Surgical Hub Context Data Structure for Database Interoperability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical systems lack the ability to determine surgical context based on perioperative data and establish relationships between databases, which hinders efficient data sharing and management during surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A computer system configured to be communicably coupled with surgical devices and databases, enabling data sharing and situational awareness by deriving contextual information from various data sources to control modular devices and facilitate data interoperability and fluidity between interrelated databases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data are stored in a database without contextual relationships, then data storage is simple, but data sharing and management efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sharing efficiencyVSAvoiddatabase relationship complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical context data structure acts as an intermediary layer between raw perioperative data and database storage. This context structure includes fields such as surgical procedure type, anatomical site, surgical step, and device usage, which mediate the relationship between different databases and enable meaningful data linkage without requiring complex direct relationships between all data sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical context data structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it organizes data from diverse sources (surgical devices, EHR systems, imaging systems), provides a common framework for data exchange between different databases, enables situational awareness, and supports both real-time and historical data analysis. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized data structures for each purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If contextual information is derived and used to control modular devices, then surgical efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into independent modular components: surgical devices that generate data, a surgical hub that collects and processes data, a context data structure that organizes information, and control modules that execute actions. Each module operates independently with well-defined interfaces, allowing the system to derive contextual information and control devices without requiring complex tight-coupling between all components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously derives surgical context from incoming data streams and uses this context to provide feedback control to surgical devices. The context data structure captures the current surgical state, which feeds back to adjust device parameters, provide alerts, or suggest next steps. This closed-loop feedback mechanism improves surgical efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through iterative, context-driven adjustments rather than complex pre-programmed control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3506270B1Communication of data where a surgical network is using context of the data and requirements of a receiving system / user to influence inclusion or linkage of data and metadata to establish continuity
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 ETHICON INC
  • EP3506270B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3506270B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3506270B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various systems and methods for sharing data between databases in a structure manner are disclosed. A computer system, such as a surgical hub, can be configured to be communicably coupled to a surgical device. The computer system can be programmed to determine contextual information about the surgical procedure being performed based at least in part on perioperative data received from the surgical devices paired with the computer system. Based on the determined surgical context, the computer system can share data with other connected computer or database systems. The computer system can share data by transmitting the data to the recipient system and/or setting a relation between the stored data and the recipient system based on the context associated with the data.