Medical device tracking system with capsule and method

• US 8,292,174 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bagozzi, Christopher A., Hanna, Thor M
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US13/006,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20110114514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/385, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7035 Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/865 Packages or dispensers for bone screws or threaded wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• 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 90/94 coded with symbols, e.g. text
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• 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

Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for tracking a medical device. Systems configured for such tracking may include the capability to either or both detect tampering with the medical device and to effectively expose an encapsulated medical device to sterilization substances and associate the medical device with an identifying characteristic.

Claims

1. A steam sterilizable apparatus for containing a medical device comprising:

a capsule formed in an enlarged shape of the medical device to conform to the perimeter of the medical device; and

an enclosure configured to cooperate with the capsule to contain the medical device within the capsule;

wherein one or both of the capsule and the enclosure include at least two transverse openings to permit steam to enter and exit the capsule to sterilize the implant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a medical device.

3. A sterilizable apparatus for containing a medical device comprising:

a capsule for containing the medical device, wherein the capsule includes a body having a first end and a second end and a length between the first end and the;

second end the body having at least two substantially transverse openings along the length to permit ingress and egress of a fluid sterilization substance, and wherein the capsule is configured such that removal of the medical device from the capsule is detectable.

4. The sterilizable apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the length is along a greater dimension of the body.

5. The sterilizable apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a tracking device associated with the body.

6. The sterilizable apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the tracking device is suitable for scanning by an optical scanner.

7. The sterilizable scramble apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the tracking device is readable through radio frequency transmission.

8. The sterilizable apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the tracking device is a radio frequency identification device (RFID) that includes a transponder.

9. The sterilizable apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the fluid sterilization substance is steam sterilization.

10. The sterilizable apparatus according to claim 3 wherein removal of the medical device from the capsule is detectable at least in part by non-resilient deformation of the capsule.

11. A sterilizable apparatus for containing a medical device comprising:

a capsule for containing the medical device, wherein the capsule includes a body having a first end and a second end, a length along a greater dimension of the body between the first end and the second end, the body having at least two substantially transverse openings along the length to permit ingress and egress of a fluid sterilization substance, and wherein the capsule is configured such that the medical device can be removed from the capsule.

12. The sterilizable apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a tracking device associated with the body.