US 11,886,373 B2
Authentication and information system for reusable surgical instruments
Ethan Collins, Naugatuck, CT (US); David Durant, Wallingford, CT (US); and John Hryb, Southington, CT (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/499,000.
Application 17/499,000 is a continuation of application No. 16/781,026, filed on Feb. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,144,495.
Application 16/781,026 is a continuation of application No. 16/420,283, filed on May 23, 2019, granted, now 10,585,839, issued on Mar. 10, 2020.
Application 16/420,283 is a continuation of application No. 16/160,551, filed on Oct. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,303,641, issued on May 28, 2019.
Application 16/160,551 is a continuation of application No. 14/670,837, filed on Mar. 27, 2015, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/989,609, filed on May 7, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0027453 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 13/42 (2006.01); A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 90/90 (2016.01); G16H 40/63 (2018.01); G16Z 99/00 (2019.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/98 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC G06F 13/4221 (2013.01) [A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 90/90 (2016.02); G06F 13/4282 (2013.01); G16H 40/63 (2018.01); G16Z 99/00 (2019.02); A61B 90/98 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00017 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0814 (2016.02); Y02A 90/10 (2018.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical system, comprising:
a handle assembly;
a controller disposed within the handle assembly and configured to control operation of the surgical system;
an adapter assembly releaseably coupled to the handle assembly; and
a surgical stapling loading unit configured to support a staple cartridge assembly at a distal end thereof, the surgical stapling loading unit releasably coupled to the adapter assembly,
wherein the surgical stapling loading unit includes:
a microchip in communication with the controller over a bus connection, the microchip storing data indicative of one or more properties of the surgical stapling loading unit or the staple cartridge assembly; and
a microprocessor disposed within the surgical stapling loading unit and in communication with the microchip over a single-wire bus connection separate from the bus connection between the microchip and the controller, the microprocessor including a ground wire and configured to switch the microchip between a receive mode and a transmit mode by switching the ground wire between ON and OFF positions.