Abstract: A surgical device includes a tool and a motor configured to drive movement of the tool. The tool is supported on a shaft assembly and the shaft assembly and the motor include a plurality of components that cooperate to support or drive the tool. One or more indicators are disposed proximate one or more of the plurality of components and are configured to provide feedback indicative of one or more properties of one of the plurality of components either prior to, during or after use of the surgical device. The plurality of components may include at least one of gears, shafts and bearings, and the indicators may include any one of: thermochromic indicators, thermally-activated elements, thermal fuses, thermocouples, and thermistors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a method and system for upgrading existing firmware on third party hardware. The system initially receives identification information along with a firmware version indicator from the third party hardware. The identification information is then used to obtain a stored firmware version indicator representing the expected version of firmware which the third party hardware should be executing. The two firmware version indicators are compared and if they differ, an upgrade to the existing firmware is required. The system then retrieves the upgrade firmware from a remote location. The upgrade firmware is then stored in the third party hardware.