Post-Sterilization Programming of Surgical Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument with a programmable control unit and methods for programming the control unit while the surgical instrument is in a sterile container. The method may comprise packaging the surgical instrument in the container and then sterilizing the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container. The method may further comprise programming the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container with a programming device positioned outside of the container.

1 . A combination comprising:
 a surgical instrument comprising a control unit; and   a remote programming device for wirelessly programming the control unit.   
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , further comprising a container containing the surgical instrument, and wherein the remote programming device is outside of the container. 
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit comprises:
 a power circuit for passively powering the control unit from wireless signals received from the remote programming device;   a memory for storing code received from the remote programming unit; and   a processor for executing the code stored in the memory.   
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein the memory further stores a boot loading sequence for execution by the processor. 
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit and the remote programming device are inductively coupled. 
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit and the remote programming device are capacitively coupled. 
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
 a handle housing the control unit;   a shaft connected to the handle; and   an end effector connected to the shaft.   
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the end effector comprises a cutting instrument. 
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the housing further comprises:
 a motor in communication with the control unit; and   a battery for powering the motor.   
   
   
       10 . A method comprising:
 packaging a surgical instrument in a container;   sterilizing the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container; and   programming the surgical instrument while the surgical instrument is in the container with a programming device positioned outside of the container.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein programming the surgical instrument comprises wirelessly programming the surgical instrument with the programming device. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of programming the surgical instrument is performed after the step of sterilizing the surgical instrument. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of sterilizing the surgical instrument comprises subjecting the surgical instrument to radiation. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the radiation comprises gamma radiation. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of sterilizing the surgical instrument comprises subjecting the surgical instrument to ethylene oxide. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises a programmable control unit. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the surgical instrument comprises an external connection interface;   the container comprises a connection interface that mates with the external connection interface when the surgical instrument is contained in the container; and   programming the instrument comprises connecting the programming device to the connection interface of the container.   
   
   
       18 . A combination comprising:
 a surgical instrument comprising a handle, wherein the handle comprises:
 a control unit in the handle; and 
 an external connection interface for the control unit; and 
   a container containing the surgical instrument, wherein the container comprises a connection interface that comprises an interior end that mates with the external connection interface of the surgical instrument and an exterior end at the exterior of the container.   
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 18 , further comprising a programming device adapted for connection to the exterior end of the connection interface of the container. 
   
   
       20 . A surgical instrument comprising a wirelessly programmable control unit. 
   
   
       21 . The surgical instrument of  claim 20 , wherein the wirelessly programmable control unit includes an antenna for receiving programming code from a remote, wireless programming device. 
   
   
       22 . The surgical instrument of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a motor in communication with the control unit; and   a battery for powering the motor.   
   
   
       23 . The surgical instrument of  claim 22 , further comprising an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a sensor, and wherein the sensor is in communication with the wirelessly programmable control unit. 
   
   
       24 . The surgical instrument of  claim 20 , wherein the control unit comprises:
 a power circuit for passively powering the control unit from wireless signals received from a remote programming device;   a memory for storing code received from the remote programming unit; and   a processor for executing the code stored in the memory.   
   
   
       25 . The combination of  claim 24 , wherein the memory further stores a boot loading sequence for execution by the processor. 
   
   
       26 . The combination of  claim 20 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises an endoscopic surgical instrument. 
   
   
       27 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein the end effector further comprises a cutting instrument.