Patent ID: 7217269

Claim:
A control system for a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic, each device controllable by an associated device user control, comprising: a central user control operable by a user to control any of the electrosurgical devices; a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices; 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 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 such that the central user control can be used to control at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic.