Patent ID: 8512318

Claim:
A robotic system for performing surgical tasks, comprising: a robotic arm; and a disposable loading unit configured and dimensioned for releasable connection to the robotic arm, the disposable loading unit including at least one surgical tool for performing a surgical task, and storing operational information specific to the surgical task to be performed by the at least one surgical tool, the robotic arm and the disposable loading unit each including circuitry establishing bidirectional electrical communication between the robotic arm and the disposable loading unit upon connection such that a first electrical signal is generated by the disposable loading unit including the operational information that is communicated to the robotic arm to program the robotic arm with the operational information stored in the disposable loading unit, and a second, different electrical signal is generated by the robotic arm that is communicated to the disposable loading unit to regulate operation of the surgical tool according to the operational information included in the first electrical signal.