US 10,455,052 B2Granted

Surgical instrument usage data management

AssigneeEthicon, Inc.

InventorsCory G. Kimball, Daniel W. Price, William E. Clem, Amy L. Marcotte, Danius P. Silkaitis, John B. Schulte, Michael R. Lamping, Stephen L. Balek

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Abstract

A surgical instrument operable to sever tissue includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing configured to couple with the transmission assembly. An information transmission system transmits instrument information received from a sensor, for example, to a secure server via a secure gateway connected to the instrument. The instrument may be previously tested on a calibration kit to pre-determine and load surgeon-specific settings onto the instrument prior to use.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for uploading information from a generator in communication with a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument including a detachable transmission assembly extending distally from a body, wherein an end effector is disposed at a distal end of the transmission assembly, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) capturing a set of performance data via a sensor disposed in at least one of the detachable transmission assembly, the end effector, or the body of the surgical instrument, wherein the act of capturing the set of performance data via the sensor is performed while the surgical instrument is used in a medical procedure on a first patient;
(b) storing one or more unique identifiers associated with at least one of the detachable transmission assembly, the end effector, or the body of the surgical instrument;
(c) capturing a set of generator data while the set of performance data is captured;
(d) creating a set of component use data based upon the set of performance data, the one or more unique identifiers, and the set of generator data;
(e) uploading the set of component use data, via a processor, to a server;
and
(f) associating the set of component use data with a patient file of the first patient.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

(a) associating one or more unique identifiers with one or more components of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising one or more sensors, a memory, and a generator, wherein the memory is configured to store the one or more unique identifiers, wherein the generator is communicatively coupled to a server through a secure gateway;
(b) capturing a set of operation data via the one or more sensors, the set of operation data describing one or more aspects of a use of the surgical instrument during a medical procedure;
(c) storing a secure key on the secure gateway;
(d) transmitting the one or more unique identifiers and the set of operation data to the secure gateway;
(e) requesting a remote secure key from the server and, where the secure key is validated by the remote secure key, transmitting the one or more unique identifiers and the set of operation data to the server;
and
at a database communicatively coupled with the server, storing the one or more unique identifiers and the set of operation data.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

(a) associating a set of unique identifiers with components of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising a set of sensors, a memory, a generator, a removable end effector, and a transmission assembly, wherein the memory is configured to store the set of unique identifiers, wherein the generator is communicatively coupled to a server;
(b) generating a set of operation data via the set of sensors, the set of sensors comprising one or more of a piezoelectric accelerometer, a gyroscope, a pressure sensor, a force transducer, or a thermal sensor, the set of operation data describing one or more aspects of a use of the surgical instrument during a procedure being performed, the set of operation data comprising:
(i) data captured by the set of sensors,
(ii) a duration of use for the surgical instrument, and
(iii) a number of activations for the surgical instrument;
(c) transmitting a procedure type, the set of unique identifiers and the set of operation data to the server, wherein the procedure type describes the procedure;
(d) at a database communicatively coupled with the server, storing the set of unique identifiers and the set of operation data;
(e) determining a cost associated with the use of the surgical instrument based on the set of operation data;
(f) tracking costs associated with a plurality of types of medical devices in the database;
and
(g) determining a device type that is associated with a low cost of use based on the tracked costs in the database.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/832,497Filed 21 Aug 2015 · division
Priority: 22 Mar 2012
Published: US 2015/0358426 A110 Dec 2015
Granted: 22 Oct 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification31 codes

G16H 20/40
ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient…:…
A61B 17/28
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical forceps
A61B 17/320092
Using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic: with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
A61B 18/1445
Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps: at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod

Family

Application13/426,792Parent of this division · filed 22 Mar 2012
US 2015/0358426 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Dec 2015
US 2013/0253480 A1Published application
US 10,455,052 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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