Surgical Hub Mediates Instrument Data Exchange

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical systems face challenges in efficiently communicating and sharing knowledge across medical facilities, leading to suboptimal patient care and procedural outcomes due to the slow adoption of new technologies and lack of interconnectedness.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a computer-implemented interactive surgical system that includes a surgical hub capable of communicating with various surgical instruments and systems, allowing for real-time data exchange and integration with cloud-based analytics for improved procedural efficiency and patient care.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional isolated surgical systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but knowledge sharing and coordination efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveknowledge sharingVSAvoidsystem interconnection
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A surgical hub is introduced as an intermediary device that centralizes communication between multiple surgical instruments and facilities. The hub receives data packets from instruments containing procedural data, device data, and sensor data, then routes and shares this information across the surgical network, enabling knowledge sharing without requiring direct complex interconnections between all instruments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical hub serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication router, data aggregator, cloud interface, and coordination center. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems, reducing overall system complexity while enabling comprehensive information sharing across surgical facilities

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

2Productivity

If real-time data exchange is implemented, then procedural efficiency is improved, but system complexity and communication requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedural efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Traditional mechanical or manual data transfer methods between surgical instruments are replaced with wireless electronic communication. Instruments transmit data packets containing procedural data, device status, and sensor readings electronically to the surgical hub, enabling real-time data exchange without physical connections and improving procedural efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical hub mediates all communication between instruments, eliminating the need for direct peer-to-peer connections between instruments. This centralized communication approach simplifies the communication infrastructure while enabling real-time data exchange, as the hub manages data routing and processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If cloud-based analytics integration is added, then patient care quality is improved, but system complexity and data security requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient care qualityVSAvoidcloud integration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Complex analytics and data processing functions are extracted from the surgical instruments themselves and relocated to cloud-based servers. The instruments only need to transmit data packets to the surgical hub, which then interfaces with the cloud for advanced analytics, reducing the computational complexity within the surgical system while maintaining high patient care quality through sophisticated data analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical hub acts as an intermediary layer between the surgical instruments and the cloud-based analytics system. It manages data transmission, ensures security protocols, and coordinates communication, thereby simplifying cloud integration while enabling enhanced patient care through advanced analytics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250040999A1Method of HUB communication with surgical instrument systems
Publication Date: 2025.02.06 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
  • US20250040999A1 patent drawing
  • US20250040999A1 patent drawing
  • US20250040999A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a surgical instrument, analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the surgical instrument, and adjusting the operation of the surgical instrument to improve the operation of the surgical instrument.