External Reader for Device Management

• US 20130293353A1
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McPherson, James W., Hanna, D. Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,204,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• 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: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0615 the marking being of the rewritable type, e.g. thermo-chromic barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A system for tracking use of a medical device including an electrosurgical generator, a readable module and a read module. The electrosurgical generator is configured to selectively deliver an electrosurgical energy signal to an electrosurgical delivery device connected to the electrosurgical generator. The readable module is connected to the electrosurgical delivery device and configured to uniquely identify the electrosurgical delivery device. The read module is in communication with the electrosurgical generator that identifies the read module, the read module configured to identify the readable module and further configured to determine the viability of the electrosurgical delivery device. Delivery of electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical delivery device is enabled by the read module if the electrosurgical delivery device is a viable device.

Claims

1. A system for tracking use of a medical device, comprising:

an electrosurgical generator configured to selectively deliver an electrosurgical energy signal;

an electrosurgical delivery device configured to connect to the electrosurgical generator and receive an electrosurgical energy signal therefrom;

a readable module connected to the electrosurgical delivery device and configured to uniquely identify the electrosurgical delivery device; and

a read module in communication with the electrosurgical generator that identifies the read module, the read module configured to identify the readable module and further configured to determine the viability of the electrosurgical delivery device;

wherein delivery of the electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical delivery device is enabled by the read module if the electrosurgical delivery device is a viable device.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including:

a device tracking and management system in communication with the read module and configured to provide information specific to the uniquely identified electrosurgical delivery device to the read module,

wherein the read module determines the viability of the electrosurgical delivery device based on the information specific to the uniquely identified electrosurgical delivery device provided from the device tracking and management system.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the read module provides information relating to the electrosurgical generator to the device tracking and management system.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the device tracking and management system includes a billing module configured to generate a per use bill based on the information related to the electrosurgical generator provided by the read module.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the device tracking and management system includes an inventory control module configured to maintain product inventory based on the information related to the electrosurgical generator provided by the read module.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the readable module includes a bar code, and the read module includes a scanner configured to identify the bar code.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the readable module includes a radio frequency identification module and the read module includes a scanner configured to identify the radio frequency identification module.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the readable module includes a readable module wireless communication device and the read module includes a read module wireless communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the readable module wireless communication device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the readable module includes memory accessible by the read module when the read module electrically connects to the memory.

10. A system for tracking use of a medical device, comprising:

an electrosurgical generator configured to selectively deliver an electrosurgical energy signal to an electrosurgical delivery device;

a packaging system configured to house the electrosurgical delivery device;

a packaging readable module connected to the packaging system and configured to uniquely identify the electrosurgical delivery device housed in the packaging system; and

a read module in communication with the electrosurgical generator and configured to identify the packaging readable module and further configured to determine the viability of the electrosurgical delivery device;

wherein delivery of the electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical delivery device is enabled by the read module if the electrosurgical delivery device is a viable device.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the packaging readable module is rendered inoperable when the electrosurgical delivery device is removed from the packaging system.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the packaging readable module is formed between a first layer and a second layer of the packaging system and the packaging readable module is rendered inoperable by separating the first and second layers.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein a first layer and a second layer of the packaging system form an air-tight seal around the packaging readable module thereby preventing the packaging readable module from exposure to ambient conditions.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein exposure of the packaging readable module to ambient conditions renders the packaging readable module inoperable.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the readable module includes an evaporative material that evaporates when exposed to ambient conditions.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the readable module includes a readable code and the readable code includes a reactive material that modifies the readable code when exposed to ambient conditions.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein a first portion of the packaging readable module is formed on a first layer of the packaging material and a second portion of the readable module is formed on a second layer of the packaging material and the packaging readable module is rendered inoperable by separating the first layer and the second layers.

18. The system according to claim 11, further including:

a device tracking and management system in communication with the read module and configured to provide information specific to the uniquely identified electrosurgical delivery device to the read module,

wherein the read module determines the viability of the electrosurgical delivery device based on the information specific to the uniquely identified electrosurgical delivery device provided from the device tracking and management system.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the read module provides information relating to the electrosurgical generator to the device tracking and management system.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the device tracking and management system includes a billing module configured to generate a per use bill based on the information related to the electrosurgical generator provided by the read module.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the device tracking and management system includes an inventory control module configured to maintain product inventory based on the information related to the electrosurgical generator provided by the read module.

22. The system according to claim 11, wherein the readable module includes memory accessible by the read module when the read module electrically connects to the memory.

23. The system according to claim 11, wherein the packaging readable module further includes a readable code and the read module includes a scanner configured to identify the readable code.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the scanner is a camera.

25. The system according to claim 11, wherein the packaging readable module includes a radio frequency identification module and the read module includes a scanner configured to identify the radio frequency identification module.

26. A method for enabling delivery of electrosurgical energy to a medical device including the steps of:

providing an electrosurgical delivery device including a readable module that uniquely identifies the electrosurgical delivery device;

providing a read module that communicates with an electrosurgical generator that selectively delivers electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical delivery device;

identifying the unique identity of the electrosurgical delivery device by reading unique identity information from the readable module with the read module;

determining if the electrosurgical delivery device may be used with the electrosurgical generator; and

enabling the delivery of electrosurgical energy from the electrosurgical generator to the electrosurgical delivery device if the electrosurgical delivery device may be used with the electrosurgical generator.

27. The method according to claim 26, further including the steps of:

providing a device tracking and management system in communication with the read module and configured to provide information specific to the uniquely identified electrosurgical delivery device to the read module,

wherein the read module determines the viability of the electrosurgical delivery device based on the information specific to the uniquely identified electrosurgical delivery device provided from the device tracking and management system.

28. The method according to claim 27, further including the step of:

generating a per use bill based on information relating to the electrosurgical generator provided by the read module.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the electrosurgical delivery device is a single-use disposable electrosurgical delivery device, the method further including the steps of:

tracking the usage of the single-use disposable electrosurgical delivery device; and

preventing re-use of the single-use disposable electrosurgical delivery devices if the device tracking and management system indicates a prior use has occurred.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the electrosurgical delivery device is a limited-use reusable electrosurgical delivery device, the method further including the steps of:

tracking the usage of the limited-use reusable electrosurgical delivery device, and

preventing re-use of the limited-use reusable electrosurgical delivery device if the device tracking and management system indicates further use is not permissible.

31. A system for tracking use of a medical device, comprising:

an electrosurgical generator configured to selectively deliver an electrosurgical energy signal;

an electrosurgical delivery device configured to connect to the electrosurgical generator and receive electrosurgical energy signal therefrom;

a packaging system configured to house the electrosurgical delivery device; and

a device readable module connected to the electrosurgical delivery device and configured to uniquely identify the electrosurgical delivery device;

a packaging readable module connected to the packaging system and configured to uniquely identify the electrosurgical delivery device housed in the packaging system;

a read module in communication with the electrosurgical generator and configured to identify the read module, the read module configured to identify the device readable module and the packaging readable module and further configured to determine the viability of the electrosurgical delivery device;

wherein delivery of the electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical delivery device is enabled by the read module if the electrosurgical delivery device is a viable device.

32. The system according to claim 31, further including:

a device tracking and management system in communication with the read module and configured to provide information specific to the uniquely identified electrosurgical delivery device to the read module,

wherein the read module determines the viability of the electrosurgical delivery device based on the information specific to the uniquely identified electrosurgical delivery device provided from the device tracking and management system.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the read module provides information relating to the electrosurgical generator to the device tracking and management system.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the read module provides information to the device tracking and management system that indicates use of the electrosurgical delivery device.

35. The system according to claim 32, wherein the device tracking and management system includes a billing module configured to generate a per use bill based on the information related to the electrosurgical generator provided by the read module.

36. The system according to claim 32, wherein the device tracking and management system includes an inventory control module configured to maintain product inventory based on the information related to the electrosurgical generator provided by the read module.

37. The system according to claim 32, wherein delivery of the electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical delivery device is enabled if the device readable module and the packaging readable module uniquely identify the same electrosurgical deliver device.

38. The system according to claim 31, wherein one of the device readable module and the packaging readable module includes a bar code, the bar code selected from at least one of a one-dimensional bar code and a two-dimensional bar code and the read module includes a scanner configured to identify the bar code.

39. The system according to claim 31, wherein one of the device readable module and the packaging readable module includes a radio frequency identification module, and

wherein the read module includes a scanner configured to identify the radio frequency identification module.

40. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of the device readable module and the packaging readable module includes a readable module wireless communication device, and the read module includes a read module wireless communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the readable module wireless communication device.

41. The system according to claim 31, wherein the device readable module includes memory accessible by the read module when the read module electrically connects to the memory.