Surgical instrument system comprising an RFID system

A staple cartridge assembly, comprising:

• a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis;
• a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body;
• staple cavities defined in said cartridge body;
• staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
• a cover releasably attached to said cartridge body, wherein said cover extends over said staple cavities when said cover is attached to said cartridge body;
• a sled movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position during a firing motion;
• a first RFID tag affixed to said cartridge body at a first longitudinal position;
• a second RFID tag affixed to said sled, wherein said proximal unfired position of said sled is at a second longitudinal position which is not at said first longitudinal position;
• and
• a third RFID tag affixed to said cover at a third longitudinal position which is not at said first longitudinal position and said second longitudinal position.

An assembly, comprising:

• a staple cartridge seatable in a surgical stapling instrument, said staple cartridge comprising:
• a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis, wherein said cartridge body includes a first RFID component at a first longitudinal position;
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body;
• a deck configured to support patient tissue;
• staple cavities defined in said deck;
• staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
• a sled movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position during a firing motion, wherein said sled includes a second RFID component, wherein said proximal unfired position of said sled is at a second longitudinal position which is not at said first longitudinal position;
• and
• a cover releasably attached to said staple cartridge, wherein said cover extends over said deck when said cover is attached to said staple cartridge, wherein said cover includes a third RFID component at a third longitudinal position which is not at said first longitudinal position and said second longitudinal position when said cover is attached to said staple cartridge.

A surgical instrument system, comprising:

• a firing system configured to perform a firing motion;
• an anvil;
• a staple cartridge support;
• a staple cartridge seatable in said staple cartridge support, said staple cartridge comprising:
• a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis, wherein said cartridge body includes a first RFID component at a first longitudinal position;
• a proximal end;
• a distal end;
• a longitudinal slot defined in said cartridge body;
• a deck configured to support patient tissue;
• staple cavities defined in said deck;
• staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
• and
• a sled movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position during said firing motion, wherein said sled includes a second RFID component, and wherein said proximal unfired position of said sled is at a second longitudinal position which is not at said first longitudinal position;
• a cover releasably attached to said staple cartridge, wherein said cover extends over said deck when said cover is attached to said staple cartridge, and wherein said cover includes a third RFID component at a third longitudinal position which is not at said first longitudinal position and said second longitudinal position when said cover is attached to said staple cartridge;
• and
• an RFID reader system configured to receive a first signal from said first RFID component at said first longitudinal position, a second signal from said second RFID component at said second longitudinal position, and a third signal from said third RFID component at said third longitudinal position.