ERROR DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLIES

1 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . A surgical system comprising:

a loading unit comprising an end effector; and

a surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft configured to releasably engage the loading unit;

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the surgical instrument to:

establish a connection with the loading unit;

authenticate the loading unit; and

perform a diagnostic check of the surgical system if the loading unit is determined to be authentic.

23 . The surgical system of claim 22 , wherein the connection comprises a wireless connection.

24 . The surgical system of claim 23 , wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a receiver and the loading unit further comprises a transmitter, the receiver and the transmitter configured to wirelessly couple.

25 . The surgical system of claim 22 , wherein the connection comprises a wired connection.

26 . The surgical system of claim 22 , wherein the diagnostic check comprises at least one of:

determining a number of uses of the surgical instrument;

determining whether a temperature of the surgical instrument exceeded a threshold temperature; and

determining an available power of a power source in electrical communication with the surgical instrument.

27 . The surgical system of claim 22 , wherein the surgical instrument determines whether the loading unit is authentic by:

calculating a checksum value from a signal received from the loading unit; and

comparing the calculated checksum value to a stored checksum value;

wherein the surgical instrument is configured to generate an error response if the calculated checksum value does not match the stored checksum value.

28 . A surgical instrument for use with a detachable loading unit comprising an end effector, the surgical instrument comprising:

a shaft configured to releasably engage the loading unit;

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the surgical instrument to:

establish a connection with the loading unit;

determine whether a signal received from the loading unit via the connection is complete; and

perform a diagnostic check of the surgical system if the signal from the loading unit is determined to be complete.

29 . The surgical system of claim 28 , wherein the connection comprises a wireless connection.

30 . The surgical system of claim 29 , wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a receiver and the loading unit further comprises a transmitter, the receiver and the transmitter configured to wirelessly couple.

31 . The surgical system of claim 28 , wherein the connection comprises a wired connection.

32 . The surgical system of claim 28 , wherein the diagnostic check comprises at least one of:

determining a number of uses of the surgical instrument;

determining whether a temperature of the surgical instrument exceeded a threshold temperature; and

determining an available power of a power source in electrical communication with the surgical instrument.

33 . The surgical system of claim 28 , wherein the surgical instrument determines whether the signal received from the loading unit is complete by:

calculating a checksum value from the signal;

comparing the calculated checksum value to a stored checksum value; and

wherein the surgical instrument is configured to generate an error response if the calculated checksum value does not match the stored checksum value.

34 . The surgical instrument of claim 28 , further comprising the loading unit comprising the end effector.

35 . A surgical instrument for use with a detachable loading unit comprising an end effector and a memory, the memory storing a datum identifying the loading unit, the surgical instrument comprising:

a shaft configured to releasably engage the loading unit;

wherein coupling the loading unit to the shaft causes the end effector and the surgical instrument to establish a connection;

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the surgical instrument to:

receive the datum identifying the loading unit via the connection;

authenticate the datum; and

perform a diagnostic check of the surgical system.

36 . The surgical system of claim 35 , wherein the connection comprises a wireless connection.

37 . The surgical system of claim 36 , wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a receiver and the loading unit further comprises a transmitter, the receiver and the transmitter configured to wirelessly couple.

38 . The surgical system of claim 35 , wherein the connection comprises a wired connection.

39 . The surgical system of claim 35 , wherein the diagnostic check comprises at least one of:

determining a number of uses of the surgical instrument;

determining whether a temperature of the surgical instrument exceeded a threshold temperature; and

determining an available power of a power source in electrical communication with the surgical instrument.

40 . The surgical system of claim 35 , wherein the surgical instrument authenticates the datum from the loading unit by:

calculating a checksum value from a signal embodying the datum;

comparing the calculated checksum value to a stored checksum value; and

wherein the surgical instrument is configured to generate an error response if the calculated checksum value does not match the stored checksum value.

41 . The surgical instrument of claim 35 , further comprising the loading unit comprising the end effector and the memory.