only a standby mode actuation indication may be characterized by a pulsed beep tone while an active mode actuation indication may be characterized by a continuous beep tone in one aspect interrogator 225 may communicate with transponder 160 in a continuous poll and response fashion an interrogation signal is communicated from interrogator 225 to wireless switch 110 e g polling the interrogation signal is received by antenna 165 and consequently delivered to transponder 160 in embodiments the interrogation signal includes an identifier derived at least in part from the association e g u201c marrying u201d procedure previously described in response to an interrogation signal transponder 160 senses the state of switch 170 and generates a response signal that conveys the switch state e g the response the response signal is received by antenna 215 and communicated to interrogator 225 which in turn conveys the switch status to controller 230 the poll and response cycle may repeat iteratively in embodiments the poll and response cycle repeats at a rate in the range of about once per second to about a thousand times per second in embodiments the poll and response cycle repeats at a rate of about one hundred time per second advantageously the poll and response cycle is repeated such that system latency is negligible e g a delay between actuating deactuating switch 170 and the corresponding activation deactivation of generator 240 is imperceptible to the surgeon and or clinically unremarkable in embodiments at least.