Workpiece with a machine-readable data carrier

• US 7,017,800 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ulrich AG
• Original Assignee: Ulrich AG
• Inventors: Giovanettoni, Lukas, Ulrich, Christoph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/466,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20040099724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.08, 235/492.09, 235/454, 235/470, 235/487, 235/375, 235/376
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 9/06 Marking or engraving
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/05 High-speed punches, e.g. controlled by electric computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/128 by electric registration, e.g. electrolytic, spark erosion recording apparatus for measuring instruments G01D15/06; information storage in general G11

Abstract

The invention relates to work pieces (2), such as surgical instruments provided with a machine-readable data carrier (1). Said data support contains a data section (3) with individual cavities (4) arranged therein, forming a two-dimensional matrix code (5). The cavities exhibit a particular advantage in that they are machine-cut, especially by means of boring. Damage causing structural alterations to the material occurring when a code is burnt in by means of laser radiation can be reduced in a reliable manner. The contrast effect of the cavities is sufficient and the data support is particularly resistant to mechanical influences.

Claims

1. A method for putting a data storage medium (1), which is machine-readable by optical detection on a surgical instrument, where a data section (3) contains individual depressions (4) which form a total of one two-dimensional matrix code, characterized in that

the depressions are made by a cutting work process, using drilling, excluding laser cutting or electro-erosive cutting, so as to be rotationally symmetrical with a section whose cross section tapers toward the base (22) of the depression, and

the data section (3) is put on the work tool (2) as a planar surface (17) which is set back from the adjacent workpiece surface before the depressions (4) are made.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in addition to the matrix code, an alphanumeric code (14) is put on the surgical instrument.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the depressions (4) have a conical or truncated section.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized

a) in that the surgical instrument (2) is clamped in a clamping apparatus (9),

b) in that the data section is first milled out of the surgical instrument as a planar surface (17),

c) in that the depressions (4) are then drilled using a computer-controlled coordinate drill (8),

d) in that the matrix code is checked using a reader (10) while the surgical instrument is in the clamped state, and

e) in that work steps b, c and d are repeated if the code cannot be identified.

5. A surgical instrument having a data storage medium (1), which is machine-readable by optical detection and which is in the form of a two-dimensional matrix code (5) in the form of individual depressions (4), in a data section (3), characterized in that

the depressions (4) are made by a cutting work process, using drilling, excluding laser cutting or electro-erosive cutting, in a planar surface (17) which is set back from the adjacent surgical instrument surface, and

the depressions (4) are in rotationally symmetrical form with a section whose cross section tapers toward the base (22) of the depression.

6. The surgical instrument as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the depressions (4) have a truncated or conical section (21).

7. The surgical instrument as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the tapering section (21) intersects the planar surface (17).

8. The surgical instrument as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the tapering section (21) has a cone angle (α

) of between 80° and

120°

.

9. The surgical instrument as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the depressions (4) at the level of the planar surface (17) have a diameter (e) of less than 0.15 mm and a spacing (c, d) between the centers of less than 0.2 mm.

10. The surgical instrument as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the distance (g) between the base (22) of the depression and the level of the planar surface (17) is less than 0.05 mm.

11. A method for reading a data storage medium, which is machine-readable by optical detection, on a surgical instrument which is in the form of a two-dimensional matrix code (5) in the form of individual depressions (4) in a data section (3), and the depressions are made by a cutting work process, using drilling, excluding laser cutting or electro-erosive cutting, in a planar surface (17) which is set back from the adjacent surgical instrument surface, and the depressions (4) are in rotationally symmetrical form with a section whose cross section tapers toward the base (22) of the depression, characterized in that

the optical axis of a camera'"'"'s read head is directed toward the data storage medium (1) or toward the planar surface (17), with the illumination coming via the read head'"'"'s lens in the optical axis.

12. The use of surgical instruments, having a data storage medium, which is machine-readable by optical detection, which is in the form of a two-dimensional matrix code (5) in the form of individual depressions (4) in a data section (3), and the depressions are made by a cutting work process, using drilling, excluding laser cutting or electro-erosive cutting, in a planar surface (17) which is set back from the adjacent surgical instrument surface, and the depressions (4) are in rotationally symmetrical form with a section whose cross section tapers toward the base (22) of the depression,

in a monitoring process in which each instrument is allocated a unique data storage medium which contains master data identifying the instrument,

where the master data are recorded in a data processing device (33),

whenever the instrument is used, the data storage medium is read in and the master data recorded in the process, supplemented with use-specific data, are in turn stored together as actual data in the data processing device, the data processing device compares the stored actual data with nominal data which are likewise stored, and

predetermined parameters are taken as a basis for producing a display relating to the state of the instrument.

13. A surgical instrument having a machine-readable data storage medium (1) which is in the form of a two-dimensional matrix code (5) in the form of individual depressions (4) in a data section (3), characterized in that

the depressions are made by a cutting work process, using drilling or milling, in a planar surface (17) which is set back from the adjacent workpiece surface, and

the tapering section (21) has a cone angle (α

) of between 80° and

120°

.

14. A surgical instrument, having a machine-readable data storage medium (1) which is in the form of a two-dimensional matrix code (5) in the form of individual depressions (4) in a data section (3), characterized in that

the depressions are made by a cutting work process, using drilling or milling, in a planar surface (17) which is set back from the adjacent workpiece surface, and

the depressions (4) at the level of the planar surface (17) have a diameter (e) of less than 0.15 mm and a spacing (c, d) between the centers of less than 0.2 mm.

15. A surgical instrument, having a machine-readable data storage medium (1) which is in the form of a two-dimensional matrix code (5) in the form of individual depressions (4) in a data section (3), characterized in that

the depressions are made by a cutting work process, using drilling or milling, in a planar surface (17) which is set back from the adjacent workpiece surface, and

the distance (g) between the base (22) of the depression and the level of the planar surface (17) is less than 0.05 mm.