A console for providing power to a surgical tool. Internal to the console is a power supply that supplies power, a processor that regulates the application of the power and a memory reader that reads data from a memory integral with the tool. The power is sourced over terminals also part of the console. The tool memory data are used to regulate the characteristics of the sourced power. An isolation circuit also internal to the console extends between the terminals over and the memory reader. The isolation circuit allows the memory reader to send read requests to the tool memory and receive data signals from the tool memory over the terminals while protecting the memory reader from the power signals sourced by the power supply.
