Method for operating a powered articulatable surgical instrument

A method of operating a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a surgical end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw about a fixed pivot axis between an open position and a fully closed position, and wherein said method comprises:

• manipulating the surgical end effector to position a target tissue between the second jaw and the first jaw;
• applying an amount of closure motion to the second jaw to cause the second jaw to compress the target tissue between the second jaw and the first jaw;
• and
• adjusting the amount of closure motion applied to the second jaw to overcome a closure resistance force applied to the second jaw by the target tissue during compression of the target tissue to move the second jaw to the fully closed position.

A method of cutting and stapling a target tissue, wherein said method comprises:

• moving an anvil of a surgical stapler end effector about a fixed pivot axis to an open position relative to a staple cartridge installed in the surgical stapler end effector;
• manipulating the surgical stapler end effector to position the target tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge;
• applying an amount of closure force to the anvil to cause the anvil to compress the target tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge;
• adjusting the amount of closure force applied to the anvil to overcome a closure resistance force applied to the anvil by the target tissue during compression of the target tissue to move the anvil to a fully closed position;
• locking the anvil in the fully closed position;
• axially moving a firing member comprising a tissue cutting feature from a starting position to an ending position within the surgical stapler end effector to cut through the target tissue and drive staples within the staple cartridge into forming contact with an underside of the anvil;
• returning the firing member to the starting position;
• unlocking the anvil;
• and
• returning the anvil to the open position to release the target tissue from the surgical stapler end effector.