SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH SMART STAPLE CARTRIDGES

1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

an anvil;

an elongate channel, wherein at least one of said anvil and said elongate channel is movable to capture tissue between said anvil and said elongate channel, wherein said elongate channel comprises:

a plurality of first electrical contacts; and

a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein said electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between said first electrical contacts and said second electrical contacts; and

a staple cartridge releasably attachable to said elongate channel, and wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples deployable from said staple cavities into the tissue; and

a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein said attachment of said staple cartridge to said elongate channel moves said electrical connectors causing said second electrical contacts to bridge said gap and become electrically coupled to said first electrical contacts.

2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said staple cartridge comprises a storage medium configured to store information about said staple cartridge, and wherein said storage medium is accessible by said surgical instrument through at least one of said third electrical contacts when said cartridge body is attached to said elongate channel.

3 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said storage medium comprises a memory unit.

4 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said information comprises an identifier of said staple cartridge.

5 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said information comprises a spent status of said staple cartridge.

6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said electrical connectors are at least partially coated with a fluid-repellant coating.

7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said third electrical contacts are at least partially coated with a fluid-repellant coating.

8 . The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein said connectors comprise wearing features configured to at least partially remove said fluid-repellant coating during attachment of said staple cartridge to said elongate channel.

9 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein at least one of said wearing features comprises a raised-dome shape.

10 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said staple cartridge comprises a cartridge-status circuit portion comprising a trace element configured to be broken during said deployment of said staples.

11 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said elongate channel comprises a compressible seal configured to resist fluid ingress between said staple cartridge and said elongate channel when said staple cartridge is attached to said elongate channel.

12 . A staple cartridge for use with an end effector of a surgical instrument, wherein the staple cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body releasably attachable to the end effector, wherein said cartridge body comprises a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples at least partially stored in said staple cavities;

a camming member movable relative to said cartridge body from a starting position to cause said staples to be deployed from said staple cavities; and

an electrical circuit, comprising:

a plurality of external electrical contacts configured to be electrically coupled to corresponding electrical contacts of the end effector when said cartridge body is attached to the end effector;

a storage medium configured to store information about said staple cartridge, wherein said storage medium is accessible through at least one of said external electrical contacts when said cartridge body is attached to the end effector; and

a cartridge-status circuit portion comprising a trace element configured to be broken during said movement of said camming member.

13 . The staple cartridge of claim 12 , wherein said storage medium comprises a memory unit.

14 . The staple cartridge of claim 12 , wherein said information comprises an identifier of said staple cartridge.

15 . The staple cartridge of claim 12 , wherein said information comprises a spent status of said staple cartridge.

16 . The staple cartridge of claim 12 , wherein said external electrical connectors are at least partially coated with a fluid-repellant coating.

17 . A staple cartridge for use with an end effector of a surgical instrument, wherein the staple cartridge comprises:

a cartridge body releasably attachable to the end effector, wherein said cartridge body comprises a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples at least partially stored in said staple cavities;

a sled movable relative to said cartridge body from a starting position to cause said staples to be deployed from said staple cavities during a firing stroke;

a detection means for determining a spent status of said staple cartridge; and

a storage medium configured to store said spent status of said staple cartridge.

18 . The staple cartridge of claim 17 , wherein said detection means includes an electrical circuit configured to be transitioned between a closed configuration and an open configuration by said sled during said firing stroke.

19 . The staple cartridge of claim 17 , wherein said detection means includes a Hall effect sensor.

20 . The staple cartridge of claim 17 , wherein said detection means includes an electrical circuit comprising a conductive bridge configured to be severed during said firing stroke.