Patent attributes
A surgical stapling instrument includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw having an anvil, a second jaw configured to removably receive a staple cartridge, and a driving assembly translatable distally through the second jaw for pivoting the second jaw toward the first jaw to clamp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw. The instrument also includes a lockout mechanism configured to transition between a first state in which the lockout mechanism prevents distal translation of the driving assembly through the second jaw, and a second state in which the lockout mechanism permits distal translation of the driving assembly through the second jaw. The lockout mechanism is configured to transition from the first state to the second state when the staple cartridge is removably received by the second jaw.
