A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed that comprises a retainer that is configured to be removably mounted to a staple cartridge that is configured to be operably seated in a stapling device. The retainer comprises an authentication key that is configured to defeat a first firing member lockout provided the stapling device. The stapling device further comprises a second lockout that is configured to prevent the firing member of the device from advancing through a staple firing stroke when a spent staple cartridge is seated in said stapling device.

A pump cartridge comprises a retention structure to retain a piston for shipping and storage, in which the piston can be decoupled from the retention structure to pump fluid. In the shipping and storage configuration, the piston can be positioned with the retention structure to allow sterilization gas to travel within a housing and into a cylinder distal to the piston. When placed in the console for use in a pumping configuration, the piston can be decoupled from the retention structure to form a seal within the housing. When the procedure has been completed, the pump cartridge can be decoupled from the console in a manner that disables the cartridge for subsequent use to prevent a non-sterile cartridge from being reused.

An insulating tab attached to an electronic device driven by a battery includes a first insulating layer, a first wiring that extends in a first direction along the first insulating layer, the first wiring including a first electrode on one end thereof and a second electrode on the other end thereof, and a second wiring that extends in the first direction along the first insulating layer, the second wiring including a third electrode on one end thereof and a fourth electrode on the other end thereof. The first and third electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of the first insulating layer at a first location of the first insulating layer along the first direction.

A retainer for use with a staple cartridge that is configured for use with a surgical stapling device is disclosed. The retainer comprises a retainer body that is configured to be received on the staple cartridge. A plurality of retention features protrude from the retainer body for releasable engagement with the staple cartridge to form a cartridge assembly. The retainer further comprises an authentication key that is configured to defeat a lockout in the surgical stapling device when the cartridge assembly is seated therein. At least one of the retention features is configured to be removed from the retainer body after the retainer has been removed from the staple cartridge.

An end effector usable with a surgical instrument includes a first jaw pivotably coupled to a second jaw. The first jaw includes staple forming depressions. A staple cartridge is releasably attachable to a channel of the second jaw. A plurality of staples is disposed in the staple cartridge. A shipping wedge is releasably attached to the staple cartridge. The shipping wedge maintains the staples in their respective retention slots and is usable to separate the staple cartridge from the channel of the second jaw.

A surgical stapler including a shipping lock configured to obstruct movement of a drive member is provided. The surgical stapler includes an elongate body, a tool assembly pivotally secured to the elongate body, a drive member movable within the tool assembly between retracted and advanced positions, and a shipping lock releasably secured to the elongate body. The shipping lock includes a projection. When the shipping lock is secured to the elongate body, the projection obstructs movement of the drive member to its advanced position.

A surgical instrument comprising an RFID system is disclosed. A staple cartridge of the surgical instrument comprises one or more RFID tags which are detectable by one or more RFID readers in the surgical instrument.

A seal assembly that seals opening in the wall of a blood vessel has a first sealing element for placing inside the lumen of the blood vessel and to engage the interior wall surface, a shaft integrally formed with the first sealing element and fixed in a predetermined configuration relative to the first sealing element, an outer floating element slidingly movable along the shaft; and a second sealing element, the second sealing element slidingly movable relative to the first sealing element along the shaft to engage the outer floating element and position the outer floating element against the exterior surface and the first sealing element against the interior surface of the blood vessel to seal the opening in the blood vessel.

An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises an anvil comprising a proximal camming member. At least one jaw is movable relative to the other to close the end effector. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising a proximal channel aperture and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a cartridge pan. The cartridge pan comprises a proximal pan aperture configured to be positioned partially distal to the proximal channel aperture when the staple cartridge is assembled with the elongated channel in an unlocked configuration. The camming member is configured to proximally translate the cartridge pan relative to the cartridge body from the unlocked configuration to a locked configuration during a transition of the end effector to a closed configuration.

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.