Method and apparatus for surgical instrument identification

US8454613B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Inventors

• Steven Tethrake · Collierville, US
• Paul Elliott · Collierville, US
• Jeffrey H. Nycz · Warsaw, US
• Robert Varner · Germantown, US
• Mark Pelo · Macy, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 2010
• Grant date: Jun 4, 2013
• Expiry date: Dec 12, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B50/33
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

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.