Shaft, e.g., for an electro-mechanical surgical device

Abstract

A shaft being, e.g., flexible, that includes an elongated outer sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a ring non-rotatably mounted on the at least one rotatable drive shaft and at least one light source mounted within the shaft, such that, upon rotation of the at least one rotatable drive shaft, the ring alternately blocks and allows light from the light source to be detected. The shaft may also include a moisture sensor disposed within the outer sheath of the shaft and configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath. The shaft may include couplings that connect a distal end of the outer sheath to a surgical attachment and a proximal end of the outer sheath to a remote power console.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for operating a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
 coupling a surgical attachment to an adapter shaft including an actuation element configured to actuate the surgical attachment, the surgical attachment having a first memory storing identification data pertaining to the adapter shaft;   coupling the adapter shaft to a motor configured to actuate the actuation element;   detecting a type of the surgical attachment coupled to the adapter shaft based on the identification data;   selecting a program from a plurality of programs stored in a second memory based on the identification data; and   controlling the motor based on the selected program.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting a user control input from a user control unit to the controller to control the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein transmitting the user control input includes receiving the user control input from at least one of a wired remote control unit or a wireless remote control unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising storing usage data pertaining to the surgical attachment in the first memory. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising storing usage data pertaining to the surgical attachment in a third memory disposed in the adapter shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising displaying on a display device at least one message in accordance with at least one of an operation or a status of the surgical attachment, the adapter shaft, or the motor. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising indicating on an indicator device an indication of at least one of an operation or a status of the surgical attachment, the adapter shaft, or the motor.