A system for providing feedback to a surgeon, comprising: an electrically powered stapling instrument; and a remote device; the instrument comprising: a handle having a power source (64, 2408) and an electric motor; a shaft in communication with the handle; an end effector in communication with the shaft having a staple cartridge; a cartridge sensor for detecting the type of cartridge in the end effector; a microprocessor in communication with the motor; a data storage device in communication with the microprocessor a data transmission device in communication with the data storage device and the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is configured to cause the instrument to operate as follows: to measure a motor parameter when the electrically powered stapling instrument is fired; to store the motor parameter; and to transmit the motor parameter to the remote device; and characterized in that: the microprocessor is further configured to transmit cartridge-identifying information from the cartridge sensor and instrument identifying information to the remote device; and the remote device is configured as follows: to compare the motor parameter to a preset value, wherein the preset value is a known or predicted value based upon the instrument and cartridge combination; to alert a user that the motor operated outside the preset value during firing; and to suggest a cartridge based upon the comparing the motor parameter to the preset value. an electrically powered stapling instrument; and a remote device; the instrument comprising: a handle having a power source (64, 2408) and an electric motor; a shaft in communication with the handle; an end effector in communication with the shaft having a staple cartridge; a cartridge sensor for detecting the type of cartridge in the end effector; a microprocessor in communication with the motor; a data storage device in communication with the microprocessor a data transmission device in communication with the data storage device and the microprocessor; a handle having a power source (64, 2408) and an electric motor; a shaft in communication with the handle; an end effector in communication with the shaft having a staple cartridge; a cartridge sensor for detecting the type of cartridge in the end effector; a microprocessor in communication with the motor; a data storage device in communication with the microprocessor a data transmission device in communication with the data storage device and the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is configured to cause the instrument to operate as follows: to measure a motor parameter when the electrically powered stapling instrument is fired; to store the motor parameter; and to transmit the motor parameter to the remote device; and to measure a motor parameter when the electrically powered stapling instrument is fired; to store the motor parameter; and to transmit the motor parameter to the remote device; and the microprocessor is further configured to transmit cartridge-identifying information from the cartridge sensor and instrument identifying information to the remote device; and the remote device is configured as follows: to compare the motor parameter to a preset value, wherein the preset value is a known or predicted value based upon the instrument and cartridge combination; to alert a user that the motor operated outside the preset value during firing; and to suggest a cartridge based upon the comparing the motor parameter to the preset value. to compare the motor parameter to a preset value, wherein the preset value is a known or predicted value based upon the instrument and cartridge combination; to alert a user that the motor operated outside the preset value during firing; and to suggest a cartridge based upon the comparing the motor parameter to the preset value.