US 11,456,068 B2 · Surgical instrument usage data management

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 providing information from a generator in communication with a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising a set of components, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) storing at least one unique identifier respectively associated with at least one of the set of components;
(b) while using the surgical instrument during a medical procedure on a first patient, capturing a set of sensor data via a sensor disposed in at least one of the set of components;
(c) capturing a set of generator data while the set of sensor data is captured;
(d) creating a set of usage characteristics based upon the set of sensor data, the at least one unique identifier, and the set of generator data;
(e) storing and associating the set of usage characteristics with a file;
and
(f) performing an analysis using the set of usage characteristics stored and associated with the file.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

(a) associating at least one unique identifier respectively with at least one component of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising at least one sensor and a memory configured to store the at least one unique identifier;
(b) communicatively coupling the surgical instrument to a server;
(c) with the at least one sensor, capturing a set of usage characteristics that describe use of the surgical instrument during a medical procedure;
(d) capturing a set of generator data while also capturing the set of usage characteristics;
(e) transmitting the at least one unique identifier and the set of usage characteristics to the server;
(f) storing and associating the set of usage characteristics and the set of generator data with the at least one unique identifier;
and
(g) performing an analysis of the medical procedure based on the set of usage characteristics, the set of generator data, and the at least one unique identifier.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/541,408Filed 15 Aug 2019 · continuation

Priority

22 Mar 2012

Published

US 2020/0045132 A16 Feb 2020

Granted

27 Sep 2022

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

Application14/832,497Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Aug 2015

US 2020/0045132 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Feb 2020

US 10,455,052 B2Parent of this continuation

Application14/832,497Parent of this division

US 2013/0253480 A1Published application

US 2015/0358426 A1Published application

US 11,456,068 B2This patent

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

Surgical instrument usage data management

Life of this patent

Surgical instrument usage data management

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20