Smart recognition apparatus and method

A system including a source of high frequency energy and qualifying connection for an instrument attached to the source of high frequency energy for electrosurgery and surgical signals from the source of high frequency energy delivered through the qualifying connection to and from the instrument, the qualifying connection having a first part connectable to the instrument and a second part connected to the source of high frequency energy, the qualifying connection comprising;

• optical couplings on the qualifying connection for transmitting invisible optical energy thereacross for communicating instrument identity to the source of high frequency energy, the optical couplings positioned on the first and second parts in proximate relation for communication thereacross;
• a light modifier on the first part of the optical coupling, the light modifier positioned proximally to the second part for modification of radiation in the infrared wavelengths;
• transmitters of infrared wavelengths encoded signals and non contact coded proximity detectors as the optical couplings positioned on the second part, the non contact coded proximity detectors responsive to infrared modification from the light modifier for providing information indicative of instrument identification;
• an invisible light supply in the source of high frequency energy for delivery from the transmitters and across the communicating optical couplings of the infrared wavelength encoded signal for modification by the light modifier to communicate coded signals thereacross;
• mechanical attachments including conjugating male and female portions physically extending between the first and second parts across the qualifying connection for mating engagement, the mechanical attachments across the qualifying connection for juxtapositioning the first and second parts, the mechanical attachments geometrically conjugating thereby geographically positioning the optical couplings proximate for communicating, the mechanical attachments including one or more conductors for delivery of high frequency energy from the source of high frequency to the instrument;
• a cable extending from the first part of the qualifying connection for connecting the qualifying connection and the instrument, the cable including electrical conductors for carrying high frequency energy passing through the first part of the qualifying connection from the source of high frequency energy to the cable and the instrument;
• an identifying circuit in the source of high frequency energy, the identifying circuit coupled to the second part, the identifying circuit responsive to invisible light optically communicated across the optical couplings for verifying the type of instrument connected by the cable, through the qualifying connection to the source of high frequency energy, the identifying circuit for signaling the verification to the source of high frequency energy;
• a memory coupled within the identifying circuit, the memory for receiving and comparing verification signals to predetermined instrument identification therewithin, and
• a switch in the source of high frequency energy and connected to the memory, the switch connected within the source of high frequency energy for controlling activation and deactivation of the flow of high frequency energy therefrom through at least one of the mechanical attachments, the cable and to the instrument, the switch responsive to the signals of the identifying circuit thereby activating or deactivating the source of high frequency energy.

A system including a source of high frequency energy and a qualifying connection for an instrument attached to the source of high frequency energy for electrosurgery and surgical signals from the source of high frequency energy delivered through the qualifying connection to and from the instrument, the connection having a first part connectable to the instrument and a second part on the source of high frequency energy, the qualifying connection comprising:

• mechanical attachments on the first and second parts for geometrically conjugating, the mechanical attachments extending across the qualifying connection for juxtapositioning the first and second parts of thereof, the mechanical attachments on the second part connected to the source of high frequency energy, the mechanical attachments on the first part coupled to the instrument for delivery of high frequency energy;
• optical couplings on the first and second parts for passing invisible optical energy thereacross to communicate instrument identity, the optical couplings geographically oriented proximate relative to the juxtaposed first and second parts for communicating when the mechanical attachments conjugate;
• an infrared light supply in the source of high frequency energy, the infrared light supply connected to the optical couplings in the second part for transmission across the communicating optical couplings;
• an infrared light modifier on the optical couplings on the first part, the infrared light modifier positioned proximal for coding of the transmitted infrared light communicated across the optical couplings;
• a cable extending from the first part for connecting the qualifying connection and the instrument, the cable for carrying high frequency energy from the mechanical attachments to the instrument, the cable for allowing movement of the instrument relative to the source of high frequency energy;
• an identifying circuit in the source of high frequency energy second part and connected to respond to infrared light optically coded by the infrared light modifier, the identifying circuit for verifying the type of instrument connected by the cable through the qualifying connection to the source of high frequency electrosurgical energy, the identifying circuit connected for signaling the verification to the source of high frequency energy, and
• a switch in the source of high frequency energy coupled to the identifying circuit for responding to the signals of the identifying circuit, the switch connected within the source of high frequency energy for enabling and disabling the flow of high frequency energy from the source of high frequency energy through at least one of the mechanical attachments, the cable and to the instrument.

A system including a source of medical treatment and a qualifying connection between an instrument and the source of medical treatment, the qualifying connection for passage of treatment from the source of medical treatment through the qualifying connection to the instrument, the qualifying connection for selectively permitting passage of information from the instrument to the source of medical treatment, the qualifying connection comprising:

• a first part of the qualifying connection connectable to the instrument;
• a second part of the qualifying connection carried on and connected to the source of medical treatment;
• a transmitter on the source of medical treatment second part for delivery of informational energy to the first part on the instrument;
• a modifier on the first part proximately positioned relative to the transmitter, the modifier able to change the energy from the transmitter;
• one or more receivers on the second part located for receipt of the changed energy from the modifier;
• mechanical attachments across the qualifying connection for juxtapositioning the first and second parts thereof, the mechanical attachments having geometric conjugations for delivering medical treatment through the qualifying connection from the source of medical treatment to the instrument, the mechanical attachments for positioning proximally and geographically the first part on the instrument and the second part on the source of medical treatment when the mechanical attachments conjugate so that the first and second parts may communicate across the qualifying connection between the first and second parts for transmitting and receiving information and changed energy thereacross thus communicating the identity of the instrument to and medical treatment from the source of medical treatment;
• an identifying circuit connected to the second part thus located in the source of medical treatment for receiving communicated information from the receiver, the identifying circuit responsive to communicated information for differentiating the type of instrument connected by the mechanical attachments through the qualifying connection to the source of medical treatment, the identifying circuit for generating a signal of verification to the source of medical treatment, and
• a switch in the source of medical treatment responsive to the signaling of the identifying circuit, the switch connected to the identifying circuit within the source of medical treatment, the switch connected within the source of medical treatment for controlling the passage of medical treatment from the source of medical treatment through at least one of the mechanical attachments and to the instrument.

A non-contact recognition system for identifying a connection between a surgical instrument and a generator for applying energy to the surgical instrument, the system comprising:

• a first connection part connected to the surgical instrument;
• a second connection part connected to the generator;
• the first connection part including a first optical coupling, the first optical coupling including a light modifier in the form of a diffuse surface, the diffuse surface including a light responsive medium having an identification code indicative of the surgical instrument, the first connection part insertable into the second connection part;
• the second connection part including a light supply and a light receptor, the light supply transmitting a non-focused light beam to the diff-use surface of the first connection part and the diffuse surface modifying the light received from the second part, the light receptor receiving the non-focused light beam modified by the diffuse surface;
• and
• an identifying circuit in the generator responsive to the modified light communicating through the first and second connection parts to identify the surgical instrument connected to the generator.

A method of identifying a surgical instrument for determination of application of energy comprising:

• providing a first connection part having a light modifier in the form of a diffuse surface corresponding to a predetermined code particular to the type of instrument;
• providing a generator having a second connection part having a plurality of transmitters for transmitting an unfocused beam of light to the diff-use surface;
• inserting the first connection part into the second connection part so the diffuse surface and the transmitters are in proximity;
• transmitting optical energy from the transmitters of the second part to the diff-use surface of the first part;
• processing the modified light in the generator to determine the type of surgical instrument connected to the generator;
• and
• controlling the activation and deactivation of the generator in response to the determination of the type of surgical instrument.