Time dependent evaluation of sensor data to determine stability, creep, and viscoelastic elements of measures

A powered surgical cutting and stapling instrument comprising:

• an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member, and wherein the at least one sensor is positioned on at least one of the first and second jaw members.
• a pressure sensor or strain gauge positioned in at least one of the first or second jaw members;
• at least one processor;
• a memory operatively associated with the processor, the memory including machine executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• monitor the pressure applied to tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members;
• and
• determine a type of tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members based on the tissue pressure measurement.

A powered surgical cutting and stapling instrument comprising:

• an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member, and wherein the at least one sensor is positioned on at least one of the first and second jaw members.
• a pressure sensor or strain gauge positioned in at least one of the first or second jaw members;
• a gap sensor to measure a gap distance between the first and second jaw members;
• at least one processor;
• a memory operatively associated with the processor, the memory including machine executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• monitor the pressure applied to tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members;
• monitor the gap distance between the first and second jaw members;
• and
• determine a type of tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members based on the tissue pressure and the gap distance measurement.