CONTROL METHODS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE IMPLEMENT PORTIONS

1 . A surgical instrument for acting on tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

at least one processor and operatively associated memory;

at least one motor in communication with the processor; and

at least one actuation device;

wherein the processor is programmed to:

receive from a removable implement portion a first variable describing the removable implement;

apply the first variable to an instrument control algorithm;

receive an input control signal from the actuation device; and

control the at least one motor to operate the surgical instrument in conjunction with the removable implement in accordance with the instrument control algorithm considering the input control signal.

2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the removable implement comprises an end effector.

3 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the first variable describes at least one value selected from the group consisting of: a variable describing a length of the end effector, a variable describing a curvature of the end effector, and a variable describing an energy element of the end effector.

4 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein applying the first variable to the instrument control algorithm comprises deriving: a motor selected from the at least one motor to be activated for firing the end effector; and an amount by which the motor should be activated.

5 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the end effector comprises an energy element and wherein applying the first variable to the instrument control algorithm comprises deriving when to provide energy to the energy element relative to a firing stroke of the end effector.

6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the removable implement comprises a removable shaft.

7 . The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the first variable describes at least one value selected from the group consisting of: a variable indicating a length of the shaft, a variable describing a curvature of the shaft, a variable describing an articulation joint of the shaft, a variable describing a rotation of the shaft, and a variable describing end effector rotation supported by the shaft.

8 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the removable implement comprises a power cord.

9 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the first variable describes at least one value selected from the group consisting of: a variable describing a power source to which the power cord is configured to be attached; a variable describing an energy element generator to which the power cord is configured to be attached; an indication of a power source to which the power cord is attached; and an indication of an energy element generator to which the power cord is attached.

10 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the removable implement comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, wherein the processor is further programmed to interrogate the RFID device, and where receiving the first variable describing the removable implement comprises receiving a reflected signal from the RFID device.

11 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the removable implement comprises a data storage component to store the first variable.

12 . The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein a wired connection is present between the processor and the removable implement, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to request the first variable via the wired connection.

13 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive from a second removable implement a second variable describing the second removable implement;

apply the second variable to the instrument control algorithm, wherein controlling the at least one motor to operate the surgical instrument is also in conjunction with the second removable instrument.

14 . A surgical instrument for acting on tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

at least one processor and operatively associated memory;

at least one motor in communication with the processor; and

at least one actuation device;

wherein the processor is programmed to:

receive from a removable implement an implement control algorithm describing operation of the surgical instrument in conjunction with the removable implement;

receive an input control signal from the actuation device; and

control the at least one motor to operate the surgical instrument in conjunction with the removable implement in accordance with the implement control algorithm considering the input control signal.

15 . The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive from a second removable implement a second implement control algorithm describing operation of the surgical instrument in conjunction with the second removable implement; and

control the at least one motor to operate the surgical instrument in conjunction with the removable implement and the second removable implement in accordance with the implement control algorithm and the second implement control algorithm.

16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the removable implement is an end effector and the second removable implement is a power cord.

17 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further programmed to reconcile the implement control algorithm and the second implement control algorithm.

18 . The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the removable implement comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, wherein the processor is further programmed to interrogate the RFID device, and where receiving the implement control algorithm comprises receiving a reflected signal from the RFID device.

19 . The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the removable implement comprises a data storage component to store the first variable.

20 . The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein a wired connection is present between the processor and the removable implement, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to request the first variable via the wired connection.