Abstract: A surgical tool assembly that includes an elongate shaft that has an end effector coupled thereto for selective articulation relative to the shaft. A first articulation link operably interfaces with a source of articulation motions configured to selectively axially move the first articulation link a first axial distance in a first articulation direction. A second articulation link operably interfaces with the surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto. An articulation stroke multiplier operably interfaces with the first articulation link and the second articulation link such that when the first articulation link is axially moved the first axial distance in the first axial direction, the articulation stroke multiplier moves the second articulation link another first axial distance in the first axial direction that is greater than the first axial distance.

Abstract: A surgical end effector including a first jaw that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw between open and closed positions. A firing member is supported for axial movement within the first jaw along a shaft axis between a starting position and an ending position. A firing member lockout system is movable between an unlocked position wherein the firing member lockout system is out of engagement with the firing member and a locked position wherein the firing member lockout system is configured to prevent the firing member from being distally advanced from the starting position unless an unfired staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within the first jaw. The firing member lockout system is configured to be moved from the unlocked position to the locked position when the second jaw is moved to the closed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly configured to releasably attach to and extend distally from the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. A first electrical connector is coupled to one of the body assembly or the shaft assembly and includes a first connector body and a first electrical contact recessed within the first connector body. A second electrical connector is coupled to the other of the body assembly or the shaft assembly and includes a second connector body and a second electrical contact supported by the second connector body. The first connector body is configured to receive the second electrical contact therein to enable the electrical contacts to electrically couple together when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly.

Abstract: Surgical instrument systems comprising lockouts are disclosed. The systems comprise a firing member, a staple cartridge assembly, and a lockout member. The lockout member, movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, is configured to prevent the firing member from being advanced through the staple cartridge assembly when the lockout member is in its locked position.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument includes a longitudinally movable flexible firing beam that is configured to flexibly traverse the articulation joint and be selectively axially movable from a starting position to an ending position. A middle support member is movably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly and a portion of the surgical end effector. A proximal support link is located proximal to the middle support member and is configured to provide lateral support to a proximal portion of the flexible firing beam traversing the articulation joint. A distal support link is located distal to the middle support member and is configured to provide lateral support to a distal portion of the flexible support beam traversing the articulation joint.

Abstract: Surgical instrument systems comprising lockouts are disclosed. The systems comprise a firing member, a staple cartridge assembly, and a lockout member. The lockout member, movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, is configured to prevent the firing member from being advanced through the staple cartridge assembly when the lockout member is in its locked position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a firing member movable distally to effect a firing motion at the end effector, wherein the firing member comprises a cam slot, and a lockout pawl. The lockout pawl has a cam feature receivable in the cam slot, wherein the cam slot is configured to guide the cam feature to cause a rotation of the lockout pawl between a first position where the lockout pawl permits the distal movement of the firing member, and a second position where the lockout pawl prevents the distal movement of the firing member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft assembly, and a rotation locking mechanism. The shaft assembly extends distally from the housing and includes a shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis, and an end effector extending distally from the shaft portion, wherein the end effector and the shaft portion are axially rotatable relative to the housing about the longitudinal axis. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw to transition the end effector between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The rotation locking mechanism is configured to prevent an axial rotation of the end effector and the shaft portion relative to the housing in the closed configuration. The rotation locking mechanism is configured to permit the axial rotation of the end effector and the shaft portion relative to the housing in the open configuration.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an articulation joint and end effector extending distally from the articulation joint, wherein the end effector comprises a drive pin movable between a first position and a second position. Furthermore, the surgical instrument includes a shaft extending proximally from the articulation joint, and an articulation driver configured to move the drive pin from the first position to the second position to transition the end effector from an unarticulated configuration to an articulated configuration. Also, the surgical instrument includes a pin slot extending from the articulation driver, wherein the pin slot is configured to movably accommodate the drive pin in the unarticulated configuration, and wherein the pin slot is configured to tightly accommodate the drive pin in the articulated configuration.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprises a first jaw and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw for selective movement between an open position and closed positions. The surgical instrument further comprises a closure member that is axially movable in response to closing and opening motions. The closure member comprises at least one opening cam that protrudes therefrom to movably engage a corresponding cam surface on the second jaw such that upon application of the opening motion, the at least one opening cam movably engages the corresponding cam surface to move the second jaw to an open position, even when the jaws are under a load.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprises a first jaw and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw for selective movement between an open position and closed positions. The surgical instrument further comprises a closure member that is axially movable in response to closing and opening motions. The closure member comprises at least one opening cam that protrudes therefrom to movably engage a corresponding cam surface on the second jaw such that upon application of the opening motion, the at least one opening cam movably engages the corresponding cam surface to move the second jaw to an open position, even when the jaws are under a load.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that that defines a shaft axis and includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument further includes a rotary articulation member that is supported for rotation travel about a rotary axis that is transverse to the shaft axis. A first distal articulation driver assembly and a second distal articulation driver assembly operably interface with the surgical end effector and the rotary articulation member such that rotation of the rotary articulation member causes the first and second distal articulation drivers to articulate the surgical end effector relative to the shaft axis.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical end effector includes a cartridge support member that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. The surgical instrument further includes a longitudinally movable firing beam that extends through the articulation joint and is selectively axially movable from a starting position to an ending position within the surgical end effector. A firing beam locking assembly comprising a biasing member is operably supported on the articulation joint and is configured to apply a biasing motion to the firing beam to bias the firing beam into a locked position wherein the firing beam is prevented from moving from the starting to the ending position unless an unfired surgical staple cartridge is operably supported in the cartridge support member.

Abstract: A surgical tool assembly. The tool assembly includes a first jaw and a second jaw that is movably supported on the first jaw for selective movement relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position. The tool assembly further includes a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. The shaft assembly includes an axially movable closure member that is configured to apply an initial closure motion to a cam surface on the second jaw in a first closure direction that is normal to the cam surface and an additional closure motion to the cam surface in a second closure direction that is parallel to the shaft axis.

Abstract: A surgical tool assembly that includes an elongate shaft that has an end effector coupled thereto for selective articulation relative to the shaft. A first articulation link operably interfaces with a source of articulation motions configured to selectively axially move the first articulation link a first axial distance in a first articulation direction. A second articulation link operably interfaces with the surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto. An articulation stroke multiplier operably interfaces with the first articulation link and the second articulation link such that when the first articulation link is axially moved the first axial distance in the first axial direction, the articulation stroke multiplier moves the second articulation link another first axial distance in the first axial direction that is greater than the first axial distance.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is articulatable relative to an elongate shaft. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The second jaw is movable between an open position and closed positions when a closure member is moved in a closing direction. An articulation lock is configured to move from a locked configuration wherein the end effector is prevented from articulating and an unlocked configuration wherein the end effector is articulatable. The articulation lock is configured to move from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration when the closure member is moved from the open position in the closing direction.

Abstract: A surgical tool assembly that includes first and second jaws. The second jaw includes a second jaw body portion and a second jaw mounting portion that is movably coupled to the first jaw. A closure member that has at least one opening cam formed thereon is axially movable in response to closing and opening motions. The opening cam is configured to movably engage a corresponding cam surface that is formed on the second jaw body portion to move the second jaw to an open position.

Abstract: A surgical tool assembly that includes an axially movable closure member and an axially movable firing member that is movable between an unfired position and a fired position. The tool assembly includes a second jaw that has a mounting portion and mounting walls that are movably mounted to a first jaw. The mounting portion defines a cam area that is configured for engagement by the movable closure member to move the second jaw from an open position to a closed position. The mounting walls define an open-topped parking area for accommodating the firing member therein when in the unfired position. A protective cap member is attached to the mounting walls such that it covers at least a portion of the open topped parking area.

Abstract: A surgical tool assembly. A surgical end effector is movably coupled to a shaft assembly by an articulation joint that is configured to facilitate selective articulation of the surgical end effector relative to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is operably coupled to the articulation joint. An elongate notch is provided in the distal end portion and is located on one lateral side of a shaft axis that is defined by the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may be configured to prevent the distal end portion from buckling when an axial actuation motion is applied to the proximal end.

Abstract: A surgical tool assembly that includes a elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is movably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly by a distal support link that is pivotally coupled to the surgical end effector to define an articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis. The distal support link is pivotally and axially movably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly to facilitate selective articulation of the surgical end effector relative to the elongate shaft assembly about the articulation axis between a first unarticulated position and articulation position located on one side of the shaft axis.