A surgical clip applier comprising a rotatable clip cartridge is disclosed. The surgical clip applier comprises a lockout that at least locks out the crimping drive of the surgical clip applier when the rotatable clip cartridge is empty.

A surgical clip applier is disclosed which is configured to automatically feed a clip from a clip cartridge once the surgical clip applier is positioned in the patient.

A surgical clip applier comprising an electric motor system is disclosed. The electric motor system is configured to drive a clip firing system of the surgical clip applier. The surgical clip applier further comprises a control system configured to control the electric motor system. The control system is configured to monitor a strain gauge circuit to assess the crimping force experienced by the clip firing system. In at least one instance, one or more strain gauges are mounted to a drive shaft and/or jaw of the clip firing system. The control system modifies the operation of the surgical clip applier when the voltage of the strain gauge circuit exceeds and/or falls below a threshold. In at least one instance, the control system modulates the width, or duration, of voltage pulses applied to the electric motor system to control the speed of the electric motor system.

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle, a shaft, and a disposable power module is disclosed. The handle comprises a motor, a control switch, and a motor-control processor which is in communication with the control switch. In various instances, the disposable power module comprises a disposable battery and a display unit configured to indicate at least one function of the surgical instrument system.

A surgical instrument system is disclosed comprising a handle, an elongate shaft selectively attachable to the handle, a battery pack replaceably attachable to the handle, and an end effector extending distally from the elongate shaft. In various instances, the battery pack comprises a power source couplable to the motor and a display. The elongate shaft comprises a processor and a memory couplable to the processor. In various instances, the memory comprises a control program which, when executed, causes the processor to initiate a desired function. In various instances, the end effector comprises a sensing circuit configured to detect a condition of the end effector. The sensing circuit is in signal communication with the processor.

A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a shaft, an end effector, and an articulation joint rotatably connecting the end effector to the shaft. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation drive system configured to permit high degrees of articulation.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a surgical dissector.

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft and an end effector is disclosed. The end effector is releasably attachable to the shaft by a lock biased into a locked condition to hold the end effector to the shaft.

A surgical instrument system comprising a first motor, a second motor, and a third motor is disclosed. The surgical instrument system comprises a first handle comprising a first number of controls, a second handle comprising a second number of controls, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is attachable to the first handle in a first orientation in order to engage one of the motors. The shaft assembly is attachable to the second handle in a second orientation to engage a different motor. The surgical instrument system is configured to perform a different function of an end effector in the first orientation and the second orientation.

A surgical instrument system is disclosed comprising a plurality of outputs driven by an input. The input is selectively engaged with the outputs by a shifting system.