Surgical instrument system including replaceable end effectors

A replaceable end effector for use with a surgical instrument system, wherein the surgical instrument system includes a motor, wherein the motor is configured to turn a first set number of revolutions, and wherein the surgical housing also includes a drive shaft operably coupled to the motor such that the drive shaft turns a second set number of revolutions, said replaceable end effector comprising:

• a body configured to be coupled to and decoupled from the surgical housing;
• a firing member configured to travel along a firing path of said end effector, wherein said firing path defines a firing length;
• and
• a drive screw configured to be operably coupled to and operably decoupled from the drive shaft of the surgical housing, wherein said drive screw is configured to engage said firing member such that rotation of said drive screw causes said firing member to travel along said firing path, and wherein said drive screw is configured to cause said firing member to travel said firing length when the drive shaft in the surgical housing turns the second set number of revolutions.

A surgical kit for use with a surgical instrument system, wherein the surgical instrument system includes a motor configured to turn a drive shaft a set number of revolutions during a firing actuation, said surgical instrument kit comprising:

• a first end effector assembly configured to be coupled to and decoupled from the surgical instrument system, wherein said first end effector defines a first firing path having a first firing length, said first end effector assembly comprising:
• a first firing member configured to travel along said first firing path;
• and
• a first drive screw configured to be operably coupled to and operably decoupled from said motor-driven drive shaft, wherein said first drive screw is configured to engage said first firing member such that rotation of said first drive screw causes said first firing member to travel along said first firing path, and wherein said first drive screw is configured to cause said first firing member to travel said first firing length when said drive shaft turns said set number of revolutions;
• and
• a second end effector assembly configured to be coupled to and decoupled from said surgical instrument system, wherein said second end effector defines a second firing path having a second firing length, and wherein said second firing length is different than said first firing length, said second end effector assembly comprising:
• a second firing member configured to travel along said second firing path;
• and
• a second drive screw configured to be operably coupled to and operably decoupled from said motor-driven drive shaft, wherein said second drive screw is configured to engage said second firing member such that rotation of said second drive screw causes said second firing member to travel along said second firing path, and wherein said second drive screw is configured to cause said second firing member to travel said second firing length when said drive shaft turns said set number of revolutions.

A method of operating a surgical instrument system comprising a shaft and a motor, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a first end effector comprising a first firing member and a first firing drive, wherein said first firing member is operably coupled with the first firing drive;
• coupling the first end effector to the shaft of the surgical instrument system;
• operably coupling the first firing drive with the motor of the surgical instrument system;
• operating the motor a predetermined number or revolutions to advance the first firing member a first distance during a first firing stroke;
• operably decoupling the first firing drive from the motor;
• decoupling the first end effector from the shaft;
• selecting a second end effector comprising a second firing member and a second firing drive, wherein said second firing member is operably coupled with the second firing drive;
• coupling the second end effector to the shaft of the surgical instrument system;
• operably coupling the second firing drive with the motor of the surgical instrument system;
• and
• operating the motor the same number or revolutions as the predetermined number of revolutions to advance the second firing member a second distance during a second firing stroke, wherein the second distance of the second firing stroke is longer than the first distance of the first firing stroke.