Patent ID: 8657174

Claim:
A device comprising: a surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising: an end effector; a shaft connected to the end effector, the shaft comprising a drive train for powering the end effector; and a handle connected to the shaft, the handle comprising: an electric, DC motor connected to the drive train for powering the drive train; a removable power pack that is detachable and removable from the handle, wherein the power pack comprises: at least one chargeable DC power source connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor; and a power pack memory for storing at least one operating parameter of the instrument, wherein the at least one operating parameter of the instrument comprises a number of firings by the instrument; and a charger base, remote from the instrument, for connecting to the removable power pack when the removable power pack is detached and removed from the handle, wherein the charger base comprises: a power source for charging the at least one chargeable DC power source of the power pack; and a charger base memory for downloading the at least one operating parameter from the power pack memory when the removable power pack is connected to the charger base.