Medical device system for fiber bragg grating calibration

Abstract

A medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure can include a communications circuit. The communications circuit can be configured to receive identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device. The communications circuit can also be configured to retrieve, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

Description

MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM FOR FIBER BRAGG GRATING CALIBRATIONPRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 636,977, filed April 22, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to sensor calibration, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to calibration of a fiber Bragg grating device used in and / or with a medical device system, such as can be used in an endoscopic medical procedure.BACKGROUND

[0003] Laser or plasma systems may be used for delivering therapeutic laser energy to various target treatment areas such as may include soft or hard tissue. Examples of laser therapy may include ablation, coagulation, vaporization, fragmentation, etc. In lithotripsy applications, laser therapy may be used to break down calculi structures in one or more of the kidney, gallbladder, ureter, or other stone-forming regions, or to ablate large calculi into smaller fragments.

[0004] Endoscopes may be used to provide access to an internal location of a patient such that a physician may be provided with visual access. An endoscope may be inserted into a patient's body and may deliver a therapeutic beam to a target. An endoscope may include a working channel through which the operator can perform suction or pass instruments, such as may include a laser fiber, a stone-removal basket, brushes, biopsy needles, or forceps, or perform minimally invasive surgery to remove unwanted tissue or other objects from the patient. An endoscope may also include an irrigation system, such as may provide an irrigation flow to the region surrounding the endoscope insertion tip.SUMMARY

[0005] In an example, a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure can include a communications circuit. The communications circuit can be configured to receive identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device. Thecommunications circuit can also be configured to retrieve, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

[0006] In an example, a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure can include a communications circuit, which can be configured to receive identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device. The communications circuit can also be configured to retrieve, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information, which can include to communicate with a fiber Bragg grating calibration database. Retrieving the fiber Bragg grating calibration information can also include to query the fiber Bragg grating calibration database using the received identifying information, where the fiber Bragg grating calibration database can be configured to provide the fiber Bragg grating calibration information to the communications circuit in response to the query. The medical device system can also include a processor circuit, which can be configured to use the retrieved fiber Bragg grating calibration information to one or more of generate or adjust a value measured by the fiber Bragg grating device.

[0007] In an example, a method for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure can include receiving identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device. The method can also include retrieving, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the drawings, which may not be drawn to scale, like numerals may describe substantially similar components throughout one or more of the views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of substantially similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example but not by way of limitation.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of portions of a medical device system.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of portions of the medical device system of FIG. 1 including an example of portions of the imaging and control system and the endoscope.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an example of portions of a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information and portions of an environment in which the medical device system can be used.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of portions of a method of operating a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of portions of a method of operating a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example of an apparatus, device, or machine upon which any one or more of the AI / ML or other techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may be performed.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a machine upon which one or more examples may be implemented.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] A medical device system, such as an endoscopy system, can use one or more sensors. The one or more sensors can be used to provide information about an ongoing procedure, to adjust a function or process of a medical device system, or to provide information to a clinician. The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that it can be desirable to use one or more fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) with a medical device system. FBGs can be used in addition to other sensors, as an alternative to other sensors, or both. FBGs can be desirable because they can be one or more of small, low cost, accurate, or flexible. In some cases, FBGs can provide one or more benefits as compared to other types of sensors.

[0017] The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that a fiber Bragg grating device (FBG device) can be helped by calibration, which can help improve accuracy. For example, similarly manufactured FBG devices can have differing characteristics, such as due to process variations. Such differing characteristics can include, for example, differences in frequency reflections, differences in refractive index, differences in locations of gratings, etc. An FBG device can be calibrated. Such calibration can generate FBG calibration information. The FBG calibration information can be used in conjunction with the FBG device to determine a calibrated output value of a measured parameter. For example, an optical fiber or fiber bundle including one ormore FBGs can be placed in a specified state (e.g., in an ice water bath, in a straight condition, etc.). Then, an offset between a measured and an expected value can be used to create calibration information. Such calibration information can include, for example, a calibration formula and / or offset, such as for each fiber or fiber bundle. This can include a calibration formula and / or offset for more than one FBG in the fiber or fiber bundle (e.g., an offset for each FBG). The calibration formula can include any number of calibration points (e.g., a single point, such as can determine an offset, two points, such as can determine an intercept and a slope offset, etc.) Determining the calibration information can leave the fiber unchanged, which can facilitate using the calibration formula during one or more measurements using the FBG.

[0018] In a medical device system, such as which can use multiple FBG devices, it can be desirable to receive and use FBG calibration information corresponding to respective FBG devices. For example, a medical device system can receive FBG calibration information because one or more of (1) the FBG device is separate from the medical device system (e.g., the FBG device might not be integral to the medical device system, so a factory calibration of the FBG device might not be possible), or (2) multiple FBG devices are used with a single medical device system (e.g., because the FBG devices are one or more of single-use, disposable, or have a limited lifetime, because the FBG devices are used at different times, such as for different purposes).

[0019] The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that it can be desirable for an FBG device to include and / or store data related to the FBG calibration information. For example, storage of data can include a code and / or number that the user can manually enter into the medical device system for providing the appropriate formula or offset for this particular fiber. This data can be printed on the packaging of the FBG device (e.g., on the sterile packaging, such as of a single use endoscope), the FBG device itself, or both. The data can be in any format, and can include an encoded or other format that can be understood by humans, can be understood by computers, or both. For example, the data can include one or more of numbers, letters, emojis, words, symbols, bar codes, QR codes, etc., or combinations thereof. The data can also be in a nonvisual format (e.g., a digital format, an electrical format), such as can include one or more of an RFID chip, an EEPROM memory (e.g., EEPROM, EPROM), one or more resistance values, etc. In an example, the data from the FBG device can be transferred as the FBG device is plugged into the medical device system. For example, an EEPROM associated with a fiber or fiber bundle (e.g., a part of the FBG device) can be connected to themedical device system and read by the medical device system (e.g., the communications circuit 304).

[0020] The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that it can be desirable for the medical device system to receive the FBG calibration information automatically, or at least partially automatically, such as without requiring input from a clinician, initiation by a clinician, or both. This can make it desirable to use a process that is robust enough to be performed in a variety of environments and / or conditions.

[0021] A Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) can be used, such as to provide a form of Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR). This can help provide feedback (e.g., shape sensing) using analysis of reflection patterns to measure one or more parameters. The measured parameters can include one or more of pressure, strain, stress, force, temperature, location information (e.g., relative location information, such as relative to a fixed location, such as the fixed end of an optical fiber), or shape information (e.g., shape of at least a portion of an optical fiber including one or more FBGs, deflection of the optical fiber). In an example, multiple FBGs can be included in a single optical fiber, such as can include multiple FBGs with a sub-millimeter spacing, such as over multiple meters of length of an optical fiber or fiber bundle.

[0022] A FBG can include a patterned change of the refractive index along an optical fiber or fiber bundle (e.g. periodic, chirped, gaussian apodized, raised cosine apodized, etc.). When broad spectrum light is transmitted along the length of a fiber that contains an FBG, the part of the light matching the Bragg wavelength is reflected. Thus, when the fiber optic cable is stressed (e.g., a change in physical shape and / or stresses, such as due to a change in a parameter to be measured) the refractive index of the FBG shifts in wavelength. This can enable the fiber optic cable with the FBG to be used as and / or operate as a sensor. While the patterned change of refractive index of the FBG can be oriented orthogonal to a longitudinal axial direction of the optical fiber, in certain instances, a blazed FBG can be provided. The patterned change of refractive index of the blazed FBG can be oriented at a non-orthogonal (oblique) angle to the longitudinal axial direction of the optical fiber, such as for outcoupling a portion of the light laterally, if desired, and reflecting a portion of the light back in a longitudinal direction. The blaze angle of a blazed FBG may additionally or alternatively be subject to calibration, such as using the techniques described herein.

[0023] Using such an optical fiber within a scope system (e.g., an endoscope system), can allow the user or physician to compare the surgical space against ananatomical map (e.g., against scans, x-rays, or the like) and / or allow the user or physician to measure the pressure and temperature of distension media, tissues, and / or device temperatures during the medical procedure.

[0024] For example, during a medical procedure, such as an endoscopic medical procedure, insufflation media can be used, such as to create and / or expand a working space (e.g., a working space inside a patient). Overdistention, such as due to overpressure, may alter or damage tissue in and / or near a procedure area. This can make pressure monitoring desirable. Furthermore, one or more actions, such as a treatment action, can affect a temperature in and / or near the procedure area. For example, one or more of plasma, microwaves, lasers, radio frequency waves, or cryogenic gas can be used to treat a patient, and one or more of these can affect a temperature. Excessive temperature changes, rates of change, or high and / or low temperatures may alter or damage tissue. This can make temperature monitoring desirable.

[0025] A Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) can be a grating in an optical fiber in which the index of refraction within the core of the fiber changes along its length, such as from high-index to low-index. The spatial variations or spatial modulation of the refractive index can cause an FBG to act like a mirror that reflects certain wavelengths and transmits others. The wavelength that an FBG reflects can depend on the spacing between the high-index and low-index regions within the optical fiber. The distance between two high-index regions within the fiber is called the “period” of the FBG. The strength of the reflection can depend on the amount of the index modulation. This modulation of the refractive index within an FBG can be a consistent periodic change or a variable “quasi -periodic” change. If an FBG contains regions with different periods, a single optical fiber can contain multiple “mirrors,” causing different wavelengths of light to reflect from different positions along the fiber. The change in the period of the index modulation along the length of the fiber may not be abrupt. FBGs that feature a period that changes smoothly along the fiber length are called “chirped” FBGs or simply CFBGs, which can have elaborate respective period profiles.

[0026] An FBG can be created by “writing” a pattern into the core of the fiber and changing the index of refraction along the length of the fiber. An FBG can be produced by projecting an extremely high-resolution ultraviolet (UV) pattern onto an optical fiber. UV light can cause the index of refraction to increase in the exposed regions and to remain unchanged in the unexposed regions. Thus, an FBG can include a patterned change of the refractive index along a fiber optic cable. The patterns can beuniform, chirped, tilted (blazed), in a superstructure, or the like. Various configurations of fiber Bragg gratings are described in Batchelor, et al. U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 63 / 465,172 entitled “FIBER BRAGG GRATING FOR ENDOSCOPES” filed on May 9, 2023 (Attorney Docket No. 5409.859PRV), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0027] At one or more timepoints, such as following a manufacturing process, an FBG device can be calibrated. For example, the FBG device can be used to measure a reference value (e.g., a reference temperature, a reference pressure), and a reference output signal from the FBG can be associated with this reference value (e.g., a reflected wavelength at 0 degrees Celsius, a reflected wavelength at 100 degrees Celsius, a change in reflected wavelength over a 10 degree change in temperature measured in Celsius, etc.). In an example, the FBG device can be static or largely static, which can make it difficult to adjust the reference output signal at the reference value to a standard reference output signal. Instead, the reference output signal can be recorded and used to adjust the output signal across a range of measured values (e.g., one or more output signals associated with one or more reference values can be used to adjust a range of output signals to their associated measured value). The output signal associated with the reference value can include one or more of a numerical value, an equation (e.g., an equation to convert the output of the FBG to a measured parameter), or any other data.

[0028] In an example, one or more reference output signals and / or other information generated during one or more calibration processes can be included in FBG calibration information. For example, the FBG calibration information can be used along with an FBG device, such as can include one or more FBGs. The FBG calibration information can be used to determine, calibrate, or otherwise adjust one or more outputs and / or measured parameters of the FBG device.

[0029] The FBG calibration information can be received from one or more sources, such as the FBG device, a database (e.g., a data storage structure, a lookup table, etc.), or a user input. In an example, identifying information from the FBG device can be used to retrieve the FBG calibration information. For example, a serial number or other piece of identifying information can be used to query a database. In response to the query, the database can provide the FBG calibration information. This can be desirable because the identifying information can be one or more of easier to receive from the FBG device, smaller in size, or quicker to transfer. For example, a 10-digitserial number can be used to retrieve FBG calibration information that may include hundreds to thousands of values.

[0030] The calibration information can include an entire equation for generating an output value from the FBG device data. The equation can be the same or different between one or more parameters (e.g., a distinct equation for shape, force, pressure, temperature). The calibration information can include portions of an equation for generating an output value from the FBG device data. For example, an intercept, a slope, a correction factor, etc. These values can be combined with equations and / or values on the medical device system go generate an equation for generating an output value from the FBG device data.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of portions of a medical device system 100. The medical device system 100 can include an imaging and control system 104 and an endoscopic device (e.g., endoscope 108). The medical device system 100 of FIG. 1 is an illustrative example of a medical device system suitable for use with the systems, devices and methods described herein.

[0032] The endoscope 108 can be insertable into an anatomical region for one or more of imaging, treatment (e.g., via lithotripsy) of a target, or attachment to (e.g., via tethering) one or more sampling devices for biopsies, or one or more therapeutic devices for treatment of a disease state associated with the anatomical region. The endoscope 108 can interface or connect to imaging and control system 104. The endoscope 108 can include one or more of a duodenoscope, laparoscope, ureteroscope, arthroscope, other endoscope or other instrument capable of being used for accessing a region inside a patient. The imaging and control system 104 can include a control unit 112, a display unit 116, an input unit 120, a light source 124, a fluid source 128, and a suction pump 132.

[0033] The imaging and control system 104 can include various ports for coupling with the medical device system 100. For example, the control unit 112 can include a data input / output port for receiving data from and communicating data to the endoscope 108. The light source 124 can include an output port for transmitting light to the endoscope 108, such as via a fiber optic link. The fluid source 128 can include a port for transmitting fluid to the endoscope 108. The fluid source 128 can include, for example, a pump and a tank of fluid or can be connected to an external tank, vessel, or storage unit. The suction pump 132 can include a port used to draw a vacuum from the endoscope 108 to generate suction, such as for withdrawing fluid from the anatomicalregion into which a distal portion of the endoscope 108 is inserted. The display unit 116 and the input unit 120 can be used by an operator of the medical device system 100 to control functions of the medical device system 100 and / or view output of the endoscope 108. The control unit 112 can additionally be used to generate signals or other outputs from treating the anatomical region into which the endoscope 108 is inserted. For example, the control unit 112 can generate electrical output, acoustic output, fluid output, or the like for treating the anatomical region, such as for cauterizing, cutting, freezing, or the like.

[0034] The endoscope 108 can include an insertion section 136, a functional section 140, and a handle section 144, which can be coupled to a cable section 148 and a coupler section 152. The insertion section 136 can extend distally from the handle section 144, and the cable section 148 can extend proximally from the handle section 144. The insertion section 136 can be elongated and include a bending section, and a distal end to which the functional section 140 can be attached. The bending section can be controllable (e.g., by a steering control 156 on the handle section 144) to maneuver the distal end through tortuous anatomical passageways (e.g., stomach, duodenum, kidney, ureter, trachea, lungs, or the like). The insertion section 136 can also include one or more working channels (e.g., an internal lumen) that can be elongated and can support the insertion of one or more therapeutic tools of the functional section 140, such as a bronchoscope. The working channel can extend between the handle section 144 and the functional section 140. Additional functionalities, such as fluid passages, guide wires, and pull wires, can also be provided by the insertion section 136 (e.g., via suction or irrigation passageways, or the like).

[0035] A coupler section 152 can be connected to the control unit 112 to connect to the endoscope 108 to multiple features of the control unit 112, such as the input unit 120, the light source 124, the fluid source 128, and the suction pump 132.

[0036] The handle section 144 can include the steering control 156 as well as the port 160. The steering control 156 can be a knob, lever, or other actuation mechanism or the like, which can be used to navigate the endoscope 108 within the patient. The steering control 156 can be connected to a pull wire, or other actuation mechanisms, extending through the insertion section 136. The port 160, as well as other ports, such as a port 164, can be configured to couple various electrical cables, guide wires, auxiliary scopes, tissue collection devices, fluid tubes, and the like to the handle section 144, such as forcoupling with the insertion section 136. The examples shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are examples of endoscopes 108.

[0037] The imaging and control system 104 can be provided on a mobile platform (e.g., a cart 168) with shelves for housing the light source 124, the suction pump 132, an image processing unit 204 (FIG. 2), or the like. Alternatively or additionally, one or more components of the imaging and control system 104, shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 can be provided directly on the endoscope 108, such as to make the endoscope “self-contained.”

[0038] The functional section 140 can include one or more components for treating or diagnosing the anatomy of a patient. The functional section 140 can include an imaging device, an illumination device, and an elevator. The functional section 140 can further include optically enhanced biological matter and tissue collection and retrieval devices.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of portions of the medical device system 100 of FIG. 1 including an example of portions of the imaging and control system 104 and the endoscope 108. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates components of the imaging and control system 104 coupled to the endoscope 108. The imaging and control system 104 can include the control unit 112, which can include or be coupled to an image processing unit 204, a treatment generator 208, and a drive unit 212, as well as the light source 124, the input unit 120, and the display unit 116. The control unit 112 can include, or can be in communication with, an endoscope, a surgical instrument, and a medical device system 100. The medical device system 100 can include a device configured to engage tissue and collect and store a portion of that tissue and through which imaging equipment (e.g., a camera) can view Target tissue. The control unit 112 can be configured to activate a camera to view target tissues located distal to the endoscopy system. Likewise, the control unit 112 can be configured to activate the light source 124 to shine a light on the surgical instrument, which can include select components that can be configured to reflect light in a particular manner, such as tissue cutters being enhanced with reflective particles.

[0040] The coupler section 152 can be connected to the control unit 112, such as to connect the endoscope 108 to multiple features of the control unit 112, such as the image processing unit 204, the treatment generator 208, or the like. The port 160 can optionally be used to insert another instrument or device, such as a daughter scope or auxiliary scope, or a sampling needle, biopsy needle, ablation instrument, scalpel, or thelike, into the endoscope 108. Such instruments and devices can be independently connected to the control unit 112 such as via the cable section 148. The port 164 can optionally be used to connect the coupler section 152 to various inputs and outputs, such as video, air, light and electric.

[0041] The image processing unit 204 and light source 124 can each interface with the endoscope 108 (e.g., at the functional section 140) by wired or wireless electrical connections. The imaging and control system 104 can accordingly illuminate an anatomical region, collect signals representing the anatomical region, process signals representing the anatomical region, and display images representing the anatomical region on the display unit 116. The imaging and control system 104 can include the light source 124 to illuminate the anatomical region using light of a desired spectrum (e.g., broadband white light, narrow-band imaging using preferred electromagnetic wavelengths, and the like). The imaging and control system 104 can connect (e.g., via an endoscope connector) to the endoscope 108 for signal transmission (e.g., light output from the light source, video signals from the imaging system in the distal end, diagnostic and sensor signals from a diagnostic device, and the like).

[0042] The fluid source 128 (shown in FIG. 1) can be in communication with control unit 112 and can include one or more sources of air, saline, or other fluids, as well as associated fluid pathways (e.g., air channels, irrigation channels, suction channels, and the like) and connectors (barb fittings, fluid seals, valves, and the like). The imaging and control system 104 can also include a drive unit 212, which can include a motorized drive for advancing a distal section of endoscope 108.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an example of portions of a medical device system 100 for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information and portions of an environment in which the medical device system 100 can be used. FIG. 3 shows that the medical device system 100 can include a communications circuit 304, a processor circuit 306, an radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader 308, and an optical sensor 310. The medical device system 100 can be communicatively coupled to a network 314, such as can be communicatively coupled to a fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302. FIG. 3 shows that the medical device system 100 can be used with one or more fiber Bragg grating devices 312. In an example, one or more fiber Bragg grating devices 312 can be included in the medical device system 100.

[0044] The fiber Bragg grating device 312 can include one or more FBGs, such as can include one or more of one FBG, two FBGs, three or more FBGs, 10 or moreFBGs, 100 or more FBGs, or 1000 or more FBGs. The fiber Bragg grating device 312 can include one or more fibers in a fiber bundle, such as can include one fiber, two fibers, three or more fibers, 10 or more fibers, 100 or more fibers, or 1000 or more fibers. One or more of the fibers can contain one or more FBGs. The one or more FBGs can be configured to measure any parameter, such as can include one or more of temperature, pressure, stress, strain, position, or shape. In an example, one or more FBGs could be used in an actuator or output transducer, and may not be used in a sensing transducer. For example, one or more FBGs could be used in an ultrasound transducer. The fiber Bragg grating device 312 can be coupled to the medical device system 100 at a port, such as a fiber optic port. In an example, the fiber Bragg grating device 312 can be included in and / or at least partially inserted in an endoscope, such as the endoscope 108, such as through port 160. This can allow the fiber Bragg grating device 312 to measure one or more properties of the endoscope 108 and or the patient. For example, the endoscope 108 and / or the fiber Bragg grating device 312 can be at least partially inserted inside a patient, such as can allow the fiber Bragg grating device 312 to measure one or more properties at one or more locations inside the patient.

[0045] The communications circuit 304 can be configured to receive identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device 312. The communications circuit 304 can also be configured to retrieve FBG calibration information, such as from the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302. The communications circuit 304 can include one or more of one or more integrated circuits, one or more communication interfaces (e.g., an ethernet protocol interface, an interface to communicate with the RFID reader 308, etc.), one or more volatile and / or nonvolatile memories, or any other components. The communications circuit 304 can be coupled to the processor circuit 306, the optical sensor 310, and the RFID reader 308.

[0046] The processor circuit 306 can be configured to perform one or more operations, such as can include receiving one or more signals from the fiber Bragg grating device 312. The processor circuit 306 can perform one or more operations on the received signals to determine a property measured by the fiber Bragg grating device 312. The processor circuit 306 can use the retrieved FBG calibration information to at least one of generate or adjust a value measured by the fiber Bragg grating device 312.

[0047] The RFID reader 308 can be configured to scan one or more RFID devices (e.g., RFID tags). For example, the RFID reader 308 can wirelessly scan one or more RFID devices to read information contained within the RFID device. The RFIDdevices can include passive devices, such as can be powered using a signal received on an antenna, as opposed to an internal energy storage device (e.g., a battery). In an example, one or more RFID devices can be one or more of disposed on, disposed within, or disposed along with (e.g., in the same packaging) the fiber Bragg grating device 312. The RFID reader 308 can scan one or more RFID devices associated with the fiber Bragg grating device 312. In response the one or more RFID devices can pass the identifying information to the RFID reader 308. For example, the identifying information can be stored in nonvolatile memory of the RFID device. The RFID device can be configured to pass the identifying information to the RFID reader 308, such in response to a scan signal. The scan signal can include information, or can include a signal configured to power on the RFID device that does not include information. The RFID reader 308 can pass the received identifying information to the communications circuit 304. The RFID reader 308 can be configured to be near one or more RFID devices on the fiber Bragg grating device 312 when the fiber Bragg grating device 312 is coupled to the medical device system 100. For example, the RFID reader 308 can be placed near a connection port. The RFID reader 308 can be configured to scan continuously and / or recurrently, such as can periodically receive the identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device 312. The RFID reader 308 can be configured to scan a single time or over a limited time period, such as corresponding to when one or more of the medical device system 100 initializes, the fiber Bragg grating device 312 is coupled to the medical device system 100, or a medical procedure is about to begin.

[0048] The optical sensor 310 can be configured similarly to the RFID reader 308, except that the optical sensor 310 can be configured to scan an optical marking (e.g., a bar code, a QR code, another machine readable code) disposed on, within, or along with the fiber Bragg grating device 312. In an example, a user of the medical device system 100 can scan an optical marking on the packaging of the fiber Bragg grating device 312 as they are preparing the fiber Bragg grating device 312 for use. In an example, the medical device system 100 can include both an RFID reader 308 and an optical sensor 310. In an example, the medical device system 100 can include one or the other of an RFID reader 308 or an optical sensor 310. In an example, another method of receiving the identifying information can be used (e.g., manual entry), and the medical device system 100 might not contain either an RFID reader 308 or an optical sensor 310.

[0049] The network 314 can include one or more of an internet network, an intranet network, a wired network, or a wireless network. For example, the medicaldevice system 100 can communicate with the network 314 via one or more of TCP / IP protocol, Wi-Fi protocol, Bluetooth protocol, etc. For example, the medical device system 100 can be positioned in a hospital, and the network 314 can include an internet and / or intranet network, such as can allow the network 314 to access one or more other resources within and / or external to the hospital.

[0050] The fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 can be a data storage structure, such as can include one or more of a lookup table, a SQL database, etc. The fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 can operate on a hardware / software system that is communicatively coupled to the network 314. For example, the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 can operate on a server in a hospital and / or an external server (e.g., a medical device company server, a server system operating at least partially on behalf of a medical device company). In an example, the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 can be included in the medical device system 100.

[0051] The fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 can store FBG calibration information associated with one or more fiber Bragg grating devices 312, such as can include storing the FBG calibration information of respective devices in association with the identifying information of the corresponding FBG devices. In response to a query using the identifying information of a fiber Bragg grating device 312, the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 can provide the FBG calibration information corresponding to the fiber Bragg grating device 312. In an example, FBG calibration information corresponding to fiber Bragg grating devices 312 can be loaded into the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 as the devices are manufactured, such as during a factory calibration process. Then, when the fiber Bragg grating devices 312 are used, the identifying information included with the fiber Bragg grating devices 312 can be used to retrieve the FBG calibration information. For example, the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 can be operated on a widely accessible server (e.g., accessible across a portion of a state, country, etc.). Following the manufacturing of a fiber Bragg grating device 312, the FBG calibration information can be loaded into the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302, such as at one or more central manufacturing sites. Then, when the fiber Bragg grating device 312 is used, such as in a hospital, the medical device system 100 can access the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302 over a network 314 to retrieve the FBG calibration information.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of portions of a method 400 of operating a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibrationinformation. One or more steps of the method 400 can be performed using a medical device system such as the medical device system 100, such as is illustrated in various examples throughout FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, and described with respect to the same FIGs.

[0053] At step 402, identifying information of the FBG device can be received, such as using a communications circuit. The identifying information can correspond to the FBG device. For example, the identifying information can be a unique serial number that identifies the FBG device. The identifying information can be received by the communications circuit in any way, such as can include manual data entry (e.g., typing, speaking), wired connection with the FBG device, or a wireless connection, such as at step 418.

[0054] At step 418, the identifying information can be received wirelessly. For example, the identifying information can be received from the FBG device without a wired connection, such as can include through electromagnetic phenomena (e.g., light waves, radio waves, etc.).

[0055] At step 420, receiving the identifying information wirelessly can optionally include scanning an RFID device. The medical device system can include an RFID reader configured to scan an RFID device included in the FBG device, such as is elsewhere discussed herein.

[0056] At step 422, receiving the identifying information wirelessly can optionally include scanning a machine-readable optical marking. The medical device system can include an optical sensor configured to scan a machine-readable optical marking included in the FBG device, such as is elsewhere discussed herein.

[0057] At step 404, FBG calibration information can be retrieved, such as using the received identifying information, such as using a communications circuit. For example, the medical device system can consult a lookup table or database to retrieve the FBG calibration information using the identifying information, such as can include retrieving FBG calibration information corresponding to the FBG device (e.g., specific to the FBG device). In an example, receiving the FBG calibration information includes receiving numerical values sufficient to calibrate at least two fiber Bragg gratings.

[0058] At step 406, an FBG calibration database can be communicated with, such as the fiber Bragg grating calibration database 302. In an example, the lookup table or database can be included within the medical device system. In an example, the lookup table or database can be accessed via a network, such as at step 412.

[0059] At step 412, the FBG calibration database can be communicated with via a network, such as the network 314, as elsewhere discussed herein.

[0060] At step 408, the FBG calibration database can be queried, using the received identifying information. For example, the identifying information can be provided to the FBG calibration database, such as in a query or other command.

[0061] At step 410, the FBG calibration information can be received from the FBG calibration database, such as in response to the query in step 408. For example, the FBG calibration database can return the FBG calibration information in response to receiving the identifying information.

[0062] At step 414, the FBG calibration information can be used to generate and / or adjust a value, such as a value measured by the FBG device. For example, as otherwise discussed herein, the calibration information can be used in conjunction with a signal received from the FBG device to determine one or more values measured by the FBG device. In an example, the method can include using a signal received from the FBG device (e.g., the calibrated value) to at least one of control a parameter of a medical device system or send a signal to provide information to the clinician. For example, if the value is a temperature value that indicates that a temperature within the patient is too high, the method 400 can include turning off an energy source, such as a laser. In an example, a value measured by the FBG device can be provided to a clinician, such as for information purposes (e.g., providing a current temperature value to a clinician).

[0063] At step 416, an action can be taken when the FBG calibration information is not received. For example, if an incompatible FBG device is coupled to the medical device system, the FBG device may not provide identifying information and / or may not provide identifying information in a proper format. In an example, the FBG calibration database could be inaccessible, such as could prevent the medical device system from retrieving the FBG calibration information.

[0064] In an example, the received FBG calibration information can include at least one of an expiration of the FBG device or a metric relating to a use history of the FBG device. In an example, the FBG device can have a specified shelflife (e.g., 5 years) during which it is OK to use. Following the expiration of this shelf life, the FBG device can be deemed to be expired. It can be desirable to dispose of an expired FBG device without using the FBG device in a medical procedure. In an example, one or more features of the medical device system can be disabled if it is determined that the FBG device is expired. For example, the medical device system can be prevented fromperforming a patient procedure. In an example, the FBG device can have a limited operational lifetime (e.g., operational lifetime in a single procedure, operational lifetime across multiple procedures). Following the expiration of an operational lifetime, a feature of the medical device system can be disabled, such as can include disabling a feature during a medical procedure. In an example, the remaining shelf life and operational use time can form a composite measure that determines the expiration of the device.

[0065] In an example, a metric relating to the use history of the FBG device can be included in the FBG calibration information. For example, the metric can include one or more of an indication of if the FBG device has been used, how many times the FBG device has been used, or how long the FBG device has been used. This information can be tabulated along with other FBG calibration information. For example, when the FBG calibration database is queried at step 408, the FBG calibration database can include information corresponding to the query along with the FBG calibration database that will be returned in response to future queries (e.g., a running total of the number of times the FBG calibration database has been queried with the same identifying information). In an example, the medical device system can upload data on the use of the FBG device to the FBG calibration database during and / or following the use. For example, the uploaded information could include how long the device was used, the type of procedure, the conditions experienced (e.g., temperature, pressure, stress, strain, deflection), other information not specific to an FBG, etc.

[0066] In an example, receiving the identifying information at step 402 can occur during coupling the FBG device to a medical device system. For example, an RFID reader or an optical sensor can scan the FBG device as it is coupled to the medical device system, and provide the information to a communications circuit, such as at step 402.

[0067] In an example, receiving the identifying information at step 402 can include retrieving the FBG calibration information at step 404. For example, the identifying information can be sufficient to calibrate the FBG device, and it might not be necessary to consult a lookup table or FBG calibration database.

[0068] In an example, at least one of receiving the identifying information or receiving the FBG calibration information includes receiving encrypted data. For example, one or more of the identifying information or the FBG calibration information can be encrypted, such as can affect a security of the medical device system.

[0069] The FBG calibration information can be specific to a use of the FBG device. For example, if the FBG device is being used in a specified type of procedure, the use of various FBGs could be determined based on the type of procedure (e.g., an FBG could be assigned to different parameters based on the procedure, such as a temperature for a first type of procedure and a pressure for a second type of a procedure).

[0070] The shown order of steps is not intended to be a limitation on the order the steps are performed in. In an example, two or more steps may be performed simultaneously or at least partially concurrently. In an example, one or more of the steps can be performed before an endoscopic medical procedure. For example, one or more of the steps can be performed before an endoscope is inserted into a patient. In an example, all of the FBG device calibration occur before the endoscope is inserted into the patient, such as during one or more of a pre-operation time, a pre-operation check routine, or a power-up routine. In an example, one or more of the steps can be performed without user input, such as can include one or more of the steps occurring automatically, such as when a system is initialized. In an example, one or more of the steps can be performed after the endoscope is inserted into a patient. In an example, one or more of the steps can be performed recurrently, such as at a specified interval during a procedure. For example, the identifying information and / or the FBG calibration information can be received recurrently during an endoscopic procedure (e.g., every minute, every five minutes, every hour, etc.).

[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of portions of a method 400 of operating a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information. FIG. 5 shows that the method 400 can include additional steps following step 416.

[0072] At step 502, a visual, audible, or haptic alert may be triggered. For example, the method 400 can include informing one or more of the operator, an equipment manager, or a facility operator that the FBG calibration information has not been received. In an example, the method can include informing one or more entities that the FBG calibration information has been received, such as can track a use of the FBG device.

[0073] At step 504, one or more parameters of the system may be adjusted. For example, at step 506, the energy delivered by the system may be reduced (e.g., reduced by lowering a laser power output).

[0074] At step 508, a feature of the medical device system can be disabled. For example, at step 510, the energy delivered by the system may be shut off or otherwise inhibited (e.g., turning off a laser).

[0075] Other measurement devices and / or sensors could be used with the systems and methods of the present disclosure. For example, MEMs (microelectromechanical systems) sensors, optical sensors, thermocouples, LEDs, etc., can be associated with calibration information (e.g., information that can affect an accuracy of the device or otherwise impact device performance), and the calibration information can be passed to a device used along with the sensor using procedures similar to those described with respect to FBGs.

[0076] The shown order of steps is not intended to be a limitation on the order the steps are performed in. In an example, two or more steps may be performed simultaneously or at least partially concurrently.

[0077] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example of an apparatus, device, or machine upon which any one or more of the AI / ML or other techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may be performed. FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an example of portions of a Computer-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) 600, which can be included in or used as an adjunct to other portions of the medical device system 100 described herein, such as the processor circuit 306, the control system 104, or both. The CDSS can be configured to use the trained inference mode model 606 to generate one or more system operational control settings or diagnostic classifications, such as described herein. The CDSS can include an input interface 604 through which the input features described herein can be provide as inputs to the learning 606. This can include input features that can be patient specific. The learning model 606 can employ one or more of these input features to, at run-time in inference mode, an inference operation in which the one or more input features can be applied to the model to generate the model -assisted outputs 610, which can be communicated to a user or to a device configured to serve as a proxy for such user or for other purposes, such as can include using the output interface 608.

[0078] The input interface 604 can include a direct data link between the CDSS 600 and one or more medical devices, such as the medical device system 100, that generate at least some of the input features. For example, the input interface 604 may transmit one or more input features, such as described herein, directly to the CDSS 600 during a medical procedure. Additionally, or alternatively, the input interface 604 mayinclude a user interface, such as the input unit 120, to facilitate interaction between a user and the CDSS 600. For example, the input interface 604 may facilitate a user interface through which the user may manually enter one or more of the input features described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, the input interface 604 may provide the CDSS 600 with access to an electronic patient record, such as from a database 602, from which one or more input features may be extracted.

[0079] Based on one or more of the above input features, the processor circuit 306 can operate at run-time in an inference mode such as to perform an inference operation using the Al model 606 to generate one or more model-assisted outputs 610. For example, input interface 604 may deliver the one or more input features into an input layer of the Al model 606 that can propagate the one or more input features through the Al model 606 to an output layer. The Al model 606 can provide a computer or other system with the ability to perform tasks, without requiring explicitly being programmed, by making inferences based on patterns found in the analysis of data. For example, the Al model 606 can explore the study or construction of one or more algorithms (e.g., machine-learning algorithms) that may learn from existing data and make predictions about new data. Such ML algorithms can operate by building an Al model 606 from ground-truth or other training data in order to make data-driven predictions or decisions that can be expressed as outputs or assessments.

[0080] The CDSS 600 can employ one or more of supervised ML or unsupervised ML. Supervised ML can use prior knowledge (e.g., examples that correlate inputs to outputs or outcomes) to learn the relationships between the inputs and the outputs. A goal of supervised ML can be to learn a function that, given some training data, such as described herein, best approximates the relationship between the training inputs and outputs so that the ML model can implement similar relationships when given inputs to generate the corresponding outputs. Unsupervised ML can include training of an ML algorithm using information that is neither classified nor labeled, and can allow the ML algorithm to act on that information without guidance. Unsupervised ML can be particularly useful in exploratory analysis because it can automatically identify structure in data. Unsupervised learning can include one or more generative learning techniques, such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) or the like.

[0081] For example, certain tasks suitable for supervised ML can include classification problems and regression problems. Classification problems can also be referred to as categorization problems. Classification problems can aim at classifyingitems into one of several category values (for example, is this object an apple or an orange?). Regression algorithms can aim at quantifying some items (for example, by providing a score to the value of some input). Some examples of supervised-ML algorithms can include Logistic Regression (LR), Naive-Bayes, Random Forest (RF), neural networks (NN), deep neural networks (DNN), matrix factorization, and Support Vector Machines (SVM).

[0082] Some examples of tasks for unsupervised ML can include clustering, representation learning, and density estimation. Some examples of unsupervised-ML algorithms can include K-means clustering, principal component analysis, and autoencoders.

[0083] Another type of ML is federated learning (also referred to as collaborative learning). Federated learning can be used to help train an algorithm across multiple decentralized devices holding local data, without exchanging the data. This approach stands in contrast to a centralized machine-learning technique in which the local datasets are uploaded to one server, as well as to more decentralized approaches that can often assume that local data samples are identically distributed. Federated learning can help enable multiple actors to build a common, robust machine learning model without sharing data, thus allowing it to address useful issues such as data privacy, data security, data access rights and access to heterogeneous data.

[0084] As explained herein, the Al model may be trained initially, continuously, or recurrently, such as before run-time performance of the inference operation by the processor circuit 306. Then, during the inference operation, the patient specific input features provided to the Al model 606 may be propagated, such as from an input layer, through one or more hidden layers, and ultimately to an output layer that corresponds to the AI / ML model-assisted outputs.

[0085] During or after the inference operation, one or more of the model -assisted outputs 610 can be one or more of recorded, further processed, or communicated to the user, such as via the user interface (UI), or can automatically cause the medical device system 100 to perform a desired action, such as described herein.

[0086] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example of portions of a machine 700 upon which one or more portions of the present disclosure may be implemented. Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate by, logic or a number of components, or mechanisms in the machine 700. Circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry) can be a collection of circuits implemented in tangible entities of the machine 700 thatcan include hardware (e.g., simple circuits, gates, logic, etc.). Circuitry membership may be flexible over time. Circuitries can include members that may, alone or in combination, perform specified operations when operating. In an example, hardware of the circuitry may be immutably designed to carry out a specific operation (e.g., hardwired). In an example, the hardware of the circuitry may include variably connected physical components (e.g., execution units, transistors, simple circuits, etc.) including a machine readable medium physically modified (e.g., magnetically, electrically, moveable placement of invariant massed particles, etc.) to encode instructions of the specific operation. In connecting the physical components, the underlying electrical properties of a hardware constituent can be changed, for example, from an insulator to a conductor or vice versa. The instructions can enable embedded hardware (e.g., the execution units or a loading mechanism) to create members of the circuitry in hardware via the variable connections to carry out portions of the specific operation when in operation. Accordingly, in an example, the machine readable medium elements can be part of the circuitry or can be communicatively coupled to the other components of the circuitry when the device is operating. In an example, any of the physical components may be used in more than one member of more than one circuitry. For example, under operation, execution units may be used in a first circuit of a first circuitry at one point in time and reused by a second circuit in the first circuitry, or by a third circuit in a second circuitry at a different time. Additional examples of these components with respect to the machine 700 follow.

[0087] In alternative embodiments, the machine 700 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 700 may operate in the capacity of a server machine, a client machine, or both in server-client network environments. In an example, the machine 700 may act as a peer machine in peer-to-peer (P2P) (or other distributed) network environment. The machine 700 may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), other computer cluster configurations.

[0088] The machine (e.g., computer system) 700 may include a hardware processor 702 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory 704, a static memory (e.g., memory or storage for firmware, microcode, a basic-input-output (BIOS), unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI), etc.) 706, and mass storage 708 (e.g., hard drives, tape drives, flash storage, or other block devices) some or all of which may communicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 730. The machine 700 may further include a display unit 710, an alphanumeric input device 712 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device 714 (e.g., a mouse). In an example, the display unit 710, input device 712 and UI navigation device 714 may be a touch screen display. The machine 700 may additionally include a storage device (e.g., drive unit) 708, a signal generation device 718 (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device 720, and one or more sensors 716, such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or other sensor. The machine 700 may include an output controller 728, such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.).

[0089] Registers of the processor 702, the main memory 704, the static memory 706, or the mass storage 708 may be, or include, a machine readable medium 722 on which is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions 724 (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein. The instructions 724 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within any of registers of the processor 702, the main memory 704, the static memory 706, or the mass storage 708 during execution thereof by the machine 700. In an example, one or any combination of the hardware processor 702, the main memory 704, the static memory 706, or the mass storage 708 may constitute the machine readable media 722. While the machine readable medium 722 is illustrated as a single medium, the term “machine readable medium” may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and / or associated caches and servers) configured to store the one or more instructions 724.

[0090] The term “machine readable medium” may include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 700 and that cause the machine 700 to perform any one or more of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying data structures usedby or associated with such instructions. Non-limiting machine readable medium examples may include solid-state memories, optical media, magnetic media, and signals (e.g., radio frequency signals, other photon based signals, sound signals, etc.). In an example, a non-transitory machine readable medium comprises a machine readable medium with a plurality of particles having invariant (e.g., rest) mass, and thus are compositions of matter. Accordingly, non-transitory machine-readable media are machine readable media that do not include transitory propagating signals. Specific examples of non-transitory machine readable media may include: non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

[0091] In an example, information stored or otherwise provided on the machine readable medium 722 may be representative of the instructions 724, such as instructions 724 themselves or a format from which the instructions 724 may be derived. This format from which the instructions 724 may be derived may include source code, encoded instructions (e.g., in compressed or encrypted form), packaged instructions (e.g., split into multiple packages), or the like. The information representative of the instructions 724 in the machine readable medium 722 may be processed by processing circuitry into the instructions to implement any of the operations discussed herein. For example, deriving the instructions 724 from the information (e.g., processing by the processing circuitry) may include: compiling (e.g., from source code, object code, etc.), interpreting, loading, organizing (e.g., dynamically or statically linking), encoding, decoding, encrypting, unencrypting, packaging, unpackaging, or otherwise manipulating the information into the instructions 724.

[0092] In an example, the derivation of the instructions 724 may include assembly, compilation, or interpretation of the information (e.g., by the processing circuitry) to create the instructions 724 from some intermediate or preprocessed format provided by the machine readable medium 722. The information, when provided in multiple parts, may be combined, unpacked, and modified to create the instructions 724. For example, the information may be in multiple compressed source code packages (or object code, or binary executable code, etc.) on one or several remote servers. The source code packages may be encrypted when in transit over a network and decrypted, uncompressed, assembled (e.g., linked) if necessary, and compiled or interpreted (e.g.,into a library, stand-alone executable etc.) at a local machine, and executed by the local machine.

[0093] The instructions 724 may be further transmitted or received over a communications network 726 using a transmission medium via the network interface device 720 utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.). Example communication networks may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet data network (e.g., the Internet), LoRa / LoRaWAN, or satellite communication networks, mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellular networks such as those complying with 3G, 4G LTE / LTE-A, or 5G standards), Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards (e.g. Wi-Fi®), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards, peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, among others. In an example, the network interface device 720 may include one or more physical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or more antennas to connect to the communications network 726. In an example, the network interface device 720 may include a plurality of antennas to wirelessly communicate using at least one of single-input multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input multipleoutput (MIMO), or multiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques. The term “transmission medium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 700, and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible medium to facilitate communication of such software. A transmission medium is a machine readable medium.

[0094] The following, non-limiting examples, detail certain aspects of the present subject matter to solve the challenges and provide the benefits discussed herein, among others.

[0095] Examples:

[0096] Example l is a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure, the medical device system comprising: a communications circuit, configured to: receive identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device; and retrieve, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

[0097] In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherein: the communications circuit is configured to communicate with a fiber Bragg grating calibration database; the communications circuit is configured to query the fiber Bragg grating calibration database using the received identifying information; and the fiber Bragg grating calibration database is configured to provide the fiber Bragg grating calibration information to the communications circuit in response to the query.

[0098] In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 2 optionally includes wherein the communications circuit is configured to access a network, and wherein the communications circuit communicates with the fiber Bragg grating calibration database via the network.

[0099] In Example 4, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 2-3 optionally include the fiber Bragg grating calibration database.

[0100] In Example 5, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-4 optionally include wherein the communications circuit is configured to receive the identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device wirelessly.

[0101] In Example 6, the subject matter of Example 5 optionally includes wherein the communications circuit is configured to receive the identifying information from a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device of the fiber Bragg grating device using an RFID reader of the medical device system.

[0102] In Example 7, the subject matter of Example 6 optionally includes wherein the identifying information is stored in non-volatile memory within the RFID device of the fiber Bragg grating device.

[0103] In Example 8, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 5-7 optionally include wherein the communications circuit is configured to receive the identifying information by scanning a machine-readable optical marking using an optical sensor of the medical device system.

[0104] In Example 9, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-8 optionally include a processor circuit configured to use the received fiber Bragg grating calibration information to at least one of generate or adjust a value measured by the fiber Bragg grating device.

[0105] In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 9 optionally includes wherein the processor circuit is configured to disable at least one feature of the medical device system when the communications circuit does not retrieve the identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device.

[0106] In Example 11, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 9-10 optionally include wherein the fiber Bragg grating device is configured to provide a signal indicating at least one of temperature, pressure, force, location, or deflection.

[0107] In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 optionally includes ) send a signal to provide information to a clinician.

[0108] In Example 13, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-12 optionally include ) a metric relating to a use history of the fiber Bragg grating device.

[0109] In Example 14, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-13 optionally include the fiber Bragg grating device.

[0110] Example 15 is a medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure, the medical device system comprising: a communications circuit, configured to: receive identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device; retrieve, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information, including to: communicate with a fiber Bragg grating calibration database; query the fiber Bragg grating calibration database using the received identifying information, wherein the fiber Bragg grating calibration database is configured to provide the fiber Bragg grating calibration information to the communications circuit in response to the query; and a processor circuit, configured to use the retrieved fiber Bragg grating calibration information to at least one of generate or adjust a value measured by the fiber Bragg grating device.

[0111] Example 16 is a method for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure, the method comprising: receiving identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device; and retrieving, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

[0112] In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 16 optionally includes wherein receiving the identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device occurs during coupling of the fiber Bragg grating device to a medical device system.

[0113] In Example 18, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 16-17 optionally include wherein receiving the identifying information of the fiber Bragg grating device includes retrieving the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

[0114] In Example 19, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 16-18 optionally include wherein at least one of receiving the identifying information of thefiber Bragg grating device or receiving the fiber Bragg grating calibration information includes receiving encrypted data.

[0115] In Example 20, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 16-19 optionally include wherein receiving the fiber Bragg grating calibration information includes receiving numerical values sufficient to calibrate at least two fiber Bragg gratings.

[0116] Example 21 is at least one machine-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations to implement of any of Examples 1-20.

[0117] Example 22 is an apparatus comprising means to implement of any of Examples 1-20.

[0118] Example 23 is a system to implement of any of Examples 1-20.

[0119] Example 24 is a method to implement of any of Examples 1-20.

[0120] Each of the non-limiting aspects above can stand on its own or can be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other aspects or other subject matter described in this document.

[0121] The above description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific examples that may be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples may include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.

[0122] All publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

[0123] In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the terms “or” and “and / or” are used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

[0124] Geometric terms, such as “parallel”, “perpendicular”, “round”, or “square”, are not intended to require absolute mathematical precision, unless the context indicates otherwise. Instead, such geometric terms allow for variations due to manufacturing or equivalent functions. For example, if an element is described as “round” or “generally round,” a component that is not precisely circular (e.g., one that is slightly oblong or is a many-sided polygon) is still encompassed by this description.

[0125] The term “about,” as used herein, means approximately, in the region of, roughly, or around. When the term “about” is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. In general, the term “about” is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 10%. In one aspect, the term “about” means plus or minus 10% of the numerical value of the number with which it is being used. Therefore, about 50% means in the range of 45%-55%. Numerical ranges recited herein by endpoints include all numbers and fractions subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.90, 4, 4.24, and 5). Similarly, numerical ranges recited herein by endpoints include subranges subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1-1.5, 1.5-2, 2-2.75, 2.75-3, 3-3.90, 3.90-4, 4-4.24, 4.24-5, 2-5, 3-5, 1-4, and 2-4).

[0126] Method examples described herein can be machine or computer- implemented at least in part. Some examples can include a computer-readable medium or machine-readable medium encoded with instructions operable to configure an electronic device to perform methods as described in the above examples. Animplementation of such methods can include code, such as microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language code, or the like. Such code can include computer readable instructions for performing various methods. The code may form portions of computer program products. Such instructions can be read and executed by one or more processors to enable performance of operations comprising a method, for example. The instructions are in any suitable form, such as but not limited to source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like.

[0127] Further, in an example, the code can be tangibly stored on one or more volatile, non-transitory, or non-volatile tangible computer-readable media, such as during execution or at other times. Examples of these tangible computer-readable media can include, but are not limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable optical disks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes, memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like.

[0128] The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other examples may be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The scope of the examples should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure, the medical device system comprising: a communications circuit, configured to: receive identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device; and retrieve, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

2. The medical device system of claim 1, wherein: the communications circuit is configured to communicate with a fiber Bragg grating calibration database; the communications circuit is configured to query the fiber Bragg grating calibration database using the received identifying information; and the fiber Bragg grating calibration database is configured to provide the fiber Bragg grating calibration information to the communications circuit in response to the query.

3. The medical device system of claim 2, wherein the communications circuit is configured to access a network, and wherein the communications circuit communicates with the fiber Bragg grating calibration database via the network.

4. The medical device system of claim 2, further comprising the fiber Bragg grating calibration database.

5. The medical device system of claim 1, wherein the communications circuit is configured to receive the identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device wirelessly.

6. The medical device system of claim 5, wherein the communications circuit is configured to receive the identifying information from a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device of the fiber Bragg grating device using an RFID reader of the medical device system.

7. The medical device system of claim 6, wherein the identifying information is stored in non-volatile memory within the RFID device of the fiber Bragg grating device.

8. The medical device system of claim 5, wherein the communications circuit is configured to receive the identifying information by scanning a machine-readable optical marking using an optical sensor of the medical device system.

9. The medical device system of claim 1, comprising a processor circuit configured to use the received fiber Bragg grating calibration information to at least one of generate or adjust a value measured by the fiber Bragg grating device.

10. The medical device system of claim 9, wherein the processor circuit is configured to disable at least one feature of the medical device system when the communications circuit does not retrieve the identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device.

11. The medical device system of claim 9, wherein the fiber Bragg grating device is configured to provide a signal indicating at least one of temperature, pressure, force, location, or deflection.

12. The medical device system of claim 11, wherein the processor circuit is configured to use the signal received from the fiber Bragg grating device to at least one of (1) control a parameter of the medical device system used in the endoscopic medical procedure or (2) send a signal to provide information to a clinician.

13. The medical device system of claim 1, wherein the received fiber Bragg grating calibration information includes information relating to at least one of (1) an expiration of the fiber Bragg grating device or (2) a metric relating to a use history of the fiber Bragg grating device.

14. The medical device system of claim 1, further comprising the fiber Bragg grating device.

15. A medical device system for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure, the medical device system comprising:a communications circuit, configured to: receive identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device; retrieve, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information, including to: communicate with a fiber Bragg grating calibration database; query the fiber Bragg grating calibration database using the received identifying information, wherein the fiber Bragg grating calibration database is configured to provide the fiber Bragg grating calibration information to the communications circuit in response to the query; and a processor circuit, configured to use the retrieved fiber Bragg grating calibration information to at least one of generate or adjust a value measured by the fiber Bragg grating device.

16. A method for receiving fiber Bragg grating calibration information of a fiber Bragg grating device during an endoscopic medical procedure, the method comprising: receiving identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device; and retrieving, using the received identifying information, the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the identifying information from the fiber Bragg grating device occurs during coupling of the fiber Bragg grating device to a medical device system.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the identifying information of the fiber Bragg grating device includes retrieving the fiber Bragg grating calibration information.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of receiving the identifying information of the fiber Bragg grating device or receiving the fiber Bragg grating calibration information includes receiving encrypted data.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the fiber Bragg grating calibration information includes receiving numerical values sufficient to calibrate at least two fiber Bragg gratings.

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