Motorized surgical instrument
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument that is motorized. The instrument comprises in one embodiment a charge accumulator device, separate from a battery, that provides additional power to the motor under certain conditions. In addition, the motor may comprise multiple windings.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
an electric motor positioned within the handle;
a power source comprising a rechargeable single cell battery electrically connectable to the electric motor, wherein the power source is positioned within the handle and is configured to supply a first maximum voltage of the power source to the electric motor;
a shaft assembly coupled to the handle;
an end effector coupled to the shaft assembly; and
a circuit positioned within the handle, wherein the circuit comprises a first switching device and a second switching device, and wherein the circuit is configured to increase a magnitude of the first maximum voltage supplied by the power source to a higher voltage and apply the higher voltage to the electric motor to drive at least one of the following:
a clamping system coupled to the electric motor; and
a firing system coupled to the electric motor.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor comprises a cordless electric motor.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the power source comprises a replaceable power source.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a charge accumulator device electrically connectable in series with the power source.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the charge accumulator device comprises a capacitor.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the circuit further comprises a switching device electrically connected to the power source and the charge accumulator device.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument further comprises at least one of the following:
the clamping system; and
the firing system.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a replaceable staple cartridge supported by the end effector.
9. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
an electric motor positioned within the handle;
a primary power source configured to supply a first maximum voltage of the primary power source to the electric motor, wherein the primary power source is positioned within the handle;
a drive member couplable to the electric motor; and
a voltage step up circuit electrically connectable to the primary power source and the electric motor, wherein the voltage step up circuit comprises a first switching device and a second switching device, and wherein the voltage step-up circuit is positioned within the handle and is configured to:
increase the first maximum voltage supplied by the primary power source to a stepped up voltage; and
apply the stepped up voltage to the electric motor to actuate the drive member.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the primary power source comprises a single cell battery.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the single cell battery comprises a rechargeable single cell battery.
12. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the voltage step up circuit comprises a supplemental power source electrically connectable in series with the primary power source.
13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the supplemental power source is configured to supply a second voltage.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the supplemental power source comprises a charge accumulator device.
15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
an electric motor;
a battery configured to supply a first maximum voltage of the battery to the electric motor;
a firing member couplable to the electric motor;
means for increasing the first maximum voltage supplied by the battery to a second voltage, wherein the means for increasing comprises a first switching device and a second switching device; and
means for applying the second voltage to the electric motor to drive the firing member.
16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the electric motor and the battery are positioned within the handle.
17. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the battery comprises a single cell battery.
18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein the single cell battery comprises a rechargeable single cell battery.
19. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the means for increasing the first voltage to the second voltage comprises a power source electrically connectable in series with the battery.
20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the power source comprises a charge accumulator device.