Removable Ink for Surgical Instrument

• US 20110137306A1
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Allen, Charles D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0097 Cleaning probe surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument. The single-use surgical instrument includes a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component. Indicia may be printed on the housing, the electrical connector and/or the treatment component. A removable ink is applied to any portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia that is readable by a scanning device. The removable ink includes a protein-based composition that is reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.

Claims

1. A method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical instrument including at least one portion configured to accept indicia printed thereon;

applying a removable ink to the at least one portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia, the removable ink including a protein-based composition reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition; and

validating the surgical instrument for an initial use by reading the removable ink applied to the surgical instrument.

2. A method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

using the instrument for a surgical procedure;

sterilizing the instrument using the sterilizing solution wherein the sterilizing solution reacts with the removable ink to at least partially dissolves the removable ink rendering the removable ink unreadable.

3. A method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the step of validating includes using a scanning device to read the removable ink applied to the surgical instrument.

4. A method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument according to claim 3 wherein the scanning device is selected from the group consisting of an optical scanner, an electrical scanner and a magnetic scanner.

5. A method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument according to claim 3 wherein the scanning device is adapted to couple to an electrosurgical energy source.

6. A method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the removable ink is configured in the form of at least one of a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code and a three-dimensional code.

7. A method for preventing reuse of a surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the removable ink is applied to at least one of a connector, a shaft, a housing, an end effector, a handle, an actuator, a rotation mechanism, an articulation mechanism and a switch.

8. A single-use surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component, at least one of the housing, an electrical connector and a treatment component being configured to accept indicia printed thereon; and

a removable ink applied to the at least one portion of the surgical instrument in the form of indicia readable by a scanning device, the removable ink including a protein-based composition reactivateable with a sterilization solution having an enzyme-based composition such that upon sterilization, the removable ink reacts with the sterilizing solution and becomes unreadable by the scanning device.

9. A single-use surgical instrument according to claim 8 wherein the scanning device is selected from the group consisting of an optical scanner, an electrical scanner and a magnetic scanner.

10. A single-use surgical instrument according to claim 8 wherein the scanning device is adapted to couple to an electrosurgical energy source.

11. A single-use surgical instrument according to claim 8 wherein the removable ink is configured in the form of at least one of a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code and a three-dimensional code.