Surgical instruments with separable motors and motor control circuits

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a drive assembly operably coupled to the end effector, and a replaceable motor cartridge that includes a motor control circuit board and a motor. The surgical instrument further includes a main control circuit board including a processor and a computer-readable storage device storing program instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect a malfunction of the motor cartridge. The surgical instrument also includes an interface including a mechanical interface portion configured to releasably couple the motor to the drive assembly and an electrical interface portion configured to releasably couple the motor control circuit board to the main control circuit board.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a jaw assembly, comprising:
 a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples; and 
 an anvil, wherein at least one of the staple cartridge and the anvil is movable relative to the other one of the staple cartridge and the anvil to capture tissue therebetween; 
   a firing assembly configured to deploy the plurality of staples into the captured tissue during a firing sequence; and   a handle, comprising:
 an actuator; and 
 an interface; 
   a motor cartridge, wherein the interface is configured to releasably couple the motor cartridge to the handle, wherein the motor cartridge comprises:
 an electric motor operably coupled to the firing assembly when the motor cartridge is coupled to the handle; and 
 a motor control circuit, wherein the motor control circuit is configured to cause the electric motor to generate at least one rotational motion to motivate the firing assembly to deploy the plurality of staples into the captured tissue in response to actuation of the actuator; and 
   a controller, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a computer-readable storage device storing program instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect a malfunction of the motor cartridge. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-readable storage device is a memory. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to store a damaged status of the motor cartridge in the memory after detecting the malfunction of the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one user feedback element, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to employ the at least one user feedback element to alert a user of the malfunction. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument of  claim 4 , wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to employ the at least one user feedback element to provide instructions to the user for replacing the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to stop power transmission from the power source to the motor cartridge after detecting the malfunction of the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a current sensor, wherein the program instructions when executed cause the processor to employ the current sensor in the detection the malfunction of the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor cartridge replacement feedback element, wherein the program instructions when executed cause the processor to employ the motor cartridge replacement feedback element to detect replacement of the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein the motor cartridge replacement feedback element is a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector;   a drive assembly operably coupled to the end effector;   a replaceable motor cartridge, comprising:
 a motor control circuit board; and 
 a motor; 
   a main control circuit board, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a computer-readable storage device storing program instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect a malfunction of the motor cartridge; and 
   an interface, comprising:
 a mechanical interface portion configured to releasably couple the motor to the drive assembly; and 
 an electrical interface portion configured to releasably couple the motor control circuit board to the main control circuit board. 
   
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the replaceable motor cartridge further comprises another motor. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the computer-readable storage device is a memory. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument of  claim 12 , wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to store a damaged status of the motor cartridge in the memory after detecting the malfunction of the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one user feedback element, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to employ the at least one user feedback element to alert a user of the malfunction. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to employ the at least one user feedback element to provide instructions to the user for replacing the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , further comprising a power source, wherein the program instructions when executed further cause the processor to stop power transmission from the power source to the motor cartridge after detecting the malfunction of the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , further comprising a current sensor, wherein the program instructions when executed cause the processor to employ the current sensor in the detection the malfunction of the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , further comprising a motor cartridge replacement feedback element, wherein the program instructions when executed cause the processor to employ the motor cartridge replacement feedback element to detect replacement of the motor cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument of  claim 18 , wherein the motor cartridge replacement feedback element is a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an end effector;   a drive assembly operably coupled to the end effector;   replaceable high current elements, comprising:
 a motor control circuit; and 
 a motor; 
   low current elements, comprising:
 at least one feedback element; 
 a controller, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a computer-readable storage device storing program instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect a malfunction of the high current elements; and 
 
   an interface, comprising:
 a mechanical interface portion configured to releasably couple the motor to the drive assembly; and 
 an electrical interface portion configured to releasably couple the motor control circuit to the controller.