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:
 an end effector comprising a moveable firing element;   a drive system linked to the firing element and configured to drive the firing element through the end effector;   a motor for driving the drive system; and   a handle comprising:
 a firing trigger for receiving an activation force, wherein the activation force moves the firing trigger from a first configuration toward a second configuration; and 
 a run motor sensor for detecting the activation force, wherein the run motor sensor communicates with the motor, and wherein the motor rotates at a rate proportional to the activation force to drive the drive system. 
   
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the motor applies a load force to the drive system to drive the firing element through the end effector. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument of  claim 22 , wherein the motor applies a first load force to the drive system when the firing trigger moves to an intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations, wherein the motor applies a second load force to the drive system when the firing trigger moves to the second configuration, and wherein the second load force is greater than the first load force. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the firing trigger is pivotably connected to the handle. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the run motor sensor activates the motor upon detecting an activation force that pivots the firing trigger away from the first configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , comprising a bias spring adjacent to the firing trigger, wherein the activation force deforms the bias spring, and wherein the deformed bias spring applies a springback force to the firing trigger. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the firing element comprises a cutting element. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , comprising at least one sensor selected from a group of sensors comprising:
 an end-of-stroke sensor for detecting when the firing element reaches a final position, wherein the end-of-stroke sensor operably communicates with the motor to reverse direction of the firing element; and   a beginning-of-stroke sensor for detecting when the firing element returns to an initial position, wherein the beginning-of-stroke sensor operably communicates with the motor to stop rotation of the motor.   
     
     
         29 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a handle comprising:
 a sensor for detecting an activation force; and 
 a motor for generating a variable drive force, wherein the motor communicates with the sensor, and wherein the variable drive force is proportional to the activation force; 
   a shaft assembly; and   an end effector extending from the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises a firing element moveably positioned therein, and wherein the motor is configured to apply the variable drive force to the firing element to move the firing element in the end effector.   
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument of  claim 29 , wherein the handle comprises a firing trigger for receiving the activation force, wherein the firing trigger is configured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration, and wherein the sensor activates the motor upon detecting movement of the firing trigger away from the first configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30 , comprising a bias spring adjacent to the firing trigger, wherein the activation force deforms the bias spring. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument of  claim 31 , wherein the deformed bias spring applies a springback force on the firing trigger, and wherein the bias spring restores the firing trigger to the first configuration upon removal of the activation force. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument of  claim 29 , wherein the motor applies a first drive force when the firing trigger pivots slightly away from the first configuration, wherein the motor applies a second drive force when the firing trigger pivots to the second configuration, and wherein the second drive force is greater than the first drive force. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument of  claim 33 , wherein the motor rotates at a first rate when applying the first drive force, and wherein the motor rotates at a second rate when applying the second drive force, and wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate. 
     
     
         35 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector comprising a firing element; and   a drive system configured to move the firing element in the end effector;   a handle; and   a proportional control system that comprises:
 a sensor configured to detect an activation force; and 
 a motor coupled to the drive system, wherein the motor communicates with the sensor to receive signals indicative of the activation force, and wherein the motor drives the drive system at a rate proportional to the activation force. 
   
     
     
         36 . The surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the proportional control system comprises an actuator for receiving the activation force, wherein the actuator is configured to pivot between a first configuration and a second configuration upon receiving the activation force, and wherein the sensor activates the motor when the actuator pivots toward the second configuration. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical instrument of  claim 36 , comprising a spring adjacent to the actuator, wherein the activation force deforms the spring, and wherein the deformed spring applies a springback force to the actuator. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the motor rotates at a first rate when the actuator moves a little bit away from the first configuration, wherein the motor rotates at a second rate when the actuator moves to the second configuration, and wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical instrument of  claim 38 , wherein the firing element applies a first load force when the motor rotates at a first rate, where the firing element applies a second load force when the motor rates at a second rate, and wherein the second load force is greater than the first load force. 
     
     
         40 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a handle comprising:
 an actuator for receiving an activation force; and 
 a sensor configured to detect the activation force; 
   a motor configured to generate a variable drive force, wherein the motor communicates with the sensor, and wherein the variable drive force is proportional to the activation force;   a shaft assembly; and   a firing element configured to move between a plurality of positions relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the motor applies the variable drive force to the firing element to move the firing element between the plurality of positions.   
     
     
         41 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the actuator is configured to pivot between a first configuration and a second configuration upon receiving the activation force, and wherein the sensor activates the motor when the actuator pivots toward the second configuration. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical instrument of  claim 41 , comprising a bias spring adjacent to the actuator, wherein the activation force deforms the bias spring, and wherein the deformed bias spring applies a springback force to the actuator. 
     
     
         43 . The surgical instrument of  claim 41 , wherein the actuator is configured to pivot to an intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations, and wherein the motor generates a greater variable load force when the actuator moves to the second configuration than when the actuator moves to the intermediate configuration. 
     
     
         44 . The surgical instrument of  claim 41 , wherein the variable drive force incrementally increases as the actuator from the first configuration to the second configuration.