Endoscopy device with integrated RFID and external network capability
First Claim
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1. An endoscopy arrangement including an endoscopy device, comprising:
- an RFID tag located upon or incorporated within a replaceable component of the endoscopy device, the RFID tag including non-volatile memory for storing usage data concerning the replaceable component of the endoscopy device;
an RFID tag transceiver disposed in the endoscopy device for establishing a wireless link with the RFID tag;
a network adapter for establishing a communication link over an external network to a remote server;
a processor disposed in the endoscopy device, the processor retrieving the usage data from the RFID tag via the wireless link, and transmitting the retrieved usage data to the remote server via the communication link over the external network; and
a memory to store code for execution by the processor.
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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.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An endoscopy arrangement including an endoscopy device, comprising:
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an RFID tag located upon or incorporated within a replaceable component of the endoscopy device, the RFID tag including non-volatile memory for storing usage data concerning the replaceable component of the endoscopy device; an RFID tag transceiver disposed in the endoscopy device for establishing a wireless link with the RFID tag; a network adapter for establishing a communication link over an external network to a remote server; a processor disposed in the endoscopy device, the processor retrieving the usage data from the RFID tag via the wireless link, and transmitting the retrieved usage data to the remote server via the communication link over the external network; and a memory to store code for execution by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An endoscopy arrangement including:
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an endoscopy device comprising; an RFID tag located upon or incorporated within a replaceable component of the endoscopy device, the RFID tag including non-volatile memory for storing at least one of usage data concerning the component of the endoscopy device, device settings, device authentication data, user preference data, and version of software installed in the device; an RFID tag transceiver disposed in the endoscopy device for establishing a wireless link with the RFID tag; a network adapter configured for establishing a communication link over an external network; a processor disposed in the endoscopy device, the processor configured to retrieve data from the RFID tag via the wireless link, and configured for transmitting retrieved data to a remote server via a communication link; and a memory to store code for execution by the processor, and a remote server configured for connection to the network adapter via a communication link over an external network. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An endoscopy device, comprising:
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an RFID tag located upon or incorporated within a replaceable component of the endoscopy device, the RFID tag including non-volatile memory for storing usage data concerning the replaceable component of the endoscopy device; an RFID tag transceiver for establishing a wireless link with the RFID tag; a network adapter configured for establishing a communication link over an external network; a processor configured to retrieve the usage data from the RFID tag via the wireless link, and configured for transmitting the retrieved usage data to a remote server via the communication link; and a memory to store code for execution by the processor, wherein the endoscopy device comprises one of a light source unit having a flexible light conduit connected to an endoscope, an endoscopic camera control unit connected to a camera that is coupled to an endoscope, an RF cutter control console connected to an RF cutter to control the cutter during endoscopic surgery and a shaver control console connected to a shaver to control the shaver during endoscopic surgery. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An endoscopy device, comprising:
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an RFID tag located upon or incorporated within a replaceable component of the endoscopy device, the RFID tag including non-volatile memory configured for storing usage data concerning the replaceable component of the endoscopy device, the RFID tag further configured to store at least one of device settings, device authentication data, user preference data, and version of software installed in the device; an RFID tag transceiver disposed in the endoscopy device and configured for establishing a wireless link with the RFID tag; a network adapter configured for establishing a communication link over an external network; a processor disposed in the endoscopy device, the processor configured to retrieve the usage data from the RFID tag via the wireless link, and to transmit the retrieved usage data via the communication link over the external network; and a memory to store code for execution by the processor, wherein the endoscopy device comprises one of a light source unit, an endoscopic camera control unit, an RF cutter control console and a shaver control console. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification