A surgical instrument, comprising: an elongated channel; an anvil pivotably connected to the elongated channel; a closure member mechanically coupled to the anvil; an electric motor mechanically coupled to the closure member; a motor controller electrically coupled to the electric motor; means for measuring a closing force; and a control circuit electrically connected to the motor controller, wherein the control circuit is configured to: monitor a first predefined event; monitor a second predefined event; provide a stop signal to the motor controller to stop a closing motion of at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil after an occurrence of the first predefined event; wherein the occurrence of the first predefined event is determined from the measurements of the closing force, the instrument characterized in that the control circuit is further configured to provide a start signal to the motor controller to start the closing motion of the at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil after an occurrence of a second predefined event, wherein the occurrence of the second predefined event comprises the closing motion being stopped for a period of time (ti), wherein the control circuit further comprises a sensor configured to measure a position of at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil, wherein the period of time varies based on the position of the at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil. an elongated channel; an anvil pivotably connected to the elongated channel; a closure member mechanically coupled to the anvil; an electric motor mechanically coupled to the closure member; a motor controller electrically coupled to the electric motor; means for measuring a closing force; and a control circuit electrically connected to the motor controller, wherein the control circuit is configured to: monitor a first predefined event; monitor a second predefined event; provide a stop signal to the motor controller to stop a closing motion of at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil after an occurrence of the first predefined event; wherein the occurrence of the first predefined event is determined from the measurements of the closing force, the instrument characterized in that the control circuit is further configured to provide a start signal to the motor controller to start the closing motion of the at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil after an occurrence of a second predefined event, wherein the occurrence of the second predefined event comprises the closing motion being stopped for a period of time (ti), wherein the control circuit further comprises a sensor configured to measure a position of at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil, wherein the period of time varies based on the position of the at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil. monitor a first predefined event; monitor a second predefined event; provide a stop signal to the motor controller to stop a closing motion of at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil after an occurrence of the first predefined event; wherein the occurrence of the first predefined event is determined from the measurements of the closing force, the instrument characterized in that the control circuit is further configured to provide a start signal to the motor controller to start the closing motion of the at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil after an occurrence of a second predefined event, wherein the occurrence of the second predefined event comprises the closing motion being stopped for a period of time (ti), wherein the control circuit further comprises a sensor configured to measure a position of at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil, wherein the period of time varies based on the position of the at least one of the elongated channel and the anvil.