Display of alignment of staple cartridge to prior linear staple line

A method of aligning a surgical instrument coupled to a surgical hub, the method comprising:

• receiving image data by a processor from an image sensor;
• generating a first image by the processor based on the image data, wherein the first image comprises a target on a first side of a tissue;
• displaying the first image on a surgical hub display coupled to the processor;
• receiving a signal by the processor from a non-contact sensor, the signal indicative of a position of a surgical device on a second side of the tissue, wherein the second side is opposite of the first side;
• generating a second image by the processor based on the signal indicative of the position of the surgical device on the second side of the tissue;
• and
• displaying a position of the second image relative to the first image on the surgical hub display coupled to the processor.

A surgical hub for aligning a surgical instrument, the surgical hub comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
• receive image data from an image sensor, wherein the image data represents a center of a staple line;
• generate a first image based on the image data;
• display the first image on a monitor coupled to the processor, wherein the first image represents a target on a first side of a tissue corresponding to the center of the staple line;
• receive a signal from a non-contact sensor, the signal indicative of a position of a surgical device on a second side of the tissue relative to the center of the staple line, wherein the second side is opposite of the first side;
• generate a second image based on the position of the surgical device;
• and
• display a position of the second image relative to the first image on the monitor, wherein the second image represents the position of the surgical device along a projected path of the surgical device toward the center of the staple line.