Control systems for surgical instruments
Surgical instruments and control systems therefor are disclosed. A surgical instrument can comprise: a power circuit comprising a power source and a switch, a microcontroller coupled to the power circuit, a handle comprising an attachment portion, and a control circuit in signal communication with the microcontroller. The attachment portion can comprise a first electrical contact in signal communication with the microcontroller. The control circuit can comprise a sensor configured to detect an attachment state of the attachment portion. The control circuit can communicate the detected attachment state to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller can ignore signals from the first electrical contact when the control circuit communicates a detached state. The attachment portion can comprise a second electrical contact coupled to a second power circuit, and the second power circuit can decouple the second electrical contact and the second power source when the sensor detects the detached state.
1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a proximal housing, the proximal housing comprising:
(i) a motor, and
(ii) a firing drive, wherein the motor is configured to actuate the firing drive between a default position and an advanced position;
(b) an interchangeable assembly configured to selectively couple with the proximal housing, wherein the interchangeable assembly comprises:
(i) an elongated shaft,
(ii) an articulation joint coupled with the elongated shaft,
(iii) an end effector coupled to the articulation joint, and
(iv) an articulation driver configured to actuate relative to the elongated shaft to articulate the end effector between an articulation home state position and an articulated position, wherein the articulation driver is configured to operatively couple with the firing drive when the interchangeable assembly is coupled with the proximal housing, wherein the firing drive and the articulation driver, while operatively coupled with each other, are configured to cooperatively articulate the end effector relative to the elongated shaft in response to the firing drive actuating between the default position and the advanced position; and
(c) a safe release comprising:
(i) a lock configured to transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein the lock, while in the locked configuration, is configured to inhibit decoupling of the interchangeable assembly and the proximal housing, wherein the lock, while in the unlocked configuration, is configured to allow decoupling of the interchangeable assembly and the proximal housing, and
(ii) a switch, wherein the switch is configured to generate a home state input signal in response to the lock transitioning into the unlocked configuration, wherein the firing drive is configured to automatically actuate to the default position in response to the switch generating the home state input signal.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the firing drive and the articulation driver, while operatively coupled with each other, are configured to cooperatively articulate the end effector into the articulation home state position in response to the switch generating the home state input signal.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further comprises a knife.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the interchangeable assembly further comprises a knife bar configured to actuate relative to the elongated shaft to thereby fire the knife of the end effector.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the firing drive is configured to operatively couple with the knife bar in order to actuate the knife bar relative to the elongated shaft.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 5 , further comprising a clutch configured to operatively couple the firing drive between the knife bar and the articulation driver.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the firing drive is configured to actuate the knife bar to a home position in response to receiving the home input signal.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lock of the safe release is slidably coupled to the interchangeable assembly.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the switch is attached to the proximal housing.
10 . The surgical instrument of claim 9 , further comprising a controller, wherein the switch is in communication with the controller.
11 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the home state input signal and thereby instruct the firing drive to return to the home state position via the motor.
12 . The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to generate an operator prompt in response to receiving the home state input signal.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the lock comprises a latch.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein the latch is configured to be housed within a receiving slot defined by the proximal housing in the locked configuration.
15 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further comprises a pair of jaws.
16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the end effector further comprises a staple cartridge.
17 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein eh end effector is configured to grasp, sever, and staple tissue.
18 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a proximal housing, the proximal housing comprising:
(i) a motor,
(ii) a controller configured to activate the motor, and
(iii) a firing drive, wherein the motor is configured to actuate the firing drive between a default position and an advanced position;
(b) an interchangeable assembly configured to selectively couple with the proximal housing, wherein the interchangeable assembly comprises:
(i) an elongated shaft,
(ii) an articulation joint coupled with the elongated shaft,
(iii) an end effector coupled to the articulation joint, and
(iv) an articulation driver configured to articulate the end effector between an articulation home state position and an articulated position, wherein the articulation driver is configured to operatively couple with the firing drive when the interchangeable assembly is coupled with the proximal housing, wherein the firing drive is configured to actuate the articulation driver in response to the firing drive actuating between the default position and the advanced position; and
(c) a safe release configured to transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration,
wherein the safe release, while in the locked configuration, is configured to inhibit decoupling of the interchangeable assembly and the proximal housing,
wherein the safe release, while in the unlocked configuration, is configured to allow decoupling of the interchangeable assembly and the proximal housing,
wherein the safe release is configured to generate a home state input signal in response to transitioning into the unlocked configuration,
wherein the firing drive is configured to automatically actuate to the default position in response to the safe release generating the home state input signal.
19 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the interchangeable assembly comprises a knife bar, wherein the firing drive is configured to selectively coupled with either the knife bar or the articulation driver.
20 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a proximal housing, the proximal housing comprising:
(i) a motor,
(ii) a controller configured to activate the motor, and
(iii) a firing drive, wherein the motor is configured to actuate the firing drive between a default position and an advanced position;
(b) an interchangeable assembly configured to selectively couple with the proximal housing, wherein the interchangeable assembly comprises:
(i) an elongated shaft, and
(ii) an end effector coupled to the elongated shaft, wherein the firing drive, while the interchangeable assembly is coupled to the proximal housing, is configured to manipulate the end effector in response to the firing drive actuating between the default position and an advanced position; and
(c) a safe release configured to transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration,
wherein the safe release, while in the locked configuration, is configured to inhibit decoupling of the interchangeable assembly and the proximal housing,
wherein the safe release, while in the unlocked configuration, is configured to allow decoupling of the interchangeable assembly and the proximal housing,
wherein the safe release is configured to generate a home state input signal in response to transitioning into the unlocked configuration,
wherein the firing drive is configured to automatically actuate to the default position in response to the safe release generating the home state input signal.