Systems and methods for tagging and tracking surgical devices and surgical accessories using radio frequency identification tags

• US 9,179,977 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rigsby, Christopher, Andrie, Matthew J., LaWare, Adam, Beardsley, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US14/565,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/539.12, 340/572.8, 340/10.42, 235/385, 235/487, 235/492, 606300-302, 600/61, 433/173, 433/174
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7001 Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae A61B17/7058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/005 with a lid or cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3008 having multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3011 having carrying handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/22 Racks
• 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 50/33 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/34 Baskets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• 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: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/21 Pharmaceuticals, e.g. medicaments, artificial body parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/24 by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 : for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

Various systems and methods are provided for tagging and tracking surgical devices using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. In general, the systems and methods allow for tracking surgical devices throughout distribution and sterilization thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a tray configured to seat a plurality of surgical devices and having a parent RFID tag attached thereto that contains information and/or facilitates access to information about the tray and each of the surgical devices seated therein. Each of the surgical devices seated in the instrument tray can have attached thereto a child RFID tag containing information and/or facilitating access to information about the surgical device.

Claims

1. A bone anchor assembly, comprising:

a bone anchor having a distal shank and a proximal head, the head having a recess formed therein and configured to receive a fixation element;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag storing information relating to the bone anchor and seated within the recess prior to insertion of the fixation element;

a closure mechanism for removably securing the RFID tag in place within the recess; and

a thumb grip having a proximal gripping portion and a distal shaft, the distal shaft being mated to the closure mechanism and the RFID tag such that the thumb grip and the closure mechanism will rotate together to secure the RFID tag within the recess while the RFID tag remains rotationally fixed within the recess.

2. The bone anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism is a set screw configured to threadably mate to the proximal head of the bone anchor.

3. The bone anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft of the thumb grip extends through a central bore formed in the RFID tag and in the closure mechanism, the bores of the RFID tag and the closure mechanism thus being axially aligned when mated to the thumb grip.

4. The bone anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the thumb grip, the closure mechanism, and the RFID tag are non-removably mated to one another and can be attached to and detached from the bone anchor as a single unit.

5. The bone anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the information stored by the RFID tag includes at least one of information uniquely identifying the bone anchor, how many times the bone anchor has been sterilized, and how many times the bone anchor has been transported between different geographical locations.

6. A surgical kit, comprising:

a plurality of bone anchors, each bone anchor having a distal shank and a proximal head, and each of the proximal heads having a recess formed therein that is configured to receive a spinal fixation element;

a plurality of child radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, each child RFID tag being seated within a recess of one of the plurality of bone anchors and storing information related to the bone anchor in which it is seated;

a surgical tray having a parent RFID tag attached thereto and a plurality of pockets formed therein, wherein each of the pockets is configured to seat one of the plurality of bone anchors and the parent RFID tag stores information that uniquely identifies all of the plurality of bone anchors seated within the pockets;

a plurality of closure mechanisms, each closure mechanism being configured to removably secure one of the plurality of child RFID tags within the recess of one of the plurality of bone anchors by threadably mating with the proximal head of one of the plurality of the bone anchors; and

a plurality of thumb grips, each thumb grip being permanently attached to one of the plurality of closure mechanisms and to one of the plurality of child RFID tags such that the thumb grip and the closure mechanism rotate together, but the child RFID tag can rotate freely of the thumb grip and the closure mechanism.

7. The surgical kit of claim 6, wherein the information stored by each of the child RFID tags includes at least one of information uniquely identifying the bone anchor to which the child RFID tag is attached, how many times the bone anchor to which the child RFID tag is attached has been sterilized, and how many times the bone anchor to which the child RFID tag is attached has been transported between different geographical locations.