Patent ID: 8870861

Claim:
A control system for a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices, wherein the plurality of electrosurgical devices comprise at least one first said electrosurgical device having a first output function or operating characteristic and at least a second said electrosurgical device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic, each said electrosurgical device controllable by a respective associated device user control, the control system comprising: a central user control operable by a user to control any of the plurality of electrosurgical devices; a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices for control; a plurality of intelligent adapters, each associated with one of the electrosurgical devices and programmed or adapted to communicate information relating to the associated electrosurgical device; and a processor system responsive to operation of the central user control, each said intelligent adapter removably connectable to the processor system, the processor system programmed or adapted to respond to operation of the central user control by controlling the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated intelligent adapter, wherein the central user control is configured to control at least one of said first electrosurgical device having the first output function or operating characteristic and the second electrosurgical device having the second output function or characteristic; wherein the communicated information characterizes operation of the device user control associated with the selected electrosurgical device; wherein the device selector is disposed separately and remotely from the processor system; and wherein the device selector is housed in an enclosure in communication with the processor system, the device selector including a disposable anti-static sheath on the enclosure.