Systems and methods for sensorless blockage detection in a surgical fluid management system

A surgical fluid management system, comprising:

• a fluid pump configured to pump fluid along a fluid flow path into or out of a surgical site;
• and
• a pump drive and control assembly operably coupled to the fluid pump, the pump drive and control assembly including:
• a stepper motor configured, in response to driving of the stepper step motor, to provide a rotational output to drive the fluid pump;
• a driver configured to provide electrical drive pulses to the stepper motor to drive the stepper motor;
• and
• a controller configured to command the driver to provide the electrical drive pulses to the stepper motor and to receive feedback from at least one of the stepper motor or the driver, the controller further configured to:
• evaluate an indicator of a load associated with the stepper motor against a first threshold and a second threshold;
• determine that a blockage condition associated with the fluid flow path exists based upon the indicator exceeding the first threshold;
• and
• determine that a loss or lack of fluid condition associated with the fluid flow path exists based upon the indicator exceeding the second threshold.