System and computer-implemented method for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument, comprising a data providing device which is designed to provide at least one piece of information that indicates the availability of the functionality of the instrument, wherein the data providing device has at least one sensor device, which is designed to provide a sensor measurement value as information, and / or an image detecting device, which is designed to capture an image at least of the instrument and automatically analyze the image in order to provide information on the basis thereof; a computing device, which is designed to determine the availability of the functionality on the basis of the at least one provided piece of information; and an output interface, which is designed to output an output signal on the basis of the determined availability.

Description

[0001] System and computer-implemented method for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument

[0002] The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument, in particular an articulable and / or steerable instrument. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument.

[0003] Background of the invention

[0004] Medical instruments, and especially surgical instruments, have a limited lifespan that defines how long the instrument will continue to function. At the end of its lifespan, an instrument may be reprocessed or simply replaced with a new one.

[0005] Typically, the service life of an instrument is calculated by the number of times it is used. These uses are counted up to a certain limit, which indicates the end of its service life. This limit is usually determined based on experience.

[0006] However, the number of uses is only an estimate of an instrument's declining performance. Even when the limit is reached, an instrument is sometimes still performing. Sometimes, an instrument needs to be replaced before it has reached the limit, for example, if some uses have degraded the instrument's functionality to an above-average degree. Ideally, an instrument should be used until its end of performance to optimize resources in hospitals or clinics. It is therefore important to determine the service life of an instrument as accurately as possible. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is the object of the present invention to provide a device and a method that provides an improved determination of the service life of a surgical instrument.

[0008] The object of the present invention is achieved by a system having the features of claim 1 and a computer-implemented method having the features of claim 13. Preferred embodiments of the invention with advantageous features are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument comprises a data provision device configured to provide at least one piece of information indicating the availability of the functionality of the instrument; wherein the data provision device comprises: (i) at least one sensor device configured to provide a sensor measurement value as information; and / or (ii) an image recognition device configured to capture an image of at least the instrument and automatically analyze the image in order to provide information based thereon; a computing device configured to determine the availability of the functionality based on the at least one piece of information provided;and an output interface configured to output an output signal based on the determined availability;

[0010] The term "surgical instruments" encompasses medical instruments suitable for surgical interventions. Particularly relevant to the invention are steerable, articulated, or articulable instruments, such as scissors or endoscopes, which can be controlled manually or by robotic systems.

[0011] The availability of a surgical instrument's functionality refers to the degree of wear of the instrument for that specific functionality. In principle, surgical instruments can have more than one functionality. A functionality of an instrument is understood to be a property of the instrument that enables a specific use of the instrument. For example, a functionality of scissors can be the cutting ability of its blade or the articulation (mobility) of its joint.

[0012] The sensor device can include all sensors present in the system. Relevant for determining the service life of an instrument are, for example, time measurements, voltage measurements, or even measurements of the pH value of a body fluid of a patient being treated with the instrument. The sensor device is not necessarily a single unit containing the various sensors. Rather, the sensors can be located at different locations.

[0013] The image recognition device generally comprises devices and computer programs that can capture and process images. The image recognition device can, for example, include at least one camera and image processing software that can exchange signals with each other via wires and / or wirelessly. Therefore, the image recognition device comprises at least one central processing unit (CPU) and / or at least one graphics processing unit (GPU) and / or at least one field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and / or at least one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and / or any combination of the aforementioned elements. Each element can further comprise a random access memory operatively connected to the at least one CPU and / or a non-volatile memory operatively connected to the at least one CPU and / or the random access memory.Each element may be partially and / or fully implemented in a local device and / or partially and / or fully implemented in a remote system, such as a cloud computing platform.

[0014] The computing device is to be understood in the broadest sense as a unit that can process and evaluate data. The computing device can be implemented as any device that contains or consists of at least one central processing unit (CPU) and / or at least one graphics processing unit (GPU) and / or at least one field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and / or at least one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and / or any combination of the foregoing. It can further comprise a main memory operatively connected to the at least one CPU and / or a non-transitory memory operatively connected to the at least one CPU and / or the main memory. The computing device can execute software, an app, or an algorithm with various data processing capabilities.It may be implemented partially and / or entirely in a local application, such as a surgical instrument or a robotic system, and / or partially and / or entirely in a remote system, such as a cloud computing platform.

[0015] The output interface may be implemented in hardware and / or software, wired and / or wireless, and any combination thereof. It may further include an interface to an intranet or the Internet, to a cloud computing service, to a remote server, and / or the like.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument is provided, comprising the following steps: (a) providing at least one piece of information indicating the availability of the functionality of the instrument, comprising: measuring a sensor measurement value and providing the measured sensor measurement value as information; and / or capturing an image of at least the instrument and analyzing the captured image to provide information based thereon; (b) determining, based on the at least one piece of information provided, the availability of the functionality; and (c) outputting an output signal based on the determined availability.

[0017] In particular, the computer-implemented method according to the second aspect of the invention can be performed with the system according to the first aspect of the invention. The features and advantages described herein in connection with the system are therefore also applicable to the method, and vice versa.

[0018] According to a third aspect, the invention provides a computer program product comprising an executable program code which, when executed, is adapted to carry out the coding method according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium comprising executable program code configured to perform the method according to the second aspect of the present invention when executed.

[0020] The non-volatile, computer-readable data storage medium may comprise or consist of any type of computer memory, in particular a semiconductor memory such as a solid-state memory. The data storage medium may also comprise or consist of a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray Disc, a USB memory stick, or the like.

[0021] According to a fifth aspect, the invention provides a data stream comprising or being adapted to generate executable program code which, when executed, is adapted to carry out the method according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0022] One idea underlying the invention is to introduce a monitoring system that determines the service life of a medical instrument, in particular a surgical instrument. The system is configured to acquire information about the condition of the surgical instrument based on at least one image and / or one measurement. A computing device is configured to process this information and determine the availability of a functionality (or service life of the functionality) of the surgical instrument. An output interface is configured to transmit a corresponding output signal to a user.

[0023] The above-described monitoring system for surgical instruments advantageously enables the implementation of a computer-implemented method for monitoring the functionalities of a surgical instrument. Information about the condition of the surgical instrument is first generated, consisting either of a measurement or an image. The information is then processed as a sensor reading and / or an analyzed image and presented as a determination of the service life of the functionalities of the surgical instrument. Finally, an output signal is provided that includes information about the wear and / or the remaining service life of the instrument.

[0024] An advantage of the present invention is that determining the service life of a surgical instrument is not limited to counting the number of uses of the instrument. Other variables, such as how intensive each individual use was, which depends on the duration and nature of the procedure, can be taken into account with the invention. In particular, the following variables can be used: type of movement (e.g. speed of movements, angle of movements, repetitions of movements) and / or conditions of use (e.g. temperature, ambient pressure, type of tissue, contact with blood, acidity of the medium) and / or accidents (e.g. collisions with other instruments or damage). This helps to ensure that the service life can be calculated more accurately and, accordingly, the surgical instruments can be used more efficiently.

[0025] A further advantage of the invention is that the user has constant access to updated and comprehensive information, e.g., about the previous applications of each instrument, the degree of wear of each function of the instrument, and the estimated remaining service life of the instrument. For example, it is conceivable that an instrument may no longer be usable for function A before its reconditioning, but may still be usable for function B.

[0026] Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the dependent claims and from the description of the various preferred embodiments shown in the attached figures.

[0027] According to some embodiments of the invention, the functionality of the at least one surgical instrument is one of the following:

[0028] (a) a cutting ability of a cutting edge of the surgical instrument, such as scissors or scalpels;

[0029] (b) articulation of a joint of the surgical instrument, such as scissors, robots or endoscopes;

[0030] (c) sterility of at least one portion of the surgical instrument; and / or

[0031] (d) structural integrity of at least a portion of the surgical instrument. In general, the functionalities of a surgical instrument can exhibit various degrees of wear, from inaccuracies (e.g., increased instrument play) to structural damage. According to some embodiments of the invention, availability includes:

[0032] (a) information as to whether the functionality can still be used;

[0033] (b) information on how often the functionality can still be used; and / or

[0034] (c) information about the degree to which the functionality is degraded or depleted. In other words, availability can include extensive information about the capability of one or more functionalities.

[0035] According to some embodiments of the invention, the output signal provides a user with information about the availability of the (or at least one) functionality. The output signal can merely provide information about whether a functionality is still usable. However, it can also output additional information about the functionality. In particular, it can provide detailed information about the usage time and / or the state of wear of the instrument. It is also conceivable to provide information about whether a specific method or procedure can still be carried out with this instrument (e.g., a robot). A procedure can have a list of required functionalities, whereby the procedure is only assessed as feasible if all required functionalities can still be provided by the instrument.

[0036] According to some embodiments of the invention, the output signal provides a pre-warning to a user when the availability of the functionality falls to or below a predetermined first threshold. The availability of the functionality can be represented as a numerical value that depends on the various variables extracted from the images and / or measurements. This value could, for example, be an estimated number of remaining uses. The pre-warning threshold could then be a predefined number of uses below which a pre-warning signal is issued.

[0037] According to some embodiments of the invention, it is provided that the output signal prevents use of the functionality if the availability of the functionality falls to or below a predetermined second threshold. The second threshold is used as a safety measure to prevent the use of a surgical instrument beyond the calculated service life for the instrument. The second threshold can be procedure-dependent. According to some embodiments of the invention, it is provided that the system comprises the surgical instrument and that at least one sensor device is integrated into the surgical instrument. Depending on which functionality is to be inspected, it is advantageous to have the necessary sensors in the instrument. For example, for measuring pH values, it is expedient to have the appropriate sensors built into the instrument.On the other hand, a sensor for measuring the time of an intervention can be arranged separately from the instrument.

[0038] According to some embodiments of the invention, the computing device and / or the output interface are integrated into the surgical instrument. Integrating such elements of the system of the invention into the instrument can be particularly advantageous for instruments such as scissors. Thus, the information is constantly available to the user without the need for a separate device, e.g., a computer.

[0039] According to some embodiments of the invention, the computing device is implemented by a server and / or a cloud computing platform. If many variables and functionalities are to be processed, evaluated, and stored, a cloud computing platform or server is advantageous. The server or cloud computing platform also serves to ensure that instrument information is continuously available to all potential users. This is important, for example, to create a comprehensive overview of the condition of the various instruments in a hospital or clinic and, if necessary, to be able to plan the replacement of an instrument in a timely manner.

[0040] According to some embodiments of the invention, the computing device comprises an evaluation module configured to determine the availability of the (or at least one) functionality using at least one deterministic algorithm. The algorithm takes the measured variables from the sensor device and / or from the image recognition device and, based on a weighted combination of the variables, calculates the service life of the surgical instrument. The algorithm can also be configured to determine the first threshold value and the second threshold value. According to some embodiments of the invention, the system is configured to monitor multiple functionalities of a surgical instrument.In addition, the data provisioning device contains the appropriate measurement sensors and image analysis programs so that the various functionalities can be monitored. The more functionalities an instrument has that the system can monitor, the more information can be collected about the instrument's service life. The number of functionalities depends on the surgical instrument.

[0041] According to some embodiments of the invention, the system is configured to monitor at least one functionality of a plurality of surgical instruments. In these cases, the data provision device must be configured to monitor the selected functionalities using suitable sensors and / or image processing programs.

[0042] Although some functions are described here and below as being performed by devices, this does not necessarily mean that these devices are provided as separate entities. In cases where one or more devices, or even a portion thereof, are provided as software, the devices may be implemented by program code sections or snippets that may be separate from each other, but may also be interwoven or integrated with each other.

[0043] Likewise, in cases where one or more devices are provided as hardware, the functions of one or more devices may be provided by one and the same hardware component, or the functions of several devices may be distributed among several hardware components that do not necessarily correspond to the devices. It is therefore to be assumed that any application, system, method, etc., that has all the features and functions attributed to a particular device includes or implements that device. In particular, it is possible that all the devices are implemented by program code executed by, for example, a server or a cloud computing platform.

[0044] All mentioned embodiments and implementations can be combined with each other as desired, as far as this is reasonable. The further scope of applicability of the present method and apparatus will become apparent from the following figures, the detailed description, and the claims. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are primarily for illustrative purposes, and various changes and modifications within the basic spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0045] Short description of the drawings

[0046] The invention will now be described with reference to its advantageous embodiments with reference to the following drawings. These drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or functionally similar elements throughout the several views, serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts incorporating the claimed invention and to explain various principles and advantages of these embodiments. Elements depicted in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. This serves to clearly disclose the principles and principles of the invention.

[0047] In the drawings:

[0048] Fig. 1 shows a system for monitoring availability of functionality of at least one surgical instrument according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0049] Fig. 2 shows a system for monitoring availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0050] Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the sequence of a computer-implemented method for monitoring an availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0051] Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a computer program product according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention.

[0052] In some cases, well-known structures and devices are depicted in block diagram form to illustrate the concepts of the present invention. The numbering of steps in the methods is also intended to facilitate their description. They do not necessarily imply a particular order of steps. In particular, multiple steps may be performed simultaneously.

[0053] Description of the drawings

[0054] The detailed description of the accompanying drawings contains specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0055] Fig. 1 shows a system 1000 for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument X according to an embodiment of the invention. The various components and functions are schematically represented as blocks. The spatial arrangement of the blocks in Fig. 1 is only an illustration. The instrument X is represented in Fig. 1 as a pair of scissors. For illustration purposes, scissors will be used in some cases below as a concrete example of an instrument X. However, the principles of the invention apply to any surgical instruments, such as endoscopes or scalpels, and also to instruments whose handling can be supported by robotics, as well as to robots as instruments themselves.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 1, the system 1000 comprises a data provision device 10, a computing device 20, and an output interface 30. The data provision device 10 is configured to provide information indicating the availability of at least one functionality of a surgical instrument X. For example, for a pair of scissors, the data provision device 10 can provide information about the cutting ability (e.g., sharpness) of the cutting edge and information about the articulation (e.g., mobility, force required, range of motion) of the joint.

[0057] The data provision device 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a sensor device 110 and an image recognition device 120. The sensor device 110 is configured to provide a sensor measurement value as information. The sensor device 110 comprises various sensors configured to measure the values ​​of a plurality of variables. In particular, the following variables could be measured:

[0058] (i) type of movement of the instrument in use (e.g. speed of movements, rotations, repetitions, acceleration, stretching and tensioning, power and force of a motor operation);

[0059] (ii) conditions of use (e.g. temperature, ambient pressure, contact with tissue, contact with blood, acidity of the medium);

[0060] (iii) Instrument processing (e.g. cleaning procedure, number of processing cycles) and / or

[0061] (iv) Accidents (e.g. collisions with other instruments or other damage).

[0062] Again, in the scissors example, the articulation of the joint can be characterized or parameterized using various variables, e.g., the stress or strain of the joint. These variables can be measured, for example, using pressure sensors included in the sensor device 110.

[0063] The image recognition device 120 is configured to capture an image of the instrument X, analyze the image, and provide information based thereon. In some embodiments, the image recognition device 120 comprises a camera. The image-based information can be extracted using any computer program for image processing.

[0064] The cutting ability of the blade of a pair of scissors is an example of functionality that can be detected with the image recognition device 120. Images could be used, for example, to monitor the uniformity of the blade profile and thereby detect signs of wear. Images of the scissors could also be used in connection with monitoring the articulation of the joint, for example, to estimate how degraded the joint is (e.g., whether the play is increased). In this case, the availability of the articulation of the joint would be monitored by the variables measured by the sensor device 110 as well as by the images captured by the image recognition device 120.

[0065] The selection of variables and image-based information therefore depends on the functionality. In some embodiments, the data provision device 10 is further configured to activate the relevant sensors of the sensor device 110 and the relevant analyses that the image recognition device 120 can perform based on the relevant functionality or functionalities.

[0066] Computing device 20 is configured to determine the availability of the functionality. The variables and / or image-based information provided by data provision device 10 serve as the basis for this. Computing device 20 is any unit that can process, evaluate, and / or store data. The processing and evaluation can be performed by executable programs or apps. Computing device 20, or a portion thereof, can be implemented by a server and / or a cloud computing platform, particularly when many variables and functionalities are present.

[0067] In Fig. 1, the computing device 20 includes an evaluation module 210 configured to execute an algorithm. The algorithm takes as input at least a portion of the variables measured by the data provision device 10 and calculates the availability of the various functionalities as a function of the variables. The weight of the respective variable depends on the functionality or functionalities. For example, the algorithm can calculate the availability of the articulation of the joint of a pair of scissors based on a combination of the measured stresses and strains of the joint during a procedure.

[0068] The algorithm is further configured to compare the availability values ​​with reference values ​​that signal the end of an instrument's lifetime. Thus, the algorithm is capable of determining at least two thresholds. The first threshold is defined by a predetermined distance to the end of the lifetime, either in time or in terms of wear. For example, the first threshold could be set to 24 hours before the estimated end of the instrument's lifetime, or to 80% of the instrument's wear. The user can set the first threshold, for example, based on how long it might take to get new instruments in a hospital or clinic. The second threshold signals the end of the instrument's lifetime.

[0069] The algorithm can also be configured to calculate the expected service life of the instrument based on the instrument's usage history, essentially the frequency of use and the intensity of each use. This information can be stored in a database.

[0070] The output interface 30 is configured to output an output signal S to a user. The output signal S is based on the availability of at least one functionality of the instrument X, as determined by the computing device 20. The output interface 30 may further include an interface to an intranet or the Internet, to a cloud computing service, to a remote server, and / or the like.

[0071] The output interface 30 can also retrieve information from the evaluation module 210. The output signal S can indicate whether a functionality is still usable. However, it can also output additional information about the functionality. In particular, it can provide detailed information about the usage time and / or the wear status of the instrument X. For example, for a pair of scissors, the output signal S can indicate the previous usage time and / or the remaining usage time and / or the degree of wear of the articulation of the joint and the cutting ability of the cutting edge. Purely by way of example, the output signal S could indicate 200 hours of usage time, 26 hours of remaining usage time, and 90% wear status for the articulation of the joint, and 200 hours of usage time, 28 hours of remaining usage time, and 85% wear status for the cutting ability of the cutting edge.

[0072] The output signal S can, among other things, provide a user with an advance warning when the availability of the functionality falls to or below the first threshold predetermined by the algorithm. For example, if the first threshold is set to 24 hours before the estimated end of the instrument's lifetime, then an advance warning for the scissors in the example will be issued after 2 hours. If the first threshold is set to 80% of the instrument's wear, then in this example the advance warning has already been issued. The advance warning signal can, for example, be provided as a visual signal (e.g., the effect of an LED) and / or as an acoustic signal (e.g., a beep). The advance warning signal can also cause a flag to be raised in an instrument management system.

[0073] The output signal S can also be a prohibition signal that prevents the use of a functionality if the availability of the functionality falls to or below the second threshold predetermined by the algorithm. In the example of scissors, the prohibition signal can be a visual and / or acoustic signal. For robotic instruments or instruments driven by a motor, the prohibition signal can cause the motor or robot to be blocked.

[0074] Fig. 2 shows a system 1000 for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument X according to another embodiment of the invention. In contrast to Fig. 1, in which the system 1000 and the instrument X are shown separately, in Fig. 2 some elements of the system 1000, namely the sensor device 110, the computing device 20, and the output interface 30, are implemented in the instrument X. Depending on the instrument X and the functionality, the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 may be advantageous.

[0075] For example, for measuring pH values ​​(e.g., when the instrument is a pair of scissors or an endoscope), it is useful to have the necessary sensors of the sensor device 110 integrated into the instrument. The same applies to measuring the articulation of a joint, which is performed using pressure sensors.

[0076] In Fig. 2, for the sake of simplicity, the entire sensor device 10 is integrated into the instrument X. However, it is conceivable that only some sensors are located in the instrument X, while other sensors are located elsewhere, separate from the instrument (e.g., a sensor for measuring the duration of an intervention).

[0077] In some instruments, the computing device 20 and the output interface 30 can advantageously be integrated into the instrument X, as shown in Fig. 2. This results in the information, in particular the information of the output signal S, being constantly available to the user without, for example, the need for a computer. This is particularly useful for instruments that are portable. In Fig. 2, the image recognition device 120 is not integrated into the instrument X. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the image recognition device 120 can include a camera for taking images of the instrument X. The images could then be displayed on a screen or monitor. In such embodiments, the image recognition device 120 should be kept at a distance from the surgical instrument. This is the case, for example, when monitoring the availability of the cutting ability of the cutting edge of scissors.

[0078] Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the flow of a computer-implemented method M for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument X according to an embodiment of the invention. In a step M1, at least one piece of information is provided that indicates the availability of a functionality of the instrument X. This information is based on at least one measurement of a variable and / or an image analysis of an image of the instrument X. In particular, the variables mentioned, for example, in the description of Fig. 1 could be used.

[0079] In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, step M1 comprises steps M11, M12, and M13. In step M11, a sensor measurement value is measured and provided as information. The sensor measurement value corresponds to the value of at least one variable relevant to the availability of a functionality.

[0080] In step M12, at least one image of instrument X is captured, for example, with a camera. Subsequently, the image is analyzed in step M13, and the result of the image analysis is provided as information.

[0081] In a further step M2, the availability of the functionality is determined. The availability can be represented as a number. This number is based on the information provided in step M1, which is implemented, for example, with an algorithm as a function of the measured and / or analyzed variables. In a step M3, an output signal S is output. This signal is based on the availability of the functionality and can include, among other things: (a) general information about the previous use of the instrument; (b) an advance warning when the availability of the functionality falls to or below a predetermined first threshold; (c) a prohibition of the functionality (by a control signal) when the availability of the functionality falls to or below a predetermined second threshold, which indicates the service life of the instrument; and / or (d) based on the usage history of the instrument (e.g.Frequency of use and average intensity of each use) a prediction about the end of the instrument's lifespan.

[0082] Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a computer program product 300 according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention. The computer program product 300 comprises executable program code 350 configured to perform the method according to any embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, in particular as described in the preceding figures.

[0083] Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium 400 according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention. The data storage medium 400 comprises executable program code 450 that, when executed, is configured to perform the method according to any embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, in particular as described with reference to the preceding figures.

[0084] The non-volatile, computer-readable data storage medium may comprise or consist of any type of computer memory, in particular a semiconductor memory such as a solid-state memory. The data storage medium may also comprise or consist of a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, a USB memory stick, or the like.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. System (1000) for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument (X), comprising: a data providing device (10) configured to provide at least one piece of information indicating the availability of the functionality of the instrument (X); wherein the data providing device (10) comprises: at least one sensor device (110) configured to sensor measurement value as information; and / or an image recognition device (120) configured to capture an image of at least the instrument (X) and automatically analyze the image in order to provide information based thereon; a computing device (20) configured to determine the availability of the functionality based on the at least one piece of information provided; and an output interface (30) configured to output an output signal (S) based on the determined availability.

2. System (1000) according to claim 1, wherein the functionality of the at least one surgical instrument (X) is one of the following: - a cutting ability of a cutting edge of the surgical instrument (X); - an articulation of a joint of the surgical instrument (X); - sterility of at least one section of the surgical instrument (X); and / or - structural integrity of at least one section of the surgical instrument (X).

3. System (1000) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the availability comprises: - information as to whether the functionality can still be used; - information on how often the functionality can still be used; and / or - information on the degree to which functionality is degraded or consumed.

4. System (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output signal (S) provides a user with information about the availability of the functionality.

5. The system (1000) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output signal (S) provides a user with advance warning when the availability of the functionality falls to or below a predetermined first threshold.

6. System (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the output signal (S) prevents use of the functionality if the availability of the functionality falls to or below a predetermined second threshold.

7. The system (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the system (1000) comprises the surgical instrument (X); and wherein at least one sensor device (110) is integrated into the surgical instrument (X).

8. System (1000) according to claim 7, wherein the computing device (20) and / or the output interface (30) is integrated into the surgical instrument (X).

9. The system (1000) of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the computing device (20) is implemented by a server and / or a cloud computing platform.

10. System (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the computing device (20) comprises an evaluation module (210) configured to determine the availability of the functionality using at least one deterministic algorithm.

11. System (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the system (1000) is configured to monitor multiple functionalities of a surgical instrument (X).

12. System (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the system (1000) is configured to monitor at least one functionality of a plurality of surgical instruments (X).

13. Computer-implemented method (M) for monitoring the availability of a functionality of at least one surgical instrument (X), comprising the steps: (a) Providing (Ml) at least one piece of information indicating availability of the functionality of the instrument (X), comprising: Measuring (Mi l) a sensor reading and providing the measured sensor reading as information; and / or capturing (M12) an image of at least the instrument (X), and analyzing (M13) the captured image to provide information based thereon; (b) determining (M2), based on the at least one piece of information provided, the availability of the functionality; and (c) issuing (M3) an output signal based on the determined availability.

14. A computer program product (300) comprising executable program code (350) which, when executed, is designed to carry out the method (M) according to claim 13.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium (400) comprising executable program code (450) which, when executed, is adapted to perform the method (M) according to claim 13.

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