Electrosurgical Generator Unique Identifier for Instrument Usage Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures lack efficient methods to identify areas of improvement in medical instruments and devices due to insufficient real-world empirical data on their usage during procedures, making it difficult to determine which instruments need improvement and where improvements are needed.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a surgical instrument with an instrument identifier and an electrosurgical generator that generates a unique identifier based on the instrument's serial number, the generator's serial number, and the time of use, storing this data and associating it with real-time usage and outcome data, allowing for analysis of instrument usage patterns and procedure outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple complex medical instruments are used in current medical procedures, then the capability to perform procedures is improved, but the efficiency of identifying areas for improvement in these instruments deteriorates due to insufficient real-world empirical data
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by capturing operational data from medical instruments during procedures and linking it to patient outcomes. The electrosurgical generator collects data about instrument usage parameters and associates them with procedure outcomes through the unique identifier system, creating a feedback loop that enables continuous improvement of instrument performance based on real-world empirical evidence
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the data collection and association framework before procedures occur. The electrosurgical generator is pre-programmed to capture operational data and generate unique identifiers that will later be linked to outcomes, establishing the infrastructure for analysis before the actual procedure takes place
2Loss of information
If operational data from electrosurgical generators is collected, then information about instrument usage is improved, but the ability to identify successful procedures deteriorates because the data does not indicate procedure success
Solution Approach 1:
The unique identifier serves as an intermediary element that bridges operational data and outcome data. It is generated by the electrosurgical generator from instrument and procedure information, then used to link to outcome data from electronic health records, enabling reliable correlation between usage information and procedure success without direct data fusion
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal data association mechanism that can handle multiple types of information (instrument parameters, procedural data, patient outcomes) through a single unique identifier system. This multi-functional approach allows the same identifier to connect diverse data sources, improving both information completeness and outcome correlation capability
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for improving medical instruments and devices. One system includes a surgical instrument associated with an instrument identifier, and an electrosurgical generator operably coupled to the surgical instrument. The electrosurgical generator is associated with a generator identifier and is configured to receive and store data associated with an operating mode of the surgical instrument, receive data associated with the instrument identifier from the surgical instrument, generate a unique identifier based on a time and date at which the surgical instrument is operably coupled with the electrosurgical generator for the first time, the generator identifier of the electrosurgical generator, and the instrument identifier, and associate the unique identifier with the stored data associated with the operating mode of the surgical instrument.