Method for assembling, identifying and controlling a powered surgical tool assembly assembled from multiple components

A method of assembling and identifying a powered surgical tool assembly, said method including the steps of:

• connecting a removable intermediate attachment to a powered surgical device, the powered surgical device having a power generating unit and an identification component that contains data specific to the powered surgical device, the intermediate attachment having an attachment identification component that contains data specific to the intermediate attachment;
• attaching to the intermediate attachment a removable accessory capable of performing a surgical task so that said attachment results in the intermediate attachment linking the powered surgical device power generating unit to the accessory;
• connecting the powered surgical device to a control console;
• transmitting from the powered surgical device to the intermediate attachment an attachment interrogation signal;
• in response to receipt of the attachment interrogation signal by the intermediate attachment, transmitting from the attachment identification component an attachment identification signal to the powered surgical device;
• and
• transmitting from the powered surgical device to the control console:
• a signal from the powered surgical device identification component identifying the powered surgical device;
• and a signal, based on the signal transmitted from the attachment identification component, identifying the intermediate attachment.

A method of assembling and controlling the operation of a powered surgical tool assembly, said method including the steps of:

• attaching an intermediate attachment to a powered surgical tool, the powered surgical tool including:
• a power generating unit;
• and a tool identification device that contains data specific to the tool;
• attaching an accessory to the intermediate attachment, the attachment capable of performing a surgical task and having an accessory identification device that contains data specific to the attachment, wherein said accessory attachment results in the intermediate attachment linking the tool power generating unit to the accessory;
• connecting the powered surgical tool to a control console that is able to supply energization signals to the powered surgical tool power generating unit;
• transmitting from the powered surgical tool to the control console the data in the tool identification device;
• transmitting an accessory interrogation signal from the control console through the powered surgical tool and through the intermediate attachment to the accessory to the accessory identification device;
• in response to receipt of the accessory interrogation signal by the accessory identification device, writing out from the accessory identification device the data in the device through the intermediate attachment and the powered surgical tool to the control console;
• and
• regulating the application of energization signals by the control console to the powered surgical tool power generating unit in order to actuate the accessory based on the data transmitted to the control console from the tool identification device and the data written out from the accessory identification device.