Systems and methods are provided for improving medical instruments and devices. One system includes a surgical instrument associated with an instrument identifier, and an electrosurgical generator operably coupled to the surgical instrument. The electrosurgical generator is associated with a generator identifier and is configured to receive and store data associated with an operating mode of the surgical instrument, receive data associated with the instrument identifier from the surgical instrument, generate a unique identifier based on a time and date at which the surgical instrument is operably coupled with the electrosurgical generator for the first time, the generator identifier of the electrosurgical generator, and the instrument identifier, and associate the unique identifier with the stored data associated with the operating mode of the surgical instrument.