Geo-Aware Sterile Surgical Packaging for Instrument Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical instruments face issues due to manufacturing defects, mishandling during transit, environmental factors, and incompatibility with other equipment, leading to performance problems and disposal challenges.
Innovation Solution
A smart surgical system with a manufacturer-sealed sterile package containing a surgical instrument, a data processor, and memory that catalogs components, determines disposal procedures, and provides guidance through displays or remote communication, adjusting procedures based on location, usage, and performance errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surgical instruments are shipped globally and handled by multiple persons through the supply chain, then the instruments can reach various hospitals and surgical centers, but the instruments may suffer from mishandling, improper storage, and environmental damage leading to performance problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing comprehensive tracking and monitoring systems from the moment instruments leave the manufacturer. Sensors and data loggers are pre-installed to record handling conditions, storage environments, and transport conditions before the surgical procedure occurs, allowing proactive identification and correction of potential issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where data from sensors monitoring temperature, humidity, shock, and handling conditions is collected and analyzed. This feedback enables real-time alerts when conditions deviate from acceptable ranges, allowing corrective actions to maintain instrument reliability throughout the supply chain.
2Reliability
If comprehensive tracking and monitoring systems are implemented to monitor surgical instruments throughout the supply chain and during procedures, then instrument reliability and performance can be maintained, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing multi-functional tracking devices that combine multiple sensors (temperature, humidity, shock, light exposure) and communication capabilities into single integrated units. These universal trackers serve multiple purposes: monitoring conditions, identifying handling issues, tracking location, and providing maintenance alerts, thereby reducing the need for separate specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the tracking, monitoring, communication, and data storage functions into integrated modules that are incorporated into or attached to the surgical instruments and their packaging. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If detailed disposal procedures are provided for each component of the surgical instrument, then disposal accuracy and compliance can be improved, but the time and complexity of the disposal process increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing automated disposal guidance systems that provide component-specific disposal instructions based on instrument identification. The system automatically catalogs components, determines appropriate disposal procedures for each, and presents them in a structured format, reducing the need for manual research and decision-making while maintaining high disposal accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-cataloging all instrument components and pre-determining disposal procedures during the instrument's initial setup or first use. This advance preparation creates a ready-reference disposal guide that can be quickly accessed and followed, eliminating the need to determine disposal methods during the actual disposal process.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical systems and methods are provided. The surgical systems include a manufacturer-sealed, sterile surgical package containing a surgical instrument, at least one data processor, and memory storing instructions configured to, prior to breach of the manufacturer-sealed sterile surgical package, cause the at least one data processor to perform operations. The operations include receive, from a remote server, data characterizing a geo-political location of at least one of the surgical package and the surgical instrument, and transmit instructions, based on the received data, to at least one of the surgical package and the surgical instrument to alter one or more aspects of the surgical package and/or the surgical instrument.