SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING SYSTEMS FOR ASSURING THE PROPER SEQUENTIAL OPERATION OF THE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

摘要

A surgical instrument is disclosed which comprises a tissue clamping system, a staple firing system, and a tissue cutting system. The systems of the surgical instrument can co-operate with one another to prevent the systems from being operated out of order, and/or prevent the systems from being operated in an undesirable order.

主权项

1. A surgical stapler for treating the tissue of a patient, comprising:
a handle; a shaft extending from said handle; an end effector extending from said shaft, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein said end effector comprises:
a first jaw;a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable toward said first jaw to place said end effector in said closed configuration;a cartridge body including staple cavities;staples removably stored in said staple cavities; andan anvil configured to deform said staples; a closure system configured to move said second jaw toward said first jaw; a firing system, comprising:
a firing driver configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities toward said anvil during a firing stroke; anda cutting member configured to cut the tissue during a cutting stroke and retract said cutting member during a retraction stroke; and means for preventing said end effector from being returned to said open configuration until after said retraction stroke has been completed.