Surgical instrument comprising a control circuit
A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a housing and a control circuit mounted to and/or embedded in the housing.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle, comprising:
a housing;
a circuit board positioned in said housing, wherein said circuit board comprises an electrical connector; and
a port defined in said housing, wherein said port comprises a seal, wherein said seal comprises a self-sealing aperture, and wherein said port is configured to permit a communications probe to be inserted through said self-sealing aperture to engage said electrical connector; and
a shaft assembly extending from said handle.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said circuit board comprises a flex circuit mounted to said housing.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , further comprising a second circuit board in communication with said flex circuit, wherein said second circuit board comprises a laminate circuit board.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein said flex circuit conducts electrical currents below a threshold amperage but not above said threshold amperage, and wherein said laminate circuit board conducts electrical currents above said threshold amperage.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said circuit board comprises a first circuit board, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a second circuit board, wherein said housing comprises a card slot defined therein, and wherein said second circuit board comprises a card removably retained in said card slot.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein said first circuit board conducts electrical currents below a threshold amperage but not above said threshold amperage, and wherein said second circuit board conducts electrical currents above said threshold amperage.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , further comprising electrical contacts in said card slot, wherein said electrical contacts place said second circuit board in communication with said first circuit board when said second circuit board is seated in said card slot.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said circuit board comprises a first circuit board, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a second circuit board, wherein said first circuit board conducts electrical currents below a threshold amperage but not above said threshold amperage, wherein said second circuit board conducts electrical currents above said threshold amperage, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises an electric motor, and wherein said second circuit board comprises a motor controller configured to control said electric motor.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said circuit board comprises a first circuit board, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a second circuit board, wherein said first circuit board conducts electrical currents below a threshold amperage but not above said threshold amperage, wherein said second circuit board conducts electrical currents above said threshold amperage, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises an RF generator, and wherein said second circuit board comprises a controller configured to control said RF generator.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said circuit board comprises a first circuit board, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a second circuit board, wherein said first circuit board conducts electrical currents below a threshold amperage but not above said threshold amperage, wherein said second circuit board conducts electrical currents above said threshold amperage, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a transducer configured to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, and wherein said second circuit board comprises a controller configured to control said transducer.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said circuit board comprises electrical traces printed on said housing.
12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein said circuit board further comprises solid state components surface mounted on said electrical traces.
13. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said circuit board comprises electrical traces embedded in said housing, and wherein said housing has been etched to at least partially expose said electrical traces.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said circuit board comprises a flex circuit embedded in said housing.
15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 , further comprising a second circuit board in communication with said flex circuit, wherein said second circuit board comprises a laminate circuit board.
16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said flex circuit conducts electrical currents below a threshold amperage but not above said threshold amperage, and wherein said laminate circuit board conducts electrical currents above said threshold amperage.
17. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a staple cartridge including staples removably stored therein.
18. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said port is comprised of an elastomeric material.