US 2020/0268408 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD TO TRACK USAGE OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

System and method to track usage of surgical instrument

AssigneeEthicon, Inc.

InventorsCraig N. Faller, Benjamin D. Dickerson, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Jeffrey A. Bullock, Richard W. Timm, Ryan M. Asher, Timothy S. Holland, Craig T. Davis, Christina M. Hough, Cory G. Kimball, Ashvani K. Madan, David C. Yates, Shan Wan, Jacob S. Gee, Joseph E. Hollo, Chad P. Boudreaux, John B. Schulte, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Brian D. Black

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Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are operable to track usage of a surgical instrument and modify the performance of the surgical instrument based on the prior usage of the surgical instrument. Some surgical instruments are designed to have a limited service life beginning at their first use, or a limit to their overall usage in order to ensure safe use of the sensitive instruments. However, a lack of ability to track usage characteristics when the instrument is separated from an external power supply allows for user abuse and avoidance of such safety mechanisms. Adding a battery or capacitor to the instrument may allow for an ability to track usage when the instrument is separated from an external power supply. Implementing special user prompts, device use ratios, and device use half-life upon powering down of an instrument may additionally be used to prevent circumvention of safety features.

Claims22

Dependent claims

1-18. (canceled)

An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising:
(i) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a surgical feature,
(ii) a generator connection,
(iii) a user input, wherein the user input is operable to activate the surgical feature of the end effector,
(iv) a processor, and
(v) an instrument memory, wherein the instrument memory is configured to store a set of device life management characteristics, wherein the processor is configured to enable or disable the surgical feature based upon the set of device life management characteristics;
and
(b) a generator, the generator comprising:
(i) a display, and
(ii) a generator user input, wherein the generator is configured to store a list of unique identifiers, wherein each unique identifier is associated with a used surgical instrument, and wherein the generator is configured to disable the surgical feature when the surgical instrument is represented in the list of unique identifiers,
wherein the generator is configured to:
(A) prevent the surgical instrument from being added to the list of unique identifiers when the surgical instrument is disconnected from the generator as a result of a generator error,
(B) add the surgical instrument to the list of unique identifiers when the surgical instrument is disconnected from the generator as a result of a generator power loss, and
(C) add the surgical instrument to the list of unique identifiers in response to receiving an indication via the generator user input that a use of the surgical instrument is complete.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/801,400Filed 26 Feb 2020

Priority

20 May 2016

Published

27 Aug 2020

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

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 17/320068
Surgical cutting instruments: using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
A61B 18/04
Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body: by heating
A61B 90/08
Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00,…

Family

Application62/339,151Us provisional application · filed 20 May 2016

Application15/491,139Division · filed 19 Apr 2017

Application16/801,400Division

US 10,624,667 B2Related patent

US 11,864,786 B2Related patent

US 2017/0333073 A1Published application

US 2020/0268408 A1This patent

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