Robotic toolkit

A surgical instrument kit comprising:

• a robotic arm including a first bipolar electrode and a second bipolar electrode;
• a first surgical tool head including a first electrical load in electrical communication with a first pair of electrical terminals, the first surgical tool head adapted to be removably coupled to the robotic arm;
• and,
• a second surgical tool head including a second electrical load in electrical communication with a second pair of electrical terminals, the second surgical tool head adapted to be removably coupled to the robotic arm;
• wherein the first pair of electrical terminals of the first surgical tool head are adapted to engage the first bipolar electrode and the second bipolar electrode to establish electrical communication between the first bipolar electrode and a first of the first pair of electrical terminals and between the second bipolar electrode and a second of the first pair of electrical terminals;
• and,
• wherein the second pair of electrical terminals of the second surgical tool head are adapted to engage the first bipolar electrode and the second bipolar electrode to establish electrical communication between the first bipolar electrode and a first of the second pair of electrical terminals and between the second bipolar electrode and a second of the second pair of electrical terminals.

A method of providing power to a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

• coupling a first robotic arm to a separable surgical tool head, the separable surgical tool head having at least two electrical terminals to receive electric current, and the first robotic arm including at least two electrical contacts;
• and
• supplying electric current to the separable surgical tool head via the first robotic arm after coupling the first robotic arm to the separable surgical tool head;
• wherein the coupling step includes establishing electrical communication between the at least two electrical contacts of the first robotic arm and the at least two electrical terminals of the separable surgical tool head by making physical contact between the at least two electrical contacts of the first robotic arm and the at least two electrical terminals of the separable surgical tool head.

A robotic surgical instrument comprising:

• a first jaw including a first bipolar electrical lead;
• a second jaw including a second bipolar electrical lead;
• a robotic arm operatively coupled to the first jaw and the second jaw, the robotic arm including a coupling mounted to the first and second jaws that allows the first jaw to be repositioned with respect to the second jaw;
• a surgical tool head including a first electrical load in electrical communication with a first and second electrical terminals, the first surgical tool head adapted to be mounted to the first and second jaws to establish a first junction between the first bipolar electrical lead and the first electrical terminal and a second junction between the second bipolar electrical lead and the second electrical terminal.