Patent ID: 8220688

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle; an end effector connected to the handle, the end effector comprising a moveable component; an electric motor in the handle for powering the end effector; a motor control circuit connected to the motor for controlling the motor, wherein the motor control circuit comprises a plurality of switches, wherein the plurality of switches comprises a first switch with a moveable actuator; a drive member that is driven by the motor, wherein the drive member moves longitudinally when driven by the motor, wherein the drive member causes movement of the moveable component in the end effector when driven by the motor, the drive member having a first shoulder at a first position and a second shoulder at a second position, and wherein the drive member moves upon rotation of the motor; and a slider comprising: a first portion that interfaces the drive member such that the slider is moveable by the drive member when either the first shoulder or the second shoulder of the drive member engages the first portion of the slider; and a second portion, connected to the first portion, that actuates the moveable actuator of the first switch when the first shoulder of the drive member engages the first portion of the slider to move the first and second portions of the slider from a first slider position to a second slider position relative to the first switch, wherein the slider remains in the second slider position relative to the first switch until the second shoulder of the drive member engages the first portion of the slider to move the slider from the second slider position to the first slider position; wherein the drive member comprises a rack that is driven longitudinally by a rotatable pinion, wherein the pinion is rotated by the motor, and wherein the slider moves in a same direction as the rack.