Authentication and information system for reusable surgical instruments

Abstract

An authentication and information system for use in a surgical stapling system includes a microprocessor configured to demultiplex data from a plurality of components in the surgical system. The authentication and information system can include one wire chips and a coupling assembly with a communication connection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of communicating data through a bus, the method comprising:
 providing a microprocessor capable of demultiplexing transmit and receive lines;
 providing a first microchip and a second microchip in a surgical system, each of the first and second microchips configured to provide authentication of a first component and a second component in the surgical system, each of the first and second microchips being communicatively-coupled through a bus to the microprocessor; and 
 controlling a receive mode and a transmit mode over the bus. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one signal from the first microchip or the second microchip using the receive mode over the bus.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving at least one signal includes selecting the receive mode utilizing the microprocessor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting at least one signal to the first microchip or the second microchip using the transmit mode over the bus.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein transmitting at least one signal includes selecting the transmit mode utilizing the microprocessor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a third microchip connected to the microprocessor, the third microchip having a data wire and a ground wire. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving at least one signal from the first microship or the second microchip, including turning on the ground wire of the first microchip or second microchip. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising transmitting at least one signal from the first microchip or the second microchip, including turning off the ground wire of the first microchip or second microchip. 
     
     
         9 . A method of communicating data through a bus, the method comprising:
 authenticating a surgical component utilizing a microchip communicatively-coupled through a bus to a microprocessor capable of demultiplexing transmit and receive lines; and   controlling a receive mode and a transmit mode over the bus.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein authenticating includes utilizing the microchip. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein authenticating further includes utilizing a one-wire data interface of the microchip. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one signal from the surgical component using the receive mode over the bus.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving at least one signal from the surgical component using the receive mode over the bus includes turning on the ground wire of the microchip. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further including utilizing the microprocessor to select the receive mode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 transmitting at least one signal to the microprocessor using the transmit mode over the bus.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein transmitting at least one signal to the microprocessor using the transmit mode over the bus includes turning off the ground wire of the microchip. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein transmitting at least one signal to the microprocessor using the transmit mode over the bus further includes utilizing the microprocessor to select the transmit mode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the surgical component has a second microchip. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the microprocessor is part of a controller for a surgical system, the surgical component being a part of the surgical system. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical system, comprising:
 a handle assembly having a controller, the controller having at least one program;   an adapter assembly; and   a loading unit having a tool assembly and at least one chip assembly having a chip storing data indicating whether the tool assembly articulates or not, the controller including a microprocessor configured for de-multiplexing data from said chip.   
     
     
         21 . The surgical system according to  claim 20 , wherein the controller reads the data and does not drive an articulation link in the adapter assembly and/or loading unit if the data indicated that the loading unit does not articulate. 
     
     
         22 . A surgical system, comprising:
 a handle assembly having a controller, the controller having at least one program;   an adapter assembly; and
 a loading unit having a tool assembly and at least one chip assembly having a chip storing data indicating the maximum drive force for the loading unit, the controller including a microprocessor configured for de-multiplexing data from said chip. 
   
     
     
         23 . The surgical system according to  claim 22 , wherein the controller is programmed to read the data, and also read a drive force from a sensor, wherein the controller does not drive a member in the adapter assembly and/or loading unit if the drive force indicates that the maximum drive force has been reached. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical system according to  claim 21 , wherein the controller is programmed to read the data, and also read a drive force from a sensor, wherein the controller operates in slow mode if the drive force indicates that the maximum drive force has been reached. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chip also stores information about the type of loading unit. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading unit includes a removable and replaceable staple cartridge assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removable and replaceable staple cartridge assembly includes a chip storing data concerning the staple cartridge assembly.