Systems and Methods for Tagging and Tracking Surgical Devices and Surgical Accessories Using Radio Frequency Identification Tags

• US 20160022368A1
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,498,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly, comprising:

a thumb grip, comprising;

an annular disc including a proximal surface and a distal surface;

a protrusion extending from the proximal surface; and

a threaded distal portion extending from the distal surface; and

a RFID tag rotatably secured to the threaded distal portion.

20. The RFID assembly of claim 19, wherein

the RFID tag is disposed within a casing having a bore extending therethrough.

21. The RFID assembly of claim 20, wherein

the threaded distal portion includes a rod extending from a distal end of the threaded distal portion;

and

the rod is disposed within the bore of the casing to rotatably secure the RFID tag to the thumb grip.

22. The RFID assembly of claim 21, wherein

a knob having a diameter greater than the bore is disposed at the distal most end of the rod and is configured to retain the RFID tag on the rod.

23. The RFID assembly of claim 19, wherein the thumb grip and the RFID tag are non-removably mated to one another such that they can be installed in a surgical instrument or implant as a single assembly.

24. The RFID assembly of claim 19, wherein the threaded distal portion is cylindrical and includes threads that extend around the threaded distal portion more than one full rotation but less than two full rotations.

25. The RFID assembly of claim 19, wherein

the assembly is configured to be inserted in a surgical instrument or implant, and

the RFID tag stores information uniquely identifying the surgical instrument or implant, how many times the surgical instrument or implant has been sterilized, and how many times the surgical instrument or implant has been transported between different geographical locations.

26. The RFID assembly of claim 25, wherein the surgical instrument or implant is a bone anchor.

27. The RFID assembly of claim 19, wherein:

at least one of the proximal surface of the annular disc and a surface of the protrusion includes visually indentifying information of a surgical instrument or implant.

28. A method of securing a radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly within a surgical instrument or implant, comprising:

gripping a thumb grip having a proximal gripping portion, an annular disc, and a distal shaft to which an RFID tag is rotatably mated;

inserting the RFID tag and at least a portion of the distal shaft within a recess of a surgical instrument or implant; and

rotating the thumb grip relative to the surgical instrument or implant and relative to the RFID tag to secure the thumb grip and the RFID tag within the surgical instrument or implant.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein rotating the thumb grip comprises:

rotating the thumb grip at least a full rotation and at most less than two full rotations to secure the thumb grip and the RFID tag within the surgical instrument or implant.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

storing information uniquely identifying the surgical instrument or implant on the RFID tag.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising storing information on the RFID tag including at least one of how many times the surgical instrument or implant has been sterilized and how many times the surgical instrument or implant has been transported between different geographical locations.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

labeling at least one of a top surface of the annular disc or a proximal face of the proximal gripping portion with indentifying information of the surgical instrument or implant.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the thumb grip further includes a threaded distal portion extending distally from the annular disc and the distal shaft extends from the threaded distal portion.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

threading the threaded distal portion of the thumb grip into the recess formed in the surgical instrument or implant.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

inserting the RFID tag within a casing, the casing being rotatably secured to the thumb grip.

36. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag assembly, comprising:

a RFID tag case including;

a length and a width;

a bore disposed at a midpoint along the length of the case; and

a RFID tag disposed within the case; and

a thumb grip assembly including;

a disc including a top surface having a generally rectangular protrusion extending proximally therefrom and bottom surface having a cylindrical protrusion extending distally therefrom,

wherein the RFID tag case is rotatably secured on a distal end of the thumb grip assembly.

37. The RFID tag assembly of claim 36, wherein the length of the RFID tag case is larger than the diameter of the disc.

38. The RFID tag assembly of claim 36, wherein the thumb grip assembly further comprises:

a rod extending distally from the cylindrical protrusion;

a knob disposed at a distal most end of the rod;

the knob having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the bore.