US Patent 8157145 Pneumatically powered surgical cutting and fastening instrument with electrical feedback

A status module for use with a pneumatically powered surgical instrument includes at least one sensor and a housing structured and arranged to releasably connect to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument. At least one contact is connected to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument. Each individual contact is structured and arranged to be in electrical communication with a different sensor when the housing is connected to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument. The at least one sensor is fluidically coupled to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument. A circuit is in electrical communication with the least one contact and at least one of a plurality of indicators.