Intelligent data ports for modular energy systems

A module for use in a modular energy system, the module comprising:

• an instrument port for coupling a surgical instrument to the modular energy system;
• an accessory port for coupling a first accessory and a second accessory to the modular energy system;
• a power supply;
• a processor;
• a current limiter circuit coupled between the power supply and the accessory port, the current limiter circuit configured to limit a current drawn by at least one of the first accessory and the second accessory coupled to the accessory port based on receiving an enable signal from the processor;
• an isolation barrier configured to electrically isolate the processor and the power supply from the current limiter circuit and the accessory port;
• a flexible serial communication transceiver coupled between the processor and the accessory port, the flexible serial communication transceiver configurable to support multiple serial communication protocols, wherein the multiple serial communications protocols comprise a first serial communication protocol and a second serial communication protocol, and wherein the processor is capable of configuring the flexible serial communication transceiver according to a first configuration that supports the first serial communication protocol and a second configuration that supports the second serial communication protocol;
• and
• a presence detection circuit coupled between the accessory port and the processor, wherein the presence detection circuit is configured to;
• cause the processor to configure the flexible serial communication transceiver according to the first serial communication protocol based on detecting coupling of the first accessory to the accessory por;
• and
• cause the processor to configure the flexible serial communication transceiver according to the first serial communication protocol based on detecting coupling of the second accessory to the accessory port.

A modular energy system, comprising:

• an energy module comprising an instrument port for coupling a surgical instrument to the modular energy system, wherein the energy module is to deliver power for driving an energy mode of the surgical instrument via the instrument port;
• and
• a header module couplable to the energy module, the header module comprising:
• an accessory port for coupling a first accessory and a second accessory to the modular energy system;
• a power supply;
• a processor;
• a current limiter circuit coupled between the power supply and the accessory port, the current limiter circuit configured to limit a current drawn by at least one of the first accessory and the second accessory coupled to the accessory port based on receiving an enable signal from the processor;
• an isolation barrier configured to electrically isolate the processor and the power supply from the current limiter circuit and the accessory port;
• a flexible serial communication transceiver coupled between the processor and the accessory port, the flexible serial communication transceiver configurable to support multiple serial communication protocols, wherein the multiple serial communications protocols comprise a first serial communication protocol and a second serial communication protocol, and wherein the processor is capable of configuring the flexible serial communication transceiver according to a first configuration that supports the first serial communication protocol and a second configuration that supports the second serial communication protocol;
• and
• a presence detection circuit coupled between the accessory port and the processor, wherein the presence detection circuit is configured to:
• cause the processor to configure the flexible serial communication transceiver according to the first serial communication protocol based on detecting coupling of the first accessory to the accessory port;
• and
• cause the processor to configure the flexible serial communication transceiver according to the first serial communication protocol based on detecting coupling of the second accessory to the accessory port.