Smart recognition apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A qualifying connection for a smart recognition apparatus for identifying a type of surgical instrument attached to a surgical generator, said qualifying connection comprising:
- first and second parts, said first part adapted to be attached to the surgical instrument and said second part adapted to be attached to the surgical generator, said first part having at least one mechanical interface disposed thereon for selectively engaging at least one corresponding mechanical interface disposed on the second part;
first and second optical couplings disposed between said first and second parts, respectively, said first and second optical couplings optically aligning when said mechanical interfaces of said first and second parts are mechanically engaged, said first and second optical couplings when optically aligned communicating identifying information to an identifying circuit which verifies the type of surgical instrument attached to the generator.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A qualifying connection for an instrument attaches to a source of electrosurgery energy and to the instrument and has first and second parts coupled to the instrument and the source, respectively. Optical couplings on the connection transmit invisible energy to identify the instrument and are proximate on the first and second parts. A light modifier on the first part is proximal to the second part for modification of radiation in the infrared wavelengths so infrared transmitters encode signals and non-contact coded proximity detectors on the second part are the coupled detectors. Mechanical attachments include conjugating male and female portions which physically extend between the parts and matingly engage. An identifying circuit couples to the second part and responds to invisible light optically communicated across the couplings for verifying the type of instrument connected by the cable to the source. A method of using the connection has steps including juxtaposing and conjugating the parts with attachments and couplings for transmitting invisible optical energy to identify the instrument. The method includes modifying the invisible optical energy with geographically disposed proximate couplings of the parts when the attachments engage and the couplings are proximate. Passing and assessing signals of the modified energy are transmitted through the connection and to an identifying circuit in the source.
497 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A qualifying connection for a smart recognition apparatus for identifying a type of surgical instrument attached to a surgical generator, said qualifying connection comprising:
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first and second parts, said first part adapted to be attached to the surgical instrument and said second part adapted to be attached to the surgical generator, said first part having at least one mechanical interface disposed thereon for selectively engaging at least one corresponding mechanical interface disposed on the second part;
first and second optical couplings disposed between said first and second parts, respectively, said first and second optical couplings optically aligning when said mechanical interfaces of said first and second parts are mechanically engaged, said first and second optical couplings when optically aligned communicating identifying information to an identifying circuit which verifies the type of surgical instrument attached to the generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification