Surgical tools configured for interchangeable use with different controller interfaces

A surgical tool configured to operably interface with either of a handheld controller and a tool holder of a robotic system, said surgical tool comprising:

• a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• an end effector rotatably coupled to said shaft about an articulation pivot;
• an articulation driver arrangement operably supported by said shaft and coupled to said end effector for articulating said end effector about said articulation pivot, said articulation driver arrangement comprising a proximal articulation coupler arrangement;
• a firing member supported for selective axial travel between a starting and ending position within said end effector;
• a firing driver supported by said shaft and configured to move said firing member between said starting and ending position, said firing driver comprising a proximal firing coupler;
• and
• a docking housing coupled to said proximal end of said shaft and configured to be interchangeably operably attached to either of the handheld controller and the tool holder, wherein said docking housing comprises a lock member, wherein said lock member comprises a first side facing said proximal articulation coupler arrangement and said proximal firing coupler, wherein said lock member further comprises a plurality of locking detents defined in said first side, said docking housing supporting said proximal articulation coupler arrangement in a neutral articulation coupler position with a first locking detent of said plurality of locking detents oriented to operably interface with articulation control systems of the handheld controller and the tool holder of the robotic system and said proximal firing coupler in a neutral firing coupler position with a second locking detent of said plurality of locking detents oriented to operably interface with firing control systems of the handheld controller and the tool holder of the robotic system when said docking housing is operably attached thereto, wherein said lock member of said docking housing is configured to lock said proximal articulation coupler arrangement in said neutral articulation coupler position and said proximal firing coupler in said neutral firing coupler position when said lock member is in a locked position, wherein the attachment of said docking housing to either of the handheld controller and the tool holder of the robotic system unlocks said proximal articulation coupler arrangement and said proximal firing coupler by moving said lock member into an unlocked position,
• wherein said neutral articulation coupler position corresponds to an unactuated position of said proximal articulation coupler arrangement, and
• wherein said neutral firing coupler position corresponds to an unactuated position of said proximal firing coupler.

A surgical tool configured to interchangeably operably interface with either of a handheld controller and a tool holder of a robotic system, said surgical tool comprising:

• a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• an end effector operably coupled to said distal end of said shaft;
• a plurality of axially-movable drive members operably supported by said shaft and configured to apply axial control motions to corresponding portions of said end effector, each said axially-movable drive member comprising a proximal coupler portion;
• and
• a docking means coupled to said proximal end of said shaft for interchangeably coupling said surgical tool to either one of the handheld controller and the tool holder of the robotic system, wherein said docking means comprises a lock member, wherein said lock member comprises a first side facing said plurality of axially-movable drive members, wherein said lock member further comprises a plurality of locking detents defined in said first side, said docking means operably supporting said proximal coupler portion of each said axially-movable drive member in a corresponding neutral coupling position with said plurality of locking detents to enable each said proximal coupler portion to operably interface with a corresponding drive system of the handheld controller and the tool holder of the robotic system when said docking means is attached thereto, wherein said docking means is configured to lock said proximal coupler portion of each said axially-movable drive member in said corresponding neutral coupling position when said lock member is in a locked position, wherein the coupling of said surgical tool to either one of the handheld controller and the tool holder of the robotic system unlocks said proximal coupler portion of each said axially-movable drive member by moving said lock member into an unlocked position, and
• wherein said corresponding neutral coupling positions of each said axially-movable drive member corresponds to an unactuated position of each said axially-movable drive member.