SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING FIRING SYSTEM ACTUATION WHEN A CARTRIDGE IS SPENT OR MISSING

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; a surgical end effector operably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly by an articulation joint such that said surgical end effector is selectively articulatable relative to said elongate shaft assembly about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis, said surgical end effector comprising a cartridge support member that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; a longitudinally movable firing beam extending through said articulation joint and being selectively axially movable from a starting position to an ending position within said surgical end effector; and a firing beam locking assembly comprising a biasing member operably supported on said articulation joint and being configured to apply a biasing motion to said longitudinally movable firing beam to bias said longitudinally movable firing beam into a locked position wherein said longitudinally movable firing beam is prevented from moving from said starting to said ending position unless an unfired surgical staple cartridge is operably supported in said cartridge support member.