A surgical system comprising: a surgical instrument; a power supply for supplying electric energy; a power stage coupled to the power supply for converting the electric energy to a power signal, the power stage configured to transmit the power signal to the surgical instrument; a temperature sensor disposed on the surgical instrument; an audio output device; and a controller coupled to the power stage and to the audio output device, the controller configured to cause the audio output device to output sensory feedback during operation of the surgical system based on signals received from the temperature sensor which is coupled to the controller during use of the surgical system to perform a surgical procedure; and wherein the controller is configured to: output sensory feedback comprising a first audio signal from the audio output device to indicate that the surgical instrument is about to overheat, whereby a clinician, in response to hearing the tone, may cause the surgical instrument to stop delivering electrosurgical energy to target tissue; determine that the surgical instrument has cooled to a temperature at which the surgical instrument can continue to operate effectively; and in response to said determination, output sensory feedback comprising a second audio signal from the audio output device to indicate to the clinician that the surgical instrument can be re-energized; and wherein the audio output device is configured to output a third audio signal comprising a tone which is pulsed at a varying or predetermined rate depending on the rate of advancement of the surgical instrument through a patient's tissue. a surgical instrument; a power supply for supplying electric energy; a power stage coupled to the power supply for converting the electric energy to a power signal, the power stage configured to transmit the power signal to the surgical instrument; a temperature sensor disposed on the surgical instrument; an audio output device; and a controller coupled to the power stage and to the audio output device, the controller configured to cause the audio output device to output sensory feedback during operation of the surgical system based on signals received from the temperature sensor which is coupled to the controller during use of the surgical system to perform a surgical procedure; and wherein the controller is configured to: output sensory feedback comprising a first audio signal from the audio output device to indicate that the surgical instrument is about to overheat, whereby a clinician, in response to hearing the tone, may cause the surgical instrument to stop delivering electrosurgical energy to target tissue; determine that the surgical instrument has cooled to a temperature at which the surgical instrument can continue to operate effectively; and in response to said determination, output sensory feedback comprising a second audio signal from the audio output device to indicate to the clinician that the surgical instrument can be re-energized; and wherein the audio output device is configured to output a third audio signal comprising a tone which is pulsed at a varying or predetermined rate depending on the rate of advancement of the surgical instrument through a patient's tissue. output sensory feedback comprising a first audio signal from the audio output device to indicate that the surgical instrument is about to overheat, whereby a clinician, in response to hearing the tone, may cause the surgical instrument to stop delivering electrosurgical energy to target tissue; determine that the surgical instrument has cooled to a temperature at which the surgical instrument can continue to operate effectively; and in response to said determination, output sensory feedback comprising a second audio signal from the audio output device to indicate to the clinician that the surgical instrument can be re-energized; and wherein the audio output device is configured to output a third audio signal comprising a tone which is pulsed at a varying or predetermined rate depending on the rate of advancement of the surgical instrument through a patient's tissue.