WO2010124789A1

WO2010124789A1 - Supply device and method for documenting an operation

Info

Publication number: WO2010124789A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/002232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen Frieder NOTZ; Stefan Andreas Tomaschko
Original assignee: Erbe Elektromedizin Gmbh
Priority date: 2009-04-30
Filing date: 2010-04-09
Publication date: 2010-11-04
Also published as: DE102009031402A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to supply devices used for operating electrosurgical and cryosurgical instruments. According to the invention, said supply devices are adapted such that said devices allow documenting the operation performed as completely as possible. The invention further relates to an interactive aid for the attending physician. According to the invention, this problem is solved by a supply device for connecting at least one medical instrument, wherein the supply device comprises: a control unit for controlling the at least one instrument, a monitoring unit for recording events concerning the HF supply device and/or the connected HF instrument, wherein the monitoring unit has a communications connection to the control unit for recording the events and the monitoring unit is designed for storing data input by a user of the supply device.

Description

Supply device and method for documenting an operation

description

The invention relates to a supply device for connecting at least one medical instrument and a method for documenting an operation.

Numerous cryosurgical and electrosurgical instruments have been used in medical operations in recent years. For example, in high frequency surgery (HF surgery), high frequency alternating current is passed through the human body to selectively damage tissue. Thus, many conventional medical instruments, such as the classic scalpel, are being replaced by modern devices that are powered and controlled by appropriate care facilities. In the field of high-frequency surgery, for example, an RF generator must be connected to a corresponding electrosurgical instrument to provide a suitable alternating current. In cryosurgery, utilities are used that are in fluid communication with appropriate instruments (such as cryoprobes) and provide fluid to cool the instrument. It is obvious that the corresponding utilities must have control units, input units and output units to suitably control the connected instruments.

It is also known that the documentation of an operation plays an increasingly important role in medicine as well. The documentation for a specific operation is usually recorded in a paper file, which is edited by the doctor before, during and after the operation. The keeping of the paper file costs additional time and distracts from the actual process, namely the operation, in particular during its implementation, from. Starting from this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved supply device, which facilitates the daily routine of the doctor.

Furthermore, a procedure for documenting an operation should be specified.

The object is achieved by a supply device according to claim 1 or by a method according to claim 8.

In particular, the object is achieved by a supply device for connecting at least one medical instrument, in particular an electrosurgical instrument and / or a cryosurgical instrument, wherein the supply device comprises:

a control unit for controlling the at least one instrument, a monitoring unit for recording events relating to the RF power supply and / or the connected RF instrument, wherein the monitoring unit for recording the events is in communicative communication with the control unit and the monitoring unit for Storage of data is formed, which are entered by a user of the utility.

As already explained at the outset, it is important for the attending physician to create and organize additional data for a specific operation. This includes a preliminary planning of the operation, comments on a particular patient, comments on the course of the operation, etc. According to a central idea of the present invention, the care facility, which often already has a corresponding storage unit, is used to store this data. An integrated monitoring unit can store, for example in the form of a log file, individual events relating to the supply unit and / or the connected HF instrument. In addition to these events or information, the data entered by a user into the utility can be stored.

In one embodiment, the monitoring unit is for storing relationships between at least a portion of the data and at least one Event trained. Thus, relations between the preferably manually entered data of the user and the preferably automatically logged events can be established. Thus, a few inputs may be enough to provide data that well documents an operation. Furthermore, it is possible to pre-transfer data to the utility to associate it with a particular event that occurs during the operation. Thus, for example, the physician can precisely plan a specific operation step for an operation beforehand and display corresponding information during the execution of the operation. For example, preferred parameters for setting the supply device can be stored and displayed during commissioning. Alternatively, data can be deposited by the manufacturer, which provide a preferably interactive help for the operation of the supply device.

In a preferred embodiment, the data is at least partially individual data pertaining to a particular operation, user, or patient.

In one embodiment, the supply device comprises at least one input unit for inputting the data, wherein the input unit may be a keyboard and / or a camera and / or a microphone. Frequently, conventional input units such as buttons or buttons are already available for setting and controlling the supply device. These input units can be used to input the additional data of the user. Preferably, further input devices, such as a camera and / or a microphone, are provided which allow input of data without manual interaction. Thus, the input of data is very simple.

In a further embodiment, the supply device comprises at least one output unit, in particular a display unit, wherein the output unit is designed to display at least one status and at least one part of the data. In conventional utilities, output units are known that indicate a particular status of the utility. For example, an operating mode can be displayed via this output unit. According to the invention, the output unit should additionally be used to display the data entered by the user. It is therefore conceivable that the treating physician during the operation of a pre-written documentation or planning the operation. In this case, existing output units can be used.

As already described, the data may include documentation data relating to a treatment or operation performed.

The supply device may comprise an interface for connecting a memory, wherein the monitoring device is designed to read at least part of the data from the memory. The interface is thus used to connect an external storage unit to the utility. Data residing on this external storage device may be transferred to the utility automatically or in interaction with the user. Thus, corresponding data may be input by the user to another device (not the utility) prior to the operation. The input to the supply device then takes place electronically via the interface.

The supply device may comprise a time recording unit which assigns one or more times to the data and / or the events. By way of example, the time recording unit can be designed to determine the point in time at which certain data are input to the supply device. Furthermore, the time recording unit can be used to record when a particular event has occurred. Thus, events and data can be arranged chronologically. In addition to or in place of the chronological order, relationships between the data and the events may be established over the recorded time. Furthermore, the time at which a specific event has occurred already constitutes important information that the user can use, for example, for a documentation to be created.

The above object is further achieved by a method for documenting an operation performed using an instrument, in particular an electrosurgical instrument and / or a cryosurgical instrument, the instrument being connected to a supply device, in particular as described above in which the supply device carries out the following steps: Detecting a plurality of events relating to the instrument and / or the utility,

- receiving data entered by a user of the instrument;

Save the data and events in a storage device.

Again, a central idea of the invention is to provide additional data during the operation. For this purpose, the hardware used in the supply device can be customized accordingly.

The storage may include associating data with a particular event, particularly in the form of stored relations or relationships. This establishes links between certain input data and specific events that are used in the documentation.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention will be described with reference to some embodiments, which are explained in more detail by means of illustrations. Hereby show:

FIG. 1 shows a supply device with connected electrosurgical. FIG

Instrument; and

- Fig. 2 individual components of the supply device.

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same and like parts.

1 shows a supply device 30, which is connected via a first RF line 31 to an electrosurgical instrument 20. A second RF line 31 'leads to a neutral electrode 21. For applying an RF voltage provided by the supply device 30, the electrosurgical device 20 comprises a further electrode. Thus, the RF voltage can be applied between the neutral electrode 21 and the other electrode. As shown in Figure 1, the neutral electrode 21 and the further electrode of the electrosurgical instrument 20 may be used to introduce an RF current into a biological tissue. Fig. 1 shows a torso 1, on which the self-adhesive neutral electrode 21 is attached. The further electrode of the electrosurgical instrument 20 is used to cut or coagulate tissue on the other side of the torso 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the utility 30 includes a controller 40 and an RF generator 50. The RF generator 50 serves to provide a suitable RF voltage to the electrosurgical instrument 20 and the neutral electrode 21. The control unit 40 controls the generator 50 and receives therefrom signals which provide information about the state of the generator 50. These signals may include, for example, information about the power output, the operating temperature, etc. The control unit 40 is preferably designed to provide a plurality of different operating modes which, for example, affect the RF voltage to be applied. Thus, the control unit 40 may offer one mode of coagulation and another mode of tissue cutting. Furthermore, other modes may be provided for different electrosurgical instruments 20 (eg, for monopolar or bipolar instruments) or for different tissue types (liver or muscle tissue). The supply device 30 comprises an input unit 17 which makes it possible to receive inputs from a user of the electrosurgical instrument 20. The user can thus select a specific operating mode via the input unit 17 and activate the control unit 40 in such a way that the generator 50 and thus the electrosurgical instrument 20 are operated in this operating mode. In order to facilitate the selection of a particular operating mode and to display status information regarding the generator 50 and / or the control unit 40 and / or the electrosurgical instrument 20 and / or the neutral electrode 21, the supply means 30 further comprises an output unit 80. This output unit 80 includes a Information display screen 81 and a speaker 82 for outputting acoustic signals.

The described input unit 70 includes buttons 21 or buttons and a camera 72.

According to the invention, the control unit 40 is in communicative connection with a monitoring unit 60 which includes a memory 62, an interface 63 and a time detection unit 64. Thus, the monitoring unit 60 may log individual events, which preferably relate to the supply device 30 and / or the electrosurgical instrument 20. For example, the time at which the supply device 30 is switched on can be detected by means of the time detection unit 64. Furthermore, setting a particular mode of operation and operating the electrosurgical instrument 20 in this mode of operation may be detected and logged. Corresponding data are stored in the memory 62.

According to the invention, the monitoring unit 60 can also be used to capture and store further data that is made by a user of the supply device 30. In one exemplary embodiment, the supply device 30 can output a question to the user via the output unit 80, which answers this question by means of the input unit 70. For example, the monitoring unit 60 can thus inquire whether the patient to be treated is a male or a female patient. This further data, which is input via the input unit 70, can also be stored in the memory 62. Thus, the monitoring unit 60 will be used to generate a log file that not only logs individual events of the utility 30 but also other data entered by the user. This results in a relatively complete documentation of the operation to be performed or performed.

The monitoring unit 60 can also be used to store images of the camera 72. So it is helpful for a later analysis of an operation to document individual surgical steps with pictures. The camera 62 may be an integral part of the supply device 30. Furthermore, the camera 72 may be arranged on the electrosurgical instrument 20 or on another instrument.

In addition to or in place of the camera 72, the input unit 70 may include a microphone that records audio signals. Thus, the monitoring unit 60 allows a dictated protocol to be recorded for operation.

The input unit 70 can be used to control corresponding recordings and to edit and / or reproduce them at a later time. Thus, the key 71 can be used to one during the Operation selected photography and display by means of the screen 81. Likewise, it is possible to proceed with corresponding audio files.

In another embodiment, the memory 62 contains files containing a schedule of the operation to be performed. These files can be transmitted via the interface 63 to the monitoring device 60, for example. The user is thus able to prepare these files on a workstation and then enter them into the monitoring unit 60 by means of an external memory, for example a USB stick. The corresponding files can be queried before, during and after the operation.

Furthermore, it is possible to use the interface 63 to export the further data stored on the memory 62 during or after the operation to an external memory in order to process it further. For example, this data can be archived to provide adequate documentation at a later date.

In the foregoing, embodiments in which the input unit 70 is formed by a key 71 and a camera 72 have been described. The skilled artisan should be aware of numerous other input devices that may be used instead of or in addition to the button 71 or the camera 72 (e.g., touchscreen, mouse, etc.). As the output units 80, the screen 81 and the speaker 82 have been described. Again, those skilled in the art should be aware of numerous other output devices capable of performing their function (e.g., individual LEDs, motors for generating vibration signals, etc.).

The previously described supply device 30 is designed to operate an electrosurgical instrument 20. Supply devices 30 are conceivable which ensure a control unit 40 for operating a cryoprobe or any cryosurgical instrument.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 torso

20 electrosurgical instrument

21 neutral electrode Q y

30 supply device

31, 31 'RF line

40 control unit

50 generator

60 monitoring unit

62 memory

63 interface

64 time recording unit

70 input unit

71 button

72 camera

80 output unit

81 screen

82 speakers

Claims

claims

1. Supply device for connecting at least one medical instrument (20), in particular an electrosurgical instrument and / or a cryosurgical instrument and / or water-jet surgical instrument, comprising: a control unit (40) for controlling the at least one instrument (20), a monitoring unit (60 ) for recording events concerning the RF power supply and / or the connected RF instrument, wherein the monitoring unit (60) is in communicative communication with the control unit (40) and the monitoring unit (60) stores Data is formed, which are entered by a user of the supply device.

2. Supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring unit (60) is designed to store relationships between at least part of the data and at least one event.

3. Supply device according to one of the preceding claims, at least one input unit (70) for inputting the data, wherein the input unit (70) comprises a keyboard and / or a camera (72) and / or a microphone.

4. Supply device according to one of the preceding claims, at least one output unit (80), in particular a display unit (81), wherein the output unit (80) for displaying at least one status and at least a part of the data is formed.

5. Supply device according to one of the preceding claims, dadurchgekennzeichn et that the data comprises documentation data relating to an operation made.

6. Supply device according to one of the preceding claims, e e c e c e n e d h e an interface (63) for connecting a memory, wherein the monitoring device is designed to read at least a portion of the data from the memory.

7. A supply device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a time acquisition unit (64) assigns a time to the data and / or the events.

8. A method for documenting an operation, which is performed using an instrument (20), in particular an electrosurgical instrument and / or a cryosurgical instrument and / or water-jet surgical instrument, wherein the instrument (20) to a supply device (30), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply device (30) carries out the following steps:

Detecting a plurality of events related to the instrument (20) and / or the utility (30);

Receiving data input by a user of the instrument (20);

Storing the data and the events in a memory unit (62).

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the storage comprises an assignment of data to a specific event, in particular in the form of stored relations.

A method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by assigning at least one time to at least one event.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving data comprises receiving signals from a camera and / or a keyboard and / or a microphone and / or touch screen.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, e e n e c e s e d d e rc h transmitting data, in particular of documentation data, from an external memory to the memory unit by means of an interface.