US Patent 10172669 Surgical instrument comprising an energy trigger lockout

A surgical instrument can comprise a lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock can be engaged with a drive shaft in order to prevent the drive shaft from being advanced when the lock is in its locked position. The surgical instrument can further comprise an electrical input and, in addition, a switch movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, wherein the electrical input is electrically disconnected from an electrode when the switch is in its unactuated position, wherein the switch is configured to electrically couple the electrical input and the electrode when the switch is in its actuated position, and wherein the switch and the lock are operably coupled such that the movement of the switch from its unactuated position to its actuated position moves the lock from its locked position to its unlocked position.