SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREDIT-BASED USAGE OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
First Claim
1. A surgical system, comprising:
- at least one surgical instrument, the at least one surgical instrument including;
at least one reusable component having associated therewith a usage amount, a pre-determined maximum usage amount set during manufacturing and corresponding to a pre-determined life of the at least one reusable component, and an available usage credit amount, the available usage credit amount being less than the pre-determined maximum usage amount; and
a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;
compare the usage amount to the pre-determined maximum usage amount and inhibit further use of the at least one reusable component when the usage amount is equal to the pre-determined maximum usage amount, regardless of whether there is any available usage credit remaining; and
when the usage amount is less than the pre-determined maximum usage amount, identify the available usage credit amount and determine whether to permit or inhibit further use of the at least one reusable component based upon the available usage credit amount, wherein further use of the at least one reusable component is inhibited when there is no available usage credit remaining.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for credit-based usage of surgical instruments include one or more surgical instruments having associated therewith a usage amount, a pre-determined maximum usage amount, and an available usage credit amount that is less than the pre-determined maximum usage amount. The systems implement and the methods include comparing the usage amount to the pre-determined maximum usage amount and inhibiting further use of the at least one reusable component when the usage amount is equal to the pre-determined maximum usage amount, and identifying the available usage credit amount and inhibiting further use of the at least one reusable component when there is no available usage credit remaining.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical system, comprising:
at least one surgical instrument, the at least one surgical instrument including; at least one reusable component having associated therewith a usage amount, a pre-determined maximum usage amount set during manufacturing and corresponding to a pre-determined life of the at least one reusable component, and an available usage credit amount, the available usage credit amount being less than the pre-determined maximum usage amount; and a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; compare the usage amount to the pre-determined maximum usage amount and inhibit further use of the at least one reusable component when the usage amount is equal to the pre-determined maximum usage amount, regardless of whether there is any available usage credit remaining; and when the usage amount is less than the pre-determined maximum usage amount, identify the available usage credit amount and determine whether to permit or inhibit further use of the at least one reusable component based upon the available usage credit amount, wherein further use of the at least one reusable component is inhibited when there is no available usage credit remaining. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for credit-based usage of a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
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assigning a usage credit amount to at least one reusable component of a surgical instrument, the usage credit amount being less than a pre-determined maximum usage amount of the at least one reusable component set during manufacturing and corresponding to a pre-determined life of the at least one reusable component, the at least one reusable component further including a usage amount; updating the_usage credit amount and the usage amount in response to use of the at least one reusable component; inhibiting further use of the at least one reusable component when the usage amount is equal to the pre-determined maximum usage amount, regardless of whether there is any usage credit remaining; and when the usage amount is less than the pre-determined maximum usage amount, identifying the usage credit amount and determining whether to permit or inhibit further use of the at least one reusable component based upon the usage credit amount, wherein further use of the at least one reusable component is inhibited when there is no usage credit remaining. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. (canceled)
Specification