Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a housing, at least one handle a channel assembly, a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and a counter mechanism supported in at least one of the housing and the channel assembly. The counter mechanism is configured to transmit a change in status of the apparatus upon each actuation of the at least one handle. The counter mechanism includes a switch configured to output a signal upon actuation of the trigger, an encoder configured to output a bit sequence upon actuation of the switch, a radio frequency transmitter operable to convert the bit sequence into a radio frequency signal, and a transmitting antenna configured to transmit the radio frequency signal.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for determining a characteristic of an interchangeable component of a surgical instrument. An electrically conductive material having a measurable strength measurable by a hall effect sensor is coupled to the component. In another embodiment, a plurality of conductive materials are arranged to form a binary code representing a corresponding of the interchangeable component. The number and/or strength of the magnets measurable by the sensors may be dynamically altered such that the status of the surgical instrument is determinable.

Abstract: An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided and includes a housing, at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing, a channel assembly extending distally from the housing, a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel and a plurality of windows therein, and a plurality of clips slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier. The apparatus also includes a counter mechanism supported in at least one of the housing and the channel assembly. The counter mechanism is configured to transmit a change in status of the apparatus upon each actuation of the at least one handle.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for determining a characteristic of an interchangeable component of a surgical instrument. An electrically conductive material having a measurable strength measurable by a hall effect sensor is coupled to the component. In another embodiment, a plurality of conductive materials are arranged to form a binary code representing a corresponding of the interchangeable component. The number and/or strength of the magnets measurable by the sensors may be dynamically altered such that the status of the surgical instrument is determinable.