A staple retainer for a surgical staple cartridge unit includes a body having first and second body sides configured to be positioned within an aperture defined between an anvil and a deck of the cartridge unit such that the first body side confronts the anvil and the second body side confronts the deck. The second body side is configured to retain staples within openings in the deck. A first protrusion at the first body side is configured to contact the anvil at a first location, and a second protrusion at the first body side is configured to contact the anvil at a second location. The protrusions are configured to resiliently deflect toward the second body side in response to the staple retainer being positioned within the aperture, and are further configured to cooperate with the second body side to maintain a predetermined distance between the anvil and the deck.

Shipping wedges for installing end effectors onto an endoscopic assembly of a surgical tack applier are provided. In aspects, a shipping wedge includes an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a channel therethrough, and an arm disposed within a slot defined in a side wall of the elongate body. The arm includes a first end coupled to the side wall and a second end that is movable laterally with respect to the side wall. In aspects, a shipping wedge includes an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a channel therethrough. A proximal portion of the elongate body includes a first arm extending proximally from a distal portion of the elongate body and a locking tab extending laterally into the channel of the elongate body.

A surgical stapler includes a body portion and a tool assembly. The body portion includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion extending distally from the large diameter portion. The large diameter portion supports larger internal components of the device including a lockout assembly adapted to prevent refiring of the stapler to allow the diameter of the small diameter portion of the device to be minimized to facilitate passage of the small diameter portion of the stapler and the tool assembly through an 8 mm trocar.

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a motor, and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle and/or the shaft can define a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein, an anvil configured to deform the fasteners, a closure drive configured to move the anvil toward and away from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and a firing drive configured to deploy the fasteners from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a transmission comprising a first operating configuration which connects the motor to the closure drive and a second operating configuration which connects the motor to the firing drive.

A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The loading unit comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw that comprising an anvil, and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other to grasp tissue. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising retaining features, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge pan, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position toward a second position. The retaining features are configured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.

A surgical stapling instrument comprising a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, an end effector, a replaceable staple cartridge, a drive system, and a battery pack is disclosed. The handle comprises a battery mount. The end effector comprises a cartridge jaw and an anvil jaw. The drive system comprises an electric motor, a control circuit in communication with the electric motor, a firing member driveable by the electric motor during a firing stroke to eject staples from the staple cartridge. The battery pack is removably attachable to the battery mount. The battery pack comprises an outer housing, a battery cell, an electrical contact, a metal heat sink disposed within the outer housing, and control electronics in communication with the battery cell and the electrical contact that is operable to supply power to the control circuit when the battery pack is attached to the battery mount.

A shipping cover for a staple cartridge includes a body having an upper surface and a lower surface that is in close opposition to the staple cartridge when the shipping cover is secured to the staple cartridge. The shipping cover includes a latch that is received within a body of the staple cartridge to secure the shipping cover to the cartridge body. The latch is manually movable by a clinician to facilitate removal of the shipping cover from the staple cartridge.

A surgical stapling assembly that comprises a stapling device is disclosed. The stapling device includes an authentication lockout that is movable between a locked position wherein the stapling device is inoperable and an unlocked position wherein the stapling device is operable. The assembly further includes a deactivator tool that includes a deactivation key that is configured to move the authentication lockout into the unlocked position prior to seating a staple cartridge into the device.

A method for authenticating the compatibility of a staple cartridge with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method can comprise inserting a staple cartridge into a surgical instrument, receiving a first signal from a first RFID tag on a first component of the staple cartridge with an RFID reader system, receiving a second signal from a second RFID tag on a second component of the staple cartridge with the RFID reader system, comparing the first signal and the second signal to stored data for a compatible staple cartridge, and locking a staple firing system of the surgical instrument if the first signal and the second signal do not match the stored data for a compatible staple cartridge.

Disclosed is a surgical instrument, comprising a shaft, an articulation joint extending distally from the shaft, and an end effector extending distally from the articulation joint. The end effector comprises a jaw, and a staple cartridge seatable in the jaw. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, and a first antenna. The surgical instrument further comprises a remote power source configured to supply power, a second antenna configured to cooperate with the first antenna when the staple cartridge is seated in the jaw to transmit at least one of the power and a data signal to the staple cartridge, and a tuning electronics package located in a cavity in a proximal portion of the end effector. The tuning electronics package is configured to facilitate a locally tunable wireless transmission of the at least one of the power and the data signal.