System and method to enable re-use of surgical instrument
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- (a) a generator configured to be coupled with a generator connection of a used surgical instrument, wherein the generator is configured to;
(i) provide power to the used surgical instrument,(ii) receive data from the used surgical instrument, and(iii) transmit data to the used surgical instrument;
(b) a surgical instrument actuator configured to, during a post-procedure reconditioning process, physically actuate an instrument trigger of the used surgical instrument and thereby cause the used surgical instrument to activate one or more of a set of surgical instrument modes;
(c) a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store a set of instructions; and
(d) a processor, wherein the processor is configured to, during the post-procedure reconditioning process, execute the instructions to;
(i) receive a set of usage data from the used surgical instrument,(ii) cause the surgical instrument actuator to activate the used surgical instrument in a first mode,(iii) while the first mode is active, measure a set of electrical characteristics of the used surgical instrument, and(iv) based upon the set of usage data and the set of electrical characteristics, create a reconditioning profile that may be applied to the used surgical instrument.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some surgical instruments become partially or fully disabled at a device firmware level after being used in a surgical procedure in order to prevent overuse or abuse of the surgical instrument that could create patient safety concerns. A reconditioning device may be used by the end user of such a surgical instrument to perform diagnostics and reconditioning of the surgical instrument so that the surgical instrument may be placed back into service without the direct intervention of the manufacturer. The reconditioning device provides power to the surgical instrument, analyzes device usage history, activates and tests the surgical instrument cutting and gripping functions, and measures electrical characteristics and mechanical characteristics of the surgical instrument. Gathered data is used to determine if the surgical instrument may be safely reconditioned for further use. If reconditioning is possible, the device will be reconfigured for safe use, reactivated, and then sterilized for subsequent re-use.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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(a) a generator configured to be coupled with a generator connection of a used surgical instrument, wherein the generator is configured to; (i) provide power to the used surgical instrument, (ii) receive data from the used surgical instrument, and (iii) transmit data to the used surgical instrument; (b) a surgical instrument actuator configured to, during a post-procedure reconditioning process, physically actuate an instrument trigger of the used surgical instrument and thereby cause the used surgical instrument to activate one or more of a set of surgical instrument modes; (c) a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store a set of instructions; and (d) a processor, wherein the processor is configured to, during the post-procedure reconditioning process, execute the instructions to; (i) receive a set of usage data from the used surgical instrument, (ii) cause the surgical instrument actuator to activate the used surgical instrument in a first mode, (iii) while the first mode is active, measure a set of electrical characteristics of the used surgical instrument, and (iv) based upon the set of usage data and the set of electrical characteristics, create a reconditioning profile that may be applied to the used surgical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising the steps of:
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(a) at a reconditioning device, reading a set of usage data from a used surgical instrument; (b) attaching the used surgical instrument to an input actuator of the reconditioning device, wherein the input actuator is operable to activate an instrument trigger of the used surgical instrument, and activating one or more of a set of surgical instrument modes of the used surgical instrument via the input actuator and measuring a set of electrical characteristics of the used surgical instrument during activation; (c) measuring a set of mechanical characteristics of the used surgical instrument via the reconditioning device; (d) creating, based upon the set of usage data, the set of electrical characteristics, and the set of mechanical characteristics, a reconditioning profile that may be applied to the used surgical instrument by the reconditioning device; (e) receiving a user input indicating that the reconditioning profile should be applied to the used surgical instrument; and (f) applying the reconditioning profile to the used surgical instrument in response to the user input, wherein applying the reconditioning profile to the used surgical instrument enables one or more of the set of surgical instrument modes; wherein the reconditioning device is used during a post-procedure reconditioning process. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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(a) a used surgical instrument comprising; (i) an instrument trigger, (ii) an end effector, the end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm, the clamp having a clamp pad, (iii) a generator connection, and (iv) a surgical instrument body, and (b) a reconditioning device comprising; (i) a surgical instrument holder, wherein the surgical instrument holder is configured to hold the surgical instrument body, (ii) a generator configured to couple with the generator connection, wherein the generator is configured to; (A) provide power to the used surgical instrument, (B) receive data from the used surgical instrument, and (C) transmit data to the used surgical instrument, (iii) a surgical instrument actuator configured to actuate the instrument trigger and thereby activate the end effector during a post-procedure reconditioning process, (iv) an imaging device positioned to capture an image of the end effector, (v) a load cell configured to receive and measure a clamping force of the clamp arm during the post-procedure reconditioning process, and (vi) a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store a set of instructions, and (vii) a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to, during the post-procedure reconditioning process; (A) receive a set of usage data from the used surgical instrument, (B) cause the surgical instrument actuator to activate the used surgical instrument in a first mode, (C) while the first mode is active, measure a set of electrical characteristics of the used surgical instrument, (D) based upon the set of usage data, the set of electrical characteristics, end effector structural characteristics as visualized by the imaging device, and the clamping force, create a reconditioning profile that may be applied to the used surgical instrument, (E) apply the reconditioning profile to the used surgical instrument, thereby enabling at least one operational mode of the used surgical instrument.
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Specification