Surgical instrument usage data management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10455052-B2
Application number	US-201514832497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2015
Priority date	Mar 22, 2012
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

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.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for uploading information from a generator in communication with a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument including a detachable transmission assembly extending distally from a body, wherein an end effector is disposed at a distal end of the transmission assembly, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
(a) capturing a set of performance data via a sensor disposed in at least one of the detachable transmission assembly, the end effector, or the body of the surgical instrument, wherein the act of capturing the set of performance data via the sensor is performed while the surgical instrument is used in a medical procedure on a first patient;
(b) storing one or more unique identifiers associated with at least one of the detachable transmission assembly, the end effector, or the body of the surgical instrument;
(c) capturing a set of generator data while the set of performance data is captured;
(d) creating a set of component use data based upon the set of performance data, the one or more unique identifiers, and the set of generator data;
(e) uploading the set of component use data, via a processor, to a server; and
(f) associating the set of component use data with a patient file of the first patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of component use data comprises at least one of the end effector oscillation data or the end effector time usage data, the method further comprising:
(a) calculating a cost based on at least one of the end effector oscillation data or the end effector time usage data;
(b) displaying the cost, via the processor, on the display screen; and
(c) transmitting the cost to one or more manufacturers or vendors of at least one of the body, the detachable transmission assembly, or the end effector.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising analyzing one or more patient files to generate a report on a surgeon-specific usage of at least one of the body, one or more detachable transmission assemblies, or one or more end effectors.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) creating a use cost based upon the set of component use data, wherein the use cost describes an overall cost of use associated with the surgical instrument during the medical procedure on the first patient;
(b) displaying the use cost, and displaying a second use cost created during a second medical procedure for a second patient; and
(c) identifying a desirable surgical instrument component based upon the use cost and the second use cost, wherein use of the desirable surgical instrument component is associated with a lowest cost of use.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the one or more unique identifiers comprise identifiers associated with each of the detachable transmission assembly, the end effector, and the body of the surgical instrument;
(b) the set of performance data comprises data separately describing the use of each of the detachable transmission assembly, the end effector, and the body of the surgical instrument during the medical procedure; and
(c) the set of component use data comprises individual use data for each of the detachable transmission assembly, the end effector, and the body of the surgical instrument.

6. A method comprising:
(a) associating one or more unique identifiers with one or more components of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising one or more sensors, a memory, and a generator, wherein the memory is configured to store the one or more unique identifiers, wherein the generator is communicatively coupled to a server through a secure gateway;
(b) capturing a set of operation data via the one or more sensors, the set of operation data describing one or more aspects of a use of the surgical instrument during a medical procedure;
(c) storing a secure key on the secure gateway;
(d) transmitting the one or more unique identifiers and the set of operation data to the secure gateway;
(e) requesting a remote secure key from the server and, where the secure key is validated by the remote secure key, transmitting the one or more unique identifiers and the set of operation data to the server; and
at a database communicatively coupled with the server, storing the one or more unique identifiers and the set of operation data.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
(a) configuring the database to store different types of operation data comprising two or more of the following:
(i) duration of use,
(ii) voltage conditions during use,
(iii) total current used, or
(iv) number of activations;

(b) associating the one or more unique identifiers and the set of operation data with a patient data, the patient data identifying a patient on which the medical procedure was performed; and
(c) calculating an overall cost of use for the surgical instrument for the medical procedure based upon the set of operation data.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising comparing the overall cost of use for the surgical instrument with a second overall cost of use for a second surgical instrument and displaying the results via a computer communicatively connected with the server.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting the overall cost of use to a third party server as part of a commercial transaction.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising configuring the server to:
(a) display a first graph view in response to a request for the first graph view, wherein the first graph view shows steadiness of the surgical instrument and units of force applied to the surgical instrument during a period of time;
(b) display a second graph view in response to a request for the second graph view, wherein the second graph view depicts power measured in watts generated by the surgical instrument and voltage measured in volts associated with the surgical instrument during a period of time;
(c) display a third graph view in response to a request for the third graph view, wherein the third graph view depicts frequency slope measured in hertz per second and current measured in amps during a period of time; and
(d) display a fourth graph view in response to a request for the fourth graph view, wherein the fourth graph view depicts frequency measured in hertz per second during a period of time.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
(a) determining, from the set of operation data, that a surgeon has used the surgical instrument in a potentially dangerous manner; and
(b) adjusting the power provided by the generator to prevent unnecessary injury.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the potentially dangerous manner is applying an unnecessary amount of force while using the surgical instrument.

13. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
(a) associating the one or more unique identifiers and the set of operation data with a patient data, the patient data identifying a patient on which the medical procedure was performed; and
(b) displaying, via a computer communicatively connected with the server, the surgical instruments associated with the patient through the one or more unique identifiers and at least a subset of the set of operation data associated with the patient.

14. The method of claim 6 , further comprising configuring the database to store different types of operation data comprising two or more of the following:
(a) steadiness of the surgical instrument over a period of time;
(b) speed of a cutting portion of the surgical instrument over a period of time;
(c) pressure on a cutting portion of the surgical instrument over a period of time;
(d) power generated by the surgical instrument over a per

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Kimball Cory G
• Price Daniel W
• Clem William E
• Marcotte Amy L
• Silkaitis Danius P
• Schulte John B
• Lamping Michael R
• Balek Stephen L

Classifications

• A61B2017/00725

  Calibration or performance testing · CPC title

• A61B18/1445

  at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title

• A61B2090/0804

  Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors · CPC title

• A61B2017/320095

  with sealing or cauterizing means · CPC title