Surgical stapling apparatus with interlockable firing system

A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

• a handle assembly including a movable handle and a stationary handle housing, the movable handle being movable through actuation strokes relative to said stationary handle housing;
• an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly and having a distal end adapted to releasably engage both articulating and non-articulating disposable loading units and transmit actuation motions thereto;
• an actuation member supported in said stationary handle housing and configured to apply a said actuation motion to said elongated body in response to manipulation of said movable handle through said actuation strokes;
• a firing lock out assembly supported at least in part within said stationary handle housing and configured to selectively prevent longitudinal movement of said actuation shaft in a distal direction;
• and
• a firing release trigger supported on said movable handle for travel therewith and interfacing with said firing lockout assembly to selectively release said firing lockout assembly to generate said actuation motions upon manipulation of said movable handle.

A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

• a handle assembly including a movable handle and a stationary handle housing, the movable handle being movable through actuation strokes relative to said stationary handle housing;
• actuation means supported in said handle assembly for generating actuation motions in response to manipulation of said movable handle;
• control means interfacing with said actuation means for transferring said actuation motions to a disposable loading unit operably coupled thereto;
• means for selectively preventing said actuation means from generating said actuation motions;
• and
• trigger means on said movable handle for controlling said means for selectively preventing.