#$%^&*AU2014218366A120150402.pdf#####APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN TISSUE AND MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION IN A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ABSTRACT A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes: a handle assembly； a jaw assembly comprising a staple cartridge (305) containing a plurality of staples and an anvil (312) to form the plurality of staples upon firing； a drive assembly (360) at least partially located within the handle and connected to the jaw assembly and the lockout mechanism； a motor disposed within the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the drive assembly； and a controller (406) operatively coupled to the motor, the controller (406) configured to control supply of electrical current to the motor and to monitor a current draw of the motor, wherein the controller (406) is further configured to terminate the supply of electrical current to the motor in response to a rate of change of the current draw indicative of a mechanical limit of at least one of the jaw assembly, the drive assembly (360), or the motor. 9066474 1
