Method for authenticating the compatibility of a staple cartridge with a surgical instrument

1 . A method for operating a surgical instrument of a surgical system, comprising:

attempting to detect a first RFID tag of a surgical fastener cartridge using a first RFID scanner of the surgical instrument;

in response to detecting the first RFID tag with the first RFID scanner, attempting to detect a second RFID tag of the surgical fastener cartridge using a second RFID scanner of the surgical instrument;

in response to detecting the second RFID tag with the second RFID scanner, authenticating the surgical fastener cartridge as compatible with the surgical instrument; and

in response to authenticating the surgical fastener cartridge, enabling a surgical fastener firing system of the surgical instrument.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first RFID scanner is positioned at a first location on the jaw and the second RFID scanner is positioned at a second location of a jaw of the surgical instrument, the second location different than the first location.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to the first RFID tag not being detected by the first RFID scanner, indicating to a user the absence of the surgical fastener cartridge in a jaw of the surgical instrument.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to the second RFID tag not being detected by the second RFID scanner, indicating to a user that the surgical fastener cartridge is incompatible with the surgical instrument.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a display screen of the surgical system is used for indicating that the surgical fastener cartridge is incompatible with the surgical instrument.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises a controller in communication with the first RFID scanner and the second RFID scanner.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the controller is used to authenticate the surgical fastener cartridge.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a first set of data from the first RFID tag using the first RFID scanner;

receiving a second set of data from the second RFID tag using the second RFID scanner;

comparing the first set of data and the second set of data against a third set of data, the controller comprising the third set of data;

identifying, if the comparing results in a match, the surgical fastener cartridge as authentic and therefore compatible with the surgical instrument; and

identifying, if the comparing does not result in a match, that the surgical fastener cartridge is inauthentic and therefore incompatible with the surgical instrument.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the third set of data is stored in a memory of the surgical system in communication with the controller.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising indicating on a display screen of the surgical system that the surgical fastener cartridge is inauthentic.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a controller is in communication with a fastener firing actuator of the surgical instrument, and wherein enabling the surgical fastener firing system comprises enabling the controller to be responsive to an input from the fastener firing actuator.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein in response to the input the controller applies a voltage potential to an electric motor of the surgical fastener firing system to perform a firing stroke.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

attempting to detect a third RFID tag of the surgical fastener cartridge using an RFID system of the surgical instrument, the RFID system comprising the first RFID scanner and the second RFID scanner,

wherein authenticating the surgical fastener cartridge occurs in response to the third RFID tag in addition to the second RFID tag being detected by the RFID system.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein enabling the surgical fastener firing system includes performing a firing stroke that renders the third RFID tag inoperable.

15 . A method for operating a surgical instrument, comprising:

attempting to detect a first RFID component of the surgical fastener cartridge using a first RFID reader of the surgical instrument;

in response to detecting the first RFID component with the first RFID reader, attempting to detect a second RFID component of the surgical fastener cartridge using a second RFID reader of the surgical instrument;

in response to detecting the second RFID component with the second RFID reader, authenticating the surgical fastener cartridge as compatible with the surgical instrument; and

in response to authenticating the surgical fastener cartridge, enabling a surgical fastener firing system of the surgical instrument.

16 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

(a) a surgical fastener cartridge configured to be received in a jaw of the surgical instrument, the surgical fastener cartridge including:

(i) a first RFID tag, and

(ii) a second RFID tag;

(b) a first RFID scanner configured to receive data from the first RFID tag;

(c) a second RFID scanner configured to receive data from the second RFID tag; and

(d) a controller in communication with the first RFID scanner and the second RFID scanner, the controller configured to:

(i) attempt to detect the first RFID tag using the first RFID scanner,

(ii) attempt to detect, if the first RFID tag is detected, the second RFID tag using the second RFID scanner,

(iii) authenticate, if the second RFID tag is detected, the surgical fastener cartridge, and

(iv) enable, if the surgical fastener cartridge is authenticated, a surgical fastener firing system of the surgical instrument to perform a firing stroke.

17 . The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

(i) compare data received by the first RFID scanner and data received by the second RFID scanner against data available at the controller,

(ii) if the comparing results in a match, identify the surgical fastener cartridge as authentic and therefore compatible with the surgical instrument, and

(iii) if the comparing does not result in a match, indicate to a user that the surgical fastener cartridge is inauthentic and therefore incompatible with the surgical instrument.

18 . The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the controller is in communication with a fastener firing actuator of the surgical instrument, and wherein the controller is configured to be responsive to an input from the fastener firing actuator.

19 . The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the surgical fastener cartridge further comprises a third RFID tag, the first RFID scanner and the second RFID scanner being further configured to receive data from the third RFID tag, and wherein the controller is further configured to attempt to detect the third RFID tag using an RFID system of the surgical instrument, the RFID system comprising the first RFID scanner and the second RFID scanner, wherein the controller is configured to authenticate the surgical fastener cartridge if both the third RFID tag and the second RFID tag are detected by the RFID system, wherein the firing stroke is configured to damage and thereby render the third RFID tag inoperable.

20 . The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the surgical fastener cartridge further includes a cartridge body having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the first RFID tag is disposed proximate to the proximal end and the second RFID tag is disposed proximate to the distal end.