Surgical instruments with electrodes

An end-effector assembly configured to be engaged with a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:

• a first jaw;
• a second jaw comprising a staple cavity, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other jaw;
• a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity, wherein the staple comprises a first electrode;
• and
• an electrically-conductive driver configured to deploy the staple at least partially from the staple cavity into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw;
• and
• wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw comprises a second electrode.

An end-effector assembly configured to be engaged with a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:

• an electrode system comprising an electrode;
• a staple deploying system, comprising:
• a staple cavity;
• a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity;
• and
• a staple driver configured to move the staple between a first position in which the staple is stored at least partially within the staple cavity and a second position in which the staple is at least partially deployed from the staple cavity;
• a staple sensor configured to sense when the staple is in the first position;
• a tissue thickness sensor configured to sense a thickness of tissue positioned within the end-effector assembly;
• and
• a lockout device configured to deactivate the electrode system when the sensed thickness is greater than a predetermined tissue thickness threshold and when the staple sensor does not sense the staple in the first position.

An end-effector assembly configured to be attached to a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:

• a first jaw;
• a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other jaw;
• a staple removably positioned within the second jaw, wherein the staple comprises an electrode;
• and
• an electrically-conductive driver configured to deploy the staple into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw.

An end-effector assembly configured to be engaged with a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:

• an electrode system comprising an electrode;
• a staple deploying system, comprising:
• a staple cavity;
• a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity;
• and
• a staple driver configured to move the staple between a first position in which the staple is stored at least partially within the staple cavity and a second position in which the staple is at least partially deployed from the staple cavity;
• a staple sensor configured to sense when the staple is in the first position;
• a tissue thickness sensor configured to sense a thickness of tissue positioned within the end-effector assembly;
• and
• a lockout device configured to deactivate the electrode system when at least one of the sensed thickness is greater than a predetermined tissue thickness threshold and the staple sensor does not sense the staple in the first position.

A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the staple cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge body, comprising:
• a staple removably positioned within the cartridge body, wherein the staple comprises an electrode;
• and
• an electrically-conductive driver configured to deploy the staple into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw.