Mechanisms for compensating for drivetrain failure in powered surgical instruments

A method for assessing performance of a surgical instrument including different drivetrains, the method comprising:

• sensing via vibration sensors, vibrations generated during operation of the different drivetrains of the surgical instrument;
• generating output signals based on the sensed vibrations;
• filtering the output signals to generate filtered signals of the vibrations from the different drivetrains;
• processing the filtered signals to generate processed signals of the vibrations from the different drivetrains, wherein the processed signals are processed to generate signature waveforms used to determine an identity of a malfunctioning drivetrain among the different drivetrains;
• comparing predetermined threshold values to corresponding values of the processed signals;
• and
• detecting the malfunctioning drive train based on the predetermined threshold values being equal to or less than the corresponding values of the processed signals.

A surgical stapler, comprising:

• a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples deployable into tissue;
• at least one drive mechanism operable to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue during a firing sequence of the surgical stapler, wherein the at least one drive mechanism comprises different drivetrains;
• and
• vibration sensors configured to record vibrations generated by the at least one drive mechanism, wherein the vibration sensors are configured to generate output signals based on the vibrations, and wherein the output signals are processed to generate signature waveforms used to determine an identity of a malfunctioning drivetrain among the different drivetrains.