MOTORIZED SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft connected to the end effector, and a handle connected to the shaft. The handle comprises an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train in the shaft for powering the drive train. The handle also comprises a power pack that comprises at least one charge-accumulating device connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor.
1 . A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:
an end effector;
a shaft connected to the end effector, the shaft comprising a drive train for powering the end effector;
an electric, DC motor connected to the drive train for powering the drive train; and
a power pack that comprises at least one charge-accumulating device connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor.
2 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one charge-accumulating device comprises a plurality of series-connected charge-accumulating devices.
3 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of series-connected charge-accumulating devices comprises a plurality of series-connected supercapacitors.
4 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 2 , wherein the power pack further comprises at least one battery for charging the charge-accumulating devices.
5 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 4 , wherein the at least one battery is replaceable.
6 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1 , wherein the power pack comprises at least one removable battery for charging the charge-accumulating devices.
7 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 6 , wherein the power pack comprises a charge management circuit connected to the charge-accumulating devices for determining a charge level of the charge-accumulating devices.
8 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 7 , wherein the charge management circuit comprises:
a memory for storing data; and
a processor connected to the memory.
9 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 8 wherein the memory is for storing parameters regarding the power pack.
10 . The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 9 , wherein the memory further is for storing RFID values for components of the instrument, and wherein the charge management circuit further comprises a RFID transponder for reading the RFID values.
11 . A surgical instrument comprising:
an end effector;
a shaft connected to the end effector, the shaft comprising a drive train for powering the end effector;
an electric, DC motor connected to the drive train for powering the drive train;
a detachable power pack that comprises at least one chargeable DC power source connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor; and
a charger base, remote from the instrument, for connecting to the removable power pack when detached, wherein the charger base comprises a power source for charging the at least one chargeable DC power source of the power pack.
12 . The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the power source of the charger base comprises an AC-to-DC power supply.
13 . The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the power source of the charger base comprises at least one battery.
14 . The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the at least one chargeable DC power source of the power pack comprises at least one rechargeable battery.
15 . The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the at least one chargeable DC power source of the power pack comprises at least one charge-accumulating device.
16 . The instrument of claim 15 , wherein the at least one charge-accumulating device comprises at least one supercapacitor.
17 . The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the power pack comprises:
a memory for storing data; and
a processor connected to the memory.
18 . The instrument of claim 17 , wherein the charger base further comprises a memory such that data from the memory of the power pack is downloadable to the memory of the charger base.