Surgical system with detachable shaft reload detection - Patent Application 20070122997

Abstract

A surgical system is disclosed that includes a housing assembly including an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly, and a loading unit including a lug extending from the loading unit. The elongated shaft includes a spring assembly. The loading unit is rotatable relative to the elongated shaft between an unlocked position and a locked position. The spring assembly is configured to resist rotation of the lug when the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to surgical instruments and to surgical stapling and severing instruments designed for stapling and severing tissue in a variety of devices, and staple cartridges for use therewith. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0002] In various embodiments, a surgical system is disclosed that includes a housing assembly including an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly, and a loading unit including a lug extending from the loading unit. The elongated shaft includes a spring assembly. The loading unit is rotatable relative to the elongated shaft between an unlocked position and a locked position. The spring assembly is configured to resist rotation of the lug when the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position.

[0003] In various embodiments, a surgical system is disclosed that includes a housing assembly including an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly, and a loading unit removably coupleable to the elongated shaft. The housing assembly includes a first contact. The loading unit includes a second contact. The first contact is configured to electrically communicate with the second contact based on the loading unit being coupled to the elongated shaft. The surgical system further includes a detector assembly for determining whether the loading unit is coupled to the elongated shaft.

[0004] In various embodiments, a surgical system is disclosed that includes a handle assembly and an adapter assembly removably coupleable to the handle assembly. The adapter assembly includes an elongate shaft extending from the adapter assembly. The surgical system further includes a loading unit removably coupleable to the elongate shaft, a first detector assembly for determining whether the adapter assembly is coupled to the handle assembly, and a second detector assembly for determining whether the loading unit is coupled to the elongate shaft. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0005] 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] 1 illustrates an exemplary surgical device according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a power pack usable with the surgical device of FIG. 1 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a housing and an adapter selectively matable with the housing, according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a handle assembly and a loading unit according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 5 illustrates a detailed view of a connection between the shaft assembly and the loading unit of FIG. 4, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 10 illustrates a graphical representation of capacitance detected by a control circuit over time, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates a distal end of a shaft assembly and a proximal end of a loading unit, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a loading unit according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a shaft assembly according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 8 illustrates the loading unit of FIG. 7 moving in an installation direction toward the opening of the shaft assembly of FIG. 7, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 8 illustrates the loading unit of FIG. 7 in an unlocked position with the shaft assembly of FIG. 7 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] 8 illustrates the loading unit of FIG. 7 in a locked position with the shaft assembly of FIG. 7 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] 1 illustrates a distal end of a shaft assembly and a proximal end of a loading unit, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the loading unit of FIG. 13, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the loading unit of FIG. 13 in an unlocked position with the shaft assembly of FIG. 13 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] 1 illustrates a receptacle assembly and a resistor assembly according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] 1 illustrates a circuit and resistor assembly according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] 1 illustrates a plurality of staple cartridges including a resistor assembly coupled to the plurality of staple cartridges in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure; [Figure 19] 19 shows a graphical representation of the resistance determined by the control circuit of the resistor assembly of FIG. 18, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 20] 10 shows an exploded view of a mechanism for determining whether a staple cartridge is properly seated within a cartridge channel in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 21] 21 shows an exploded view of the mechanism of FIG. 20 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 22]1 illustrates a shaft assembly including a J-shaped passageway defined therein and a closed-end tunnel including a magnet therein, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 23] FIG. 24 shows a detailed view of the J-shaped passage and closed-end tunnel of FIG. 23, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 24] 23 illustrates a magnet of an adapter positioned within a first passage portion of the J-shaped passage of FIG. 22, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 25] 25 illustrates the magnet of FIG. 24 moved to a second passage portion of a J-shaped passage, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 26] 25 illustrates the magnet of FIG. 24 moved to a third passage portion of a J-shaped passage, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 27] 10 illustrates a J-shaped passageway including a spring assembly positioned at a transition between a second passageway portion and a third passageway portion, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 28] 28 illustrates the spring assembly of FIG. 27 in a compressed position and moving toward an expanded position to move a magnet of the adapter through the third passage portion, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 29] 28 illustrates the spring assembly of FIG. 27 holding a magnet within the third passage portion, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 30] 10 shows a graphical representation of the outward resistive force exerted by a magnet as it moves through a J-shaped passage, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 31] 1 illustrates a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 32] 32 shows a detailed view of the proximal end of the nozzle assembly of FIG. 31 and the distal end of the handle assembly of FIG. 31, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 33] FIG. 32 shows a detailed view of a latch and contact device of the nozzle assembly and handle assembly of FIG. 31, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 34]32 illustrates an alternative latch and switch device for the nozzle assembly and handle assembly of FIG. 31 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 35] 35 shows a graphical representation of voltages detected by a control circuit of the latch and switch device of FIG. 34 over time, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 36] 1 illustrates a handle assembly according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 37] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a handle assembly according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 38] 1 illustrates a shaft assembly including a spring device in an extended position, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 39] 1 illustrates a shaft assembly including a spring device in a compressed position, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 40] 1 illustrates a housing including a compressible material and an adapter selectively matable with the housing, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 41] 1 illustrates an adapter and compressible material drive coupling assembly in an uncompressed configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 42] 1 illustrates a drive coupling assembly of an adapter for compressing a compressible material into a compressed configuration, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0006] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set forth herein illustrate, in one form, specific embodiments of the present invention, and such examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The applicant of this application owns 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 "METHOD FOR TISSUE TREATMENT BY SURGICAL INSTRUMENT," attorney docket number END9291USNP1 / 200802-1M; -U.S. Patent Application entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH INTERACTIVE FEATURES TO REMEDY INCIDENTAL SLED MOVEMENTS," attorney docket number END9291USNP2 / 200802-2; U.S. Patent Application entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SLED LOCATION DETECTION AND ADJUSTMENT FEATURES," attorney docket number END9291USNP3 / 200802-3; U.S. Patent Application entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH CARTRIDGE RELEASE MECHANISMS," attorney docket number END9291USNP4 / 200802-4; -U.S. Patent Application entitled "DUAL-SIDED REINFORCED RELOAD FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," attorney docket number END9291USNP5 / 200802-5; -U.S. Patent Application entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FOR POWER TRANSMISSION ACROSS STERILE BARRIER," attorney docket number END9291USNP7 / 200802-7; U.S. Patent Application entitled "DEVICES AND METHODS OF MANAGING ENERGY DISSIPATED WITHIN STERILE BARRIERS OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HOUSINGS," attorney docket number END9291USNP8 / 200802-8; -U.S. Patent Application entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH EXTERNAL CONNECTORS," attorney docket number END9291USNP9 / 200802-9; -U.S. Patent Application entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SMART RELOAD WITH SEPARATELY ATTACHABLE EXTERIORITY MOUNTED WIRING CONNECTIONS," attorney docket number END9291USNP10 / 200802-10; U.S. patent application entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH COMMUNICATION INTERFACES THROUGH STERILE BARRIER," attorney docket number END9291USNP11 / 200802-11; and -U.S. Patent Application entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTI-PHASE TISSUE TREATMENT," attorney docket number END9291USNP12 / 200802-12.

[0008] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed December 4, 2018, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: · U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,385, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, STORAGE AND DISPLAY"; · U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,395, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION"; U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,403, entitled "METHOD OF CLOUD BASED DATA ANALYTICS FOR USE WITH THE HUB"; · U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,407, entitled "METHOD OF ROBOTIC HUB COMMUNICATION, DETECTION, AND CONTROL"; U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,416, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS"; 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"; U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,427, entitled "METHOD OF USING REINFORCED FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS WITH MULTIPLE SENSORS TO OPTIMIZE PERFORMANCE OF RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES"; U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,433, entitled "METHOD OF SENSING PARTICULATE FROM SMOKE EVACUATED FROM A PATIENT, ADJUSTING THE PUMP SPEED BASED ON THE SENSED INFORMATION, AND COMMUNICATING THE FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF THE SYSTEM TO THE HUB"; · U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,447, entitled "METHOD FOR SMOKE EVACUATION FOR SURGICAL HUB"; · U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,453, entitled "METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SMART ENERGY DEVICES"; · U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,458, entitled "METHOD FOR SMART ENERGY DEVICE INFRASTRUCTURE"; · U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,465, entitled "METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE CONTROL SCHEMES FOR SURGICAL NETWORK CONTROL AND INTERACTION"; U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,478, entitled "METHOD FOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR SURGICAL NETWORK OR SURGICAL NETWORK CONNECTED DEVICE CAPABLE OF ADJUSTING FUNCTION BASED ON A SENSED SITUATION OR USAGE"; U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,490, entitled "METHOD FOR FACILITY DATA COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION," and U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,491, entitled "METHOD FOR CIRCULAR STAPLER CONTROL ALGORITHM ADJUSTMENT BASED ON SITUATIONAL AWARENESS."

[0009] 1 depicts an exemplary surgical device 20000 that can include a handle assembly 20001 that can be selectively connectable to an adapter 20002, which in turn can be selectively connectable to an end effector or a single use loading unit ("SULU") 20004. In other embodiments, the adapter 20002 can be selectively connectable to a multi-use loading unit ("MULU"). The handle assembly 20001 can include an outer shell housing 20006 that is sized to selectively receive and substantially encase a power pack 20008, shown in FIG. 2, which can power various functions of the surgical device 20000, as described below. The outer shell housing 20006 can include a distal half 20010a and a proximal half 20010b, with the proximal half 20010b pivotally connected to the distal half 20010a by a hinge 20012 located along the top edges of the distal and proximal halves 20010a, 20010b. When joined, the distal and proximal halves 20010a, 20010b define a shell cavity within which the power pack 20008 is selectively disposed. In various embodiments, the adapter 20002 can include an adapter housing 20003 that can be mechanically and electrically coupled to the outer shell housing 20006 and the power pack 20008, respectively, and a shaft assembly 20005 extending distally from the adapter housing 20003. In one aspect, the shaft assembly 20005 can be mechanically and electrically coupled to the end effector 20004.

[0010] In one aspect, the power pack 20008 can include multiple motors disposed therein to selectively drive various functions of the end effector 20004 when the surgical device is properly prepared for use. For example, rotation of the motor shafts serves to drive shafts and / or gear components of the adapter 20002 to perform various operations of the surgical device 20000. In particular, the motors of the power pack core assembly 20008 can drive shafts and / or gear components of the adapter 20002 to selectively control functions of the end effector 20004. For example, the motor can, by way of example, articulate the jaws of the end effector 20004 about an articulation joint, rotate the end effector 20004 about a longitudinal axis "X" extending through the adapter 20002, move the cartridge assembly of the end effector 20004 and the anvil assembly of the end effector 20004 between an open position and a closed position to capture tissue therebetween, and / or fire staples from within the cartridge assembly of the end effector 20004. In various other embodiments, the end effector 20004 can include a radiofrequency (RF) or ultrasonic end effector, and the motor can drive various functions of the RF or ultrasonic end effector. Additional functions of the motor are described in U.S. Patent No. 10,603,128, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0011] In various embodiments, the power pack 20008 can include a control system capable of performing various operational functions of the surgical device 20000. For example, the control system can receive input signals from a user via input buttons or switches located on the outer shell housing 20006 to control various functions of the surgical device 20000, such as driving motors, transmitting electrical communication signals to the end effector 20004, and transmitting RF or ultrasonic drive signals to the end effector 20004. In various embodiments, the control system can include a control circuit 20014 in electrical communication with various electrical components disposed throughout the surgical device 20000. In various embodiments, the control circuit 20014 can be in electrical communication with electrical components of the adapter 20002 and the SULU 20004 when the adapter 20002 is properly coupled to the outer shell housing 20006 and the power pack 20008, and the end effector 20004 is properly coupled to the adapter 20002. For example, in various embodiments, the power pack 20008 can include an electrical output portion 20020, and the adapter 20002 can include an electrical input portion. When the adapter 20002 is properly coupled to the outer shell housing 20006 and the power pack 20008, the electrical output portion 20020 and the electrical input portion can be in electrical communication such that the control system can send electrical signals to the adapter 20002 and the end effector 20004. In some embodiments, the control system can include a processor 20016 and a memory 20018 in communication with the processor. The memory 20018 can store instructions that can be executable by the processor 20016 to perform various operational functions of the surgical device 20000.

[0012] In various embodiments, the control system can be in electrical communication with the display such that the control system can provide feedback to the user of the surgical device 20000. For example, the control system can provide the user with visual indicators of various functional parameters of the end effector 20004 coupled to the surgical device 20000. As another example, the display can provide the user with visual feedback about various interconnections between the surgical device 20000, such as the connection between the power pack 20008 and the housing assembly 20006 with the adapter 20002, or the connection between the adapter 20002 and the end effector 20004. In various embodiments, the control system can further provide other forms of feedback to the user of the surgical device 20000 besides visual feedback, such as auditory feedback, tactile feedback, etc.

[0013] Currently, when a user attempts to connect together the various components of the surgical device 20000, such as the outer shell housing 20006, adapter 20002, power pack 20008, and end effector 20004 as referenced above, the connection between them may be incomplete without the user's knowledge. In other instances, the connection between them may be complete, but the user has no way of knowing for sure whether this is the case. In such situations, attempting to operate the surgical device 20000 may raise safety concerns, as the surgical device may not be able to operate properly as intended due to the incomplete connection. For example, the motor of the power pack 20008 may be improperly coupled to the component of the adapter 20002 that is intended to be driven by the motor, or the electrical output portion 20020 may be improperly coupled to the electrical input portion of the adapter 20002. In other examples, the end effector 20004 may be improperly coupled to the adapter 20002 such that the adapter 20002 is unable to transmit electrical and mechanical signals from the power pack 20008 to the end effector 20004. Therefore, it is desirable to ensure that the components of the surgical device 20000 are properly connected and complete before utilizing the surgical device 20000 in a surgical procedure.

[0014] 3 , a housing assembly 21000 and an adapter 21002 are provided in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The housing assembly 21000 may include an outer shell housing 21004 and a power pack 21006 disposed within the outer shell housing 21004. In various embodiments, the outer shell housing 21004 and the power pack 21006 may be similar to the outer shell housing 20006 and the power pack 20008, respectively. In various embodiments, the adapter 21002 may be similar to the adapter 20002. The housing assembly 21000 may further include a recessed receiving area 21008 sized to receive a correspondingly shaped drive coupling assembly 21010 extending proximally from the adapter 21002. The housing assembly 21000 can further include a plurality of rotatable drive shafts 21012a, 21012b, 21012c extending from the receiving area 21008 of the housing assembly 21000. In various embodiments, the power pack 21006 can include a plurality of motors operably coupled to the rotatable drive shafts 21012a, 21012b, 21012c that can drive the rotatable drive shafts 21012a, 21012b, 21012c.

[0015] In various embodiments, the rotatable drive shafts 21012a, 21012b, 21012c may be sized such that when the drive coupling assembly 21010 of the adapter 21002 is properly positioned within the receiving area 21008 of the housing assembly 21000, the drive shafts 21012a, 21012b, 21012c may be operably disposed within the connecting sleeves 21014a, 21014b, 21014c of the drive coupling assembly 21010. More specifically, when the drive coupling assembly 21010 of the adapter 21002 is properly positioned within the receiving area 21008 of the housing assembly 21000, the first drive shaft 21012a can be drivingly engaged with the first coupling sleeve 21014a, the second drive shaft 21012b can be drivingly engaged with the second coupling sleeve 21014b, and the third drive shaft 21012c can be drivingly engaged with the third coupling sleeve 21014c. When the drive shafts 21012a, 21012b, 21012c are drivingly engaged with the coupling sleeves 21014a, 21014b, 21014c, rotation of the drive shafts 21012a, 21012b, 21012c can drive an end effector function of the surgical instrument. In various embodiments, the end effector functions may be similar to those described elsewhere herein, such as, for example, moving the jaws of the end effector between open and closed positions, translating a firing member proximally or distally within the end effector to cause stapling and cutting of tissue positioned between the jaws of the end effector, or articulating the end effector about an articulation joint positioned proximally of the end effector, etc. The drive shafts 21012 a, 21012 b, 21012 c may also provide end effector functions of a non-surgical stapling end effector, such as an RF end effector or an ultrasonic end effector.

[0016] 3, the drive coupling assembly 21010 may further include a first shaft 21016a extending from a first channel 21018a defined in the drive coupling assembly 21010, and a second shaft 21016b extending from a second channel 21018b defined in the drive coupling assembly 21010. The first and second shafts 21016a, 21016b may be movably coupled to the drive coupling assembly 21010 such that the first and second shafts 21016a, 21016b may be movable between an extended position shown in FIG. 3, in which the shafts 21016a, 21016b extend from the channels 21018a, 21018b, and a depressed position, in which the shafts 21016a, 21016b are at least partially depressed within the channels 21018a, 21018b. Each channel 21018a, 21018b can include a spring disposed therein such that the shaft 21016a, 21016b is a "hopping" like shaft in that it is depressible toward a depressed position but is biased toward an extended position when no force is applied. In various embodiments, as described in more detail below, the depressed position of the shaft 21016a, 21016b can correspond to the adapter 21002 being fully and fully coupled to the housing assembly 21000.

[0017] In various embodiments, the shafts 21016a, 21016b may be constructed of a conductive material. In one aspect, the first and second shafts 21016a, 21016b may be in electrical communication with one another when both the first and second shafts 21016a, 21016b are in the depressed position, thus indicating that the adapter 21002 is fully and sufficiently coupled to the housing assembly 21000. In one exemplary embodiment, a conductive plate may be positioned at the distal end of both channels 21018a, 21018b such that when both the first and second shafts 21016a, 21016b are in the depressed position, electrical current may flow through the first shaft 21016a, through the conductive plate, and then through the second shaft 21016b. In this manner, a circuit can be formed between the first shaft 21016 a and the second shaft 21016 b when both shafts 21016 a, 21016 b are in the depressed position. Although a conductive plate is described as being used to complete the circuit between the first shaft 21016 a and the second shaft 21016 b when in the depressed position, it should be understood that any suitable mechanism can be utilized, such as, by way of example, wires, a circuit board, or any suitable conductive component positioned within the adapter 20002, to complete the circuit between the first shaft 21016 a and the second shaft 21016 b when in the depressed position.

[0018] In various embodiments, the housing assembly 21000 may further include a first contact 21020a and a second contact 21020b. The first and second contacts 21020a, 21020b are spaced apart such that when the drive coupling assembly 21010 is properly positioned within the receiving area 21008, the first shaft 21016a can abut against and be depressed by the first contact 21020a, and the second shaft 21016b can abut against and be depressed by the second contact 21020b. In one aspect, the contacts 21020a, 21020b can be constructed from a conductive material and can be in electrical communication with a control circuit positioned within the housing assembly 21000, such as, by way of example, the control circuit 20014, thereby generating an electrical potential between the two contacts 21020a, 21020b. In various embodiments, when the drive coupling assembly 21010 is properly positioned within the receiving area 21008, the first contact 21020a can press the first shaft 21016a into a depressed position, and the second contact 21020b can press the second shaft 21016b into a depressed position. When the shafts 21016a, 21016b are in the depressed position, the control circuit can generate an electrical signal that can traverse the first contact 21020a, the first shaft 21016a, the second shaft 21016b, and the second contact 21020b, thus indicating that the adapter 21002 is properly coupled to the housing assembly 21000. In such a system, when a potential develops across the contacts 21020a, 21020b and a circuit cannot be completed, the user will know that the adapter 21002 is not properly coupled to the housing assembly 21000 and that proper action is required. Thus, the above-referenced systems provide the user with a mechanism for verifying whether the adapter 21002 is properly coupled to the housing assembly 21000. In various embodiments, the control circuitry can provide feedback to the user, such as via a display, tactile feedback, or audible feedback, when the control circuitry determines that the adapter 21002 is properly coupled to the housing 21000, as described above.

[0019] In one aspect, the drive coupling assembly 21010 can further include a plurality of flange features 21022a-e extending therearound. In various embodiments, the flange features 21022a-e can be constructed of a substantially rigid material, such as, by way of example, a hard plastic. Additionally, the housing assembly 21000 can include a plurality of flange features 21024a-e disposed about the periphery of the receiving area 21008, which can correspond to the locations of the flange features 21022a-e of the drive coupling assembly 21010. In various embodiments, the flange features 21024a-e can be constructed of an elastomeric material such that the flange features 21024a-e can at least partially elastically deform when a force is applied, but can return to an undeformed state when the force is removed. In one aspect, a minimum threshold amount of force can be required to elastically deform the flange features 21024a-e to the deformed state.

[0020] In operation, when the drive coupling assembly 21010 of the adapter 21002 is moved toward the receiving area 21008 of the housing assembly 21010, each of the plurality of flange features 21022a-e of the drive coupling assembly 21010 can abut a correspondingly positioned flange feature 21024a-e of the housing assembly 21000. Stated another way, flange feature 21022a can abut flange feature 21024a, flange feature 21022b can abut flange feature 21024b, flange feature 21022c can abut flange feature 21024c, flange feature 21022d can abut flange feature 21024d, and flange feature 21022e can abut flange feature 21024e. To properly seat the drive coupling assembly 21010 within the receiving area 21008 of the housing assembly 21000, a user can apply force to the adapter 21002 such that when the flange features 21022a-e abut against the correspondingly positioned flange features 21024a-e, the flange features 21022a-e can elastically deform the correspondingly positioned flange features 21024a-e, thereby allowing the flange features 21022a-e to pass through the flange features 21024a-e.

[0021] In one aspect, the force applied by a user to the adapter 21002 can be great enough to enable the flange features 21022a-e to apply a force to the correspondingly positioned flange features 21024a-e that meets or exceeds a minimum threshold amount of force that elastically deforms the flange features 21024a-e. Once the flange features 21022a-e pass the flange features 21024a-e, the flange features 21024a-e can return to their undeformed state and retain the flange features 21022a-d within the receiving area 21008, thereby retaining the adapter 21002 to the housing assembly 21000. In various embodiments, the flange features 21022a-e and the flange features 21024a-e can be shaped such that when the adapter 21002 is coupled to the housing assembly 21000, the flange features 21024a-e can releasably retain the flange features 21022a-e therein, as described above. In some exemplary embodiments, the flange features 21022a-e, 21024a-e may include a tapered shape, a cylindrical shape, or any suitable shape.

[0022] The use of correspondingly positioned flange features 21022a-e, 21024a-e between the adapter 21002 and the housing assembly 21000 provides the user with a mechanical means to ensure that the adapter 21002 is properly seated and coupled to the housing assembly 21000 and that the adapter 21002 and housing assembly 21000 are properly rotationally aligned, due to the positioning of the flange features 21022a-e, 21024a-e. Additionally, the use of correspondingly positioned flange features 21022a-e, 21024a-e between the adapter 21002 and the housing assembly 21000 can ensure that the adapter 21002 remains coupled to the housing assembly 21000 until a minimum threshold force is applied to the adapter 21002, causing the flange features 21022a-e to elastically deform, thereby allowing the flange features 21024a-e to pass through the flange features 21024a-e and exit the receiving area 21008.

[0023] Additionally, the flange features 21022a-e, 21024a-e can be positioned to ensure that the first and second shafts 21016a, 21016b are properly aligned with the contact portions 21020a, 21020b, which can be used as another level of security to ensure that the adapter 21002 is fully and properly coupled to the housing assembly 21000, as described above, thereby ensuring that movement of the housing assembly 21000, such as movement of the rotatable shafts 21012a-c, properly transmits forces and signals to the adapter 21002, such as the coupling sleeves 21014a-c.

[0024] In various embodiments, the housing assembly 21000 can further include an electrical output connector 21026 coupled to control circuitry within the housing assembly 21000, and the adapter 21002 can include an electrical input connector 21028 sized to operably electrically couple to the electrical connector 21024 of the housing assembly 21000. In operation, when the electrical input connector 21026 is electrically operably coupled to the electrical output connector 21028, the control circuit can transmit electrical signals, such as control signals or drive signals, such as RF or ultrasonic drive signals, from the housing assembly 21000 to the adapter 21002. In one aspect, a user can attempt to operate the surgical device utilizing the electrical connectors 21026, 21028 and the motors 21012a-c as a primary means of determining whether the housing assembly 21000 is properly coupled to the adapter 21002. The user can also use the above-mentioned flange features 21022a-e, 21024a-e, shafts 21016a, 21016b, and contact portions 21020a, 21020b as a secondary means to ensure that the electrical and mechanical connections between the housing assembly 21000 and the adapter 21002 are properly aligned and properly coupled to one another prior to operation of the surgical device.

[0025] 4 , in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a mechanism for determining whether a loading unit, such as a SULU or MULU, is properly coupled to and fully seated with a handle assembly is provided. In various embodiments, the handle assembly 21100 can include a handle portion 21102 and a shaft assembly 21104 extending distally from the handle portion 21102. In various embodiments, the handle assembly 21100 can be similar to the handle assembly 20001 or the housing assembly 21000. In various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21104 can be similar to the shaft assembly 20005. The handle portion 21102 can include a stationary handle 21106, a closure trigger 21108, and a firing trigger 21110. The closure trigger 21108 can be rotatable toward the stationary handle 21106, for example, to transfer a closure motion to the end effector 21112 of the loading unit 21114 when the loading unit 21114 is properly attached to the shaft assembly 21104. The closure motion can transition the first jaw 21116 and the second jaw 21118 of the end effector 21112 between an open configuration in which the first jaw 21116 and the second jaw 21118 are spaced apart from one another, as shown in FIG. 4, and a closed configuration in which the first jaw 21116 and the second jaw 21118 are spaced close to one another to capture tissue therebetween. Similarly, the firing trigger 21110 can be rotatable toward the stationary handle 21106, for example, to transfer a firing motion to the end effector 21112 when the loading unit 21114 is properly attached to the shaft assembly 21104. The firing motion can deploy staples from the end effector 21112 into tissue positioned between the first jaw 21116 and the second jaw 21118 and can cause a knife to cut the stapled tissue. In various embodiments, the first jaw 21116 can include an anvil and the second jaw 21118 can include a cartridge tray having a staple cartridge removably positioned therein.

[0026] 5 , the distal end 21120 of the shaft assembly 21104 can include a drive shaft 21122 that can transmit actuation motion from the handle assembly 21100 to the loading unit 21114 when the loading unit 21114 is properly coupled and fully installed with the shaft assembly 21104. In one aspect, the drive shaft 21122 can be insertable into an opening 21124 defined in the proximal end 21126 of the loading unit 21114. The loading unit 21114 can include a drive assembly that is sized to receive the drive shaft 21122 through the opening 21124 such that the drive assembly can be operably coupled to the drive shaft 21122 when the drive shaft 21122 is inserted into the opening 21124. Once coupled, actuation motion from the drive shaft 21122 can be transferred to the drive assembly, allowing actuation motion from the handle assembly 21100 to be transferred to the end effector 21112 to effect end effector functions such as closing, firing, articulation, etc., as described above. In various embodiments, when the loading unit 21114 is properly coupled to the distal end 21120 of the shaft assembly 21104, the handle assembly 21100 can send electrical signals, such as communication signals or drive signals, to the loading unit 21114.

[0027] In various embodiments, the loading unit 21114 can be properly coupled and fully installed with the shaft assembly 21104 by first positioning the drive shaft 21122 within the opening 21124. This can be accomplished, for example, by moving the opening 21124 toward the drive shaft 21122 along an installation axis in an installation direction 21128. In one aspect, the installation direction 21128 can be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis defined through the shaft assembly 21104.

[0028] Once the drive shaft 21122 is inserted into the opening 21124, the loading unit 21114 may be rotated relative to the shaft assembly 21104 about a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft assembly 21104. In various embodiments, the loading unit 21114 may be rotatable relative to the shaft assembly 21104 between an unlocked position, in which the loading unit 21114 may be moved along the installation axis away from the shaft assembly 21104, and a locked position, in which the loading unit 21114 is locked to the shaft assembly 21104, resulting in a properly coupled and fully installed loading unit 21114. Once the loading unit 21114 is rotated to the locked position, a locking mechanism locks the loading unit 21114 to the shaft assembly 21104, thereby allowing the loading unit to be fully coupled to the shaft assembly and fully installed. When the loading unit 21114 is locked to the shaft assembly 21104, actuation motions and electrical signals from the handle assembly 21100 can be safely transmitted to the loading unit 21114 to effect end effector functions.

[0029] In various embodiments, a user may desire to know whether the loading unit 21114 is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21104 before actuating the closure trigger 21108, before actuating the firing trigger 21110, or before attempting to send an electrical signal to the loading unit 21114. For example, if the loading unit 21114 is not fully rotated to the locked position relative to the shaft assembly 21104 and therefore not fully locked in place, actuation motions or electrical signals from the handle assembly 21100, as an example, may not be properly transmitted to the loading unit 21114 and / or the loading unit 21114 may unintentionally separate from the shaft assembly 21104 during a surgical procedure.

[0030] Additionally, in various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21104 can include a first electrical contact, and the loading unit 21114 can include a second electrical contact. In some embodiments, when the loading unit 21114 is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21104, the first and second electrical contacts can be in electrical communication with one another such that electrical signals, such as RF or communication signals, can be transmitted between the shaft assembly 21104 and the loading unit 21114. In some embodiments, these contacts can be in electrical communication with control circuitry that can utilize these contacts to determine whether the loading unit 21114 is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21104, such as by determining whether a signal can be transmitted from the shaft assembly 21104 to the loading unit 21114. However, in some cases, these contacts may not properly detect that the loading unit 21114 is coupled to the shaft assembly 21104. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a secondary means for determining whether the loading unit 21114 is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21104. It should be understood that the secondary means disclosed herein may be utilized as a means for determining whether any two components are coupled together, such as, by way of example, determining whether a loading unit is properly coupled to an elongated shaft of a shaft assembly, or determining whether an adapter is properly coupled to a housing assembly.

[0031] To ameliorate the aforementioned problems, in various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21104 may include a first capacitor 21130 mounted to the distal end 21120 of the shaft assembly 21104. Similarly, the loading unit 21114 may include a second capacitor 21132 mounted to the proximal end 21126 of the loading unit 21114. In some embodiments, the first capacitor 21130 may be in electrical communication with a control circuit positioned within the handle assembly 21100, such as, by way of example, the control circuit 20014. The capacitors 21130, 21132 may be positioned on the shaft assembly 21104 and the loading unit 21114, respectively, so that the control circuit can monitor the capacitance between the capacitors 21130, 21132 when the loading unit 21114 is coupled to the shaft assembly 21104, thereby enabling the control circuit to determine the location of the loading unit 21114 relative to the shaft assembly 21114 and therefore whether the loading unit 21104 is in a locked position.

[0032] For example, referring now to FIG. 6 , a graphical representation 21140 of capacitance detected by the control circuit over time is provided. In some embodiments, before the drive shaft 21122 is inserted into the opening 21124 of the loading unit 21114 (t0), the control circuit may detect no capacitance between the first capacitor 21130 and the second capacitor 21132. Once the drive shaft 21122 is inserted into the opening 21124, the control circuit may detect an increase 21142 in capacitance. For example, at t1, a first capacitance C1 may be detected by the control circuit between the first capacitor 21130 and the second capacitor 21132 when the loading unit 21114 is placed in an unlocked position relative to the shaft assembly 21104. In various embodiments, the first capacitance C1 detected by the control circuit may be a predetermined capacitance level corresponding to the drive shaft 21122 being properly inserted into the opening 21114 and placed in the unlocked position. In various embodiments, the first capacitance level C1 may correspond to the first capacitor 21130 and the second capacitor 21132 being angularly spaced apart from one another by a first angle. In one aspect, when the control circuit detects a capacitance less than the first capacitance C1, the control circuit can provide feedback, such as through a display coupled to the control circuit, tactile feedback, audible feedback, etc., to indicate to a user that the drive shaft 21122 is not properly inserted into the opening 21114 and that corrective action is required before rotating the loading unit 21114 to the locked position.

[0033] As described above, to fully couple the loading unit 21114 to the shaft assembly 21104, the loading unit 21114 can be rotated relative to the shaft assembly 21104 to a locked position, locking, fully coupling, and installing the loading unit 21114 to the shaft assembly 21104. As shown in FIG. 6 , as the drive shaft 21122 rotates relative to the shaft assembly 21104, the control circuit can detect an increase 21144 in capacitance between the first capacitor 21130 and the second capacitor 21132 as the second capacitor 21132 slides relative to the first capacitor 21130. For example, at t2, a second capacitance C2 can be detected by the control circuit between the first capacitor 21130 and the second capacitor 21132. In various embodiments, the second capacitance C2 detected by the control circuit can be greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum capacitance C max may be at a capacitance level less than C max corresponds to the loading unit 21114 not having fully rotated to the locked position relative to the shaft assembly 211104, and therefore indicates that the loading unit 21114 is not properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21104. At t2, the control circuit detects a predetermined maximum capacitance C max Upon detecting a capacitance level C2 that is less than C2, the control circuit can alert the user via a display, tactile feedback, audible feedback, etc. that the loading unit 21114 is not properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21104 and that further rotation toward the locked position is required.

[0034] 6, as the loading unit 21114 continues to rotate relative to the shaft assembly 21104, the control circuit can detect an increase 21144 in capacitance between the first capacitor 21130 and the second capacitor 21132 as the second capacitor 21132 slides relative to the first capacitor 21130. For example, at t3, the capacitance detected by the control circuit between the first capacitor 21130 and the second capacitor 21132 increases to a predetermined maximum capacitance C maxThe control circuit can meet or exceed a predetermined maximum capacitance C max Upon detecting a capacitance level substantially equal to or greater than, the control circuitry can alert the user via a display, tactile feedback, audible feedback, etc. that the loading unit 21114 is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21104 and that no further rotation is required.

[0035] In various embodiments, in addition to the capacitance assembly described above, the loading unit 21114 can include a dielectric thereon that can be read and interpreted by the control circuitry. In one aspect, the control circuitry can interpret the dielectric to determine the type of loading unit 21114 that is coupled to the shaft assembly 21104. In various embodiments, the control circuitry can interpret the dielectric to determine any number of parameters associated with the loading unit 21114 such as, by way of example, the length of the loading unit, the type of loading unit (RF, ultrasonic, stapling, etc.), the height of the staples positioned within the staple cartridge of the stapling end effector, the orientation of the staples within the staple cartridge, the length of the staples, the length of the anvil coupled to the loading unit 21114, etc.

[0036] 7-9, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, another mechanism for determining whether a loading unit, such as a SULU or MULU, is properly coupled to and fully installed with a handle assembly is provided. In various embodiments, a shaft assembly 21200 and a loading unit 21202 are provided. In some embodiments, the shaft assembly 21200 can be similar to shaft assembly 20005 and / or shaft assembly 21104, and the loading unit 21202 can be similar to loading unit 21114 and / or loading unit 20004. The shaft assembly 21200 can extend from a housing assembly, such as housing assembly 20001, 21000, 21100, by way of example, and can facilitate the transfer of actuation motion from the housing assembly to the loading unit 21202 when the loading unit 21202 is properly coupled to and fully installed with the housing assembly.

[0037] In various embodiments, the loading unit 21202 may be properly coupled and fully installed with the shaft assembly 21200 by first positioning the proximal end 21204 of the loading unit 21202 within the opening 21206 defined in the distal end 21208 of the shaft assembly 21200. This may be accomplished, by way of example, with reference to FIG. 10 , by moving the proximal end 21204 of the loading unit 21202 in an installation direction 21210 along an installation axis toward the opening 21206. The installation direction 21128 may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis defined through the shaft assembly 21200. Once the proximal end 21204 of the loading unit 21202 is inserted into the opening 21206, the loading unit 21202 may be rotated relative to the shaft assembly 21200 about the longitudinal axis defined by the shaft assembly 21200. In various embodiments, the loading unit 21202 may be rotatable relative to the shaft assembly 21200 between an unlocked position, in which the loading unit 21202 may be moved along the installation axis away from the shaft assembly 21200, and a locked position, in which the loading unit 21202 is locked to the shaft assembly 21200. When the loading unit 21202 is rotated to the locked position, a locking mechanism locks the loading unit 21200 to the shaft assembly 21200, thereby fully coupling and fully installing the loading unit 21202 with the shaft assembly 21200. When the loading unit 21202 is locked to the shaft assembly 21200, actuation motions and electrical signals from the handle assembly can be securely transmitted from the shaft assembly 21200 to the loading unit 21202 to provide end effector functions.

[0038] In one aspect, a user may want to know if the loading unit 21202 is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21200 before transmitting actuation motions and electrical signals to the loading unit 21202 through the shaft assembly 21200. For example, if the loading unit 21202 is not fully rotated to the locked position relative to the shaft assembly 21200 and therefore not fully locked in place, actuation motions and electrical signals from the handle assembly may not be properly transmitted to the loading unit 21202, or the loading unit 21202 may unintentionally become detached from the shaft assembly 21200 during a surgical procedure.

[0039] In various embodiments, the loading unit 21202 can include a first magnet 21220 and a second magnet 21222. The first magnet 21220 can include a first polarity and the second magnet 21222 can include a second polarity different from the first polarity. In an exemplary embodiment, the second polarity can be opposite to the first polarity. The first magnet 21220 and the second magnet 21222 can be coupled to the proximal end 21204 of the loading unit 21202. Additionally, in various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21200 can include a sensor assembly 21226 coupled to the distal end 21208 of the shaft assembly 21200. In some embodiments, the sensor assembly 21226 can be in electrical communication with control circuitry positioned within the handle assembly, such as, by way of example, the control circuit 20014. In various embodiments, the sensor assembly 21226 can comprise a Hall Effect sensor that can sense the polarity of the first magnet 21220 and the second magnet 21222 to determine the position of the loading unit 21202 relative to the shaft assembly 21200 when the loading unit 21202 is coupled to the shaft assembly 21200. In various embodiments, with reference to Figures 8 and 9, the magnets 21222, 21220 and the sensor assembly 21226 can be integrated with the loading unit 21202 and the shaft assembly 21200.

[0040] In one aspect, when the loading unit 21202 is coupled to the shaft assembly 21200, the sensor assembly 21226 can sense the polarity of the first magnet 21220 and the second magnet 21222 and send a signal indicative of the sensed polarity to the control circuit. The control circuit can interpret the detected polarity to determine the position of the loading unit 21202 relative to the shaft assembly 21200. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , when the loading unit 21220 is initially moved along the installation axis 21210 to the unlocked position, the sensor assembly 21226 can detect a first polarity of the first magnet 21220. The control circuit can interpret this first polarity and determine that the first magnet 21220 is positioned at least substantially adjacent to the sensor assembly 21226, indicating that the loading unit 21202 is in the unlocked position and has not yet been fully installed or coupled to the shaft assembly 21200. In various embodiments, the control circuitry can provide feedback, such as visual, audible, or tactile feedback via a display, of the control circuitry determining that the loading unit 21202 is in the unlocked position, for example.

[0041] As described above, in the unlocked position, the loading unit 21202 can be rotated relative to the shaft assembly 21200 about the longitudinal axis defined by the shaft assembly 21200. As the loading unit 21202 rotates toward the locked position, the first magnet 21220 can move away from the sensor assembly 21226 and the second magnet 21222 can move toward the sensor assembly 21226. The control circuit can determine that the second magnet 21222 is moving toward the sensor assembly 21226 by sensing the polarity shift of the first magnet 21220 toward the second magnet 21222 through the sensor assembly 21226, thereby enabling the control circuit to monitor the rotation of the loading unit 21202. The second magnet 21222 can continue to rotate toward the sensor assembly 21226 until the second magnet 21226 is positioned adjacent to the sensor assembly 21226, as shown in FIG. 12 . In various embodiments, the second magnet 21222 being positioned adjacent to the sensor assembly 21226 can indicate that the loading unit 21202 is locked with the shaft assembly 21200 and in a fully coupled orientation. Once the second magnet 21222 reaches an adjacent relationship with the sensor assembly 21226, thereby indicating that the loading unit 21202 is locked with the shaft assembly 21200 and in a fully coupled orientation, the control circuit can provide feedback to the user via visual, auditory, tactile, etc., that the loading unit 21202 is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21200 and is therefore safe for use.

[0042] In various aspects, the control circuitry can determine that the loading unit 21202 is in the locked position by monitoring the sensor assembly 21226 and comparing the sensed value of the sensor assembly 21226 to a predetermined threshold. As one example, when the control circuitry interrogates the sensor assembly 21226 and determines that the value sensed by the sensor assembly 21226 has reached or exceeded the predetermined threshold, the control circuitry can conclude that the loading unit 21202 is in the locked position. As another example, when the control circuitry interrogates the sensor assembly 21226 and determines that the value sensed by the sensor assembly 21226 has not yet reached the predetermined threshold, the control circuitry can conclude that the loading unit 21202 is not in the locked position and that further rotation is required.

[0043] 13 , in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a mechanism for ensuring that a loading unit, such as a SULU or MULU, is properly coupled to a shaft assembly is provided. In various embodiments, a shaft assembly 21300 and a loading unit 21302 are provided. In some embodiments, the shaft assembly 21300 can be similar to the shaft assembly 21200, shaft assembly 20005, and / or shaft assembly 21104, and the loading unit 21302 can be similar to the loading unit 21202, loading unit 21114, and / or loading unit 20004. The shaft assembly 21300 can extend from a housing assembly, such as, by way of example, housing assembly 20001, 21000, 21100, and can facilitate the transmission of actuation motions and electrical signals from the handle assembly to the loading unit 21302 when the loading unit 21302 is properly coupled to the handle assembly and fully installed.

[0044] In various embodiments, the loading unit 21302 can be properly coupled and fully installed with the shaft assembly 21300 by first positioning the proximal end 21304 of the loading unit 21302 within the opening 21306 defined in the distal end 21308 of the shaft assembly 21300. This can be accomplished, by way of example, by moving the proximal end 21304 of the loading unit 21302 along an installation axis toward the opening 21306 in an installation direction similar to the installation direction 21128 or the installation direction 21210. The installation direction can be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis defined through the shaft assembly 21300.

[0045] Once the proximal end 21304 of the loading unit 21302 is inserted into the opening 21306, the loading unit 21302 can be rotated relative to the shaft assembly 21300 about a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft assembly 21300. In various embodiments, the loading unit 21302 can be rotatable relative to the shaft assembly 21300 between an unlocked position, in which the loading unit 21302 can be moved away from the shaft assembly 21300 along the installation axis, and a locked position, in which the loading unit 21302 is locked to the shaft assembly 21300. Once the loading unit 21302 is rotated to the locked position, a locking mechanism locks the loading unit 21300 to the shaft assembly 21300, thereby allowing the loading unit 21302 to be fully coupled to the shaft assembly 21300 and fully installed. When the loading unit 21302 is locked to the shaft assembly 21300, actuation motions and electrical signals from the handle assembly can be safely transmitted through the shaft assembly 21300 to the loading unit 21302 to effect end effector functions.

[0046] In one aspect, a user may want to know if the loading unit 21302 is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21300 before transmitting actuation motions and electrical signals to the loading unit 21302. For example, if the loading unit 21302 is not fully rotated to the locked position relative to the shaft assembly 21300 and therefore not fully locked into place, actuation motions and electrical signals from the handle assembly may not be properly transmitted to the loading unit 21302, or the loading unit 21302 may unintentionally become detached from the shaft assembly 21300 during a surgical procedure.

[0047] In various embodiments, the loading unit 21302 can include a first lug or flange 21310 extending in a first lateral direction from the proximal end 21304 of the loading unit 21302, and a second lug or flange 21312 extending in a second lateral direction from the proximal end 21304 of the loading unit 21302. In some embodiments, the first lateral direction can be opposite the first lateral direction, as shown in FIGS. 13-15 . In some embodiments, the first lateral direction can be perpendicular to the second lateral direction. In some embodiments, any suitable angle can be defined between the first lateral direction and the second lateral direction, such that the first lateral direction is different from the first lateral direction. In various embodiments, two lugs 21310, 21312 are shown and described, but it should be understood that fewer or more than two lugs can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as described below.

[0048] Additionally, the shaft assembly 21300 can include a spring assembly 21314 extending from an inner wall 21315 of the shaft assembly 21300. In various embodiments, the spring assembly 21314 can include a base 21317 mounted to the inner wall 21315 and a spring 21319 extending from the base, as best shown in FIG. 15 . In one aspect, the spring 21319 can include, by way of example, a linear spring or a torsion spring, such that the spring assembly 21314 can provide a biasing force against one of the first lug 21310 or the second lug 21312 when a force is applied to the spring assembly 21314 by either the first lug 21310 or the second lug 21312, as described in more detail below.

[0049] Similar to the other loading units and shaft assemblies disclosed herein, to fully couple the loading unit 21302 to the shaft assembly 21300, the loading unit 21302 can first be moved to the unlocked position along with the shaft assembly 21300, as described above. As the loading unit 21302 is moved toward the unlocked position, the first lug 21310 and the second lug 21312 can move through the opening 21306 and be positioned within the shaft assembly 21300, such that the first lug 21310 and the second lug 21312 are radially aligned with the spring assembly 21314, as shown in FIG. 15 . To bring the loading unit 21302 into the locked position, the loading unit 21302 can be rotated relative to the shaft assembly 21300 toward the locked position, as described above. When the loading unit 21302 is rotated to the locked position, the locking mechanism locks the loading unit 21300 to the shaft assembly 21300, as referenced above, thereby allowing the loading unit 21302 to be fully coupled to the shaft assembly 21300 and fully installed.

[0050] In various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21300 can include a switch, such as an on-off switch, that can be in electrical communication with a control circuit in the housing assembly, such as the control circuit 20014. In some embodiments, one of the lugs can abut against the on-off switch when the loading unit 21302 reaches the locked position. The control circuit can identify that the on-off switch has been activated and provide feedback to the user, such as, for example, visual, audible, or tactile feedback via a display, to indicate that the loading unit 21302 has been placed in the locked position.

[0051] In one aspect, as the loading unit 21302 is rotated toward the locked position, the first lug 21310 can abut against the spring 21319 of the spring assembly 21314. The spring 21319 can resist rotation of the first lug 21310 as the loading unit 21310 moves toward the locked position. In various embodiments, to fully couple the loading unit 21302 with the shaft assembly 21300, the loading unit 21302 can be rotated toward the locked position with a force such that the first lug 21310 can apply a sufficient amount of force to overcome the spring bias of the spring 21319 and enter the locked position. If the loading unit 21302 is only partially rotated to the locked position, the spring assembly 21314 can bias the loading unit 21302 toward the unlocked position by applying a resistive force to the first lug 21310. Thus, the spring assembly 21314 is configured to provide tactile feedback in the form of a resistance force to a user attempting to rotate the loading unit 21302 toward the locked position. At the locked position, the user no longer feels the resistance force. Additionally, in certain instances, entering the locked position provides audible feedback, for example, in the form of a clicking sound.

[0052] As described above, the spring assembly 21314 provides a mechanism for ensuring that the loading unit 21302 is fully positioned in the locked position before the shaft assembly 21300 and loading unit 21302 are used in a surgical procedure. If the loading unit 21302 is not fully rotated to the locked position, the spring 21319 can bias the loading unit 21302 to the unlocked position, allowing a user to identify that the loading unit 21302 is not properly attached and that corrective action is required. In various embodiments, the spring assembly 21314 prevents the loading unit 21302 from entering the locked configuration unless a threshold amount of force is applied to the spring assembly 21314 by the first flange 21310 to overcome the spring bias of the spring assembly 21314.

[0053] In various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21300 can further include a stop member 21316 extending from an inner wall 21315 of the shaft assembly 21300. The stop member 21316 can be sized and positioned such that when the loading unit 21302 is rotated to the unlocked position by the spring 21314, the stop member 21316 prevents the loading unit from rotating beyond the unlocked position and prevents the spring bias of the spring 21319 from pushing the loading unit 21302 out of the opening 21306 of the shaft assembly 21300. In various embodiments, the stop member 21316 can be sized and positioned such that when the spring 21319 urges the loading unit into the unlocked position, the stop member 21316 can abut one of the lugs 21310, 21312 in the unlocked position to prevent the spring bias of the spring 21319 from urging the loading unit 21302 out of the opening 21306. Thus, the stop member 21316 can require the loading unit 21302 to be removed from the opening 21306 along the linear installation axis. In various embodiments, the stop member 21316 can be positioned slightly offset from the unlocked position such that in the unlocked position, the loading unit 21302 can be rotated slightly toward the locked position to disengage the stop member 21316 from one of the lugs 21310, 21312 and then moved along the installation axis to remove the loading unit 21302 from the opening. The stop member 21316 described above can be utilized in any embodiment described herein that requires one component to rotate relative to another component to move between the locked and unlocked positions. While one stop member 21316 is described, it should be understood that two or more stop members 21316 can be used. For example, the ratio of lugs to stop members 21316 can be 1:1.

[0054] In various other embodiments, the shaft assembly 21300 can further include a second spring assembly positioned on the opposite side of the shaft assembly 21300, such that the first spring assembly 21314 can resist rotation of the first flange 21310 and the second spring assembly can resist rotation of the second flange 21312. The use of a second spring assembly can further increase the threshold force required for the loading unit 21302 to enter the locked position. Various other embodiments are envisioned in which the loading unit 21302 includes a 1:1 ratio of flanges to spring assemblies.

[0055] 16 and 17 , in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a mechanism for determining whether a staple cartridge is properly seated within a cartridge channel of an end effector and the type of staple cartridge seated within the cartridge channel is provided. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can include a resistor assembly 21400 operably coupled thereto. In one aspect, the resistor assembly 21400 can include a housing 21402, an attachment mechanism 21404 extending from the housing 21402 for removably attaching the resistor assembly 21400 to the cartridge, a circuit 21406 disposed within the housing 21402, a first arm 21408, and a second arm 21410. In various embodiments, the first arm 21408 can include a first contact arm 21409 disposed therein, and the second arm 21410 can include a second contact arm 21411 disposed therein. In various other embodiments, the first contact arm 21409 and the second contact arm 21411 extend from the housing 21408 and are not disposed within the first arm 21408 and the second arm 21410. Stated another way, the resistor assembly 21400 does not use the first arm 21408 and the second arm 21410 in various embodiments.

[0056] In various embodiments, the circuit 21406 can be adjusted with a predetermined resistance value corresponding to the type of cartridge with which the resistor assembly 21400 is coupled. In one exemplary embodiment, the circuit 21406 having a resistance R1 can correspond to a staple cartridge including staples having a staple height H1. In another embodiment, the circuit 21406 having a resistance R2 can correspond to a staple cartridge including staples having a staple height H2, where H2 is different from H1. In another embodiment, the circuit 21406 having a resistance R3 can correspond to a staple cartridge including a cartridge length of L3. In another embodiment, the circuit 21406 having a resistance R4 can correspond to a staple cartridge including a cartridge length of L4, where L4 is different from L3. Any number of resistance values ​​of the circuit 21406 can correspond to any number of staple cartridge parameters, such as staple size, staple height, cartridge length, etc. In various embodiments, the specific resistance value of the circuit 21406 can correspond to two or more parameters of the staple cartridge. In one exemplary embodiment, a circuit having a resistance of R1 may correspond to, by way of example, a staple cartridge including staples having a staple height H1 and a cartridge having a length L1. Various other embodiments are envisioned in which the resistor assembly 21400 may be coupled to a cartridge other than a staple cartridge, such as an RF cartridge, and the resistance value of the circuit 21406 may correspond to various parameters associated with the cartridge.

[0057] In various embodiments, the end effector of the surgical instrument can include a cartridge channel sized to receive the staple cartridge therein. In some situations, it is desirable to ensure that the staple cartridge is properly seated within the cartridge channel before the staple cartridge is utilized in a surgical procedure. In various embodiments, the cartridge channel can comprise a receptacle assembly 21420 including a housing 21422, a first window 21424, a second window 21426, a circuit 21428, a first contact arm 21430 extending from the circuit 21428 and positioned within the first window 21424, and a second contact arm 21432 extending from the circuit 21428 and positioned within the second window 21426. Various other embodiments are envisioned in which the receptacle assembly 21420 does not include the housing 21420, the first window 21424, or the second window 21426, but instead simply includes the circuit 21428, the first contact arm 21430, and the second contact arm 21432.

[0058] In certain examples, the housing 21422, or at least a portion thereof, is constructed from an insulating material such as a polymer, more specifically polyimide, polyester, fluorocarbon, or any polymeric material, or any combination thereof. In certain examples, the contact arms 21430, 21432 are constructed from a conductive material, such as, for example, a metal.

[0059] In one aspect, the circuit 21428 can be in electrical communication with control circuitry positioned within the housing assembly, such as, by way of example, the control circuit 20014 operably coupled to the cartridge channel of the end effector. In various embodiments, the first window 41424 and the second window 21426 are sized such that when a staple cartridge including the resistor assembly 21400 is properly seated in the cartridge channel, the first arm 21408 of the resistor assembly 21400 is inserted into the first window 21424 and the second arm 21410 is inserted into the second window 21426. When the first arm 21408 is positioned in the first window 21424 and the second arm 21410 is positioned in the second window, the circuit 21428 can be in electrical communication with the circuit 21406. More specifically, when the first arm 21408 is positioned within the first window 21424, the first contact arm 21409 can be in electrical communication with the first contact arm 21430 and the second contact arm 21411 can be in electrical communication with the second contact arm 21432, thereby completing the circuit 21428 to the circuit 21406. In various other embodiments, when a staple cartridge including the resistor assembly 21400 is properly seated within the cartridge channel, a user can determine that the staple cartridge is properly positioned within the cartridge channel if the first contact arm 21430 and the second contact arm 21432 are in electrical communication with the first contact arm 21409 and the second contact arm 21411, as described in more detail below.

[0060] In one aspect, when the circuit 21428 is in operative electrical communication with the circuit 21406, the control circuitry of the housing assembly can send an electrical signal through the circuit 21428 to the circuit 21406 of the resistor assembly 21400, thus confirming that the staple cartridge is properly positioned within the cartridge channel. In a scenario where a user attempts to confirm whether the staple cartridge is properly positioned within the cartridge channel and is unable to create a complete circuit, as described above, the user can determine that the staple cartridge is not properly positioned within the cartridge channel and appropriate action is required.

[0061] In addition to being able to determine whether a staple cartridge is properly positioned within the cartridge channel, the receptacle assembly 21420 and the resistor assembly 21400 provide the additional advantage of being able to determine the type of cartridge that is positioned within the cartridge channel, as referenced above. In various embodiments, once the control circuitry, via circuitry 21428 and circuitry 21406, is able to determine that a cartridge is properly positioned within the cartridge channel, an electrical signal can be sent to circuitry 21406 to determine the resistance of the resistor assembly 21400. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , in various embodiments, the resistance determined from the resistor assembly can correspond to the color of the cartridge positioned within the cartridge channel, and the color of the cartridge can correspond to various parameters of the staple cartridge, such as staple size, staple height, cartridge length, etc.

[0062] 18 and 19 , when the cartridge 21540 is positioned within the cartridge channel, the control circuit can interrogate the resistor assembly 21452 and sense a resistance of the circuitry therein that is 10 kΩ and determine that the cartridge is a tan staple cartridge including multiple staple cartridge parameters such as a cartridge length L1, a staple height H1, etc. In another exemplary embodiment, when the cartridge 21544 is positioned within the cartridge channel, the control circuit can interrogate the resistor assembly 21456 and sense a resistance of the circuitry therein that is 20 kΩ and determine that the cartridge is a purple staple cartridge including multiple staple cartridge parameters such as a cartridge length L2, a staple height H2, etc. In another exemplary embodiment, when the cartridge 21548 is positioned within the cartridge channel, the control circuit can interrogate the resistor assembly 21460, sense a resistance of the circuit therein of 30 kΩ, and determine that the corresponding staple cartridge is a black staple cartridge that includes a plurality of staple cartridge parameters, such as a cartridge length L3, a staple height H3, etc. While the above discussion has been provided in the context of a surgical stapling cartridge and staple cartridge parameters, it should be understood that the resistor assembly can be utilized in a number of other cartridge applications, such as an RF cartridge, to determine the type of cartridge that is attached to the surgical instrument.

[0063] In various embodiments, the control circuit can be in electrical communication with a display, such as the other displays referenced herein, so that the control circuit can communicate information to a user of the surgical instrument. In one aspect, once the control circuit can confirm that the cartridge is properly positioned within the cartridge channel, as described above with respect to circuits 21406, 21428, the control circuit can provide a visual indication that the cartridge is properly coupled to the cartridge channel and ready for use. In various other embodiments, the control circuit can trigger audible or tactile feedback based on the cartridge being properly coupled to the cartridge channel. In various embodiments, after the control circuit identifies the type of cartridge positioned within the cartridge channel, the control circuit can display information about the cartridge, such as cartridge color, cartridge parameters, etc., on a display. Additionally, after the control circuit identifies the type of cartridge positioned within the cartridge channel, the control circuit can modify parameters of the surgical instrument according to the parameters determined from the cartridge. For example, if the control circuit identifies a cartridge having a cartridge length L1, the control circuit can adjust a firing bar across the cartridge to a length suitable for firing all of the staples from the cartridge, but not exceeding length L1.

[0064] 20 and 21 , in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a mechanism for determining whether a staple cartridge is properly seated within a cartridge channel is provided. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can include a sled 21500 that can translate through the staple cartridge during a staple firing motion to deploy the removably stored staples. In one aspect, the sled 21500 can include a plurality of ramps, such as an inner ramp 21502 and an outer ramp 51504, on a first side of the staple cartridge, which ramps are shaped to cam and deploy the staples from the staple cartridge during the firing stroke. In various embodiments, the outer ramp 21504 of the sled 21500 can include an electrical printed circuit 21506 printed on an outer wall thereof. The circuit 21506 can include a first contact 21508 and a second contact 21510 in electrical communication with the first contact 21508.

[0065] In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can further include a cartridge pan 21520 and an outer cartridge wall 21530. The cartridge pan 21520 can be sized to accommodate the sled 21500 therein and can include a first window 21522 aligned with the first contact 21508 of the circuit 21506 and a second window 21524 aligned with the second contact 21510 of the circuit 21506. As shown in FIG. 21 , the outer cartridge wall 21530 can at least partially abut the cartridge pan at an engagement region 21532, such that a gap “g” can be defined between the cartridge wall 21530 and the cartridge pan 21520 at a connector receiving region 21534.

[0066] In some embodiments, the connector receiving area 21534 and the gap "g" are sized to receive the connector assembly 21540 therein. In various embodiments, the connector assembly 21540 can include a housing 21542, a connector portion 21544 extending from the housing 21542, a first window 21546, a second window 21548, and a circuit 21550 that can include a first contact arm 21552 that can extend proximally from the connector assembly 21540 and at least partially from the first window 21548, and a second contact arm 21554 that can extend proximally from the connector assembly 21540 and at least partially from the second window 21546. In various embodiments, the proximal portions of the first contact arm 21552 and the second contact arm 21554 can be similar to the first contact arm 21409 and the second contact arm 21411, respectively, in that they are designed to electrically couple to a control circuit, such as, by way of example, the control circuit 20014, located within a surgical instrument. For example, the surgical instrument can include circuitry 21560 shown in FIG. 21 that can be in electrical communication with a control circuit within the surgical instrument so that the control circuit can determine if a staple cartridge is properly positioned within the cartridge channel. Similarly, the connector assembly 21540 can include circuitry similar to the circuit 21406 in electrical communication with the first contact arm 21552 and the second contact arm 21554 so that the control circuit within the surgical instrument can determine the type of cartridge to which the connector assembly 21540 is mated.

[0067] 21 , when the connector assembly 21540 is properly positioned within the connector receiving area 21532 of the staple cartridge, the first circuit arm 21552 can extend through a first window 21546 of the connector assembly 21540, through a first window 21522 of the cartridge pan 21520, and can abut a first contact 21508 of the circuit 21506. Similarly, when the connector assembly 21540 is properly positioned within the connector receiving area 21532 of the staple cartridge, the second contact arm 21554 can extend through a second window 21548 of the connector assembly 21540, through a second window 21524 of the cartridge pan 21520, and can abut a second contact 21510 of the circuit 21506.

[0068] In various embodiments, during operation, a user can determine whether the connector assembly 21540 is properly coupled to the surgical instrument by proximal portions of the first contact arm 21552 and the second contact arm 21554 being electrically coupled to the circuit 21560, and whether a staple cartridge is properly seated in the cartridge channel by portions of the first contact arm 21552 and the second contact arm 21554 extending from the first window 21546 and the second window 21548, respectively, and making electrical contact with the first contacts 21508 and the second contacts 21510. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit can determine whether a staple cartridge is properly coupled to the surgical instrument by generating an electrical signal that can be transmitted from the control circuit, through the circuit 21560, the first contact arm 21552, the circuit 21506, the second contact arm 21554, the circuit 21560, and back to the control circuit. If the control circuit is unable to send an electrical signal from the control circuit as described above, the user can determine that the connector assembly 21540 or staple cartridge is improperly positioned and that corrective action is required.

[0069] In various embodiments, the control circuit can be in electrical communication with a display, such as the other displays referenced herein, so that the control circuit can communicate information to a user of the surgical instrument. In one aspect, as described above, once the control circuit is able to confirm that the connector assembly 21540 and staple cartridge are properly coupled to the surgical instrument, the control circuit can provide a visual indication confirming the same. In various other embodiments, the control circuit can trigger audible or tactile feedback based on the control circuit confirming that the connector assembly 21540 and staple cartridge are properly coupled to the surgical instrument.

[0070] 22-29 , in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a mechanism for ensuring that a loading unit is properly coupled to a surgical instrument is disclosed. As shown in FIG. 22 , a shaft assembly 21600 can extend from a surgical housing assembly, such as a handle assembly or a housing assembly. In various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21600 can also be similar to other shaft assemblies described herein, such as, by way of non-limiting example, shaft assembly 20005, shaft assembly 21104, shaft assembly 21200, and / or shaft assembly 21300. In various embodiments, the housing assembly can be similar to any other housing assembly described herein, such as, by way of non-limiting example, housing assembly 20001, housing assembly 21000, and / or housing assembly 21100.

[0071] In various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21600 can include a J-shaped passageway 21602 defined therein. The J-shaped passageway 21602 can include a first passageway portion 21604, a second passageway portion 21606 extending laterally away from the first passageway portion 21602, and a third passageway portion 21608 extending longitudinally away from the second passageway portion 21606.

[0072] 23 , the shaft assembly 21600 may further include a closed-end tunnel 21610 positioned adjacent the second passageway portion 21606 and extending between the first passageway portion 21604 and the second passageway portion 21608. The closed-end tunnel 21610 may be sized to contain a magnet 21612 therein, which may be movable between a first position, as shown in FIG. 23 , in which the magnet 21612 is positioned on a first end of the closed-end tunnel 21610 adjacent the third passageway portion 21608, and a second position, as shown in FIG. 26 , in which the magnet 21612 is positioned on a second end of the closed-end tunnel 21610 adjacent the first passageway portion 21604. The shaft assembly 21600 may further include a window 21615 defined therein that allows a user to view the magnet 21612 when the magnet 21612 is in the second position.

[0073] In various embodiments, as shown in Figure 23, the magnet 21612 can include a first magnet portion 21616 including a first polarity and a second magnet portion 21618 including a second polarity different from the first polarity. As an example, as shown in Figure 23, the first magnet portion 21614 can include a south negative polarity and the second magnet portion 21616 can include a north positive polarity.

[0074] As referenced above, the mechanisms provided above can ensure that a loading unit, such as a SULU and / or MULU, is properly coupled to the shaft assembly 21600. In various embodiments, with reference to FIGS. 24-26 , the loading unit can include a magnet 21620 coupled thereto. The magnet 21620 can include a first magnet portion 21622 including a first polarity (e.g., south negative polarity) and a second magnet portion 21624 including a second polarity different from the first polarity (e.g., north positive polarity). In various embodiments, the first polarities of the magnets 216212, 21620 can be the same, and the second polarities of the magnets 216212, 21620 can be the same. In some embodiments, the loading unit can include a flange extending from the loading unit, the flange including the magnet coupled thereto. The flange can be sized to traverse through the J-shaped passage 21602 from the first passage portion 21604 to the third passage portion 21608. 26 and 29, the magnet 21620 can be moved through the J-shaped passageway 21602 and positioned in the third passageway portion 21608, as described in more detail below. In one aspect, the magnet 21620 being positioned in the third passageway portion 21608 corresponds to the loading unit being locked to the shaft assembly 21600, and can therefore allow the user to know that the loading unit and shaft assembly 21600 are safe for use with the surgical instrument.

[0075] In operation, by way of example, the magnet 21620 of the loading unit can enter the first passageway portion 21604 through the open end 21630 of the J-shaped passageway 21602 at the distal end of the shaft assembly 21600. The loading unit can be moved relative to the shaft assembly 21600 such that the magnet 21620 can be moved along the first passageway portion 21604 toward the second passageway portion 21606, as shown in FIG. 24. In one aspect, the magnet 21620 can be oriented such that as the magnet 21620 approaches the second passageway portion 21620, the second polarities of the magnets 21612, 21620 can be aligned laterally as shown in FIG. 24, moving the magnet 21612 to the first end of the closed-end tunnel 21640. In one aspect, when the magnet 21612 is on the first end of the closed-end tunnel 21610, the user cannot see the magnet 21612 through the window 21615, thus indicating that the loading unit is not yet fully coupled to the shaft assembly 21600.

[0076] Once the magnet 21620 traverses the first passageway portion 21604 and reaches the second passageway portion 21606, the user can rotate the loading unit relative to the shaft assembly 21600, causing the magnet 21620 to traverse through the second passageway portion 21606 toward the third passageway portion 21608. As the magnet 21620 traverses the second passageway portion 21606, the magnet 21620 can begin to longitudinally align with the magnet 21612 in the closed end tunnel 21610, as shown in FIG. 25 . In one aspect, as the magnet 21620 begins to longitudinally align with the magnet 21612, the first polarity of the magnets 21612, 21620 can begin to longitudinally align with the second polarity of the magnets 21612, 21620. The magnetic coupling force induced by the attraction between the polarities may cause the loading unit to encounter resistance as the magnet 21620 is moved toward the third path portion 21608. In some embodiments, this magnetic device may be utilized to reject premature attachment if the loading unit is imperfectly attached to the shaft assembly 21600. With the magnets 21612, 21620 longitudinally aligned, a threshold force may be applied by the user to the loading unit to overcome the magnetic attraction between the magnets 21612 and 21620, allowing the magnet 21620 to continue traversing the second path portion 21606 toward the third path portion 21608.

[0077] Once the magnet 21620 reaches the third passageway portion 21608, the magnet 21602 can be moved to an end 21632 of the third passageway portion 21608 adjacent the first end of the closed-end passageway 21610. In various embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 27-29 , the spring assembly 21640 can be positioned at the transition point between the second passageway portion 21606 and the third passageway portion 21608. In some embodiments, the spring assembly 21640 can include a spring 21642 coupled to the shaft assembly 21600 and a pusher plate 21644 coupled to the spring 21642. The spring 21642 can be transitional between a compressed position, as shown in FIG. 28 , in which the pusher plate 21644 is at least substantially pushed out of the J-shaped passageway 21602 and the spring 21642 is compressed, and an extended position, as shown in FIG. 29 , in which the pusher plate 21644 extends through the third passageway portion 21608. The pusher plate 21644 can include a cam surface 21646 that can be engaged by the magnet 21620 when the magnet 21620 moves toward the third passageway portion 21608 to transition the spring assembly 21640 toward the compressed position. Once the magnet 21620 is aligned with the third passage portion 21608, the user can release the loading unit and transition the spring assembly 21640 toward the extended position, which can cause the pusher plate 21644 to push the magnet 21620 toward the end 21632 of the third passage portion 21608, as shown in FIG. 29. In various embodiments, the spring assembly 21640 can be designed such that in the extended position, the pusher plate 21644 can hold the magnet 21620 at the end 21632 of the third passage portion 21608 to maintain the loading unit locked and coupled to the shaft assembly 21600.

[0078] In one aspect, after the magnet 21620 overcomes the magnetic force experienced due to the magnet 21612, the second polarities of the magnets 21612, 21620 begin to move closer to each other, thus causing the magnet 21612 to resist the magnet 21620, as shown in FIG. 26 , for example. When the magnet 21620 is moved toward the end 21632 of the third passageway portion 21608 (which may correspond to the loading unit being positioned in an engaged and coupled position with the shaft assembly 21600), for example, the magnetic reluctance between the second polarities of the magnets 21612, 21620 may cause the magnet 21612 to move toward the second end of the closed end channel 21610, as shown in FIG. As referenced above, when the magnet 21612 is in the second position at the second end of the closed-end channel 21610, the user can see the magnet 21612 through the window 21615, thus indicating to the user that the magnet 21620 has reached the end 21632 of the third passage portion 21608 and that the loading unit is properly attached and coupled to the shaft assembly 21600.

[0079] 30 , a graphical representation 21650 of the resistive force provided by the magnet 21612 as the magnet 21620 traverses the J-shaped passage 21602 is provided, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, a sensor assembly can be provided within the shaft assembly 21600 to measure the magnetic force between the magnet 21612 and the magnet 21620 as the magnet 21620 traverses the J-shaped passage 21602. In various embodiments, a control circuit located within the housing assembly, such as control circuit 20014, can be in electrical communication with the sensor assembly to monitor the magnetic force between the magnet 21612 and the magnet 21620 and provide feedback to the user indicative of the position of the magnet 21620 within the J-shaped passage 21602. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument can include a display, and the control circuit provides information to the user via the display indicative of the magnetic force sensed by the sensor assembly.

[0080] Initially, the magnet 21612 enters the open end 21630 of the J-shaped passage 21602 and traverses the first passage portion 21604 toward the second passage portion 21606. As the magnet 21620 traverses the first passage portion 21604 toward the second passage portion 21606, the circumferential outward force by the magnet 21620 may begin to increase until an inflection point 21652 is reached where the magnet 21620 is laterally aligned with the magnet 21612, as shown in FIG. 24 , by way of example.

[0081] After the magnet 21620 is laterally aligned with the magnet 21612, the magnet 21620 can continue to traverse the first path portion 21604 toward the second path portion 21606. As the magnet moves toward the corner between the first path portion 21604 and the second path portion 21606, the outward circumferential force by the magnet 21620 decreases and an inflection point 21654 can be reached when the magnet 21620 reaches the corner between the first path portion 21606 and the second path portion 21606.

[0082] After the magnet 21620 reaches the corner between the first and second path portions 21606, the magnet 21620 can traverse the second path portion 21606 toward the third path portion 21608. As the magnet 21620 traverses the second path portion 21606 toward the third path portion 21608, the circumferential outward force by the magnet 21612 begins to increase until an inflection point 21656 is reached, where the magnet 21620 is longitudinally aligned with the magnet 21612, as shown in FIG. 25, by way of example. As shown in FIG. 30, the force at the inflection point 21656 can be greater than at the inflection point 21652.

[0083] After the magnet 21620 is longitudinally aligned with the magnet 21612, the magnet 21620 can continue to traverse the second path portion 21606 toward the third path portion 21608. As the magnet 21620 moves toward the corner between the second path portion 21606 and the third path portion 21608, the circumferential outward force by the magnet 21612 can shift as the phase change between the repulsive forces of the magnets 21612, 21620 changes from a repulsive force between the second polarities (as an example, north, positive polarity) of the magnets 21612, 21620 to a repulsive force between the first polarities (as an example, south, negative polarity) of the magnets 21612, 21620. As the magnet 21620 moves toward the second corner between the second passage portion 21606 and the third passage portion 21608, the magnetic force between the magnet 21612 and the magnet 21620 causes the magnet 21612 to translate toward the second end of the closed-end tunnel 21610, as shown, for example, in FIG. 26 .

[0084] As the magnet 21612 translates toward the second end of the closed-end tunnel 21610, the magnetic force can reach an inflection point 21658, and then increase to an inflection point 21660 as the magnet 21620 reaches the corner between the second path portion 21606 and the third path portion 21608. Then, as the magnet 21620 translates toward the end 21632 of the third path portion 21608, the force can vary as shown in FIG. 30 until the magnet 21620 reaches the end 21632 of the third path portion 21608, and the loading unit is then locked to the shaft assembly 21600.

[0085] 31-33 , in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a mechanism for determining whether a nozzle assembly is properly coupled to a handle assembly and fully seated is provided. In various embodiments, the handle assembly 21700 can include a housing portion 21702 and a handle portion 21704. The handle portion 21704 can include a stationary handle 21706 and a trigger 21708 rotatable relative to the stationary handle 21706. The trigger 21708 can be rotatable toward the stationary handle 21706 to transmit an actuation motion to the end effector of the loading unit, similar to that described elsewhere herein. In one aspect, the trigger 21706 can transmit a closing motion that can transition the first and second jaws of the end effector between an open configuration in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart from one another, and a closed configuration in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart closely to capture tissue therebetween. In another aspect, the trigger 21708 can transmit a firing motion to the end effector, causing staples to be deployed from the end effector into tissue positioned between the first and second jaws and causing the knife to cut the stapled tissue. In various embodiments, the handle assembly can include two or more triggers, each trigger providing a different end effector function for the end effector, such as, by way of example, a closing motion and a firing motion. In various embodiments, the handle assembly 21700 can further include a control circuit, such as, by way of example, a control circuit 21766, that can send electrical signals to various other components within the surgical instrument, such as, by way of example, the end effector of the loading unit or the nozzle assembly 21710, as described in more detail below. In various embodiments, the nozzle assembly 21710 can be similar to the adapter assemblies described elsewhere herein, such as, by way of example, the adapter 20002 and / or the adapter 21002. In various embodiments, the handle assembly 21700 may be similar to any other housing assembly described herein, such as, by way of non-limiting example, housing assembly 20001, housing assembly 21000, and / or housing assembly 21100.

[0086] In various embodiments, the nozzle assembly 21710 may include a nozzle housing 21712 that may be removably coupled to the handle housing 21702, and a shaft assembly 21714 extending distally from the nozzle housing 21712. In various embodiments, the shaft assembly 21714 may be similar to other shaft assemblies described herein, such as, by way of non-limiting example, shaft assembly 20005, shaft assembly 21104, shaft assembly 21200, shaft assembly 21300, and / or shaft assembly 21600.

[0087] 31-33 , the nozzle assembly 21710 can include a nozzle latch 21716 extending proximally from the nozzle housing 21712. The nozzle latch 21716 can include a first seating platform or portion 21718 extending proximally from the nozzle housing 21712 and a first angled portion 21720 extending proximally from the first seating portion 21718. Similarly, the nozzle latch 21716 can include a second seating platform or portion 21722 extending proximally from the nozzle housing 21712 and a second angled portion 21724 extending proximally from the second seating portion 21722.

[0088] In some embodiments, the handle assembly 21700 may include a handle latch 21730 including a base portion 21732 and a pair of fingers 21734, 21736 extending laterally from the base portion 21732. In one aspect, to properly couple the nozzle assembly 21710 to the handle assembly 21700, the fingers 21734, 21736 may be positioned on correspondingly positioned seating portions 21718, 21722 to latch the nozzle assembly 21710 to the handle assembly 21700. Stated another way, to properly couple the nozzle assembly 21710 to the handle assembly 21700, the fingers 21734 may be seated in the seating portion 21718 and the fingers 21736 may be seated in the seating portion 21722.

[0089] In various embodiments, to properly couple the nozzle assembly 21710 to the handle assembly 21700, the handle assembly 21700 can be moved towards the handle assembly 21700 in an installation direction 21738. When the nozzle assembly 21710 is moved towards the handle assembly 21700 in the installation direction 21738, the fingers 21734 can engage the angled portion 21720 and the fingers 21736 can engage the angled portion 21724 of the nozzle latch 21716. The fingers 21734, 21736 slide along the angled portions 21720, 21724 and can be cammed downwardly away from the base portion 21732 of the handle latch 21730. When the fingers 21734, 21736 reach the apex of the ramped portions 21720, 21724, the fingers 21724, 21736 can move distally and seat on the seating portions 21718, 21722, respectively, of the nozzle latch 21716. When the fingers 21734, 21736 reach the seating portions 21718, 21722 of the nozzle latch 21716, the ramped portions 21720, 21724 can be biased such that the ramped portions 21720, 21724 return to their original, unbiased positions, as shown in FIG. With the angled portions 21720, 21724 in their original, unbiased position and the fingers 21724, 21736 seated on the seating portions 21718, 21722, the distal surfaces 21721, 21725 of the angled portions 21720, 21724 engage with the proximal surfaces 21735, 21737 of the fingers 21734, 21736, respectively, to hold the nozzle assembly 21710 to the handle assembly 21700, thereby allowing the nozzle assembly 21710 to be properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700.

[0090] When the nozzle assembly 21710 is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700, the handle assembly 21700 can transmit actuation motions and electrical signals (e.g., the closing or firing motions discussed above, as one example) through the nozzle assembly 21710 to an end effector at the distal end of the shaft assembly 21714. In situations where the nozzle assembly 21710 is not properly coupled to the handle assembly 217100, the handle assembly 217100 may not be able to properly or safely transmit actuation motions or electrical signals to the end effector. Additionally, in situations where the nozzle assembly 21700 is not properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700, the nozzle assembly 21700 may become detached from the handle assembly 21700 during a surgical procedure, such as when a user attempts to transmit an actuation motion to the end effector.

[0091] In various embodiments, to ensure that the nozzle assembly 21710 is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700, the nozzle latch 21716 may include a contact device 21750 including a first latch contact 21752 positioned on the first seating portion 21718 and a second latch contact 21754 positioned on the second seating portion 21722. The first latch contact 21752 and the second latch contact 21754 may be in electrical communication by a wire 21756 extending from the first latch contact 21752 along a distal inner wall of the latch assembly 21716 to the second latch contact 21756, as best shown in FIG. Additionally, the handle latch 21730 may include a contact device 21760 including a first finger contact portion 21762 positioned on a bottom surface of the first finger 21734 and a second finger contact portion 21764 positioned on a bottom surface of the second finger 21736. The first finger contact portion 21762 and the second finger contact portion 21764 may be in electrical communication with a control circuit 21766 positioned within the handle assembly 21700.

[0092] In operation, when the nozzle assembly 21710 is coupled to the handle assembly 21700, the first finger contact 21762 can engage with the first latch contact 21752 and the second finger contact 21764 can engage with the second latch contact 21754, as described above. To determine if the nozzle assembly 21710 is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700, the control circuit 21766 can attempt to send an electrical signal through the contact device 21760. In one aspect, if the control circuit 21766 can successfully send an electrical signal through the contact device 21760, the control circuit 21766 can determine that the contact device 21766 is in electrical communication with the contact device 21750, indicating that the nozzle assembly 21710 is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700. If the control circuit 21766 is unable to send an electrical signal through the contact device 21760, the control circuit 21766 can determine that the nozzle assembly 21710 is improperly coupled to the handle assembly 21700 and that corrective action is required.

[0093] 34 , the latch assembly 21716 may not include the contact device 21750, and the latch assembly 21730 may include a first on-off switch 21770 and a second on-off switch 21772 on the first finger 21734 and the second finger 21736, respectively, in place of the first latch contact 21762 and the second contact 21764. The first on-off switch 21770 and the second on-off switch 21772 may be in electrical communication with a control circuit, such as a control circuit 21766, that can determine the actuation state of the on-off switches 21770, 21772. In various embodiments, the on-off switches 21770, 21772 may be transitionable between a rest position, as shown in FIG. 34 , which may indicate to a control circuit that the fingers 21734, 21736 are not engaged with the seating portions 21718, 21722 of the latch assembly 21716, and an actuated position, which may indicate to a control circuit that the fingers 21734, 21736 are engaged with the seating portions 21718, 21722 of the latch assembly 21716. The on-off switches 21770, 21772 may transition to the actuated position when the on-off switches 21770, 21772 are depressed toward the fingers 21734, 21736.

[0094] In operation, when the nozzle assembly 21710 is coupled to the handle assembly 21700, the first on-off switch 21770 can engage the first seating portion 21718 and the second on-off switch 21772 can engage the second seating portion 21722, as described above. To verify whether the nozzle assembly 21710 is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700, the contact circuit can monitor the voltage of the first on-off switch 21770 and the second on-off switch 21772. For example, referring to the graph 21774 in FIG. 35 which shows the voltage sensed by the control circuit over time, when the nozzle assembly 21710 is not coupled to the handle assembly 21700, as shown in FIG. 34, the on-off switches 21770, 21772 can be in a rest position. The control circuit can sense that the on-off switches 21770, 21772 are in the rest position by measuring the voltage of the on-off switches to determine the position of the on-off switches 21770, 21772. As shown in FIG. 35 , the control circuit senses a voltage of zero, thus indicating to the control circuit that the nozzle assembly 21710 is not coupled to the handle assembly 21700. As described above, when the nozzle assembly 21710 is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700, the control circuit can detect a voltage V1 by the on-off switches 21770, 21772, thereby indicating that the nozzle assembly 21710 is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700. If the nozzle assembly 21710 appears to be coupled to the handle assembly 21700 but the control circuit continues to detect a zero voltage, a user can determine that the nozzle assembly 21710 is not properly coupled to the handle assembly 21700 and that corrective action is required. In some embodiments, the control circuit can detect a voltage greater than 0 but less than V1. In such a scenario, the control circuit can determine that the first on-off switch 21770 is properly seated within, by way of example, seating portion 21718, but the on-off switch 21772 is not properly seated within seating portion 21722, and therefore the voltage detected by the control circuit is less than V1.

[0095] 36 , in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a mechanism for ensuring that an adapter is properly coupled and fully installed with a handle assembly is provided. In various embodiments, the handle assembly 21800 can include a housing portion 21802 and a handle portion 21804. The handle portion 21804 can be similar to other housing portions described herein, such as, by way of non-limiting example, housing assembly 20001, housing assembly 21000, housing assembly 21100, and / or housing assembly 21700.

[0096] In one aspect, the handle portion 21804 can include a stationary handle and one or more triggers rotatable relative to the stationary handle to effect an end effector function of the shaft assembly when the shaft assembly is properly coupled thereto. For example, when the shaft assembly is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21800, actuation of the trigger can cause the handle assembly 21800 to transmit an actuation motion to the end effector of the shaft assembly, similar to that described elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, actuation of one of the triggers can cause a closing motion that can transition the first and second jaws of the end effector between an open configuration in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart from one another and a closed configuration in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart in close proximity to one another to capture tissue therebetween. In other embodiments, actuation of one of the triggers can cause a firing motion to the end effector, deploying staples from the end effector into tissue positioned between the first and second jaws and causing a knife to cut the stapled tissue.

[0097] In various embodiments, the handle assembly 21800 can further include a receiving area 21806 defined at its distal end 21808. The receiving area 21806 can be sized to receive the proximal end of an adapter assembly therein such that the handle assembly 21800 can transmit actuation motions and electrical signals through the adapter assembly. In one aspect, the receiving area can be similar to the receiving area 21008, and the adapter assembly can be similar to the adapter assemblies described elsewhere herein, such as, by way of example, adapter 20002 and / or adapter 21002.

[0098] In various embodiments, the receiving area 21806 can include a spring assembly including a first spring 21810 positioned on a first side of a distal wall 21814 of the receiving area 21806 and a second spring 21812 positioned on a second side of the distal wall 21816 of the receiving area 21806. In various embodiments, the spring assembly can include only a single spring positioned at any suitable location of the receiving area 21806, such as at the center of the receiving area 21806. In various embodiments, the spring assembly can include three or more springs positioned at any suitable location of the receiving area 21806, such as, by way of example, around the periphery of the distal wall 21814 of the receiving area 21806. In various embodiments, the springs 21810, 21812 can be movable between an extended position as shown in FIG. 36 and a compressed position in which the springs 21810, 21812 are compressed toward the distal wall 21814. In one aspect, the springs 21810, 21812 can be linear springs and can be biased outward toward the extended position when no force is applied thereto. In various other embodiments, the springs 21810, 21812 can comprise torsion springs.

[0099] In one aspect, to properly and fully couple the adapter assembly to the handle assembly 21800, the proximal end of the adapter assembly can be moved into the receiving area 21806 to latch the adapter assembly to the housing assembly 21800. By way of example, the adapter assembly can be latched to the handle assembly 21800 by flange features 21022a-e extending around the periphery of the proximal end of the adapter assembly and flange features 21024a-e extending around the periphery of the receiving area 21806, as described elsewhere herein. In various embodiments, the springs 21810, 21812 can abut and apply a resistive force to the proximal end of the adapter assembly when the adapter assembly is moved into the receiving area 21806 to latch the shaft assembly to the handle housing 21802. The springs 21810, 21812 can exert a resistive force on the adapter assembly such that the adapter assembly is biased away from the receiving area 21806 until the adapter assembly is latched to the handle assembly 21800.

[0100] The springs 21810, 21812 can provide a means for ensuring that the adapter assembly is properly coupled to the handle housing 21802 before the adapter assembly is utilized in a surgical procedure. For example, if the flange features 21024a-e do not fully or properly couple to the flange features 21022a-e, thus indicating that the adapter assembly is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21800, the springs 21810, 21812 can urge the adapter assembly away from the receiving area 21806. Thus, the springs 21810, 21812 not only require that a threshold force be applied to the adapter assembly to overcome the spring bias of the springs 21810, 21812, but also that the adapter assembly be properly coupled to the handle assembly 21800; otherwise, the springs 21810, 21812 will urge the adapter assembly away from the handle assembly 21800.

[0101] 37 , an alternative embodiment is shown in which the springs 21820, 21822 can extend around the receiving area 21824 to bias the adapter assembly away from the receiving area 21826 unless the adapter assembly is properly coupled to the handle assembly 21826. In one aspect, the spring 21822 can include a first platform 21830 coupled to the spring 21822, and the spring 21824 can include a second platform 21832 coupled to the spring 21824. The platforms 21830, 21832 can increase the surface area against which the springs 21820, 21822 can apply a resistive force to the adapter assembly when the adapter assembly is brought into the receiving area 21824 of the handle assembly 21826.

[0102] 38 and 39 , another mechanism for ensuring that the adapter assembly is properly coupled and fully seated with the handle assembly is provided, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the adapter assembly 21850 can include an adapter housing 21852 and a shaft 21854 extending distally therefrom. In one aspect, the adapter 21850 can be similar to the adapter assemblies 20002 and / or 21002, by way of example. As above, the adapter assembly 21850 can be coupled with the handle assembly by moving the proximal end 21856 of the adapter assembly 21850 into a receiving area of ​​the handle assembly. Once the proximal end 21856 of the adapter assembly 21850 is properly positioned within the receiving area, a latch assembly, such as flange features 21022a-e and flange features 21024a-e, can lock the adapter assembly 21850 to the handle assembly.

[0103] Similar to the above, the adapter assembly 21850 may include a spring assembly which may include a first spring 21860 positioned on a first side of the proximal end 21856 of the adapter assembly 21850 and a second spring 21862 positioned on a second side of the proximal end 21856 of the adapter assembly 21850. In various embodiments, the spring assembly may include three or more springs positioned in any suitable location of the proximal end 21856 of the adapter assembly 21850, such as, by way of example, around the proximal end 21856 of the adapter assembly 21850. In various embodiments, the springs 21860, 21862 may be movable between an extended position as shown in FIG. 38 and a compressed position as shown in FIG. 39 in which the springs 21860, 21862 are compressed toward the shaft 21854 of the adapter assembly 21850. In one aspect, the springs 21860, 21862 are linear springs and can be biased outward toward an extended position when no force is applied thereto.

[0104] 38 and 39 , the shaft assembly 21850 may further include a mounting plate 21864 coupled to the spring assembly. The mounting plate 21864 may be sized to be received within a receiving area of ​​the housing assembly to align the adapter assembly 21850 with the handle assembly when the adapter assembly 21850 is coupled to the handle assembly. Additionally, in various embodiments, the adapter assembly 21850 may include an alignment shaft 21866 extending from the proximal end 21856 of the adapter assembly 21850 through the mounting plate 21864. The alignment shaft 21864 may be sized to be received in an alignment opening defined within the receiving area to assist in properly aligning the adapter assembly 21850 with the handle assembly when the adapter assembly 21850 is coupled to the handle assembly. In various embodiments, the tip of the alignment shaft 21864 can be flush with the surface of the mounting plate 21864, as shown in FIG. 38. When the mounting plate 21864 is pressed into the receiving area, the mounting plate 21864 can move toward the adapter assembly 21850 due to the compressed springs 21860, 21862. When the mounting plate 21864 moves toward the shaft 21854, the alignment shaft 21864 can be exposed and then move into an alignment opening defined in the receiving area of ​​the housing assembly to align the adapter assembly 21850 with the housing assembly, as shown in FIG.

[0105] As referenced above, when the adapter assembly 21850 is moved toward the handle assembly, the mounting plate 21864 and alignment shaft 21866 can enter the receiving area to assist in coupling the adapter assembly 21850 to the handle assembly. When the mounting plate 21864 is seated within the handle assembly, the springs 21860, 21862 can be compressed toward a compressed position, as shown in FIG. 39 . Similar to above, the springs 21860, 21862 can apply a resistance force to bias the adapter assembly 21850 away from the mounting plate 21864. The springs 21860, 21862 can apply a resistance force to the adapter assembly 21850 such that the adapter assembly 21850 is biased away from the receiving area until the adapter assembly 21850 is latched to the handle assembly. In various embodiments, the adapter assembly 21850 can be latched to the handle assembly when a portion of the adapter housing 21852 enters the receiving area. For example, the adapter housing 21852 can include multiple flange features 21024a-e around its periphery such that the flange features 21024a-e can engage with the flange features 21024a-e of the receiving area of ​​the housing assembly when the adapter housing 21852 enters the receiving area. The springs 21860, 21862 can bias the adapter assembly 21850 away from the receiving area until the flange features 21024a-e engage with the flange features 21024a-e to latch the adapter assembly 21850 to the housing assembly.

[0106] Thus, the springs 21860, 21862 provide a mechanism for ensuring that the adapter assembly 21850 is properly coupled to the handle housing before the adapter assembly 21850 is utilized in a surgical procedure. For example, if the flange features 21024a-e do not fully or properly couple to the flange features 21022a-e, thus indicating that the shaft assembly 21850 is not properly coupled to the handle assembly, the springs 21860, 21862 can urge the shaft assembly 21850 away from the receiving area. Thus, the springs 21860, 21862 not only require that a threshold force be applied to the adapter assembly 21850 to overcome the spring bias of the springs 21860, 21862, but also require that the adapter assembly 21850 be properly coupled to the handle assembly; otherwise, the springs 21860, 21862 will urge the adapter assembly 21850 away from the handle assembly.

[0107] 40, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a housing 29000 and an adapter 29002. In various embodiments, the housing 29000 and the adapter 29002 may be substantially similar to the housing assembly 21000 and the adapter 21000, and like numbers are utilized to indicate like features.

[0108] In various embodiments, the recessed receiving area 21008 of the housing assembly 29000 can include a compliant material 29010 disposed therein. In some embodiments, the compliant material 29010 can be positioned within the recessed receiving area 21008 such that the compliant material 29010 does not longitudinally overlap components of the housing assembly 29000 that interface with components of the adapter 29002, such as the contacts 21020 a, 21020 b, the electrical output connector 21026, and the rotatable drive shafts 21012 a, 21012 b, 21012 c. In other words, the compliant material 29010 can occupy as much free space within the receiving area 21008 as possible to occupy as much surface area as possible without interfering with the ability of the adapter 29002 to properly couple to and function with the housing 29000.

[0109] In various embodiments, the compliant material 29010 can include a compliant foam. In some embodiments, the compliant material 29010 can include a compliant rubber. In some embodiments, the compliant material 29010 can include a compliant lattice frame material. In one aspect, the compliant material 29010 is positioned within the receiving area 21008 such that when the drive coupling assembly 21010 is moved into the receiving area 21008 to couple the adapter 29002 to the housing 29000, the compliant material 29010 is deformed and can resist proximal movement of the drive coupling assembly 21010 toward a latched orientation with the housing 29000, as described elsewhere herein.

[0110] 41 , when the drive coupling assembly 21010 is moved toward the receiving area 21008 to latch the adapter 29002 to the housing 29000, the compliant material 29010 can be pressed down by the drive coupling assembly 21010 and apply a resistive force to the drive coupling assembly 21010. The compliant material 29010 can be compressed by the drive coupling assembly 21010, for example, when the flanges 21022a-e move toward the flanges 21024a-e. If the drive coupling assembly 21010 is not moved a sufficient amount relative to the housing so that the flanges 21022a-e engage the flanges 21024a-e and couple the adapter 29002 to the housing 29000, the compliant material 29010 can expand and urge the drive coupling assembly 21010 away from the housing 29000. In one aspect, a user may be required to apply a threshold force to the adapter 29002 to overcome the resistance of the compliant material 29010 and compress the compliant material 29010 a sufficient amount, as shown in FIG. 42, to operably engage the flanges 21022a-e with the flanges 21204a-e and couple the adapter 29002 to the housing 29000. With the flanges 21022a-e operably engaged with the flanges 21204a-e, the compliant material 29010 can be held in a compressed state by the drive coupling assembly 21010, as shown in FIG.

[0111] The compliant material 29010 provided above can provide a means for ensuring that the adapter 29002 is properly coupled to the housing 29000 before the adapter 29002 is utilized in a surgical procedure. For example, if flange features 21024a-e do not fully or properly couple to flange features 21022a-e, thus indicating that the adapter 29002 is not properly coupled to the housing 29000, the compliant material 29010 can urge the adapter 29002 away from the housing 29000. Thus, the compliant material 29010 requires that a threshold force be applied to the adapter 29002 to overcome the resistive bias of the compliant material 29010; otherwise, the compliant material 29010 will urge the adapter 29002 away from the housing 29000.

[0112] It should be understood that any of the foregoing embodiments can be utilized in conjunction with one another to enable a user to detect irregularities and incomplete connections at various locations throughout a surgical instrument. For example, a surgical instrument may include a detector assembly for determining whether an adapter is properly coupled to a handle assembly, a detector assembly for determining whether a shaft assembly is properly connected to a loading unit, and a detector assembly for determining whether an end effector and / or cartridge is properly coupled to the surgical instrument. Each of the detector assemblies may include its own dedicated electrical configuration and may be coupled to a control circuit positioned within the handle assembly such that the control circuit can identify the location of an incomplete connection within the surgical instrument. If the control circuit identifies an incomplete connection within the surgical instrument using any of the foregoing mechanisms disclosed herein, the control circuit may provide feedback to the user indicating the location of the incomplete connection. For example, the control circuit may cause a display to display the location of the incomplete connection detected by any of the foregoing mechanisms disclosed herein.

[0113] As described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments. Well-known operations, components, and elements have not been 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 exemplary. Variations and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0114] The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form of include, such as "includes" and "including"), and "contain" (and any form of contain, such as "contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a surgical system, device, or apparatus 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, an element of a system, device, or apparatus 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.

[0115] The terms "proximal" and "distal" are used herein with reference to a clinician manipulating the 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," "above," and "below" 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.

[0116] 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 can be used in many surgical procedures and applications, including, for example, those associated with open surgical procedures. By proceeding through the Detailed Description section of this specification, the reader will further appreciate that the various instruments disclosed herein can be inserted into the body in any manner, such as through a natural opening, an incision or puncture made in tissue, etc. The working portions or end effector portions of these instruments can 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 can be advanced.

[0117] 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 therefrom. The second jaw includes an anvil configured to deform staples ejected from the staple cartridge. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw about a closure axis, while the first jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw. The surgical stapling system further includes an articulation joint configured to rotate, or articulate, the end effector relative to the shaft. The end effector is rotatable about an articulation axis extending through the articulation joint. Other embodiments are also contemplated that do not include an articulation joint.

[0118] The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body. The cartridge body includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a deck extending between the proximal and distal ends. During 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, and the staples are 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 a 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.

[0119] 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 to eject the staples from the staple cavities. The drivers are retained within the cartridge body by a retainer extending around a lower periphery of the cartridge body and include 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 the proximal end and a distal position adjacent the distal end. The sled includes a plurality of ramps configured to slide beneath the drivers and lift the drivers, on which the staples are supported, toward the anvil.

[0120] In addition to the above, the sled is moved distally by a firing member. The firing member is configured to contact the sled and push it 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 engaging the first jaw and a second cam engaging the second jaw. When the firing member is advanced distally, the first cam and the second cam can control the distance between the deck 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 that the knife be positioned at least partially proximal to the beveled surface so that the staples are fired forward of the knife.

[0121] Although various devices are described herein in conjunction 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, according to various embodiments. The foregoing description and the following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations.

[0122] 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 devices 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 subsequent 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 application.

[0123] The devices disclosed herein can be processed before surgery. First, new or used instruments are obtained and, if necessary, cleaned. The instruments can 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 can 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 can kill bacteria on the instruments and in the container. The sterilized instruments can then be stored in the sterile container. The sealed container can keep the instruments sterile until they are opened in the medical facility. The devices can 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.

[0124] While several embodiments have been shown and described, it is not the applicant's intention to restrict or limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Numerous modifications, variations, changes, substitutions, combinations, and equivalents of these embodiments may be implemented and will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the structure of each element associated with the described embodiments can alternatively be described as a means for providing the function performed by that element. Also, although materials are disclosed with respect to particular components, other materials may be used. It is therefore to be understood that the above description and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, combinations, and variations as fall within the scope of the disclosed embodiments. The appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, variations, changes, substitutions, modifications, and equivalents.

[0125] The above detailed description has set forth various aspects of devices and / or processes via the use of block diagrams, flow diagrams, and / or examples. To the extent that such block diagrams, flow diagrams, and / or examples include one or more functions and / or operations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that each function and / or operation included in such block diagrams, flow diagrams, and / or examples can be individually and / or collectively implemented by various types of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein may be equivalently implemented on an integrated circuit, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or substantially any combination thereof, and that designing circuitry and / or writing software and / or firmware code is within the skill of those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. Additionally, those skilled in the art will understand that the subject mechanisms described herein can be distributed as one or more program products in a variety of forms, and that particular aspects of the subject matter described herein apply regardless of the particular type of signal-bearing medium used to actually effect the distribution.

[0126] The instructions used to program the logic to implement various disclosed aspects may be stored in system memory, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), cache, flash memory, or other storage. Additionally, the instructions may be distributed over a network or by other computer-readable media. A machine-readable medium may therefore include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer), including, but not limited to, a floppy diskette, an optical disk, a compact disc, a read-only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a magnetic or optical card, a flash memory, or tangible machine-readable storage used to transmit information over the Internet via an electrical, optical, acoustic, or other form of propagated signal (e.g., carrier wave, infrared signal, digital signal, etc.). Accordingly, non-transitory computer-readable media includes any type of tangible machine-readable medium suitable for storing or transmitting electronic instructions or information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer).

[0127] The term “control circuitry,” as used in any aspect of the present specification, may refer to, for example, hardwired circuitry, programmable circuitry (e.g., a computer processor including one or more individual instruction processing cores, a processing unit, a processor, a microcontroller, a microcontroller unit, a controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable logic device (PLD), a programmable logic array (PLA), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)), a state machine circuit, firmware that stores instructions executed by the programmable circuit, and any combination thereof. Control circuitry may be embodied, collectively or individually, as circuits that form part of a larger system, such as, for example, an integrated circuit (IC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on a chip (SoC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a server, a smartphone, etc. Thus, as used herein, "control circuitry" includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program that at least partially executes the processes and / or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program that at least partially executes the processes and / or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., a form of random access memory) and / or electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, a communications switch, or an optical-to-electrical facility).Those skilled in the art will recognize that the subject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion, or some combination thereof.

[0128] As used in any aspect of this specification, the term "logic" may refer to an application, software, firmware, and / or circuitry configured to perform any of the operations described above. Software may be embodied as a software package, code, instructions, an instruction set, and / or data recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Firmware may be embodied as code, instructions, or an instruction set, and / or hard-coded (e.g., non-volatile) data in a memory device.

[0129] When used in any aspect of this specification, the terms "component," "system," "module," etc. may refer to a computer-related entity that is either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution.

[0130] As used in any aspect of this specification, an "algorithm" refers to a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result, and the "steps" refer to manipulations of physical quantities and / or logical states, which may, but need not, take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It is common practice to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. These and similar terms may be associated with the appropriate physical quantities or are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities and / or states.

[0131] The network may include a packet-switched network. The communication devices may communicate with each other using a selected packet-switched network communication protocol. One exemplary communication protocol may include an Ethernet communication protocol, which may enable communication using Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP). The Ethernet protocol may conform to or be compatible with the Ethernet standard published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), entitled "IEEE 802.3 Standard," December 2008, and / or later versions of this standard. Alternatively or additionally, the communication devices may communicate with each other using an X.25 communication protocol. The X.25 communication protocol may conform to or be compatible with standards promulgated by the International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). Alternatively or additionally, the communication devices may communicate with each other using a frame relay communication protocol. The frame relay communication protocol may conform to or be compatible with standards promulgated by the Consultative Committee for International Telegraph and Telephone (CCITT) and / or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Alternatively or additionally, the transceivers may be capable of communicating with each other using an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communication protocol. The ATM communication protocol may conform to or be compatible with the ATM standard published by the ATM Forum in August 2001 entitled "ATM-MPLS Network Interworking 2.0" and / or later versions of this standard.Of course, different and / or later-developed connection-oriented network communication protocols are equally contemplated herein.

[0132] Unless expressly specified otherwise, as will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure, descriptions using terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," "displaying," and the like throughout the foregoing disclosure will be understood to refer to the actions and processing of a computer system or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities in the computer system's registers and memory into other data that are similarly represented as physical quantities in the computer system's memory or registers or other such information storage, transmission, or display device.

[0133] One or more components may be referred to herein as being "configured to," "configurable to," "operable / operative to," "adaptable," "capable to," "conformable / conformed to," etc. Those skilled in the art will understand that "configured to" may generally encompass active components and / or inactive components and / or standby components, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0134] Additionally, even when a specific number is explicitly stated in an introduced claim, those skilled in the art will recognize that such a statement should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., a statement simply stating "two items" without other modifiers generally means at least two items, or two or more items). Furthermore, when notation similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, such syntax is generally intended in the sense that one skilled in the art would understand the notation (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" includes, but is not limited to, systems having only A, only B, only C, both A and B, both A and C, both B and C, and / or all of A, B, and C, etc.). When notation similar to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, such syntax is generally intended in the sense that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the notation (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" includes, but is not limited to, systems having only A, only B, only C, both A and B, both A and C, both B and C, and / or all of A, B, and C, etc.). Furthermore, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that any disjunctive word and / or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms should typically be understood, whether in the specification, claims, or drawings, to contemplate the possibility of including one of those terms, either of those terms, or both of those terms, unless the context requires otherwise. For example, the phrase "A or B" will typically be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

[0135] With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will understand that the recited operations herein generally can be performed in any order. Also, while flow diagrams of various operations are shown in a sequence, it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in orders other than those shown, or may be performed simultaneously. Examples of such alternative orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preliminary, additional, simultaneous, reverse, or other different orderings, unless the context requires otherwise. Furthermore, terms such as "responsive to," "related to," or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variations, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0136] It is worth noting that any reference to "one embodiment," "embodiment," "exemplary," "one illustrative embodiment," etc. means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," "exemplary," and "in one illustrative embodiment" in various places throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0137] As described above, the surgical instruments disclosed herein may include a control system. Each control system may include a circuit board having one or more processors and / or memory devices. Among other things, the control systems may be configured to store, for example, sensor data. They may also be configured to store, for example, data identifying the type of staple cartridge attached to the stapling instrument. More specifically, the type of staple cartridge may be identified by a sensor when attached to the stapling instrument, and the sensor data may be stored in the control system. This information may be obtained by the control system to evaluate whether the staple cartridge is suitable for use.

[0138] The surgical tool systems described herein are powered by electric motors; however, the surgical tool systems described herein can be driven in any suitable manner. In certain examples, the motors disclosed herein can comprise one or more portions of a robotically controlled system. For example, 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), discloses several examples of robotic surgical tool systems in more detail, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 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 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265865, filed February 15, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DISTAL PULLEY," and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0290586, filed March 29, 2017, entitled "STAPLING CARTRIDGE," are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0139] As used in this disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the terms "substantially," "about," or "approximately" refer to a tolerance for a particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which depends in part on how the value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, the terms "substantially," "about," or "approximately" refer to 1, 2, 3, or 4 standard deviations. In certain embodiments, the terms "substantially," "about," or "approximately" refer to within 50%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, or 0.05% of a given value or range.

[0140] In summary, many benefits have been described that result from using the concepts described herein. The foregoing description of one or more embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The one or more embodiments have been selected and described to illustrate the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to utilize various embodiments, with various modifications, as suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the claims presented herewith define the overall scope.

[0141] Various aspects of the subject matter described herein are illustrated in the following examples.

[0142] Example 1 - A surgical system comprising: a housing assembly comprising an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly; and a loading unit comprising a lug extending from the loading unit. The elongated shaft comprises a spring assembly. The loading unit is rotatable relative to the elongated shaft between an unlocked position in which the loading unit is movable away from the elongated shaft to separate the loading unit from the housing assembly, a locked position in which the loading unit is locked to the elongated shaft, and a locked position in which the loading unit is locked to the elongated shaft. The spring assembly is configured to resist rotation of the lug when the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position.

[0143] Example 2 - The surgical system of example 1, wherein the spring assembly is configured to bias the loading unit toward the unlocked position when the loading unit is not disposed in the locked position.

[0144] Example 3 - The surgical system of Examples 1 or 2, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises a stop member configured to prevent rotation of the loading unit beyond the unlocked position.

[0145] Example 4 - The surgical system of example 3, wherein the stop member is configured to prevent the loading unit from separating from the elongate shaft when linear motion is not applied to the loading unit.

[0146] Example 5 - A surgical system comprising: a housing assembly comprising an elongate shaft extending from the housing assembly; and a loading unit removably coupleable to the elongate shaft. The housing assembly comprises a first contact. The loading unit comprises a second contact. The first contact is configured to electrically communicate with the second contact based on the loading unit being coupled to the elongate shaft. The surgical system further comprises a detector assembly for determining whether the loading unit is coupled to the elongate shaft.

[0147] Example 6 - A surgical system as described in Example 5, wherein the loading unit is rotatable relative to the elongate shaft between an unlocked position in which the loading unit is movable away from the housing assembly and a locked position in which the loading unit is locked to the elongate shaft.

[0148] Example 7 - A surgical system as described in Example 6, wherein the detector assembly comprises a first magnet coupled to the loading unit, the first magnet having a first polarity, a second magnet coupled to the loading unit, the second magnet having a second polarity different from the first polarity, and a sensor coupled to the elongated shaft.

[0149] Example 8 - A surgical system as described in Example 7, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a first polarity of the first magnet when the loading unit is in the unlocked position, and the sensor is configured to detect a second polarity of the second magnet when the loading unit is in the locked position.

[0150] Example 9 - A surgical system as described in Example 7 or 8, wherein the sensor comprises a Hall Effect sensor.

[0151] Example 10 - A surgical system described in any of Examples 6 to 9, wherein the detector assembly comprises a first capacitor coupled to the loading unit and a second capacitor coupled to the elongated shaft.

[0152] Example 11 - The surgical system of Example 10, further comprising a sensor configured to detect capacitance between the first capacitor and the second capacitor.

[0153] Example 12 - A surgical system as described in Example 11, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a first capacitance between the first capacitor and the second capacitor based on the loading unit being in an unlocked position, and the sensor is configured to sense a second capacitance between the first capacitor and the second capacitor based on the loading unit being in a locked position.

[0154] Example 13 - A surgical system described in any one of Examples 6 to 12, wherein the detector assembly comprises a lug extending from the loading unit and a spring assembly coupled to the elongated shaft.

[0155] Example 14 - The surgical system of Example 13, wherein the spring assembly is configured to resist rotation of the loading unit when the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position.

[0156] Example 15 - The surgical system of example 14, wherein the spring assembly is prevented from rotating the loading unit toward the unlocked position once the loading unit reaches the locked position.

[0157] Example 16 - A surgical system comprising: a handle assembly; and an adapter assembly removably coupleable to the handle assembly. The adapter assembly comprises an elongate shaft extending from the adapter assembly. The surgical system further includes a loading unit removably coupleable to the elongate shaft, a first detector assembly for determining whether the adapter assembly is coupled to the handle assembly, and a second detector assembly for determining whether the loading unit is coupled to the elongate shaft.

[0158] Example 17 - A surgical system as described in Example 16, wherein the first detector assembly comprises a compatible material positioned at the coupling interface between the handle assembly and the adapter assembly, and the compatible material is configured to bias the adapter assembly in a direction away from the handle assembly when the adapter assembly is not coupled to the handle assembly.

[0159] Example 18 - A surgical system described in Example 16 or 17, wherein the first detector assembly comprises a first latch coupled to the adapter assembly, the first latch comprising a first seating platform having a first seating contact and a second seating platform having a second seating contact, and the first seating contact is in electrical communication with the second seating contact. The first detector assembly further comprises a second latch coupled to the handle assembly, the second latch configured to engage with the first latch to couple the adapter assembly to the handle assembly, the second latch comprising a first finger having a first finger contact portion configured to electrically couple to the first seating contact portion based on the first finger engaging the first seating platform and the second finger having the second finger contact portion, and the second finger contact portion configured to electrically couple to the second seating contact portion based on the second finger engaging the second seating platform.

[0160] Example 19 - The surgical system of Examples 16 or 17, wherein the first detector assembly comprises a first latch coupled to the adapter assembly, the first latch comprising a first seating platform and a second seating platform. The first detector assembly further comprises a second latch coupled to the handle assembly, the second latch configured to engage with the first latch to couple the adapter assembly to the handle assembly, the second latch comprising a first finger having a first finger contact portion, the first on-off switch configured to operate based on the first on-off switch engaging the first seating platform, the second finger comprising a second on-off switch, the second on-off switch configured to operate based on the second on-off switch engaging the second seating platform.

[0161] Example 20 - A surgical system as described in Example 16, wherein the first detector assembly comprises: a first contact portion disposed on the handle assembly; a second contact portion disposed on the handle assembly; a first depressible shaft extending from the adapter assembly, the first depressible shaft configured to engage with the first contact portion; and a second depressible shaft extending from the adapter assembly, the second depressible shaft configured to engage with the second contact portion.

[0162] Any patent application, patent, non-patent publication, or other disclosure material referenced herein and / or listed in any Application Data Sheet is incorporated herein by reference to the extent the incorporated material is not inconsistent with this specification. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure material explicitly set forth herein shall supersede any conflicting statements incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portions thereof, that is said to be incorporated herein by reference but that conflicts with current definitions, views, or other disclosure material set forth herein shall be incorporated only to the extent that no conflict arises between the incorporated material and the current disclosure material.

[0163] [Embodiment] (1) A surgical system comprising: a housing assembly comprising an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly, the elongated shaft comprising a spring assembly; a loading unit rotatable relative to the elongate shaft between an unlocked position where the loading unit is movable away from the elongate shaft to separate the loading unit from the housing assembly, and a locked position where the loading unit is locked to the elongate shaft, the loading unit comprising a lug extending therefrom; The spring assembly is configured to resist rotation of the lug when the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position. (2) A surgical system as described in embodiment 1, wherein the spring assembly is configured to bias the loading unit toward the unlocked position when the loading unit is not disposed in the locked position. (3) A surgical system as described in embodiment 1, wherein the elongated shaft further comprises a stop member configured to prevent rotation of the loading unit beyond the unlocked position. (4) A surgical system as described in embodiment 3, wherein the stop member is configured to prevent the loading unit from separating from the elongate shaft when linear motion is not applied to the loading unit. (5) A surgical system, comprising: a housing assembly including an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly and including a first contact portion; a loading unit removably coupleable to the elongate shaft, the loading unit including a second contact, the first contact configured to electrically communicate with the second contact upon coupling of the loading unit to the elongate shaft; a detector assembly configured to determine whether the loading unit is coupled to the elongate shaft.

[0164] (6) A surgical system as described in embodiment 5, wherein the loading unit is rotatable relative to the elongate shaft between an unlocked position in which the loading unit is movable away from the housing assembly and a locked position in which the loading unit is coupled to the elongate shaft. (7) The detector assembly is a first magnet coupled to the loading unit, the first magnet including a first polarity; a second magnet coupled to the loading unit, the second magnet including a second polarity different from the first polarity; A surgical system as described in embodiment 6, comprising a sensor coupled to the elongate shaft. (8) A surgical system as described in embodiment 7, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the first polarity of the first magnet when the loading unit is in the unlocked position, and the sensor is configured to detect the second polarity of the second magnet when the loading unit is in the locked position. (9) A surgical system as described in embodiment 7, wherein the sensor includes a Hall effect sensor. (10) The detector assembly a first capacitor coupled to the loading unit; A surgical system as described in embodiment 6, comprising a second capacitor coupled to the elongate shaft.

[0165] (11) The surgical system of embodiment 10, wherein the detector assembly further comprises a sensor configured to detect capacitance between the first capacitor and the second capacitor. (12) A surgical system as described in embodiment 11, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a first capacitance between the first capacitor and the second capacitor based on the loading unit being in the unlocked position, and the sensor is configured to sense a second capacitance between the first capacitor and the second capacitor based on the loading unit being in the locked position. (13) The detector assembly a lug extending from the loading unit; 7. The surgical system of claim 6, further comprising: a spring assembly coupled to the elongate shaft. (14) The surgical system of embodiment 13, wherein the spring assembly is configured to resist rotation of the loading unit when the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position. (15) The surgical system of embodiment 14, wherein the spring assembly is prevented from rotating the loading unit toward the unlocked position when the loading unit reaches the locked position.

[0166] (16) A surgical system, comprising: A handle assembly; an adapter assembly removably coupleable to the handle assembly, the adapter assembly including an elongated shaft extending from the adapter assembly; a loading unit removably coupleable to the elongate shaft; a first detector assembly configured to determine whether the adapter assembly is coupled to the handle assembly; a second detector assembly configured to determine whether the loading unit is coupled to the elongate shaft. (17) The surgical system of embodiment 16, wherein the first detector assembly comprises a compliant material positioned at a coupling interface between the handle assembly and the adapter assembly, the compliant material being configured to bias the adapter assembly away from the handle assembly when the adapter assembly is not coupled to the handle assembly. (18) The first detector assembly a first latch coupled to the adapter assembly, a first seating platform having a first seating contact; a first latch comprising a second seating platform having a second seating contact, the first seating contact being in electrical communication with the second seating contact; a second latch coupled to the handle assembly and configured to engage the first latch to couple the adapter assembly to the handle assembly; a first finger including a first finger contact portion configured to electrically couple to the first seating contact portion based on the first finger engaging the first seating platform; A surgical system as described in embodiment 16, comprising: a second finger having a second finger contact portion, the second finger contact portion configured to electrically couple to the second seating contact portion based on the second finger engaging the second seating platform; and a second latch. (19) The first detector assembly a first latch coupled to the adapter assembly, a first seating platform; a first latch having a second seating platform; a second latch coupled to the handle assembly and configured to engage the first latch to couple the adapter assembly to the handle assembly; a first finger including a first on-off switch configured to activate based on the first on-off switch engaging the first seating platform; A surgical system as described in embodiment 16, comprising: a second finger having a second on / off switch, the second on / off switch configured to operate based on the second on / off switch engaging the second seating platform; and a second latch. (20) The first detector assembly a first contact portion disposed on the handle assembly; a second contact portion disposed on the handle assembly; a first depressible shaft extending from the adapter assembly, the first depressible shaft configured to engage the first contact portion; A surgical system as described in embodiment 16, comprising a second depressible shaft extending from the adapter assembly, the second depressible shaft configured to engage with the second contact portion.

Claims

1. 1. A surgical system comprising: a housing assembly comprising an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly, the elongated shaft comprising a spring assembly; a loading unit rotatable relative to the elongate shaft between an unlocked position where the loading unit is movable away from the elongate shaft to separate the loading unit from the housing assembly, and a locked position where the loading unit is locked to the elongate shaft, the loading unit comprising a lug extending therefrom; the spring assembly is configured to abut against the lug to resist rotation of the lug when the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position, and to bias the loading unit toward the unlocked position when the loading unit is not disposed at the locked position; The spring assembly includes a spring configured to abut the lug.

2. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the spring is configured to apply no resistive force to the lug when the loading unit is rotated to the locked position.

3. A surgical system, comprising: a housing assembly comprising an elongated shaft extending from the housing assembly, the elongated shaft comprising a spring assembly; a loading unit rotatable relative to the elongate shaft between an unlocked position where the loading unit is movable away from the elongate shaft to separate the loading unit from the housing assembly, and a locked position where the loading unit is locked to the elongate shaft, the loading unit comprising a lug extending therefrom; the spring assembly is configured to abut against the lug to resist rotation of the lug when the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position, and to bias the loading unit toward the unlocked position when the loading unit is not disposed at the locked position; the elongate shaft further comprising a stop member configured to prevent rotation of the loading unit beyond the unlocked position; the stop member is positioned offset from the unlocked position such that in the unlocked position, the loading unit can be rotated toward the locked position to disengage the stop member from the lug and then moved along the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft to remove the loading unit from the opening.

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