US Patent 10420551 Authentication and information system for reusable surgical instruments

A surgical instrument includes a handle having a handle frame, a microcontroller having at least one program and memory, and a handle interface supported by the handle frame and in electrical communication with the microcontroller. The instrument further includes a loading unit having a body configured for operative coupling to the handle frame of the handle, and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the body and configured to perform a surgical task. A bracket is mounted to the loading unit and includes a microchip having at least one of authentication data and identification data relating to the loading unit.