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:
an end effector comprising a firing element;
a motor mechanically coupled to the firing element;
a power source; and
a control system electrically coupled to the motor and the power source, wherein the control system comprises:
a sensing device configured to sense a position of the firing element;
a control circuit electrically coupled to the sensing device;
a switching device controlled by the control circuit; and
a resistive element electrically connected in parallel with the switching device,
and wherein the control system is configured to modulate power applied to the motor based on the following:
the sensed position of the firing element; and
a direction of travel of the firing element.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises an articulable end effector.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further comprises a staple cartridge holding a plurality of staples.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a battery.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises one of the following:
a rechargeable battery; and
a replaceable battery.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises a pulse width modulation circuit.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises at least one of the following:
a charge accumulator device; and
a voltage reduction device.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to modulate pulses of voltage applied to the motor.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to selectively increase the power applied to the motor.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to selectively reduce the power applied to the motor.