Surgical stapling assembly with cartridge based retainer configured to unlock a closure lockout

A surgical stapling system, comprising:

• a first stapling device, comprising:
• a first frame;
• a first jaw movable relative to said first frame between a first open position and a first closed position;
• a first firing member movable between a first starting position and a first ending position during a first staple firing stroke;
• and
• a first jaw lockout configured to prevent said first jaw from being moved from said first open position to said first closed position, wherein said first jaw lockout comprises a first jaw lockout arm configured to releasably retain said first jaw in said first open position;
• and
• a second stapling device, comprising:
• a second frame;
• a second jaw movable relative to said second frame between a second open position and a second closed position;
• a second firing member movable between a second starting position and a second ending position during a second staple firing stroke;
• and
• a second jaw lockout configured to prevent said second jaw from being moved from said second open position to said second closed position, wherein said second jaw lockout comprises a second jaw lockout arm configured to releasably retain said second jaw in said second open position;
• and
• a staple cartridge configured for use in either of said first and second stapling devices, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
• a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal slot and a deck surface;
• a plurality of staple pockets opening through said deck surface;
• a staple removably stored in each said staple pocket;
• and
• a sled movable through said cartridge body during said first and second staple firing strokes to fire said staples;
• and
• a retainer removably mounted to said cartridge body, wherein said retainer is supported on said deck surface when attached to said cartridge body to form a cartridge assembly, wherein said retainer comprises an authentication key that is configured to defeat said first jaw lockout by moving said first jaw lockout arm out of a first jaw locking position to a first jaw closure position wherein said first jaw is movable from said first open position to said first closed position when said cartridge assembly is seated in said first stapling device, and wherein said authentication key is further configured to defeat said second jaw lockout by moving said second jaw lockout arm out of a second jaw locking position to a second jaw closure position wherein said second jaw is movable from said second open position to said second closed position when said cartridge assembly is seated in said second stapling device.

A retainer for use with a surgical staple cartridge configured for use with a first surgical stapling device comprising a first jaw and a first frame, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the first frame between a first open position and a first closed position, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a longitudinal slot, a deck surface, a plurality of staple pockets opening through the deck surface, a staple removably stored within each staple pocket, and a sled configured to fire the staples from the cartridge body when driven by a first firing member of the first surgical stapling device, wherein the first surgical stapling device further comprises a first lockout arm movable from a first jaw locking position wherein the first lockout arm prevents the first jaw from being moved from the first open position to the first closed position to a first jaw closure position wherein the first jaw is movable from the first open position to the first closed position, and wherein said retainer comprises:

• a retainer body configured for removable attachment to the cartridge body, wherein said retainer body is sized to cover the deck surface and the staple pockets to form a cartridge assembly;
• and
• a first authentication ramp configured to move the first lockout arm from the first jaw locking position to the first jaw closure position when the cartridge assembly is seated in the first surgical stapling device and said retainer is removed from the cartridge body.