Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising a tissue cutting knife movable through a staple cartridge to perform a staple firing stroke is disclosed. The stapling instrument further comprises a lockout system configured to prevent the tissue cutting knife from being moved through the staple firing stroke if the staple cartridge is missing from the stapling instrument and/or if the staple cartridge has been previously fired. The lockout system comprises a flexible spring that acts on the bottom of the tissue cutting knife at the initiation of the staple firing stroke to push the tissue cutting knife into a lockout recess if the staple cartridge is missing or has been previously fired.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising a cartridge jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge, an anvil jaw, and a firing member configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge during a firing stroke is disclosed. The anvil jaw comprises a stop extending into the cartridge jaw which prevents the staple cartridge from contacting the firing member when the staple cartridge is inserted into the cartridge jaw.

Abstract: A tire valve extension (10) which includes a relief valve element (24) to limit the inflation pressure of the tire. The extension has a tubular body with an annular recess (36) formed therein to define an outer tube section (14) and an inner tube section (16). A spring loaded valve actuating pin (18) is received within the inner tube section, and the relief valve element is received within the recess. Ports (32) formed in the body intersect a channel (38) formed in the recess to define a relief flow path.

Abstract: A device for filling a pneumatic tire has associated structure which will activate a warning device when the tire's internal pressure falls below a predetermined value. The device has a valve stem and core to provide the filling function, and a diaphragm actuated electrical switch which signals when the pressure within the tire has dropped below the predetermined value.