MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT
A motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument that comprises an end effector, an electric motor, and a motor control circuit. The motor control circuit is for monitoring a parameter of the electric motor that is indicative of movement of a moveable member of the end effector, and for adjustably controlling the electric motor based on the monitored parameter to thereby adjustably control movement of the moveable member of the end effector during forward rotation of the electric motor.
1 . A system for cutting and stapling tissue, wherein the system comprises:
an instrument, comprising:
a handle, comprising:
an electric motor; and
a control system for controlling said electric motor; and
a drive member extending from said handle, wherein said electric motor is configured to drive said drive member during a firing stroke; and
a plurality of attachments compatible with said instrument, said plurality of attachments comprising:
a first attachment comprising a first firing stroke length; and
a second attachment comprising a second firing stroke length, wherein said second firing stroke length is different than said first firing stroke length;
wherein said stapler further comprises a sensor configured to detect the firing stroke length of the attachment attached to said instrument, wherein said sensor is in electrical communication with said control system, and wherein said control system controls said electric motor to drive said drive member the detected firing stroke length of the attached attachment during the firing stroke.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said electric motor drives said drive member said first firing stroke length when said first attachment is attached to said instrument, and wherein said electric motor drives said drive member said second firing stroke length when said second attachment is attached to said instrument.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of attachments further comprises a third attachment comprising a third firing stroke length, and wherein said third firing stroke length substantially matches said first firing stroke length.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said instrument further comprises an attachment portion for receiving an attachment, and wherein said attachment portion comprises said sensor.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said handle further comprises a battery operably coupleable to said electric motor.
6 . A system for cutting and stapling tissue, wherein the system comprises:
an instrument, comprising:
a handle, comprising:
an electric motor; and
a control system for controlling said electric motor;
a sensor in electrical communication with said control system;
a firing member configured to move through a plurality of firing motions, wherein said electric motor is configured to drive said firing member through said firing motions, and wherein said plurality of firing motions comprises:
a first firing motion; and
a second firing motion, wherein said second firing motion is different than said first firing motion; and
a plurality of stapling assemblies operably coupleable to said instrument, wherein said plurality of stapling assemblies comprises:
a first stapling assembly corresponding to said first firing motion; and
a second stapling assembly corresponding to said second firing motion;
wherein said sensor is configured to interface with an operably coupled stapling assembly to detect the corresponding firing motion, wherein said control system controls said electric motor to drive said firing member through said first firing motion when said sensor detects said first stapling assembly and through said second firing motion when said sensor detects said second stapling assembly.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein said first firing motion is different than said second firing motion.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein said plurality of stapling assemblies further comprises a third stapling assembly corresponding to a third firing motion, and wherein said control system controls said electric motor to drive said firing member through said third firing motion when said sensor detects said third stapling assembly.
9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein said instrument further comprises an attachment portion for attaching a stapling assembly, and wherein said attachment portion comprises said sensor.
10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein said handle further comprises a battery operably coupleable to said electric motor.
11 . A surgical instrument for cutting and stapling tissue, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
a handle, comprising:
an electric motor; and
a control system for controlling said electric motor;
an attachment operably coupled to said handle, wherein said attachment comprises an identifiable feature corresponding to a select firing stroke length;
a sensor in electrical communication with said control system, wherein said sensor interfaces with said attachment to detect said identifiable feature;
a firing member, wherein said electric motor is configured to move said firing member during a firing stroke, and wherein said control system controls said electric motor to move said firing member the select firing stroke length during the firing stroke based on said identifiable feature of said attachment detected by said sensor.
12 . The surgical instrument of claim 11 , further comprising:
a shaft extending from said handle; and
an attachment portion extending from said shaft, wherein said attachment portion is configured to receive said attachment.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein said attachment portion comprises said sensor.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein said firing member translates within said shaft.
15 . The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein said handle further comprises a battery operably coupleable to said electric motor.
16 . The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein said firing member is configured to move through a plurality of different firing stroke lengths, and wherein the plurality of firing stroke lengths comprises the select firing stroke length.
17 . A surgical instrument for cutting and stapling tissue, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
a handle, comprising:
an electric motor; and
a control system for controlling said electric motor;
a drive member extending from said handle, wherein said drive member is configured to move a plurality of firing stroke lengths, and wherein said electric motor is configured to selectively drive said drive member a firing stroke length selected from said plurality of firing stroke lengths during a firing stroke;
an attachment portion configured to operably couple an assembly to said handle, wherein said attachment portion comprises a sensor configured to sense a suitable firing stroke length for the operably coupled assembly, wherein the suitable firing stroke length is one of the plurality of firing stroke lengths, wherein said sensor is in electrical communication with said control system, and wherein said control system controls said electric motor to drive said drive member the suitable firing stroke length during the firing stroke.
18 . The surgical instrument of claim 17 , further comprising the assembly.
19 . The surgical instrument of claim 17 , further comprising a battery operably coupleable to said electric motor.