Method and apparatus for surgical instrument identification

• US 8,454,613 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tethrake, Steven, Elliott, Paul, Nycz, Jeffrey, Varner, Robert, Pelo, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, TARA ROSE E
• Application Number:
  US12/729,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 606/86.R, 606/88, 606/130, 606/170, 606/79, 606/80, 606/82, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9
• US Class Current: 606/86.R
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/33 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

Systems and methods for identifying surgical instruments by use of radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) are disclosed. In the systems and methods, each of a plurality of surgical instruments is provided with at least one RFID transponder tag storing identification information associated with the corresponding instrument. The tag may be adhered to, embedded, or potted within a portion of the instrument. Using an RFID reading device, a user may interrogate the tag, thereby identifying the particular instrument. This identification information may be used to index a database and retrieve a data record unique to that instrument. The systems and methods allow a user to track, inspect, and verify inbound and outbound surgical instruments, to assess, for example, the surgical instruments'"'"' duty life cycle usage.

Claims

1. A system for determining if an action needs to be taken upon the contents of a surgical instrument tray, comprising:

a surgical instrument tray having at least one surgical instrument comprising an RFID transponder tag embedded in a portion of the at least one surgical instrument and having identification information corresponding to the at least one surgical instrument stored in a memory therein, the at least one surgical instrument including a handle portion comprising a conductive material, the tag being enclosed in the handle portion by a non-conductive material such that the non-conductive material is continuous with an outer surface of the handle portion; and

a reader device that, when placed in proximity to the at least one instrument, generates an RF field of sufficient strength to cause the RFID transponder tag to emit a signal containing at least some of its stored identification information, the signal being received by the reader device; and

a database coupled to the reader device for storing information corresponding to the identification information read by the reader device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is seamlessly enclosed in the handle portion of the surgical instrument using the non-conductive material.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the tag is enclosed in the handle portion using a silicone overmolding.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification information comprises information selected from the group consisting of a number of times that servicing has been performed on the instrument and a set of dates that servicing has been performed on the instrument.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein servicing includes autoclaving or ultrasonic cleaning.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device retrieves a data record from the database based on the received identification information and determines if any additional surgical instruments are missing from the surgical instrument tray and if any of the at least one surgical instrument is improperly located in the surgical instrument tray based, at least in part, on the data record and the identification information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one surgical instrument includes an insulating layer between the tag and the handle portion of the surgical instrument.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the tag is formed on an adhesive-backed substrate, the substrate being adhered to the insulating layer.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-conductive material comprises phenol, glass, wood, epoxy resin, silicon, rubber, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, plastics, or styrofoam.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-conductive material is blended with the conductive material such that there is little or no perceived change in material.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the insulating layer and the tag are disposed in a notch extending into the outer surface of the handle portion.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein an air-gap is present between the handle portion and the tag.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein an air-gap is present between the tag and the non-conductive material.