System and method for identifying and controlling ophthalmic surgical devices and components

• US 7,934,648 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Malk, Edward G., Charles, Steven T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US11/859,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20080054073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/375, 705/28, 705/29, 606/10
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0805 automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00874 Vitreous
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system and method for identifying a component for use with a surgical device are disclosed. A component of a surgical device includes an identifier, such as a RFID tag. Data from the RFID tag is transmitted to a RFID reader operably coupled to the device. A controller identifies the component based on the received data and determines whether the component can be used with the surgical device based on criteria, such as whether the received data is an authorized code that matches data stored in memory or whether the received data solves or satisfies an algorithm. The authorized codes are selected from a larger set of available codes. The controller can enable or disable the operation of the device with the component based on whether the criteria is satisfied and can cause the surgical device to be configured for use with the component.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a component for use with a surgical device, comprising:

a receiver,

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and

a controller, wherein;

the controller and the receiver are operably coupled to the surgical device,

the RFID tag is attached to the component,

the RFID tag is operable to transmit stored data to the receiver, the receiver is operable to receive the stored data and provide it to the controller, and the controller is operable to identify the component based on the received stored data and to cause the surgical device to be configured for use with the component; and

wherein configuring the surgical device for use with the component comprises automatically selecting the component from a group of stored components on the surgical device and enabling use of the selected component with the surgical device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag transmits the stored data when the component is placed within a surgical workspace.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the receiver is located within or near to the surgical workspace such that it can receive the stored data transmitted by the RFID tag.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory, the memory storing criteria, wherein the memory is operably coupled to the controller and wherein the controller determines whether the component can be used with the surgical device based on whether the received stored data satisfies the criteria stored in the memory.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the criteria is authorized data that is stored in the memory, stored data received from the RFID tag being compared to the authorized data to determine whether the component can be used with the ophthalmic surgical device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the criteria is an algorithm, the algorithm being applied to the stored data received from the RFID tag to determine whether the component can be used with the ophthalmic surgical device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical device is a vitreoretinal system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the component is a vitrectomy handpiece coupled to the vitreoretinal system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the vitreoretinal handpiece is a pneumatically or electrically powered scissors that is attached to the vitreoretinal system.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the component is an endoilluminator probe coupled to the vitreoretinal system.