Surgical tool system with components that perform inductive data transfer

• US 20030093103A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Deng, Wenjie, Malackowski, Don, Rains, James Keith, Wasserman, Mark, de la Barrera, Jose Luis Moctezuma
• Application Number:
  US10/214,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093103A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/162 Chucks or tool parts which are to be held in a chuck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1626 Control means; Display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1688 for the sinus or nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/102 Modelling of surgical devices, implants or prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/256 having a database of accessory information, e.g. including context sensitive help or scientific articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0804 Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical tool system with a handpiece that has an internal power generating unit used to actuate an accessory attached to the handpiece. Power to actuate the handpiece comes from a control console. Internal to the accessory there is an identification chip that describes the operating and/or physical characteristics of the accessory. Complementary coils in the handpiece and accessory facilitate the reading by inductive coupling of the data in the accessory. The data in the accessory are inductively read by the control console through the handpiece. Based on the read data, the control console actuates the handpiece in an appropriate manner for the attached accessory. The accessory data and data inductively read from an implant the accessory is used to set are supplied to a surgical navigation unit. The surgical navigation unit, based on these data, tracks and indicates the position of the implant as it fitted in the patient.

Claims

1. A powered surgical handpiece, said handpiece including:

a body shaped to have opposed distal and proximal ends and to have an opening in the distal end for receiving an accessory;

a power generating unit disposed in said body for actuating the accessory;

a coupling assembly attached to said body, said coupling assembly having a moveable member for releasably engaging the accessory to hold the accessory in the body opening; and

a coil disposed in said body adjacent the opening and positioned to inductively exchange signals with a complementary coil integral with the accessory.

2. The surgical handpiece of claim 1 wherein:

said body is formed of metal; and

a non-metallic sheath is attached to said body and disposed over said coil so that said sheath covers an inner side of said coil where said sheath has an inner wall that partially defines the body opening in which the accessory is seated.

3. The handpiece of claim 2, wherein said sheath is a ring, said ring having an inner surface and an outer surface and is shaped to have an annular groove in the outer surface, said coil is disposed in the ring groove and said ring is disposed in the body opening so that the outer surface of said ring is located against a wall of said body and the inner surface of said ring partially defines the opening in which the accessory is seated.

4. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein:

said body is formed of metal; and

a non-metallic collet is disposed over the distal end of said body, said collet forming a distal end of said handpiece, said collet having a ring section that extends into said body so as to partially define the opening in which the cutting accessory is seated; and

said coil is seated in said collet ring section.

5. The handpiece of claim 4, wherein said coupling assembly is at least partially disposed in said collet.

6. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein said coil is a conductive trace formed on a substrate.

7. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein said coil is a conductive trace formed on a substrate and said substrate has:

a first section that is wound in a circular pattern and fitted into the distal end opening of said body so that the conductive trace on said substrate functions as said coil; and

a second section that extends from said first section towards the proximal end of said body wherein conductive traces on said second section function as conductors through which signals are transferred to and from said coil.

8. The handpiece of claim 7 further including an impedance matching circuit attached to said substrate.

9. A cutting accessory for attachment to a powered surgical tool, said cutting accessory including:

a drive coupling configured to attachment with a drive shaft internal to the surgical tool so that said drive coupling rotates upon rotation of the tool drive shaft;

a rotating shaft attached to said drive coupling that extends forward from said drive coupling, said rotating shaft having a distal end opposite the drive coupling and a tissue working member integral with the distal end;

a hub disposed over said rotating shaft and located adjacent said drive coupling, said hub being formed with at least one recessed surface for receiving a coupling member associated with the surgical tool; and

an identification chip and a coil connected to said identification chip disposed in said hub, said identification chip containing data including;

a preferred speed for driving said drive coupling; and

a maximum speed for driving said coupling;

the identity of the type of said cutting accessory, wherein said identification chip and said coil are both contained in said hub so as to be sealed from the ambient environment.

10. The cutting accessory of claim 9, wherein said hub is formed with an annular sealed enclosure and said identification chip and said coil are disposed within said sealed enclosure.

11. The cutting accessory of claim 9, wherein:

said hub includes a body made of rigid non-metallic material, said body defining a bore in which said drive coupling is disposed and having an inner wall that defines the bore;

said identification chip and said coil are disposed against the inner wall of said hub; and

a coil seal formed of flexible non-metallic material is disposed against and circumferentially surrounds the inner wall of said hub, said coil seal having spaced apart circumferential ribs that are located on opposed sides of said identification chip bearing against the inner wall of said hub so that the inner wall of said hub and said coil seal enclose said identification chip and said coil.

12. The cutting accessory of claim 9, wherein said identification chip is mounted on a flexible substrate and said coil comprises at least one conductive trace formed on said substrate.

13. A method for energizing a cutting accessory to perform a surgical procedure, said method including the steps of:

attaching a surgical handpiece with a power generating unit to a control console, said handpiece including;

a memory that contains data describing the operating characteristics of the handpiece; and

a coil;

reading from the surgical handpiece into the control console the data in the surgical handpiece memory;

attaching a removably attachable cutting accessory to the surgical handpiece, wherein at least one cutting accessory that can be attached to the surgical handpiece has a memory that contains data describing the operating characteristics of the cutting accessory;

generating a read request by the control console to the cutting accessory, wherein in said read request step, the control console causes the handpiece coil to inductively forward a signal to the cutting accessory;

determining if, in response to said read request, the cutting accessory responds and, if the cutting accessory memory, in response to said read request, reads out data, inductively transferring the data through the cutting accessory coil and the handpiece coil to the control console;

if, the cutting accessory does not respond to said read request, providing an energization signal to the power generating unit in the surgical handpiece based on operating characteristics data read from the handpiece memory; and

if the cutting accessory memory reads out data in response to said read request, providing an energization signal to the power generating unit in the surgical handpiece based on the data in the cutting accessory memory and the handpiece memory wherein the operating characteristics data read from the cutting accessory memory overrides the operating characteristics data read from the handpiece memory.

14. The method of energizing a cutting accessory of claim 13, wherein:

the cutting accessory memory includes data indicating a unique identifier for the cutting accessory;

after the cutting accessory is attached to the handpiece, the control console, in subsequent read request steps, repetitively reading the data in the cutting accessory;

after each said data read of the cutting accessory memory, the control console compares the read identifier with the identifier read in response to the initial read request to the cutting accessory;

if said comparison determines that the initially read identifier and the later read identifier are identical, the control console continues to energize the handpiece power generating unit based on the cutting accessory operating characteristics data read in response to the initial rear request step; and

if said comparison determines that the initially read identifier and the later read identifier are different, the control console energizes the handpiece power generating unit based on the cutting accessory operating characteristics data read in response to the subsequent read request step.

15. A method of determining the position of a surgical implant within a patient, said method including the steps of:

with a surgical navigation unit, obtaining a profile of the portion of the patient in which an implant is to be fitted;

mating an implant to a surgical handpiece that positions the implant in the patient, the implant having attached thereto a memory with data describing the physical characteristics of the implant and a coil that is connected to the memory;

with a coil associated with the surgical handpiece, by inductive signal transfer, reading the data stored in the implant memory and supplying the physical characteristics data of the implant to the surgical navigation unit;

with the surgical navigation unit, tracking the position of the surgical handpiece relative to the patient; and

with the surgical navigation unit, based upon the position of the handpiece and the physical characteristics of the implant determining the position of the implant relative to the portion of the patient in which the implant is to be fitted.

16. A method of performing surgery, said method including the steps of:

obtaining measurements of a portion of a patient body in which an implant is to be fitted and providing the measurements to a surgical navigation unit;

selecting an implant for implantation into the patient, the implant having a memory in which data describing the characteristics of the implant are stored;

reading from the memory of the selected implant data describing the characteristics of the implant, said reading step being performed by a handpiece attached to a control console that is capable of actuating handpieces wherein, in said reading step data are read by inductive signal transfer between the implant memory and the handpiece;

transferring, from the control console to the surgical navigation unit, the data describing the characteristics of the implant;

actuating a handpiece with said control console to position the implant in the body,

monitoring the position of the handpiece being actuated with the surgical navigation unit,

determining, with the surgical navigation unit, the position of the implant relative to the body portion in which the implant is being fitted based on, the measurements of the body portion, the position of the handpiece and the characteristics of the implant and displaying an indication of the position.

17. The method of performing surgery of claim 16, wherein the handpiece used to perform said step of reading data from the memory of the implant and the handpiece used to perform said step of positioning the implant in the body are the same handpiece.

18. The method of performing surgery of claim 16, wherein said step of reading data from the memory of the implant is performed by a cutting accessory that is removabley attached to the handpiece used to perform said step.

19. A method of taking inventory of surgical components, said method including the steps of:

determining the components used to perform a surgical procedure on a patient, wherein each said determination includes the step of reading inductively from a component used data identifying the component;

based on said determination of components used to perform the surgical procedure, maintaining an inventory of the components used;

after a component is used during the surgical procedure, placing the component in defined storage location;

determining when a component used during the surgical procedure is placed in the defined storage location by inductively reading identification data from the component when the component is placed in the defined storage location;

based on said inventory of components used and said determination of components stored, determining if all used components are stored;

if all used components are not stored, generating a message requesting the storage of a used component not stored and returning to said steps of;

placing the used component in the defined storage location;

determining if the component is placed in the defined storage location; and

determining if all used components are stored; and

if all used components are stored, generating a message indicating the storage of the components.

20. The method of taking inventory of surgical components of claim 19, wherein:

said steps of determining the components used during the surgical procedure and said components returned to the defined storage locations are performed by a handpiece attached to a control console, said control console being configured to provide energization signals to handpieces; and

said steps of maintaining an inventory of components used during the surgical procedure and if all components are stored are performed by an inventory processor that is physically removed from said control console and said control console and said inventory processor are connected together wherein said control console provides data to said inventory processor to identify components used during the surgical procedure and components placed in the defined storage location.

21. A method for energizing a cutting accessory to perform a surgical procedure, said method including the steps of:

attaching a surgical handpiece to a control console, the handpiece having a power generating unit a coupling assembly for removably receiving a cutting accessory and a coil for inductively exchanging signals with a memory in the cutting accessory;

with said control console, generating a read-request to a cutting accessory through the handpiece coil, the read-request comprising a request to that a cutting accessory memory write out selected data in the memory, the selected data being less than all the data stored in the cutting accessory memory;

if, in response to said read-request step, no data are written out to the control console, repeating said read-request step,

if, in response to said read-request step, the selected data are written out to the control console, said control console, through said handpiece coil, generating a read-request for additional data in the cutting accessory memory;

the cutting accessory memory, in response to said read-request for additional data, writing out through the handpiece coil the additionally requested data; and

said control console, in response to the cutting accessory memory additional data, providing energization signals to the handpiece to control the actuation of the handpiece and the cutting accessory based on the data read out from the cutting accessory memory.

22. The method of performing surgery of claim 21, wherein:

the cutting accessory memory includes data indicating a identifier specific to the cutting accessory and data indicating the operating characteristics of the cutting accessory;

in said step of generating a read-request to a cutting accessory memory for selected data, said control console requests the identifier for the cutting accessory;

in said step of generating a read-request for additional data, said control console requests the operating characteristics for the cutting accessory.

23. A method for providing irrigation to perform a surgical procedure, said method including the steps of:

attaching a surgical handpiece to a control console, the handpiece including a coupling assembly for removably receiving a cutting accessory;

attaching a tubing set to a pump device, the tubing set including a memory device;

securing a first end of a tubing of the tubing set to an irrigation fluid container;

securing a second end of the tubing to the surgical handpiece;

generating a read-request to the memory device from the control console, the read-request comprising a request that the memory write out selected data;

receiving the selected data in the control console;

said control console, in response to the selected data, operating the pump device to control the flow rate of irrigation fluid supplied to a surgical site from the second end of the tubing.

24. The method for providing irrigation of claim 23 including simultaneously operating a cutting accessory, wherein the surgical handpiece includes a power generating unit and a coil for inductively exchanging signals with a cutting accessory memory in the cutting accessory, the method including the steps of:

with said control console, generating a read-request to a cutting accessory through the handpiece coil, the read-request comprising a request that the cutting accessory memory write out selected data, the selected data being less than all the data stored in the cutting accessory memory;

if, in response to said read-request step, no data are written out to the control console, repeating said read-request step, if, in response to said read-request step, the selected data are written out to the control console, said control console, through said handpiece coil, generating a read-request for additional data in the cutting accessory memory;

the cutting accessory memory, in response to said read-request for additional data, writing out through the handpiece coil the additionally requested data;

the control console, in response to the cutting accessory memory additional data, providing energization signals to the handpiece to control the actuation of the handpiece and the cutting accessory based on the data read out from the cutting accessory memory; and

,

the control console, in response to the selected data, controlling the flow rate of the irrigation fluid substantially simultaneously with the operation of the cutting accessory.

25. The method of performing surgery of claim 23, including the step of disabling the pump device for providing the flow of the irrigation fluid to the surgical site when the presence of the memory device is not detected.

26. The method of performing surgery of claim 23, wherein the tubing set includes a cartridge supporting the memory device, the cartridge being removably attached to the control console, and wherein the step of generating the read-request to the memory device from the control console includes a coil for inductively providing power to and receiving the selected data from the memory device in the cartridge, the memory device comprising a radio frequency inductive device.

27. The method of performing surgery of claim 23, wherein the tubing set comprises only the tubing having the memory device attached thereto.

28. The method of performing surgery of claim 23, wherein the control console generates and sends a write-request signal to the memory device for storing an indication that the tubing set has been used so that, if the tubing set is improperly reinstalled, the control console provides an indication and/or disables operation of the pump device.

29. A cordless powered surgical tool, said tool including:

a body shaped to have opposed distal and proximal ends and to have an opening in the distal end for receiving an accessory;

a coupling assembly attached to said body, said coupling assembly having a moveable member for releasably engaging the accessory to hold the accessory in the body opening;

a coil disposed in said body adjacent the opening and positioned to inductively receive data signals from a complementary coil integral with the accessory;

a controller for reading the signals provided by said coil and for controlling the driving properties of a motor of the surgical tool in response to the data signals when said motor is manually actuated by a user; and

a battery located in the body for providing power to said coil, said controller and said motor,

wherein said motor powers said accessory in response to manually actuation.

30. The cordless powered surgical tool of claim 29, wherein said controller, in response to the data signals, limits the maximum speed of said motor.

31. The cordless powered surgical tool of claim 29, wherein said data signals include a time of use for the accessory and said controller writes data signals to said accessory via said coils to store an updated time of use.

32. The cordless powered surgical tool of claim 29, said surgical tool including an indicator connected to said controller an powered by said battery, wherein the data signals include a time of use for the accessory and, when said time of use exceeds a predetermined time, said controller provides an indicator signal so that said indicator provides an alarm.

33. The cordless powered surgical tool of claim 32, said surgical tool including an indicator connected to said controller an powered by said battery, wherein the data signals include a time of use for the accessory and, when said time of use exceeds a predetermined time, said controller provides an indicator signal so that said indicator provides an alarm or provides controlled shutdown of said motor of said powered surgical tool after the alarm operates for a predetermined alarm time.

34. The cordless powered surgical tool of claim 29, wherein said accessory comprises an implant device.

35. A method of maintaining an inventory of medical components, said method including the steps of:

detecting the presence of components, wherein each said determination includes the step of reading inductively identification data stored in the individual components and identifying the individual components;

based on said determination of components, maintaining an inventory of the location, condition, and/or status of the components, wherein the inventory is maintained on a computer network;

providing access to records of the inventory at multiple sites; and

providing apparatus for detecting the presence of the components at multiple locations.

36. The method of detecting the presence/absence or status of medical components of claim 35, said method including the steps of:

determining the components used to perform a surgical procedure on a patient;

based on said determination of components used to perform the surgical procedure, maintaining an inventory of the components used;

determining when a component used during the surgical procedure is placed in a defined storage location by inductively reading identification data from the component when the component is placed in the defined storage location;

based on said inventory of components actually used and said determination of components to be used, determining if all used components are stored;

if all used components are not stored, generating a message requesting the storage of a used component not stored; and

if all used components are stored, generating a message indicating the storage of the components.

37. The method of maintaining an inventory of claim 36, wherein the step of determining when a component used during the surgical procedure is placed in the defined storage location includes writing identification data to the component indicating the component is not sterilized.

38. The method of maintaining an inventory of claim 35, including the step of determining when a component is utilized and no longer sterilized, including writing data to the component and the computer network indicating the component is not sterilized.

39. The method of maintaining an inventory of claim 38, including the step of determining when a component is sterilized and writing data to the component indicating the component is sterilized.

40. The method of maintaining an inventory of claim 35, including the steps of:

determining when a component is disposed of; and

automatically reordering the component.

41. The method of maintaining an inventory of claim 35, including the steps of:

determining when a component is disposed of; and

automatically billing for the component.

42. The method of maintaining an inventory of claim 35, including the steps of:

updating and storing the location of the components in the computer network for tracking purposes;

storing the condition of the components in the computer network for reordering purposes; and

maintaining the sterilization status of the components.