portion of the bottom surface includes the threads of the sled.

[0179] Example 9 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 8, wherein the thread of the thread includes a first side configured to engage the threaded rod when the threaded rod is rotated in a first direction and the thread of the thread includes a second side configured to slide over the threaded rod when the threaded rod is rotated in a second direction, the first side including a sharp edge and the second side including a rounded edge.

[0180] Example 10 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 8 and 9, wherein the threaded rod includes a rod thread, the rod thread includes a first side configured to engage the thread of the thread when the threaded rod is rotated in a first direction, and the rod thread includes a second side configured to slide over the thread of the thread when the threaded rod is rotated in a second direction, the first side including a sharp edge and the second side including a rounded edge.

[0181] Example 11 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 9 and 10, wherein the rounded edge includes a degree of curvature, the degree of curvature varying along the length of the threaded rod.

[0182] Example 12 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 to 11, wherein the first jaw includes a mounting bracket within the channel, the mounting bracket being configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod.

[0183] Example 13 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 to 12, wherein the sled is releasably coupled to the firing member when the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the channel.

[0184] Example 14 - An end effector assembly is disclosed, the end effector assembly comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a rotatable drive screw extending within the first jaw, the end effector assembly further comprising an exchangeable staple cartridge configured to be received within the first jaw, the exchangeable staple cartridge including a sled and a firing member configured to operatively engage the rotatable drive screw, the sled configured to be positioned distal to the firing member on the rotatable drive screw when the exchangeable staple cartridge is received within the first jaw, the firing member configured to urge the sled from a proximal position toward a distal position when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a first direction.

[0185] Example 15 - The end effector assembly of example 14, wherein the rotatable drive screw is loaded into the first jaw before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated in the first jaw.

[0186] Example 16 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 14 and 15, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge includes a clearance and at least a portion of the rotatable drive screw is positioned within the clearance when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the first jaw.

[0187] Example 17 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 14 to 16, wherein the firing member is configured to move from a distal position toward a proximal position when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a second direction, and the thread does not move from the distal position toward the proximal position when the rotatable drive screw rotates in the second direction.

[0188] Example 18 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 14 to 17, wherein the sled includes a bottom surface configured to connect at an interface with the rotatable drive screw when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the first jaw, and at least a portion of the bottom surface includes the threads of the sled.

[0189] Example 19 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 18, wherein the thread of the thread includes a first side configured to engage the rotatable drive screw when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a first direction, and the thread of the thread includes a second side configured to allow the thread to slide against the rotatable drive screw when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a second direction, wherein the first side includes a sharp edge and the second side includes a rounded edge.

[0190] Example 20 - A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed, the staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body including a distal end, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, a driver configured to drive the staples from the cartridge body, and a sled configured to be positioned on a threaded rod of the surgical stapling instrument when the staple cartridge is seated within a staple cartridge jaw of an end effector of the surgical stapling instrument, the sled being driven distally by the threaded rod as the threaded rod rotates.

[0191] Example 21 - A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed, the staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body including a distal end, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, a driver configured to drive the staples from the cartridge body, and a sled configured to be positioned distally of a firing member on a threaded rod of the surgical stapling instrument when the staple cartridge is seated within a staple cartridge jaw of an end effector of the surgical stapling instrument, the sled being pushed distally by the firing member when the threaded rod is rotated.

[0192] Example 22 - An end effector assembly is disclosed. The end effector assembly includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a rotatable drive screw extending into the first jaw, and an exchangeable staple cartridge configured to fit within the first jaw. The exchangeable staple cartridge includes a thread positioned on the rotatable drive screw when the exchangeable staple cartridge is fit within the first jaw, the thread includes a bottom surface including a thread thread, the thread thread includes a first side configured to engage the rotatable drive screw when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a first direction and a second side configured to allow the thread to slide relative to the rotatable drive screw when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a second direction, the first side includes a sharp edge and the second side includes a rounded edge. The end effector assembly further includes a firing member operably engaged with the rotatable drive screw, a sled positioned distal to the firing member on the rotatable drive screw, the sled and the firing member configured to move from a proximal position toward a distal position when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a first direction, the firing member configured to move from a distal position to a proximal position when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a second direction, and the sled does not move from the distal position toward the proximal position when the rotatable drive screw rotates in the second direction.

[0193] Example 23 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 22, wherein the sled is releasably coupled to the firing member.

[0194] Example 24 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 21 and 22, wherein the rotatable drive screw is integrated with the first jaw before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the first jaw.

[0195] Example 25 - An end effector assembly is disclosed, the end effector assembly includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a rotatable drive screw extending into the first jaw, the rotatable drive screw including drive screw threads extending along a length of the rotatable drive screw, and an exchangeable staple cartridge configured to fit within the first jaw, the exchangeable staple cartridge includes threads positioned on the rotatable drive screw when the exchangeable staple cartridge is fitted within the first jaw, the threads including a bottom surface including the threads, the drive screw threads including a first side configured to engage the threads when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a first direction and a second side configured to allow the threads to slide relative to the rotatable drive screw when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a second direction, the first side including a sharp edge and the second side including a rounded edge. The end effector assembly further includes a firing member operably engaged with the rotatable drive screw, the sled positioned distal to the firing member on the rotatable drive screw, and the sled and firing member configured to move from a proximal position toward a distal position when the rotatable drive screw rotates in a first direction.

[0196] Example 26 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 25, wherein the sled is releasably coupled to the firing member.

[0197] Example 27 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 25 and 26, wherein the rotatable drive screw is integrated with the first jaw before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the first jaw.

[0198] Example Set 2. Example 1 - An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector assembly comprises a first jaw including a first recess, a second jaw defining a channel, the second jaw including a second recess, and a replaceable staple cartridge configured to fit within the channel. The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body, staple cavities defined within the cartridge body, the staple cavities arranged in a longitudinal row, staples positioned within the staple cavities, a threaded rod, and a firing member operably engaged with the threaded rod, the firing member configured to move between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during a staple firing stroke. The firing member includes a first portion including a first lateral projection, wherein a first recess of the first jaw is configured to receive the first lateral projection when a replaceable staple cartridge is received in the channel and the firing member is positioned in a proximal unfired position, and a second portion including a second lateral projection, wherein a second recess of the second jaw is configured to receive the second lateral projection when a replaceable staple cartridge is received in the channel and the firing member is positioned in a proximal unfired position, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to maintain a distance between the first jaw and the second jaw during a staple firing stroke.

[0199] Example 2 - The end effector assembly of Example 1, wherein the channel includes a mounting bracket configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0200] Example 3 - The end effector assembly of example 2, wherein the threaded rod comprises a distal head.

[0201] Example 4 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 3, further comprising a bushing member, the bushing member configured to be positioned between the distal head of the threaded rod and the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0202] Example 5 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 2 to 4, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge includes a recess configured to receive the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0203] Example 6 - The end effector assembly of any one of Examples 1 to 5, wherein the firing member comprises a tissue cutting member.

[0204] Example 7 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 to 6, wherein the channel includes a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0205] Example 8 - The end effector assembly of any one of Examples 1-7, wherein the threaded rod is integral with the replaceable staple cartridge before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0206] Example 9 - An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed, the end effector assembly includes an anvil including a first recess, a staple cartridge jaw including a second recess, and a replaceable staple cartridge configured to fit within the staple cartridge jaw. The replaceable staple cartridge includes a threaded rod and a firing member operably engaged with the threaded rod, the firing member configured to move from a proximal unfired position toward a distal fired position, the firing member including a first portion including a first lateral projection, wherein a first recess of the anvil is configured to receive the first lateral projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws and the firing member is in the proximal unfired position, and a second portion including a second lateral projection, wherein a second recess of the staple cartridge jaw is configured to receive the second lateral projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws and the firing member is in the proximal unfired position, the first portion and the second portion are configured to maintain a distance between the anvil and the staple cartridge jaws when the end effector assembly is in a closed configuration.

[0207] Example 10 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 9, wherein the staple cartridge jaw includes a mounting bracket configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaw.

[0208] Example 11 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 10, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge includes a distal recess configured to receive the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

[0209] Example 12 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 9 to 11, wherein the threaded rod includes a distal head.

[0210] Example 13 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 12, further comprising a bushing member, the bushing member configured to be positioned between the distal head of the threaded rod and the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

[0211] Example 14 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 9 to 13, wherein the threaded rod is integrated with the replaceable staple cartridge before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

[0212] Example 15 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 9 to 14, wherein the staple cartridge jaw includes a longitudinal recess configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaw.

[0213] Example 16 - A staple cartridge insertable into a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a threaded rod and a firing member configured to move from a proximal unfired position toward a distal position when the threaded rod is rotated in a first direction. The firing member comprises a first portion including a first cam member, the anvil of the surgical stapling instrument receiving the first portion when the firing member is in the proximal unfired position, and a second portion including a second cam member, the staple cartridge jaws of the surgical stapling instrument receiving the second portion when the firing member is in the proximal unfired position, the first portion and the second portion configured to maintain a distance between the anvil and the staple cartridge jaws during a staple firing stroke.

[0214] Example 17 - A staple cartridge as described in example 16, wherein the firing member is threadably engaged with the threaded rod.

[0215] Example 18 - A staple cartridge described in any one of Examples 16 and 17, wherein the threaded rod is configured to be received by a mounting bracket positioned on the staple cartridge jaws.

[0216] Example 19 - The staple cartridge of Example 18, further comprising a recess configured to receive the mounting bracket when the staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

[0217] Example 20 - The staple cartridge of Example 19, further comprising a bushing member, the bushing member configured to be positioned between the threaded rod and the mounting bracket.

[0218] Example Set 3. Example 1 - An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector assembly includes a first jaw defining a channel therein, a drive screw, and an exchangeable staple cartridge configured to fit within the channel. The exchangeable staple cartridge includes a proximal end, a distal end, a cartridge body, a longitudinal slot extending between the proximal and distal ends, a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined within the cartridge body, the longitudinal row of the first staple cavities positioned parallel to the longitudinal slot, and a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined within the cartridge body, the longitudinal row of the second staple cavities positioned parallel to the longitudinal row of the first staple cavities. The end effector assembly further includes a first staple positioned in the longitudinal row of the first staple cavity, a second staple positioned in the longitudinal row of the second staple cavity, and a driver configured to support one of the first staples and one of the second staples, wherein the driver includes an outer wall facing the drive screw, the outer wall including an arcuate clearance, and the drive screw extending through the arcuate clearance.

[0219] Example 2 - The end effector assembly of example 1, wherein the drive screw is loaded into the channel before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated in the channel.

[0220] Example 3 - An end effector assembly as described in any one of Examples 1 and 2, wherein the channel includes a mounting bracket configured to receive at least a portion of the drive screw.

[0221] Example 4 - The end effector assembly of any one of Examples 1-3, wherein the drive screw is integral with the replaceable staple cartridge before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0222] Example 5 - The end effector assembly of any one of Examples 1-4, wherein at least a portion of the drive screw is positioned within the longitudinal slot.

[0223] Example 6 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 1 to 5, wherein the thread is threadably engaged with the drive screw when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0224] Example 7 - An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector assembly includes a staple cartridge jaw, a threaded rod, and an exchangeable staple cartridge configured to fit within the staple cartridge jaw. The exchangeable staple cartridge includes a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal slot extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a driver configured to support a staple, the driver including a surface facing the threaded rod, the surface including a clearance, and at least a portion of the threaded rod configured to be received within the clearance when the exchangeable staple cartridge is fit within the staple cartridge jaw.

[0225] Example 8 - The end effector assembly of Example 7, further comprising a sled configured to lift the driver upwardly during a staple firing stroke.

[0226] Example 9 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 7 and 8, wherein the threaded rod extends into the staple cartridge jaws before the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the staple cartridge jaws.

[0227] Example 10 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 7 to 9, wherein the threaded rod is integrated with the replaceable staple cartridge before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

[0228] Example 11 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 7 to 10, wherein the staple cartridge jaw includes a mounting bracket configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod.

[0229] Example 12 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 7 to 11, wherein the threaded rod is integrated with the staple cartridge before the staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

[0230] Example 13 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 7 to 12, wherein the thread is threadably engaged with the threaded rod.

[0231] Example 14 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 7 to 13, wherein the clearance is arcuate.

[0232] Example 15 - A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed, the staple cartridge including a proximal end, a distal end, a cartridge body, a longitudinal slot extending between the proximal and distal ends, a drive screw, a first longitudinal row of staple cavities defined within the cartridge body, the longitudinal row of first staple cavities positioned parallel to the longitudinal slot, and a second longitudinal row of staple cavities defined within the cartridge body, the longitudinal row of second staple cavities positioned parallel to the longitudinal row of first staple cavities. The staple cartridge further comprises: a first staple positioned within the longitudinal row of the first staple cavity; a second staple positioned within the longitudinal row of the second staple cavity; a driver configured to support one of the first staples and one of the second staples, the driver configured to move from an unfired configuration to a fired configuration during a staple firing stroke, the driver including an inner surface facing the drive screw, the inner surface including a relief, the drive screw being at least partially positioned within the relief; and a sled configured to lift the driver upwardly from the unfired configuration to the fired configuration.

[0233] Example 16 - A staple cartridge as described in Example 15, wherein the staple cartridge is configured to fit within a staple cartridge jaw of an end effector of a surgical instrument, the staple cartridge including a recess configured to receive a mounting bracket extending from the staple cartridge jaw, the mounting bracket configured to receive at least a portion of the drive screw.

[0234] Example 17 - A staple cartridge described in any one of Examples 15 and 16, wherein the relief is arcuate.

[0235] Example 18 - An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed, the end effector assembly includes a first jaw, a second jaw, and an exchangeable staple cartridge configured to fit within the first jaw, the exchangeable staple cartridge including a proximal end, a distal end, a cartridge body, and a longitudinal slot extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The replaceable staple cartridge includes a longitudinal row of first staple cavities defined within a cartridge body, the longitudinal row of first staple cavities being positioned parallel to the longitudinal slot, a longitudinal row of second staple cavities defined within the cartridge body, the longitudinal row of second staple cavities being positioned parallel to the longitudinal row of first staple cavities, first staples positioned within the longitudinal row of first staple cavities, and a longitudinal slot extending parallel to the longitudinal slot of the second staple cavities. The stapler further comprises a second staple positioned in the manual row, a driver configured to support one of the first staples and one of the second staples, the driver configured to move from the unfired configuration to the fired configuration during a staple firing stroke, the driver including an inner wall including a relief, a sled configured to lift the driver upwardly from the unfired configuration to the fired configuration, and a drive screw extending into the first jaw, the drive screw being at least partially positioned in the relief when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated in the first jaw.

[0236] Example 19 - The end effector assembly of Example 18, wherein the first jaw includes a mounting bracket configured to receive at least a portion of the drive screw.

[0237] Example 20 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 18 and 19, wherein the drive screw is integrated with the first jaw before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the first jaw.

[0238] Example Set 4. Example 1 - A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft including a distal end including a concave surface, an end effector assembly including a proximal end including a convex surface, the convex surface being received by the concave surface of the elongated shaft, the convex surface including a first slot and a second slot received therein, and an articulation assembly. The articulation assembly includes a first articulation driver including a distal end including a first ball, the first ball being received by the first slot, and a second articulation driver including a distal end including a second ball, the second ball being received by the second slot, and the end effector assembly rotates in a plane relative to the elongated shaft when at least one of the first articulation driver and the second articulation driver is driven longitudinally.

[0239] Example 2 - The surgical instrument of Example 1, wherein the end effector assembly further comprises a backstop, the backstop mounted on a proximal end of the end effector assembly rearward of the first slot, the backstop configured to maintain the first ball in a fixed position when the first slot receives the first ball.

[0240] Example 3 - A surgical instrument described in any one of Examples 1 and 2, wherein the end effector assembly further comprises a third slot and a fourth slot defined in the convex surface.

[0241] Example 4 - The surgical instrument of Example 3, wherein the first slot, the second slot, the third slot, and the fourth slot are positioned symmetrically around the circumference of the convex surface.

[0242] Example 5 - A surgical instrument described in any one of Examples 3 and 4, wherein the articulation assembly further includes a third articulation driver and a fourth articulation driver, the third articulation driver including a distal end including a third ball, the fourth articulation driver including a distal end including a fourth ball, the third ball being received by the third slot, and the fourth ball being received by the fourth slot.

[0243] Example 6 - A surgical instrument as described in Example 5, wherein the plane is a first plane and the end effector assembly rotates within a second plane relative to the elongated shaft when at least one of the third articulation driver and the fourth articulation driver are driven longitudinally.

[0244] Example 7 - The surgical instrument of any one of Examples 1-6, wherein the first articulation driver and the second articulation driver comprise flexible tubes.

[0245] Example 8 - The surgical instrument of Example 7, wherein each flexible tube includes a plurality of slits along its length.

[0246] Example 9 - A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft and an end effector extending distally from the elongate shaft, the end effector including a proximal end, a distal end, and an interface surface on the proximal end of the end effector, the interface surface including a plurality of recesses defined therein. The surgical instrument further comprises a plurality of articulation drive members extending through the elongate shaft, each articulation drive member including a distal end including a ball, each ball being received in one of the plurality of recesses, the articulation drive members configured to accommodate articulation of the end effector relative to the elongate shaft.

[0247] Example 10 - The surgical instrument of example 9, wherein the plurality of articulation drive members are configured to prevent the end effector from moving distally from the elongate shaft.

[0248] Example 11 - A surgical instrument described in any one of Examples 9 and 10, wherein the first interface surface is configured to facilitate alignment between the elongate shaft and the end effector.

[0249] Example 12 - The surgical instrument of any one of Examples 9-11, wherein each articulation drive member is pivotally received within the recess.

[0250] Example 13 - A surgical instrument described in any one of Examples 9 to 12, wherein the end effector is configured to articulate relative to the elongate shaft about multiple articulation axes.

[0251] Example 14 - The surgical instrument of any one of Examples 9 to 13, wherein the articulation drive member comprises a slitted tube.

[0252] Example 15 - The surgical instrument of any one of Examples 9 to 14, wherein the end effector further includes a backstop attached to the end effector rearward of each recess, each backstop configured to hold the ball in place.

[0253] Example 16 - An end effector assembly for a surgical instrument is disclosed, the end effector assembly comprising: a proximal end, a distal end, a first jaw, a second jaw coupled to the first jaw, at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw being movable relative to the other of the first jaw and the second jaw, an interface surface on the proximal end, the interface surface including a plurality of slots defined therein, and a plurality of flexible articulation members, each flexible articulation member including a distal end including an enlarged end, each enlarged end received within one of the recesses, the flexible articulation members configured to articulate the first jaw and the second jaw relative to an elongated shaft of a surgical instrument.

[0254] Example 17 - An end effector assembly as described in Example 16, wherein the multiple flexible articulation drive members are configured to align the first jaw and the second jaw relative to the elongated shaft of the surgical instrument.

[0255] Example 18 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 16 and 17, wherein the joining surface is convex.

[0256] Example 19 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 16 to 18, wherein the recess is defined symmetrically around the outer periphery of the joining surface.

[0257] Example 20 - An end effector assembly described in any one of Examples 16 to 19, wherein each flexible articulation member includes a tube having a slit therein.

[0258] Many of the surgical tool systems described herein are driven by electric motors. The surgical tool systems described herein may be operated in any suitable manner. In various instances, the surgical tool systems described herein may be operated, for example, by a manually operated trigger. In certain examples, the motors disclosed herein may comprise one or more parts of a robotically controlled system. Additionally, any of the end effectors and / or tool assemblies disclosed herein may be utilized with a robotic surgical tool system. For example, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13 / 118,241, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS" (U.S. Patent No. 9,072,535) discloses several examples of robotic surgical tool systems in more detail.

[0259] The surgical instrument systems described herein have been described in connection with deploying and deforming staples. However, the embodiments described herein are not so limited. Various embodiments are contemplated that deploy fastening elements other than staples, such as, for example, clamps or tacks. Additionally, various embodiments are contemplated that utilize any suitable means for sealing tissue. For example, end effectors according to various embodiments may include electrodes configured to heat and seal tissue. Also for example, end effectors according to certain embodiments may apply vibrational energy to seal tissue.

[0260] The entire contents of the following disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. -U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265954, published on September 21, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DUAL DISTAL PULLEYS"; -U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265865, published on September 21, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DISTAL PULLEY"; - U.S. Patent No. 9,844,369, issued on December 19, 2017, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH FIRING ELEMENT MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,808,246, issued on November 7, 2017, entitled "METHOD OF OPERATING A POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; - U.S. Patent No. 7,490,749, issued on February 17, 2009, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING AND CUTTING INSTRUMENT WITH MANUALLY RETRACTABLE FIRING MEMBER"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,370,364, issued on June 21, 2016, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH MANUALLY RETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,814,460, issued on November 14, 2017, entitled "MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH STATUS INDICATION ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Patent No. 8,820,605, issued on September 2, 2014, entitled "ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,095,339, issued on August 4, 2015, entitled "DETACHABLE MOTOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; -U.S. Patent No. 8,998,058 issued on April 7, 2015, entitled "DETACHABLE MOTOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,445,813, issued on September 20, 2016, entitled "CLOSURE INDICATOR SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; - U.S. Patent No. 9,072,535, issued on July 7, 2015, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS"; - U.S. Patent No. 9,700,310, issued on July 11, 2017, entitled "FIRING MEMBER RETRACTION DEVICES FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; - U.S. Patent No. 9,439,651, issued on September 13, 2016, entitled "METHODS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,517,068, issued on December 13, 2016, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH AUTOMATICALLY-RETURNED FIRING MEMBER"; - U.S. Patent No. 5,667,517, issued September 16, 1997, entitled "ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL SYSTEM WITH SENSING MEANS"; - U.S. Patent No. 9,675,348, issued on June 13, 2017, entitled "ELECTRICAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH KNIFE RETURN"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,393,015, issued on July 19, 2016, entitled "MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL FASTENER DEVICE WITH CUTTING MEMBER REVERSING MECHANISM"; -U.S. Patent No. 10,004,500, issued on June 26, 2018, entitled "DEVICES AND METHODS FOR MANUALLY RETRACTING A DRIVE SHAFT, DRIVE BEAM, AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS OF A SURGICAL FASTENING DEVICE"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,326,770, issued on May 3, 2016, for the invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; -U.S. Patent No. 8,602,287, issued on December 10, 2013, for the invention "MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT"; - U.S. Patent No. 8,113,410, issued on February 14, 2012, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS WITH CONTROL FEATURES"; - U.S. Patent No. 7,959,050, issued June 14, 2011, entitled "ELECTRICALLY SELF-POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MANUAL RELEASE"; - U.S. Patent No. 8,608,045, issued on December 17, 2013, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH MANUALLY RETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM"; - U.S. Patent No. 8,672,951, issued on March 18, 2014, entitled "ELECTRICALLY SELF-POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MANUAL RELEASE"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,554,803, issued on January 31, 2017, entitled "ELECTRICALLY SELF-POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MANUAL RELEASE"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,585,658, issued on March 7, 2017, entitled "STAPLING SYSTEMS"; -U.S. Patent No. 8,616,431, issued on December 31, 2013, entitled "SHIFTABLE DRIVE INTERFACE FOR ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED SURGICAL TOOL"; -U.S. Patent No. 8,479,969, issued on July 9, 2013, entitled "DRIVE INTERFACE FOR OPERABLY COUPLING A MANIPULATABLE SURGICAL TOOL TO A ROBOT"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,113,874, issued on August 25, 2015, for the invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM"; -U.S. Patent No. 8,991,677 issued on March 31, 2015, entitled "DETACHABLE MOTOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,084,601, issued on July 21, 2015, entitled "DETACHABLE MOTOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,408,606, issued on August 9, 2016, entitled "ROBOTICALLY POWERED SURGICAL DEVICE WITH MANUALLY-ACTUATABLE REVERSING SYSTEM"; - U.S. Patent No. 10,028,761, issued on July 24, 2018, entitled "FEEDBACK ALGORITHMS FOR MANUAL BAILOUT SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,655,614, issued on May 23, 2017, entitled "ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED MOTORIZED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH AN END EFFECTOR"; -U.S. Patent No. 9,060,770, issued on June 23, 2015, for the invention "ROBOTICALLY-DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH E-BEAM DRIVER."

[0261] The entire contents of the following disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. - U.S. Patent No. 5,403,312, issued April 4, 1995, entitled "ELECTROSURGICAL HEMOSTATIC DEVICE"; - U.S. Patent No. 7,000,818, issued on February 21, 2006, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING SEPARATE DISTINCT CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Patent No. 7,422,139, issued on September 9, 2008, entitled "MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH TACTILE POSITION FEEDBACK"; - U.S. Patent No. 7,464,849, issued December 16, 2008, entitled "ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH CLOSURE SYSTEM AND ANVIL ALIGNMENT COMPONENTS"; - U.S. Patent No. 7,670,334, issued March 2, 2010, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING AN ARTICULATING END EFFECTOR"; - U.S. Patent No. 7,753,245, issued on July 13, 2010, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS"; -U.S. Patent No. 8,393,514, issued on March 12, 2013, entitled "SELECTIVELY ORIENTABLE IMPLANTABLE FASTENER CARTRIDGE"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 11 / 343,803, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES," now U.S. Patent No. 7,845,537; - U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 031,573, entitled "SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT HAVING RF ELECTRODES," filed on February 14, 2008; - U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 031,873, filed February 15, 2008, entitled "END EFFECTORS FOR A SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT," now U.S. Patent No. 7,980,443; - U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 235,782, entitled "MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT", now U.S. Patent No. 8,210,411; -U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 235,972, entitled "MOTORIZED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT", now U.S. Patent No. 9,050,083. - U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12 / 249,117, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH MANUALLY RETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent No. 8,608,045; - U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 647,100, filed Dec. 24, 2009, entitled "MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT WITH ELECTRIC ACTUATOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ASSEMBLY," now U.S. Patent No. 8,220,688; - U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 893,461, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE," filed on September 29, 2012, now U.S. Patent No. 8,733,613; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 036,647, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT," filed Feb. 28, 2011, now U.S. Patent No. 8,561,870; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 118,241, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS," now U.S. Patent No. 9,072,535; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 524,049, filed June 15, 2012, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE," now U.S. Patent No. 9,101,358; - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 800,025, filed March 13, 2013, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent No. 9,345,481; No. 13 / 800,067, filed March 13, 2013, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0263552; - U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007 / 0175955, entitled "SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH CLOSURE TRIGGER LOCKING MECHANISM," filed on January 31, 2006; and -U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0264194, filed April 22, 2010, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT WITH AN ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTOR," now U.S. Patent No. 8,308,040.

[0262] Although various devices have been described herein with specific embodiments, modifications and variations may be made to those embodiments. Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic illustrated or described with respect to one embodiment may be combined in whole or in part with the feature, structure, or characteristic of one or more other embodiments, without limitation. Also, although materials are disclosed with respect to particular components, other materials may be used. Furthermore, multiple components may be substituted for a single component, and multiple components may be substituted for a single component, to perform a given function(s), according to various embodiments. It is intended that the foregoing description and the following claims cover all such modifications and variations.

[0263] The devices disclosed herein can be designed to be disposed of after a single use, or they can be designed to be used multiple times. In either case, however, the device can be reconditioned for reuse after at least one use. Reconditioning can include, but is not limited to, any combination of the steps of disassembly of the device, followed by cleaning or replacement of particular parts of the device, and then reassembly of the device. Specifically, a reconditioning facility and / or surgical team can disassemble the device, clean and / or replace particular parts of the device, and then reassemble the device for subsequent use. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that reconditioning of a device can utilize a variety of techniques for disassembly, cleaning / replacement, and reassembly. Use of such techniques, and the resulting reconditioned devices, are all within the scope of the present invention.

[0264] The devices disclosed herein may be processed prior to surgery. First, new or used instruments may be obtained and cleaned as necessary. The instruments may then be sterilized. In one sterilization technique, the instruments are placed in a closed and sealed container, such as a plastic bag or a TYVEK bag. The container and instruments may then be placed in a radiation field that can penetrate the container, such as gamma radiation, x-rays, and / or high-energy electrons. The radiation may kill bacteria on the instruments and in the container. The sterilized instruments may then be stored in the sterile container. The sealed container may keep the instruments sterile until they are opened in the medical facility. The devices may also be sterilized using any other technique known in the art, including, but not limited to, beta radiation, gamma radiation, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide plasma, and / or water vapor.

[0265] While the invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles.

[0266] [Embodiment] (1) An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising: a first jaw including a first recess; a second jaw defining a channel, the second jaw including a second recess; a replaceable staple cartridge configured to fit within the channel, the staple cartridge comprising: A cartridge body; staple cavities defined within the cartridge body, the staple cavities being arranged in longitudinal rows; a staple positioned within the staple cavity; A threaded rod; a firing member operably engaged with the threaded rod, the firing member configured to move between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during a staple firing stroke, the firing member comprising: a first portion including a first lateral projection, the first recess of the first jaw configured to receive the first lateral projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the channel and the firing member is positioned in the proximal unfired position; an exchangeable staple cartridge including a second part including a second lateral protrusion, wherein the second recess of the second jaw is configured to receive the second lateral protrusion when the exchangeable staple cartridge is received within the channel and the firing member is positioned in the proximal unfired position, and the first part and the second part are configured to maintain a distance between the first jaw and the second jaw during the staple firing stroke. (2) An end effector assembly as described in embodiment 1, wherein the channel includes a mounting bracket configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel. (3) An end effector assembly as described in embodiment 2, wherein the threaded rod includes a distal head. (4) An end effector assembly as described in embodiment 3, further comprising a bushing member, the bushing member configured to be positioned between the distal head of the threaded rod and the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the channel. (5) An end effector assembly as described in claim 2, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge includes a recess configured to receive the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

[0267] (6) An end effector assembly as described in embodiment 1, wherein the firing member includes a tissue cutting member. (7) An end effector assembly as described in embodiment 1, wherein the channel includes a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel. (8) An end effector assembly as described in embodiment 1, wherein the threaded rod is integrated with the replaceable staple cartridge before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel. (9) An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising: an anvil including a first recess; a staple cartridge jaw including a second recess; a replaceable staple cartridge configured to fit within the staple cartridge jaws, the replaceable staple cartridge comprising: A threaded rod; a firing member operatively engaged with the threaded rod, the firing member configured to move from a proximal unfired position toward a distal fired position, the firing member comprising: a first portion including a first lateral projection, the first recess of the anvil configured to receive the first lateral projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the staple cartridge jaws and the firing member is in the proximal unfired position; an exchangeable staple cartridge including a second portion including a second lateral projection, wherein the second recess of the staple cartridge jaw is configured to receive the second lateral projection when the exchangeable staple cartridge is received within the staple cartridge jaw and the firing member is in the proximal unfired position, and the first portion and the second portion are configured to maintain a distance between the anvil and the staple cartridge jaw when the end effector assembly is in a closed configuration. (10) An end effector assembly as described in claim 9, wherein the staple cartridge jaw includes a mounting bracket configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaw.

[0268] (11) An end effector assembly as described in claim 10, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge includes a distal recess configured to receive the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws. (12) An end effector assembly as described in embodiment 9, wherein the threaded rod includes a distal head. (13) The end effector assembly of claim 12, further comprising a bushing member, the bushing member configured to be positioned between the distal head of the threaded rod and the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws. (14) An end effector assembly according to claim 9, wherein the threaded rod is integrated with the replaceable staple cartridge before the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws. (15) An end effector assembly as described in claim 9, wherein the staple cartridge jaw includes a longitudinal recess configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaw.

[0269] (16) A staple cartridge insertable into a surgical stapling instrument, said staple cartridge comprising: A threaded rod; a firing member configured to move from a proximal unfired position toward a distal position when the threaded rod is rotated in a first direction, the firing member comprising: a first portion including a first cam member, the anvil of the surgical stapling instrument receiving the first portion when the firing member is in the proximal unfired position; a firing member comprising: a second portion including a second cam member, wherein the staple cartridge jaws of the surgical stapling instrument receive the second portion when the firing member is in the proximal unfired position; and a firing member comprising: a first portion and a second portion configured to maintain a distance between the anvil and the staple cartridge jaws during a staple firing stroke. (17) The staple cartridge of claim 16, wherein the firing member is threadably engaged with the threaded rod. (18) The staple cartridge of claim 16, wherein the threaded rod is configured to be received by a mounting bracket positioned on the staple cartridge jaws. (19) The staple cartridge of claim 18, further comprising a recess configured to receive the mounting bracket when the staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws. (20) The staple cartridge of claim 19, further comprising a bushing member, the bushing member configured to be positioned between the threaded rod and the mounting bracket.

Claims

1. 1. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising: a first jaw including a first recess; a second jaw defining a channel, the second jaw including a second recess; a replaceable staple cartridge configured to fit within the channel, the replaceable staple cartridge comprising: A cartridge body; staple cavities defined within the cartridge body, the staple cavities being arranged in longitudinal rows; a staple positioned within the staple cavity; A threaded rod; a firing member operably engaged with the threaded rod, the firing member configured to move between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during a staple firing stroke, the firing member comprising: a first portion including a first lateral projection, the first recess of the first jaw configured to receive the first lateral projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the channel and the firing member is positioned in the proximal unfired position; a firing member including a second portion including a second lateral projection, the second recess of the second jaw configured to receive the second lateral projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the channel and the firing member is positioned in the proximal unfired position, the first portion and the second portion configured to maintain a distance between the first jaw and the second jaw during the staple firing stroke; The channel defined by the second jaw includes: With the base, two side walls extending upwardly from the base; a mounting bracket attached to the base and configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

2. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded rod includes a distal head.

3. The end effector assembly of claim 2, further comprising a bushing member configured to be positioned between the distal head of the threaded rod and the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

4. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the replaceable staple cartridge includes a recess configured to receive the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

5. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the firing member comprises a tissue-cutting member.

6. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel includes a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the channel.

7. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded rod is integral with the replaceable staple cartridge before the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the channel.

8. 1. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising: an anvil including a first recess; a staple cartridge jaw including a second recess; a replaceable staple cartridge configured to fit within the staple cartridge jaws, the replaceable staple cartridge comprising: A threaded rod; a firing member operatively engaged with the threaded rod, the firing member configured to move from a proximal unfired position toward a distal fired position, the firing member comprising: a first portion including a first lateral projection, the first recess of the anvil configured to receive the first lateral projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the staple cartridge jaws and the firing member is in the proximal unfired position; a firing member including a second portion including a second lateral projection, the second recess of the staple cartridge jaws configured to receive the second lateral projection when the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the staple cartridge jaws and the firing member is in the proximal unfired position, the first portion and the second portion configured to maintain a distance between the anvil and the staple cartridge jaws when the end effector assembly is in a closed configuration, The staple cartridge jaws include With the base, two side walls extending upwardly from the base; a mounting bracket attached to the base and configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

9. The end effector assembly of claim 8, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge includes a distal recess configured to receive the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

10. The end effector assembly of claim 8 , wherein the threaded rod includes a distal head.

11. The end effector assembly of claim 10, further comprising a bushing member, the bushing member configured to be positioned between the distal head of the threaded rod and the mounting bracket when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

12. The end effector assembly of claim 8 , wherein the threaded rod is integral with the replaceable staple cartridge before the replaceable staple cartridge is received within the staple cartridge jaws.

13. The end effector assembly of claim 8, wherein the staple cartridge jaws include a longitudinal recess configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated within the staple cartridge jaws.

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