Method of using lockout features for surgical stapler cartridge

A method of operating a surgical stapling instrument including a body that supports a motor, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, and a firing assembly having a translating member configured to translate through the end effector, wherein the end effector includes a jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and an anvil pivotable relative to the jaw, wherein one of the jaw or the anvil includes an elongate slot, wherein the translating member includes a guide element slidably disposed within the elongate slot and a cutting element configured to cut tissue, wherein the translating member is configured to translate distally through the staple cartridge to thereby drive staples into tissue and cut the tissue with the cutting element, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving an unspent staple cartridge within the jaw, wherein the unspent staple cartridge includes a plurality of staples;
• (b) in response to a first user input, pivoting the anvil toward the unspent staple cartridge to thereby clamp tissue therebetween;
• (c) in response to a second user input, activating the motor to urge the translating member distally toward the unspent staple cartridge;
• and
• (d) engaging a first blocking feature of the translating member with a second blocking feature of the unspent staple cartridge to thereby inhibit distal translation of the translating member through the unspent staple cartridge.

A method of operating a surgical stapling instrument including a body that supports a motor, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, and a firing assembly having a translating member configured to translate through the end effector, wherein the end effector includes a jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and an anvil pivotable relative to the jaw, wherein the translating member includes a cutting element and is configured to translate distally through the staple cartridge to thereby drive staples into tissue and cut the tissue with the cutting element, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving an unspent staple cartridge within the jaw, wherein the unspent staple cartridge includes a longitudinal slot and a plurality of staples;
• (b) in response to a first user input, pivoting the anvil toward the unspent staple cartridge to thereby clamp tissue therebetween;
• (c) in response to a second user input, activating the motor to urge the translating member distally toward a proximal end of the unspent staple cartridge;
• and
• (d) inhibiting entry of the translating member into the longitudinal slot with a blocking feature disposed at the proximal end of the unspent staple cartridge, wherein the blocking feature is laterally offset from the longitudinal slot.

A method of operating a surgical stapling instrument including a body that supports a motor, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, and a firing assembly having a translating member configured to translate through the end effector, wherein the end effector includes a jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and an anvil pivotable relative to the jaw, wherein the translating member includes a cutting element and is configured to translate distally through the staple cartridge to thereby drive staples into tissue and cut the tissue with the cutting element, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving an unspent first staple cartridge within the jaw;
• (b) pivoting the anvil toward the first staple cartridge to thereby clamp tissue therebetween;
• (c) activating the motor to urge the translating member distally toward the first staple cartridge;
• (d) engaging a first blocking feature of the firing assembly with a second blocking feature of the first staple cartridge to thereby inhibit distal translation of the translating member through the first staple cartridge;
• (e) receiving an unspent second staple cartridge within the jaw in place of the first staple cartridge, wherein the second blocking feature is omitted from the second staple cartridge;
• (f) pivoting the anvil toward the second staple cartridge to thereby clamp tissue therebetween;
• and
• (g) activating the motor to actuate the translating member distally through the second staple cartridge and thereby drive staples from the second staple cartridge into the tissue and cut the tissue with the cutting element.