Monitoring utilization of reusable surgical devices
AssigneeAlcon Inc.
InventorKevin Canzone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for monitoring usage of reusable surgical devices. In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing defining an external reader surface, and a wireless reader comprising an antenna disposed within the housing. Within a bandwidth of the antenna, a majority of a radiation pattern of the antenna extends through the external reader surface. The apparatus further includes a reflector disposed near the antenna opposite the external reader surface. The reflector is configured to reorient a portion of the radiation pattern as a reflected portion that extends through the external reader surface.
Claims20
An apparatus to monitor usage of a reusable surgical device, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining an external reader surface;
- a wireless reader comprising an antenna disposed within the housing, wherein within a bandwidth of the antenna, a majority of a radiation pattern of the antenna extends through the external reader surface;
- and
- a reflector disposed near the antenna opposite the external reader surface, wherein the reflector is configured to reorient a portion of the radiation pattern as a reflected portion that extends through the external reader surface.
A method to monitor usage of a reusable surgical device, the method comprising:
- transmitting, using an antenna of a wireless reader, an interrogation signal to a transponder of the reusable surgical device disposed near an external reader surface, wherein a portion of a radiation pattern of the antenna is reoriented through the external reader surface by a reflector that is disposed near the antenna opposite the external reader surface;
- receiving, at the wireless reader, a response from the transponder;
- determining, by a surgical console connected with the wireless reader, an amount of previous usage of the reusable surgical device that is based at least partly on the response;
- and
- transmitting, by the surgical console, a first control signal that allows or denies usage of the reusable surgical device in a surgical procedure, the first control signal based at least partly on the amount of previous usage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.