SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS INCLUDING MEMS DEVICES Abstract A surgical instrument (100), comprising: an end effector configured and adapted to engage tissue, the end effector including a staple cartridge assembly (122) and an anvil 5 (120) operatively associated with the staple cartridge assembly and at least one micro electromechanical system (MEMS) device (M) operatively connected to the end effector, each of the staple cartridge and the anvil defining tissue contacting surfaces (1 20a, 122a), and the at least one MEMS device being operatively connected to at least one of the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil, the 10 MEMS device comprising an integrated electronic system including at least one sensor for sensing the amount of pressure applied to tissue clamped between the staple cartridge assembly and anvil and a distance between the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil, the MEMS device further including one or more electronic circuits for determining a thickness of the tissue.
