Surgical Hub Data Anonymization for Modular OR Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical systems face challenges in efficiently managing multiple energy sources, fluid lines, and data communication during surgical procedures, leading to inefficiencies and potential disruptions in sterile environments.

Innovation Solution

A modular surgical hub system with integrated energy generators, smoke evacuation, and fluid management, along with a communication bus for interactive communication between modules, and a cloud-based data network for enhanced data processing and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple energy sources, fluid lines, and data communication devices are integrated in traditional surgical systems, then functional completeness is achieved, but device complexity and entanglement increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional completenessVSAvoidentanglement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical system is divided into separate modular components including a surgical hub, energy generators, smoke evacuators, fluid management systems, and communication devices. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently positioned or removed, eliminating the entanglement while preserving functional completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical hub serves as a universal platform that coordinates multiple functions including energy delivery, smoke evacuation, fluid management, and data communication. This centralized coordination allows diverse functions to be integrated without physical entanglement of components.

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

2Loss of information

If multiple hardware units and data streams are integrated in surgical systems, then comprehensive data collection is achieved, but system complexity and potential disruptions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection completenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical hub acts as an intermediary device that receives, synchronizes, and processes data streams from multiple hardware units including cameras, sensors, audio devices, and patient monitoring equipment. This centralized mediation simplifies the system architecture while maintaining comprehensive data collection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If traditional surgical systems manage multiple components, then operational capability is maintained, but downtime and inefficiencies occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational capabilityVSAvoiddowntime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The modular architecture enables dynamic reconfiguration of the surgical system. Components can be quickly added, removed, or replaced without affecting the entire system, reducing downtime and improving operational efficiency while maintaining full operational capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3506299B1Data stripping method to interrogate patient records and create anonymized record
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 ETHICON INC
  • EP3506299B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3506299B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3506299B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various surgical hubs and data stripping methods are disclosed. The surgical hub comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to interrogate a modular device coupled to the processor via a modular communication hub. The modular device is a source of data sets that include patient identity data and surgical procedure data. The processor also executes instructions to: receive a data set from the modular device; discard the patient identity data and any portion of the surgical procedure data that identifies the patient from the data set; extract anonymous data from the data set and create an anonymized data set; and configure operation of the surgical hub or the modular device based on the anonymized data set.