DEVICE FOR CONTACTLESS COMMUNICATION AND USE OF A MEMORY DEVICE

• US 20100262139A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH (C. Erbe GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH (C. Erbe GmbH)
• Inventors: Beller, Jürgen, Selig, Peter, Schnitzler, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 9,622,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• 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

The invention relates to a device for contactless communication between a surgical apparatus and at least one surgical instrument. The surgical apparatus comprises a control and evaluation device to which is assigned a writing or reading device, which is connected to an antenna for the apparatus. The instrument is assigned at least one writable and readable memory device, embodied as an RFID transponder, which is connected to an antenna for the instrument, so that data can be exchanged between the writing or reading device of the surgical apparatus and the memory device of the instrument by means of wireless communication.

Claims

1. A device for contactless communication between a surgical apparatus and at least one surgical instrument comprising:

a surgical apparatus that includes a control and evaluation device;

to which is assigned at least one writing or reading device which is connected to an antenna for the device; and

at least one surgical instrument to which is assigned at least one writable and readable memory device which is an RFID transponder and which is connected to an antenna for the instrument;

such that data can be exchanged between the writing or reading device of the surgical apparatus and the memory device of the instrument by means of wireless communication,

wherein the instrument comprises a measuring or actuating device which is assigned to the memory device and is embodied to influence the memory device such a way

that at least one parameter can be acquired on or in the instrument or on tissue to be treated in order to be transmitted to the surgical apparatus, and

wherein data for influencing the function of the instrument can be transmitted from the surgical apparatus to the instrument.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the writable and readable memory device (13) with the antenna for the instrument is a transponder IC with a freely programmable microprocessor.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the writable and readable memory device with the antenna for the instrument is embodied in a connector device or in a connecting cable to connect the instrument to the surgical apparatus.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the measuring or actuating device is assigned at least one sensor arranged on the instrument and the measuring or actuating device is embodied in such a way that it acquires a sensor signal from at least one sensor as the parameter.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein

the measuring or actuating device is assigned at least one actuator arranged on the instrument for influencing the instrument function.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein

the measuring or actuating device is embodied in such a way that the acquisition of the parameter and the influencing the function of the instrument can be performed independently of each other.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein

the measuring or actuating device is embodied in such a way that the influencing the function of the instrument takes place on the basis of an acquired parameter.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the measuring or actuating device is embodied in the instrument or in the connecting cable in order to connect the instrument to the surgical apparatus.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the measuring or actuating device is embodied in such a way that it acquires the actuation of a switch on the instrument as the parameter.

10. The device according to claim 4, wherein

the surgical apparatus and the instrument are embodied for the water jet surgery and the measuring or actuating device is embodied and arranged in such a way that the pressure in a feed line for supplying water to the tissue to be treated of a water-jet applicator can be acquired as a parameter via the sensor.

11. The device according to claim 4, wherein

the surgical apparatus and the instrument are embodied for HF surgery and the measuring or actuating device is embodied and arranged in such a way that the temperature of an electrode of an HF surgical instrument can be acquired as a parameter during usage, via the sensor.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the writable and readable memory device is embodied in such a way that data from the instrument relating to sterilisation cycles, storage life, instrument identification or similar data can be read-in and read-out.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the instrument comprises at least one coding element which is assigned to the writable and readable memory device and which is embodied in such a way that a coding, for the identification of the instrument can be acquired by the writing or reading device on the surgical apparatus.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein

the writing or reading device with the antenna for the apparatus is embodied in such a way that the data from the instrument or the coding can be acquired through a packaging of the instrument.

19. The device according to claim 14, wherein the packaging of the instrument is a sterile packaging.

15. A method for using a writable and readable memory device connected to an antenna for a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

using an RFID transponder, in a surgical instrument in packaged condition, for the acquisition of instrument data and its transmission to a receiver.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein

the receiver is embodied as a writing or reading device of a surgical apparatus which is connected to an antenna for the apparatus, and

the writing or reading device is assigned to a control and evaluation device of a surgical apparatus.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein data are transmitted that indicate the degree of sterility of the instrument.

18. A device for contactless communication between a receiver and at least one surgical instrument, comprising:

a receiver that includes comprises a control and evaluation device which is assigned at least one writing or reading device which is connected to an antenna for the apparatus; and

at least one surgical instrument to which is assigned at least one writable and readable memory device embodied as an RFID transponder, which is connected to an antenna for the instrument,

so that data may be exchanged between the writing or reading device of the receiver and the memory device of the instrument by means of wireless communication,

wherein the writing or reading device with the antenna for the apparatus and the memory device with the antenna for the instrument are embodied in such a way that the communication can take place between the receiver and a packaged instrument.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein the packaged instrument is a sterile packaged instrument.