Patent ID: 7721931

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder; and a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to: transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and determine an electronic state of the transponder based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge; enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined; and transmit a third wireless signal to the transponder when the cutting instrument is actuated; wherein the transponder comprises at least one component electronically alterable by the transponder in response to receipt of the third wireless signal by the transponder to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state.