Patent ID: 8038046

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a surgical end effector having at least one actuation assembly to effect a surgical procedure when actuated; an electric motor having a rated operating voltage and being operationally connected to said end effector to operate said at least one actuation assembly; and a power supply electrically connected to said motor; a switch having a selectable off state and a selectable on state, said selectable on state electrically coupling said power supply to said motor to selectively power said motor, said switch having a current-carrying rating selected to actuate said at least one actuation assembly at least 1 and less than 16 times during a clinical life of at least one of said end effector, said motor, and said power supply, said power supply: having at least one battery cell with a critical current rate; when activated to power said motor and actuate said at least one actuation assembly, having a current discharge capacity selected to purposely operate said at least one battery cell at a super-critical current rate during a non-zero super-critical pulse discharge period lasting less than approximately 16 seconds; and having a voltage discharge capacity selected to purposely operate said motor above said rated operating voltage during said super-critical pulse discharge period.