[WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., BLACK, Brian D., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., BLACK, Brian D., ESTERA, Frederick L., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., BLACK, Brian D., ESTERA, Frederick L., MONROE, David A., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., BLACK, Brian D., ESTERA, Frederick L., MONROE, David A., LEUCK, Stephen M., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., BLACK, Brian D., ESTERA, Frederick L., MONROE, David A., LEUCK, Stephen M., MUHLENKAMP, Tylor C., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., BLACK, Brian D., ESTERA, Frederick L., MONROE, David A., LEUCK, Stephen M., MUHLENKAMP, Tylor C., TREES, Gregory A., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., BLACK, Brian D., ESTERA, Frederick L., MONROE, David A., LEUCK, Stephen M., MUHLENKAMP, Tylor C., TREES, Gregory A., JOHNSON, Gregory W., WEISENBURGH, II, William B., WORRELL, Barry C., MESSERLY, Jeffrey D., PIROZZI, Kristen L., FALLER, Craig N., SCHULTE, John B., DENZINGER, Kristen, HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., BLACK, Brian D., ESTERA, Frederick L., MONROE, David A., LEUCK, Stephen M., MUHLENKAMP, Tylor C., TREES, Gregory A., JOHNSON, Gregory W., STULEN, Foster B.] #475 Street CLos Frailes Industrial ParkGuaynabo, Puerto Rico 00969 A surgical apparatus includes a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and a rigidizing member. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide includes a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section includes a first member and a second member. The second member is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The rigidizing member is configured to selectively engage at least a portion of the articulation section to thereby selectively provide rigidity to the articulation section.

[STOKES, Michael, J., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., BAXTER, Chester, O., III, STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., BAXTER, Chester, O., III, TELLIO, Karalyn, R., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., BAXTER, Chester, O., III, TELLIO, Karalyn, R., BOYD, Benjamin, M., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., BAXTER, Chester, O., III, TELLIO, Karalyn, R., BOYD, Benjamin, M., RUIZ ORTIZ, Rafael, J., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., BAXTER, Chester, O., III, TELLIO, Karalyn, R., BOYD, Benjamin, M., RUIZ ORTIZ, Rafael, J., FONTANNAZ, Joel, STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., BAXTER, Chester, O., III, TELLIO, Karalyn, R., BOYD, Benjamin, M., RUIZ ORTIZ, Rafael, J., FONTANNAZ, Joel, GLUTZ, Lukas, S., STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., BAXTER, Chester, O., III, TELLIO, Karalyn, R., BOYD, Benjamin, M., RUIZ ORTIZ, Rafael, J., FONTANNAZ, Joel, GLUTZ, Lukas, S., FERIANI, Amir, STOKES, Michael, J., BINGHAM, Scott, R., ASHER, Ryan, M., SCHEIB, Charles, J., NOBIS, Rudolph, H., ESTERA, Frederick, L., DICKERSON, Benjamin, D., DRAGINOFF, Carl, J., Jr., MESSERLY, Jeffrey, D., CAGLE, David, J., GEE, Jacob, S., WEISENBURGH, William, B., II, RIOS PEREZ, Omar, E., BAXTER, Chester, O., III, TELLIO, Karalyn, R., BOYD, Benjamin, M., RUIZ ORTIZ, Rafael, J., FONTANNAZ, Joel, GLUTZ, Lukas, S., FERIANI, Amir, GREMION, Emmanuel] 475 C Street, Suite 202Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00969 A surgical apparatus comprises a body (220), a user input feature (228), a shaft assembly (230), an end effector, and a blade cooling system (270). The end effector comprises a clamp arm (244) and an ultrasonic blade (260) that may be coupled with an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm (244) is configured to pivot toward and away from the ultrasonic blade (260). The cooling system is operable to deliver liquid coolant to the ultrasonic blade to thereby cool the ultrasonic blade. The user input feature (228) is operable to both actuate the clamp arm (244) and actuate the cooling system.

[SHAPIRO, Cara L., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., CAGLE, David J., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., CAGLE, David J., DICKERSON, Benjamin D., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., CAGLE, David J., DICKERSON, Benjamin D., WORRELL, Barry C., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., CAGLE, David J., DICKERSON, Benjamin D., WORRELL, Barry C., JOHNSON, Gregory W., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., CAGLE, David J., DICKERSON, Benjamin D., WORRELL, Barry C., JOHNSON, Gregory W., HOLLO, Joseph E., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., CAGLE, David J., DICKERSON, Benjamin D., WORRELL, Barry C., JOHNSON, Gregory W., HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., CAGLE, David J., DICKERSON, Benjamin D., WORRELL, Barry C., JOHNSON, Gregory W., HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., MUHLENKAMP, Tylor C., SHAPIRO, Cara L., ASHER, Ryan M., DENZINGER, Kristen, WEISENBURGH, II, William B., CAGLE, David J., DICKERSON, Benjamin D., WORRELL, Barry C., JOHNSON, Gregory W., HOLLO, Joseph E., SULLIVAN, Jason R., MUHLENKAMP, Tylor C., BALEK, Stephen J.] #475 Street CLos Frailes Industrial ParkGuaynabo, Puerto Rico 00969 A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and a rigidizing member. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section is operable to flex to thereby deflect the end effector from a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft. The rigidizing member is operable to selectively rigidize the articulation section and thereby prevent deflection of the end effector by preventing flexibility of the articulation section. Such rigidization includes removing any "play" or other small movement that might otherwise be provided by the articulation section due to manufacturing tolerances and/or looseness between parts.

[STULEN, Foster B., STULEN, Foster B., OLSON, William A., STULEN, Foster B., OLSON, William A., WEISENBURGH, II, William B.] #475 Street CLos Frailes Industrial ParkGuaynabo, Puerto Rico 00969 An apparatus comprises a body assembly and a shaft extending distally therefrom. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis. The apparatus further comprises an acoustic waveguide and an articulation section coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses a flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section further comprises first member and a second member that is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The apparatus further comprises an end effector including an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. A distal portion the ultrasonic blade is disposed in a first direction away from the longitudinal axis at a bend angle. The end effector also includes a clamp arm that is coupled with the first member and the second member, and an articulation drive assembly operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis in the first direction. An apparatus comprises a body assembly and a shaft extending distally therefrom. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis. The apparatus further comprises an acoustic waveguide and an articulation section coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses a flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section further comprises first member and a second member that is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The apparatus further comprises an end effector including an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. A distal portion the ultrasonic blade is disposed in a first direction away from the longitudinal axis at a bend angle. The end effector also includes a clamp arm that is coupled with the first member and the second member, and an articulation drive assembly operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis in the first direction.

[Weisenburgh II, William B., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Huitema, Thomas W., Armstrong, Glen A., Parihar, Shailendra K., Korvick, Donna L., Timm, Richard W., Doll, Kevin R., Smith, Bret W., Kelly, William D., Kolata, Ronald J., Morgan, Jerome R., Uth, Joshua R., Scheib, Charles J., Hueil, Geoffrey C., Ortiz, Mark S., Hoffman, Douglas B., Weizman, Patrick A., Bruewer, Dean B., Blair, Gregory B., Shelton IV, Frederick E., Moore, Kyle P., Ransick, Mark H., Hall, Steven G., Tanguay, Randall J., Messerly, Jeffrey D., Robertson, Galen C., Zwolinski, Andrew M.] US,Cincinnati, Ohio 45242,4545 Creek Road; In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft defines an axis, and a disposable loading unit which is assembled to the shaft in a direction which is transverse to the shaft axis. Such a connection between the disposable loading unit and the shaft can prevent, or at least inhibit, the disposable loading unit from being unintentionally displaced proximally and/or distally relative to the shaft of the surgical instrument. The surgical stapling instrument and/or disposable loading unit can further include a threaded collar and/or detent assembly configured to hold the disposable loading unit in place. In various embodiments, a disposable loading unit can include a lockout feature which can prevent, or at least inhibit, an expended disposable loading unit from being reassembled to the elongated body of the surgical instrument.

[SHELTON FREDERICK E IV, SCHEIB CHARLES J, ORTIZ MARK S, HOFFMAN DOUGLAS B, WEIZMAN PATRICK A, BRUEWER DEAN B, DOLL KEVIN R, SMITH BRET W, KELLY WILLIAM D, KOLATA RONALD J, UTH JOSHUA R, WEISENBURGH WILLIAM B II, MORGAN JEROME R, MOORE KYLE P, RANSICK MARK H, HALL STEVEN G, TANGUAY RANDALL J, MESSERLY JEFFREY D, ROBERTSON GALEN C, ZWOLINSKI ANDREW M, SWAYZE JEFFREY S, HUITEMA THOMAS W, ARMSTRONG GLEN A, PARIHAR SHAILENDRA K, KORVICK DONNA L, TIMM RICHARD W, BLAIR GREGORY B, HUEIL GEOFFREY C] <P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide improved points for a surgical stapling instrument to continuously actuate fasteners to body tissue and incise the body tissue. <P>SOLUTION: In various embodiments, the anvil of a disposable loading unit includes a first member having staple pockets for deforming staples, a first cover plate secured to the first member, and a second cover plate secured to at least one of the first member and the first cover plate, wherein the first and second cover plates can be configured to support the first member. In at least one embodiment, an anvil can include a first member inserted into a second member, where at least one of the first and second members can be deformed to retain one to the other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

[WEISENBURGH WILLIAM B II, MORGAN JEROME R, MOORE KYLE P, RANSICK MARK H, HALL STEVEN G, TANGUAY RANDALL J, MESSERLY JEFFREY D, ROBERTSON GALEN C, ZWOLINSKI ANDREW M, SWAYZE JEFFREY S, HUITEMA THOMAS W, ARMSTRONG GLEN A, PARIHAR SHAILENDRA K, KORVICK DONNA L, TIMM RICHARD W, DOLL KEVIN R, SMITH BRET W, KELLY WILLIAM D, KOLATA RONALD J, UTH JOSHUA R, SCHEIB CHARLES J, HUEIL GEOFFREY C, ORTIZ MARK S, HOFFMAN DOUGLAS B, WEIZMAN PATRICK A, BRUEWER DEAN B, BLAIR GREGORY B, SHELTON FREDERICK E IV] <P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide improving points for a surgical stapling instrument to continuously actuate fasteners to body tissue and incise body tissue. <P>SOLUTION: In various embodiments, the surgical stapling instrument can include a handle part, a shaft part extending from the handle part, wherein the shaft part defines an axis, and the disposable loading unit which is fitted to the shaft part in a direction which is transverse to the shaft part axis. Such a connection between the disposable loading unit and the shaft part can prevent, or at least inhibit, the disposable loading unit from being unintentionally displaced proximally and/or distally relative to the shaft part of the surgical stapling instrument. The surgical stapling instrument and/or disposable loading unit can further include a threaded collar part and/or detent assembly part configured to hold the disposable loading unit at an appropriate place. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

[ANDREW M ZWOLINSKI, BRET W SMITH, CHARLES J SCHEIB, DEAN B BRUEWER, DONNA L KORVICK, DOUGLAS B HOFFMAN, FREDERICK E SHELTON IV, GALEN C ROBERTSON, GEOFFREY C HUEIL, GLEN A ARMSTRONG, GREGORY B BLAIR, JEFFREY D MESSERLY, JEFFREY S SWAYZE, JEROME R MORGAN, JOSHUA R UTH, KEVIN R DOLL, KYLE P MOORE, MARK H RANSICK, MARK S ORTIZ, PATRICK A WEIZMAN, RANDALL J TANGUAY, RICHARD W TIMM, RONALD J KOLATA, SHAILENDRA K PARIHAR, STEVEN G HALL, THOMAS W HUITEMA, WILLIAM B WEISENBURGH II, WILLIAM D KELLY] US

[SHELTON IV FREDERICK E, SCHEIB CHARLES J, ORTIZ MARK S, HOFFMAN DOUGLAS B, WEIZMAN PATRICK A, BRUEWER DEAN B, DOLL KEVIN R, SMITH BRET W, KELLY WILLIAM D, KOLATA RONALD J, UTH JOSHUA R, WEISENBURGH II WILLIAM B, MORGAN JEROME R, MOORE KYLE P, RANSICK MARK H, HALL STEVEN G, TANGUAY RANDALL J, MESSERLY JEFFREY D, ROBERTSON GALEN C, ZWOLINSKI ANDREW M, SWAYZE JEFFREY S, HUITEMA THOMAS W, ARMSTRONG GLEN A, PARIHAR SHAILENDRA K, KORVICK DONNA L, TIMM RICHARD W, BLAIR GREGORY B, HUEIL GEOFFREY C] US

[William B. Weisenburgh, II, Jerome R. Morgan, Kyle P. Moore, Mark H. Ransick, Steven G. Hall, Randall J. Tanguay, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Galen C. Robertson, Andrew M. Zwolinski, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Thomas W. Huitema, Glen A. Armstrong, Shailendra K. Parihar, Donna L. Korvick, Richard W. Timm, Kevin R. Doll, Bret W. Smith, William D. Kelly, Ronald J. Kolata, Joshua R. Uth, Charles J. Scheib, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Mark S. Ortiz, Douglas B. Hoffman, Patrick A. Weizman, Dean B. Bruewer, Gregory B. Blair, Frederick E. Shelton, IV] US OH Cincinnati In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft defines an axis, and a disposable loading unit which is assembled to the shaft in a direction which is transverse to the shaft axis. Such a connection between the disposable loading unit and the shaft can prevent, or at least inhibit, the disposable loading unit from being unintentionally displaced proximally and/or distally relative to the shaft of the surgical instrument. The surgical stapling instrument and/or disposable loading unit can further include a threaded collar and/or detent assembly configured to hold the disposable loading unit in place. In various embodiments, a disposable loading unit can include a lockout feature which can prevent, or at least inhibit, an expended disposable loading unit from being reassembled to the elongated body of the surgical instrument.