Surgical instrument

Abstract

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a motor;   a handle comprising:
 a firing trigger for initiating an operation of the motor; and 
 a position feedback system configured to move the firing trigger, wherein the firing trigger is moved indirectly with respect to the operation of the motor; 
   a shaft assembly;   an end effector extending from the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises a firing element moveably positioned in the end effector, and wherein the operation of the motor moves the firing element; and   a locator for detecting the position of the firing element in the end effector, wherein the locator is configured to communicate with the position feedback system, and wherein the position feedback system is configured to move the firing trigger to a position that relates to the position of the firing element.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the firing trigger is configured to move between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration, and wherein the firing trigger initiates the operation of the motor upon moving away from the unfired configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument of  claim 22 , wherein the firing trigger pivots relative to the handle between the unfired configuration and the fired configuration as the firing element moves between a first position and a second position in the end effector. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument of  claim 23 , comprising an end-of-stroke sensor for detecting when the firing element reaches the second position, wherein the end-of-stroke sensor operably communicates with the motor to reverse direction of the firing element. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the position feedback system comprises:
 a second motor; and   an actuating member connected to the second motor, wherein the actuating member moves the firing trigger to the position related to the position of the firing element.   
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , comprising a control circuit for receiving signals from the locator related to the position of the firing element and for sending control signals to the second motor based on the signals received from the locator. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the motor is coupled to a main drive shaft assembly that rotates to drive the firing element through the end effector, and wherein the locator detects incremental rotations of the main drive shaft assembly to detect the position of the firing element in the end effector. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the motor is coupled to a firing gear train that drives the firing element through the end effector, and wherein the position feedback system comprises a geared portion attached to the firing trigger, and wherein the geared portion engages the firing gear train. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the firing element comprising a cutting element. 
     
     
         30 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector comprising a firing element moveably positioned therein;   an encoder for detecting the position of the firing element in the end effector;   a shaft assembly comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the end effector is connected to the distal end;   a drive motor, wherein activation of the drive motor drives the firing element through the end effector; and   a handle connected to the proximal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the handle comprises a position feedback system comprising a trigger, wherein the position feedback system operably communicates with the encoder and moves the trigger to a position that relates to the position of the firing element.   
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30 , wherein the trigger is configured to move between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration, and wherein the trigger activates the drive motor upon moving toward the fired configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument of  claim 31 , wherein the trigger pivots relative to the handle between the unfired configuration and the fired configuration as the firing element moves between a first position and a second position in the end effector. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30 , wherein the position feedback system comprises:
 a feedback motor; and   an actuating member connected to the feedback motor, wherein the feedback motor drives the actuating member to move the trigger to the position related to the position of the firing element.   
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument of  claim 31 , comprising a control circuit for receiving signals from the encoder related to the position of the firing element and for sending control signals to the feedback motor based on the signals received from the encoder. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30 , wherein the end effector is releasably connected to the distal end of the shaft assembly. 
     
     
         36 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector comprising a firing element moveably positioned therein;   a drive system for operably moving the firing element in the end effector;   a sensor for detecting the position of the firing element;   a shaft assembly comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the end effector extends from the distal end;   a handle, wherein the handle comprises a position feedback system, comprising:
 a motor, wherein the motor operably communicates with the sensor to receive signals indicative of the position of the firing element; and 
 a trigger coupled to the motor, wherein the motor moves the trigger to a position that corresponds to the position of the firing element. 
   
     
     
         37 . The surgical instrument of  claim 36 , wherein the trigger activates a drive motor upon moving away from an initial configuration, and wherein the activated drive motor engages the drive system to drive the firing element through the end effector. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical instrument of  claim 37 , wherein the motor pivots the trigger relative to the handle between the initial configuration and a fired configuration as the firing element moves between a first position and a second position in the end effector. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical instrument of  claim 37 , wherein the drive system rotates to drive the firing element through the end effector, and wherein the sensor detects incremental rotations of the drive system. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical instrument of  claim 39 , comprising a control circuit for receiving signals from the sensor related to the incremental rotations of the drive assembly and for sending control signals to the motor based on the signals received from the sensor. 
     
     
         41 . The surgical instrument of  claim 36 , wherein the position feedback system comprises an actuating member connected to the motor, wherein the actuating member applies a force to the trigger to move the trigger to the position related to the position of the firing element. 
     
     
         42 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a drive system;   a handle comprising:
 a trigger; and 
 a position feedback system configured to move the trigger, wherein the trigger is moved indirectly with respect to the drive system; 
   a shaft assembly;   a firing element configured to move between a plurality of positions relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the drive system moves the firing element between the plurality of positions; and   a sensor for detecting the position of the firing element in the end effector, wherein the sensor operably communicates with the position feedback system, and wherein the position feedback system moves the trigger to a position that relates to the position of the firing element.   
     
     
         43 . The surgical instrument of  claim 42 , wherein the position feedback system comprises:
 a motor; and   an actuating member connected to the second motor, wherein the actuating member moves the trigger to the position related to the position of the firing element.   
     
     
         44 . The surgical instrument of  claim 43 , comprising a control circuit for receiving signals from the sensor related to the position of the firing element and for sending control signals to the motor based on the signals received from the sensor. 
     
     
         45 . The surgical instrument of  claim 41 , comprising an end effector extending from the shaft assembly, wherein the firing element drives a cutting element through the end effector.