Endoscopy device with integrated RFID and external network capability

• US 20110219125A1
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Rajeshwari, Desai, Sohail, Ertas, Hasan, Wells, Brannon P., Shariff, Ruzbeh
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope

Abstract

A unit of equipment designed for use in endoscopic surgery includes radio frequency identification (RFID) circuitry and a network interface. The RFID circuitry can be used to store information of various types, such as component usage tracking information, user preferences, usage logs, error logs, device settings, etc. The network interface allows the unit to communicate over an external network with a remote server. Information, such as information stored in the RFID circuitry or in a separate memory, may be sent over the network to a desired destination, such as a server operated by the manufacturer of the equipment.

Claims

1. A method of operating an endoscopy device containing at least one replaceable component, comprising the steps of:

storing information concerning the replaceable component into a non-volatile memory of an RFID tag provided on the replaceable component;

establishing a wireless link between the RFID tag and the endoscopy device;

retrieving the information stored in the RFID tag via the wireless link;

establishing a data communication link between the endoscopy device and a remote server via a network; and

conveying the retrieved information concerning the replaceable component from the endoscopy device to the remote server over the network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the endoscopy device is one of a light source unit, a camera control unit, a RF cutter control console, a shaver control console, and a footswitch for controlling an endoscopy device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the replaceable component is a light source.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing comprises storing at least one of component identification data and component usage data.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of storing comprises storing component usage data including at least one of cumulative time of activation data, usage log data, and error log data.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing information concerning the endoscopy device in the RFID tag.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the stored information concerning the endoscopy device comprises at least one of device settings, a device usage log, a device error log, device authentication data, user preferences, version of software installed in the device, and information concerning one or more other components installed in the device.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

checking via the data communication link whether an updated version of the software installed in the endoscopy device is available from the remote server;

retrieving the updated version of the software from the remote server; and

installing the updated version of the software in the endoscopy device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of establishing a wireless link, retrieving information stored in the RFID tag, establishing a data communication link, and conveying the retrieved information all occur automatically in response to the endoscopy device powering up.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of conveying comprises conveying the retrieved information to the remote server over at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, and the Internet.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remote server is operated by a manufacturer of the endoscopy device.

12. A method of operating an endoscopy device containing at least one replaceable component, comprising the steps of:

storing information concerning the replaceable component into a non-volatile memory of an RFID tag provided on the replaceable component;

tracking usage of the replaceable component with control circuitry in the endoscopy device;

establishing a wireless link between the RFID tag and the endoscopy device;

updating the information stored in the RFID tag via the wireless link at least once during operation of the endoscopy device;

retrieving the information stored in the RFID tag via the wireless link;

establishing a data communication link between the endoscopy device and a remote server via a network; and

conveying the retrieved information concerning the replaceable component from the endoscopy device to the remote server over the network.