Communication capability of a smart stapler
A surgical instrument may have multiple operating modes. An instrument operation mode may be selected from multiple operation modes, which may be preconfigured, dynamically updated, semi-dynamically updated, periodically updated, or preset. Multi-modal instrument operation may control the availability, access, level of use, level of interaction and/or support for one or more capabilities available through an instrument. A multi-modal surgical instrument may be fully operational in multiple modes of operation while varying one or more capabilities based on a mode of operation, such as one or more of sensors, communications, user-instrument interaction, displays, data storage, data access, data aggregation, data analytics, surgical support, feedback, surgical recommendations, etc. An instrument may be configured to determine an operation mode based on one or more instrument operation control parameters, such as system capabilities, system capacity parameters, system condition parameters, system authorization parameters, and/or external control parameters.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a sensor configured to obtain a sensor signal according to a physiological parameter of a tissue;
a receiver;
a transmitter;
and
a processor configured to:
determine, based on an instrument operation mode, whether to obtain a sensed parameter associated with the sensor signal from the sensor;
determine, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to allow bidirectional communication with a surgical hub via the receiver and the transmitter; and
communicate with the surgical hub based on at least one of the determinations.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that the instrument operation mode supports obtaining the sensed parameter, obtain and send the sensed parameter to the surgical hub.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
based on a determination that the instrument operation mode supports bidirectional communication with the surgical hub, receive an instrument usage instruction from the surgical hub via the receiver; and
send the instrument usage instruction to a display.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising:
an end effector for removably storing a surgical staple cartridge, wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive cartridge information from the end effector;
determine, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to combine the cartridge information with an instrument usage parameter, wherein the instrument usage parameter comprises at least one of: a time from clamp to fire, or a characterization of a user-controlled firing; and
based on a determination to combine, send the instrument usage parameter with the cartridge information to the surgical hub via the transmitter.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the instrument operation mode based on an instrument operation control parameter, wherein the instrument operation control parameter comprises at least one of: a system capacity parameter, a system condition parameter, a system authorization parameter, a tiered communication mode indication received from the hub, or a tiered communication mode indication received from a remote server.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising:
an end effector for removably storing a surgical staple cartridge, wherein the processor is further configured to:
obtain staple cartridge information and instrument status information from the end effector; and
send the cartridge information and the instrument status information to the surgical hub.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to receive recommended instrument usage information generated based on aggregated historical instrument usage data, wherein the instrument usage information comprises a stapler cartridge selection.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to receive a stapler cartridge selection recommendation generated based on aggregated cartridge usage data associated with a procedural step.
9. A method, comprising:
obtaining a sensor signal according to a physiological parameter of a tissue;
determining, based on an instrument operation mode, whether to obtain a sensed parameter associated with the sensor signal;
determining, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to allow bidirectional communication with a surgical hub via a receiver and a transmitter;
and communicating with the surgical hub based on the determination.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
based on a determination that the instrument operation mode supports obtaining the sensed parameter, obtaining and sending the sensed parameter to the surgical hub.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
based on a determination that the instrument operation mode supports receiving the instrument usage instruction, receiving the instrument usage instruction from the surgical hub via a receiver; and
sending the instrument usage instruction to a display.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving cartridge information from an end effector for removably storing a surgical staple cartridge;
determining, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to combine the cartridge information with an instrument usage parameter, wherein the instrument usage parameter comprises at least one of: a time from clamp to fire, or a characterization of a user-controlled firing; and
based on a determination to combine, sending the instrument usage parameter with the cartridge information to the surgical hub.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining the instrument operation mode based on an instrument operation control parameter, wherein the instrument operation control parameter comprises at least one of: a system capacity parameter, a system condition parameter, a system authorization parameter, a tiered communication mode indication received from the hub, or a tiered communication mode indication received from a remote server.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
obtaining staple cartridge information and instrument status information from an end effector for removably storing a surgical staple cartridge; and
sending the cartridge information and the instrument status information to the surgical hub.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to receive recommended instrument usage information generated based on aggregated historical instrument usage data, wherein the instrument usage information comprises a stapler cartridge selection.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to receive a stapler cartridge selection recommendation generated based on aggregated cartridge usage data associated with a procedural step.
17. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform:
obtaining a sensor signal according to a physiological parameter of a tissue;
determining, based on an instrument operation mode, whether to obtain a sensed parameter associated with the sensor signal;
determining, based on the instrument operation mode, whether to allow bidirectional communication with a surgical hub via a receiver and a transmitter; and
communicating with the surgical hub based on the determination.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, perform:
based on a determination that the instrument operation mode supports obtaining the sensed parameter, obtaining and sending the sensed parameter to the surgical hub.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, perform:
based on a determination that the instrument operation mode supports bidirectional communication with the surgical hub, receiving an instrument usage instruction from the surgical hub via a receiver; and
sending the instrument usage instruction to a display.