Post-sterilization programming of surgical instruments
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument with a programmable control unit and methods for programming the control unit while the surgical instrument is in a sterile container. The method may comprise packaging the surgical instrument in the container and then sterilizing the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container. The method may further comprise programming the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container with a programming device positioned outside of the container.
Claims27
A combination comprising:
- a surgical instrument comprising a control unit;
- and
- a remote programming device for wirelessly programming the control unit.
A method comprising:
- packaging a surgical instrument in a container;
- sterilizing the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container;
- and
- programming the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container with a programming device positioned outside of the container.
A combination comprising:
- a surgical instrument comprising a handle, wherein the handle comprises:
- a control unit in the handle;
- and
- an external connection interface for the control unit;
- and
- a container containing the surgical instrument, wherein the container comprises a connection interface that comprises an interior end that mates with the external connection interface of the surgical instrument and an exterior end at the exterior of the container.
A surgical instrument comprising a wirelessly programmable control unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.