Firing system lockout arrangements for surgical instruments

Abstract

Surgical end effectors and fastener cartridges having firing lockout arrangements for preventing or limit a firing stroke when a cartridge has not been operably installed in the end effector or a spent cartridge has not been replaced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge body defining a path therethrough for operably receiving a firing member of a surgical instrument; and   an alignment member operably supported in the cartridge body and being configured to move the firing member from an inoperable configuration wherein firing member is misaligned with the path to an operable configuration wherein the firing member is in alignment with the path when the firing member is driven into contact therewith.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment member comprises a movable sled configured to eject surgical fasteners supported in the cartridge body as the sled is moved from a starting to ending position within the cartridge body. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said path comprises a longitudinal slot through said cartridge body. 
     
     
         4 . An end effector for a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
 a support member comprising:
 a slot; and 
 a lockout notch adjacent to said slot and wherein said end effector further comprises: 
   a firing member movable between an inoperable configuration and an operable configuration, wherein said firing member is aligned with said slot and is structured to translate in said slot when in said operable configuration, and wherein said firing member is engaged with said lockout notch and misaligned with said slot when in said inoperable configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The end effector of  claim 4 , wherein said support member comprises:
 a first jaw, wherein said first jaw comprises said slot and said lockout notch; and   a second jaw, wherein said second jaw obstructs the translation of said firing member in said slot when said firing member is in said inoperable configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The end effector of  claim 5 , wherein said second jaw comprises a channel, wherein said firing member is aligned with said channel and structured to translate in said channel when in said operable configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The end effector of  claim 6 , wherein said second jaw comprises a second lockout notch, wherein said firing member is positioned at least partially within said lockout notch in said first jaw and within said second lockout notch in said second jaw when said firing member is in said inoperable configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The end effector of  claim 7 , wherein said support member is structured to receive a fastener cartridge, wherein the fastener cartridge comprises an alignment member, and wherein the alignment member is structured to move said firing member from said inoperable configuration to said operable configuration when the fastener cartridge has been operably seated within the support member. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 an elongate channel configured to removably support a cartridge therein, the cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge body; and 
 an alignment member movably supported within the cartridge body for movement from a first position to a second position therein and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises: 
   a firing member operably supported relative to the elongate channel for movement between a starting position and an ending position upon application of actuation motions thereto, the firing member being incapable from moving from the starting position to the ending position unless the firing member is in operable engagement with the alignment member in the cartridge body.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument of  claim 9  wherein the elongate channel includes a channel slot for receiving a portion of the firing member therein when the firing member moves between the starting and ending positions and wherein the elongate channel further includes a lockout notch configured to receive the firing member portion when the firing member is in the starting position and out of operable engagement with the alignment member. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument of  claim 9  wherein the cartridge comprises a plurality of fasteners operably supported in the cartridge body and wherein the alignment member comprises a sled movably supported within the cartridge body and configured to eject the fasteners from the cartridge body when moved from the first to second position. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the sled is moved from the first position to the second position when the firing member is moved from the starting position to the ending position. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10  further comprising a second jaw movably supported relative to the elongate channel between an open and closed position, the second jaw further having a jaw slot therein configured to receive another portion of the firing member therein when the second jaw is in the closed position and the firing member is moved between the starting and ending positions. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13  wherein the second jaw blocks the firing member from moving from the starting to ending position when the firing member is out of operable engagement with the alignment member. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 14 , wherein said second jaw comprises a second lockout notch configured to receive the other firing member portion therein when the firing member is in the starting position and out of operable engagement with the alignment member. 
     
     
         16 . An end effector for a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
 an elongate channel configured to removably support a cartridge therein;   a firing member operably supported relative to the elongate channel for movement between a starting and ending position;   an implement drive shaft in operable engagement with the firing member for moving the firing member between the starting and ending positions upon applications of actuation motions thereto from a drive arrangement, the implement drive shaft being moveable from an inoperable position wherein the implement drive shaft is out of operable engagement with the drive arrangement to an operable position wherein the implement drive shaft is in operable engagement with the drive arrangement; and   an alignment member movably supported for contact with the implement drive shaft to move the implement drive shaft from the inoperable position to the operable position upon installation of a cartridge in the elongate channel.   
     
     
         17 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 an elongate channel;   a cartridge removably supported in the elongate channel;   a firing member operably supported relative to the elongate channel for movement between a starting and ending position;   an implement drive shaft in operable engagement with the firing member for moving the firing member between the starting and ending positions upon applications of actuation motions thereto from a drive arrangement, the implement drive shaft being moveable from an inoperable position wherein the implement drive shaft is out of operable engagement with the drive arrangement to an operable position wherein the implement drive shaft is in operable engagement with the drive arrangement; and   an alignment member movably supported for contact with the implement drive shaft to move the implement drive shaft from the inoperable position to the operable position upon installation of a cartridge in the elongate channel.   
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument of  claim 17  wherein the alignment member is movably supported within the cartridge and is movable from a first position to a second position therein by the firing member when the firing member is moved from the starting to ending position. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument of  claim 18 , wherein the cartridge comprises a cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of fasteners therein.