Accessing data stored in a memory of a surgical instrument

The system of claim 32, wherein the surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises:

• a handle;
• a shaft connected to the handle;
• and
• an end effector connected to the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises first and second pivotably connected, opposing jaw members.

A system for capturing sensor data from a surgical procedure, the system comprising:

• a surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises:
• a control unit comprising a memory device;
• a shaft;
• an end effector connected to the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises:
• first and second pivotably connected jaw members for clamping tissue therebetween;
• and
• a cutting instrument that traverses longitudinally the end effector when actuated;
• at least one sensor in communication with the control unit, wherein the memory device stores data from the at least one sensor, and wherein the at least one sensor comprises a cutting instrument position sensor, locating in the end effector, that senses a position of the cutting instrument in the end effector;
• and
• an external computer device in communication with the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument via a data link, wherein the external computer device is for downloading data from the memory device of the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument.