Patent ID: 8201721

Claim:
A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: a handle assembly including a first detector; an endoscopic portion disposed in mechanical cooperation with a portion of the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the endoscopic portion including; a contact for communicating electrical power with a conductive portion of the handle assembly, and a knob for allowing rotation of the endoscopic portion with respect to the handle assembly, the conductive portion of the handle assembly being circular for allowing substantially continuous contact between the conductive portion and the contact during rotation of the endoscopic portion with respect to the handle assembly; a first end effector selectively connectable with a distal portion of the endoscopic portion, the first end effector configured to perform a first stapling function; and a second detector disposed on the first end effector, the second detector being configured to communicate with the first detector to determine the type of end effector that is engaged with the endoscopic portion.