Surgical stapling instruments with replaceable staple cartridges

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

• an end effector, comprising:
• a first jaw;
• and
• a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw or said second jaw is movable relative to the other of said first jaw or said second jaw about a pivot;
• a staple cartridge, comprising:
• a cartridge body;
• a longitudinal slot extending from a proximal end of said staple cartridge toward a distal end of said staple cartridge;
• staple cavities defined in said cartridge body;
• staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
• and
• a sled movable through said staple cartridge between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein said sled comprises:
• a central portion configured to be received by said longitudinal slot;
• a first camming member on a first side of said central portion;
• and
• a second camming member on a second side of said central portion,
• wherein said central portion extends distal to said first camming member and said second camming member,
• wherein said first camming member and said second camming member each include a proximal projection;
• a closure drive system comprising a closure tube configured to move said first jaw toward said second jaw;
• a firing drive system comprising a firing member, wherein said firing member is configured to advance said sled from said unfired position toward said fired position during said staple firing stroke, wherein a distal end of said firing drive system is located between said proximal projections;
• and
• a lockout system, wherein said lockout system comprises means for deactivating said closure drive system and said firing drive system when a presence of said staple cartridge is not detected and for deactivating said closure drive system and said firing drive system when said sled is not in said unfired position.

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

• an end effector, comprising:
• a first jaw;
• and
• a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second is movable relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw about a pivot;
• a staple cartridge, comprising:
• a cartridge body;
• a longitudinal slot extending from a proximal end of said staple cartridge toward a distal end of said staple cartridge;
• staple cavities defined in said cartridge body;
• staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
• and
• a sled movable through said staple cartridge between an unfired position and a fired position, wherein said sled comprises:
• a central portion configured to be received by said longitudinal slot,
• wherein said central portion comprises a distal nose;
• a first sloped cam on a first side of said central portion comprising a first cam distal end;
• and
• a second sloped cam on a second side of said central portion comprising a second cam distal end, wherein said distal nose of said central portion extends distal to said first cam distal end and said second cam distal end, wherein said central portion includes an upwardly facing horizontal surface positioned distal to said first sloped cam and below an uppermost portion of said first sloped cam;
• a firing member configured to move from said proximal end toward said distal end during a staple firing stroke, wherein said firing member is configured to advance said sled from said unfired position toward said fired position during said staple firing stroke;
• a closure member configured to translate relative to said firing member to move said first jaw relative to said second jaw;
• a closure drive system configured to move said first jaw toward said second jaw, wherein said closure drive system comprises said closure member;
• a firing drive system configured to advance said firing member through said end effector during said staple firing stroke;
• and
• a lockout system, wherein said lockout system comprises means for deactivating said closure drive system and said firing drive system when said staple cartridge is absent and for deactivating said closure drive system and said firing drive system when said sled is not in said unfired position.