Surgical cartridges with surgical instrument unlocking features

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument including a first jaw configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position. A firing member is configured to axially move between a starting and ending position upon application of a firing motion thereto. A firing member lockout interfaces with ae camming assembly in the surgical staple cartridge to lockout the firing member unless the camming assembly is in an unfired position. A cartridge verification member is configured to move the camming assembly out of the unfired position to an intermediate position unless the cartridge verification member detects a verification feature on the surgical staple cartridge.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A surgical cartridge for use with a surgical instrument including a shaft defining a shaft axis, and an end effector attached to the shaft, wherein the end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw supported relative to the first jaw for movement about a jaw axis that is transverse to the shaft axis between an open position and a closed position, and a firing member movable from a locked position in which the firing member is unable to move distally therefrom through the end effector to an ending position within the end effector, wherein said surgical cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body configured to be removably seated in the first jaw, wherein said cartridge body comprises a proximal end and a distal end;   a first unlocking feature protruding from said proximal end of said cartridge body, wherein said first unlocking feature is configured to laterally move a closure lock in the surgical instrument in a first lateral direction that is parallel to the jaw axis from a blocking position in which the closure lock prevents the second jaw from being movable from the open position to an unblocking position in which the second jaw is movable to the closed position when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw; and   a second unlocking feature configured to move the firing member from the locked position to an unlocked position in which the firing member is movable to the ending position.   
     
     
         23 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein said second unlocking feature is movable between an unactuated position within said cartridge body and an actuated position within said cartridge body, wherein said second unlocking feature moves the firing member to the unlocked position when said second unlocking feature is in said unactuated position and said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of surgical staples stored in said cartridge body, and wherein said second unlocking feature comprises a camming member configured to eject said surgical staples from said cartridge body when said camming member is moved from said unactuated position to said actuated position. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 24 , wherein the firing member includes a lock latch that is movable relative to the firing member about a latch axis that is transverse to the shaft axis between a latched position wherein the lock latch retains the firing member in the locked position and an unlatched position corresponding to the unlocked position in which the firing member is movable to the ending position, and wherein said camming member is configured to move the lock latch from the latched positon to the unlatched position when said camming member is in said unactuated position and said cartridge body is seated in said first jaw. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein said cartridge body further comprises an elongate slot defining a cartridge axis, wherein said elongate slot is configured to accommodate the firing member when the firing member moves between the locked position and the ending position, and wherein said first unlocking feature protrudes from said proximal end on one lateral side of said cartridge axis. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 26 , further comprising a cartridge pan attached to said cartridge body, wherein said first unlocking feature is formed in said cartridge pan. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 27 , wherein said cartridge body is fabricated from a first material and said cartridge pan is fabricated from a second material that differs from said first material. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein the surgical instrument includes a firing member lock that is movable in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction between a latched position in which the firing member lock retains the firing member in the locked position and an unlatched position corresponding to the unlocked position in which the firing member is movable to the ending position, and wherein said second unlocking feature is configured to move the firing member lock from the latched positon to the unlatched position when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 29 , wherein said second unlocking feature protrudes from said proximal end of said cartridge body. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 30 , wherein said cartridge body further comprises an elongate slot defining a cartridge axis, wherein said elongate slot is configured to accommodate the firing member when the firing member moves between the locked position and the ending position, wherein said first unlocking feature protrudes from said proximal end on one lateral side of said cartridge axis, and wherein said second unlocking feature protrudes from said proximal end on another lateral side of said cartridge axis. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 30 , further comprising a cartridge pan attached to said cartridge body, and wherein said first unlocking feature is formed in said cartridge pan and said second unlocking feature is formed in said cartridge pan. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 32 , wherein said cartridge body is fabricated from a first material and said cartridge pan is fabricated from a second material that differs from said first material. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a plurality of surgical staples stored in said cartridge body; and   a camming member configured to eject said surgical staples from said cartridge body when said camming member is moved from an unactuated position to an actuated position, wherein said camming member is configured to move the firing member from the locked position to the unlocked position when said camming member is in said unactuated position and said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw.   
     
     
         35 . A surgical cartridge for use with a surgical instrument including a shaft defining a shaft axis, and an end effector attached to the shaft, wherein the end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw movably supported relative to the first jaw for movement between an open position and a closed position, and a firing member movable between a locked position and an ending position within the end effector, wherein said surgical cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body configured to be removably seated in the first jaw, wherein said cartridge body comprises a proximal end and a distal end; and   a first unlocking feature protruding from said proximal end of said cartridge body, wherein said first unlocking feature is configured to move a lock member in the surgical instrument from a first closure position in which the lock member prevents the second jaw from being movable from the open position to the closed position and the firing member from being movable from the locked position to the ending position to a second closure position in which the second jaw is movable from the open position to the closed position and the firing member is movable from the locked position to the ending position.   
     
     
         36 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 35 , further comprising a second unlocking feature configured to move the firing member in the surgical instrument from the locked position to an unlocked position in which the firing member is movable to the ending position when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 36 , wherein said second unlocking feature is movable between an unactuated position within said cartridge body and an actuated position within said cartridge body, wherein said second unlocking feature moves the firing member to the unlocked position when said second unlocking feature is in said unactuated position and said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 37 , further comprising a plurality of surgical staples stored in said cartridge body, wherein said second unlocking feature comprises a camming member configured to eject said surgical staples from said cartridge body when said camming member is moved from said unactuated position to said actuated position. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 35 , further comprising a second unlocking feature configured to move a firing lock in the surgical instrument from a locked position in which the firing member lock retains the firing member in the beginning position and an unlocked position. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 39 , wherein the firing member lock comprises a lock latch movably coupled to the firing member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a latch axis that is transverse to the shaft axis, and wherein said second unlocking feature to pivot the lock latch from the locked position to the unlocked position when the cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         41 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 40 , wherein said second unlocking feature is movable between an unactuated position within said cartridge body and an actuated position within said cartridge body, wherein said second unlocking feature moves the firing member lock to the unlocked position when said second unlocking feature is in said unactuated position and said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 41 , further comprising a plurality of surgical staples stored in said cartridge body, wherein said second unlocking feature comprises a camming member configured to eject said surgical staples from said cartridge body when said camming member is moved from said unactuated position to said actuated position. 
     
     
         43 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 35 , wherein said cartridge body further comprises an elongate slot defining a cartridge axis, wherein said elongate slot is configured to accommodate the firing member when the firing member moves between the beginning position and the ending position, and wherein said first unlocking feature protrudes from said proximal end on one lateral side of said cartridge axis. 
     
     
         44 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 43 , further comprising a cartridge pan attached to said cartridge body, wherein said first unlocking feature is formed in said cartridge pan. 
     
     
         45 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 44 , wherein said cartridge body is fabricated from a first material and said cartridge pan is fabricated from a second material that differs from said first material. 
     
     
         46 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 35 , wherein said first unlocking feature is configured to laterally move the lock member in the surgical instrument from the first closure position to the second closure position. 
     
     
         47 . A surgical cartridge for use with a surgical instrument including a shaft defining a shaft axis, and an end effector attached to the shaft, wherein the end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw supported relative to the first jaw for movement between an open position and a closed position by an axially movable closure member that is movable between a first position in which a distal end of the closure member is proximal to the second jaw and a second position in which the distal end applies a closure motion to the second jaw to move the second jaw from the open position to the closed position, and a firing member movable between a locked position and an ending position within the end effector, wherein said surgical cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body configured to be removably seated in the first jaw, wherein said cartridge body comprises a proximal end and a distal end;   a first unlocking feature protruding from said proximal end of said cartridge body, wherein said first unlocking feature is configured to pivot a closure lock in the surgical instrument from a blocking position in which a portion of the closure lock confronts the distal end of the closure member to prevent the closure member from distally moving from the first position to an unblocking position in which the closure member is distally movable from the first position to the second position to apply the closure motion to the second jaw; and   a second unlocking feature configured to move the firing member lock in the surgical instrument from a locked position to an unlocked position in which the firing member is movable to the ending position.   
     
     
         48 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 47 , wherein the closure lock is configured to pivot about a closure axis that is transverse to the shaft axis between the blocking position and the unblocking position. 
     
     
         49 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 47 , wherein said second unlocking feature is movable between an unactuated position within said cartridge body and an actuated position within said cartridge body, wherein said second unlocking feature moves the firing member the unlocked position when said second unlocking feature is in said unactuated position and said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         50 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 49 , further comprising a plurality of surgical staples stored in said cartridge body, and wherein said second unlocking feature comprises a camming member configured to eject said surgical staples from said cartridge body when said camming member is moved from said unactuated position to said actuated position. 
     
     
         51 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 47 , wherein a lock latch is movably coupled to the firing member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a latch axis that is transverse to the shaft axis, and wherein said second unlocking feature is configured to pivot the lock latch from a latched position in which the lock latch retains the firing member in the locked position to an unlatched position in which the firing member is movable to the ending position when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         52 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 51 , wherein said second unlocking feature is movable between an unactuated position within said cartridge body and an actuated position within said cartridge body, wherein said second unlocking feature moves the lock latch to the unlatched position when said second unlocking feature is in said unactuated position and said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         53 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 52 , further comprising a plurality of surgical staples stored in said cartridge body, wherein said second unlocking feature comprises a camming member configured to eject said surgical staples from said cartridge body when said camming member is moved from said unactuated position to said actuated position. 
     
     
         54 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 47 , wherein said cartridge body further comprises an elongate slot defining a cartridge axis, wherein said elongate slot is configured to accommodate the firing member when the firing member moves between the locked position and the ending position, and wherein said first unlocking feature protrudes from said proximal end on one lateral side of said cartridge axis. 
     
     
         55 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 54 , further comprising a cartridge pan attached to said cartridge body, wherein said first unlocking feature is formed in said cartridge pan. 
     
     
         56 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 55 , wherein said cartridge body is fabricated from a first material and said cartridge pan is fabricated from a second material that differs from said first material. 
     
     
         57 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 47 , wherein the surgical instrument further includes a firing member lock that is laterally movable between a latched position in which the firing member lock retains the firing member in the locked position to an unlatched position in which the firing member is movable to the ending position, and wherein said second unlocking feature is configured to laterally move the firing member lock from the latched position to the unlatched position when said surgical cartridge is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         58 . A surgical cartridge configured for use with a surgical end effector that includes a first jaw, a second jaw supported relative to the first jaw for movement between an open position and a closed position, a closure lock configured to move between a closure locked position in which the second jaw is prevented from moving from the open position and a closure unlocked position in which the second jaw is movable from the open position, a firing member movable between a beginning position and an ending position within the surgical end effector, a first firing lock movable between a first locked position in which the first firing lock retains the firing member in the beginning position and a first unlocked position in which the first firing lock permits the firing member to move from the beginning position, and a second firing lock movable between a second locked position in which the second firing lock prevents the firing member from moving from the beginning position and a second unlocked position in which the second firing lock permits the firing member to move from the beginning position, wherein said surgical cartridge comprises:
 a cartridge body configured to be seated in the first jaw;   a closure unlocking feature configured to move the closure lock from the closure locked position to the closure unlocked position when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw;   a first firing unlocking feature configured to move the first firing lock from the first locked position to the first unlocked position when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw; and   a second firing unlocking feature configured to move the second firing lock from the second locked position to the second unlocked position when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw.   
     
     
         59 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 58 , wherein said closure unlocking feature is configured to laterally move the closure lock from the closure locked position to the closure unlocked position when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         60 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 59 , wherein said closure unlocking feature is configured to laterally move the closure lock from the closure locked position to the closure unlocked position in a first lateral direction, and wherein said first firing unlocking feature is configured to laterally move the first firing lock from the first locked position to the first unlocked position in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction when said cartridge body is seated in the first jaw. 
     
     
         61 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 58 , wherein said second firing unlocking feature is movably supported in said cartridge body, and wherein said first firing unlocking feature rigidly protrudes from a portion of said cartridge body. 
     
     
         62 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 61 , wherein said closure unlocking feature rigidly protrudes from said cartridge body. 
     
     
         63 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 58 , further comprising a cartridge pan attached to said cartridge body. 
     
     
         64 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 63 , wherein at least one of said closure unlocking feature and said first firing unlocking feature is formed in said cartridge pan. 
     
     
         65 . The surgical cartridge of  claim 58 , further comprising a plurality of surgical staples stored in said cartridge body, and wherein said second firing unlocking feature comprises a camming member configured to eject said surgical staples from said cartridge body when said camming member is moved from an unactuated position to an actuated position within said cartridge body, wherein said camming member is configured to move the second firing lock to the second unlocked position when said camming member is in said unactuated position and said surgical cartridge is seated in the first jaw.