Patent ID: 11957336
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 15:
16. A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly;
(b) an end effector operatively coupled with the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector includes first and second jaws, wherein at least one of the first or second jaws is configured to pivot relative to the other of the first or second jaws, wherein the end effector is configured to removably receive a staple cartridge;
(c) an articulation joint disposed between the shaft assembly and the end effector, wherein the articulation joint is configured to transition the end effector between an articulated position and a non-articulated position;
(d) a firing system extending through at least a portion of the shaft assembly and the end effector, wherein the firing system is operable to drive the end effector to at least staple and cut tissue; and
(e) a firing lockout assembly selectively coupled with the firing system, wherein the firing lockout assembly includes at least one electrical contact configured to sense at least one of a presence or an absence of the staple cartridge within the second jaw, wherein the firing lockout assembly including the at least one electrical contact is disposed within the articulation joint or proximal to the articulation joint within the shaft assembly, wherein the firing lockout assembly is configured to:
(i) allow actuation of the firing system in an unlocked configuration in response to the staple cartridge being coupled with the end effector, and
(ii) inhibit actuation of the firing system in a locked configuration in response to the staple cartridge being absent from the end effector.