Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9737302B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 15:12:37+00:00

Document:
2017-01-06 Assigned to ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC reassignment ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BALEK, STEPHEN J., SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV, TIMPERMAN, EUGENE L.
This application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/175,148, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT, filed Feb. 7, 2014, which issued on Mar. 15, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,282,966, which is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/369,601, entitled ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED SURGICAL END EFFECTOR SYSTEM, filed on Feb. 9, 2012, which issued on Jul. 22, 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,783,541, which is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/118,246, entitled ROBOTICALLY-DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH E-BEAM DRIVER, filed on May 27, 2011, which issued on Jun. 23, 2015 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,060,770, which is a continuation-in-part application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/538,154, entitled ARTICULATING SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING A TWO-PIECE E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM, filed on Oct. 3, 2006, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0084897, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. This application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/175,148, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT, filed Feb. 7, 2014, which issued on Mar. 15, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,282,966, which is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/141,753, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING AN ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER ACTUATED MEDICAL SUBSTANCE DISPENSER, filed on Jun. 1, 2005, which issued on Dec. 9, 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,905,977, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/591,694, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED ARTICULATION MECHANISM, filed on Jul. 28, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
wherein said stapling assembly is in a locked out condition when said sled is not in said unfired position and said staple firing stroke is initiated, and wherein said restraining member stops said staple firing stroke when said stapling assembly is in said locked out condition.
2. The stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said restraining member is in said channel.
3. The stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said cartridge body is replaceable and removable from said channel.
4. The stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises a cutting edge, and wherein said restraining member is configured to engage said firing member laterally with respect to said cutting edge.
5. The stapling assembly of claim 1, further comprising biasing means for placing said restraining member in the path of said firing member.
wherein said stapling assembly is in a locked out condition when said sled is not in said unfired position prior to said staple firing stroke, and wherein said restraining member stops said firing member from moving along said longitudinal path when said stapling assembly is in said locked out condition.
7. The stapling assembly of claim 6, wherein said restraining member is in said channel.
8. The stapling assembly of claim 6, wherein said cartridge body is replaceable and removable from said channel.
9. The stapling assembly of claim 6, wherein said firing member further comprises a cutting edge, and wherein said restraining member is configured to engage said firing member laterally with respect to said cutting edge.
10. The stapling assembly of claim 6, further comprising biasing means for placing said restraining member in the path of said firing member.
wherein said stapling assembly is in a locked out condition when said sled is not in said unfired position upon the initiation of said staple firing stroke, and wherein said restraining member is configured to engage said firing member laterally with respect to said cutting edge when said stapling assembly is in said locked out condition.
12. The stapling assembly of claim 11, wherein said restraining member is in said channel.
13. The stapling assembly of claim 11, wherein said cartridge body is replaceable and removable from said channel.
14. The stapling assembly of claim 11, further comprising biasing means for placing said restraining member in the path of said firing member.

References: §120
 §120
 §120
 §120
 §120
 §120
 §119