METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DOCUMENTING THE USE OF AT LEAST ONE IMPLANT WHICH IS USED IN A SURGERY AND/OR THE LOCALIZATION THEREOF

Abstract

A method and device for documenting use of at least one implant used in a surgery and/or for the localization thereof. The implant can be provided for a surgery and used in the surgery. The method includes: a) providing a surgical set having a plurality of implants; b) capturing a first sequence of images of the plurality of implants of the surgical set using a device; c) analyzing the sequence of images of the plurality of implants in order to identify each individual implant; d) optionally outputting a signal when one and/or each implant has been identified; e) capturing a second sequence of images of the plurality of implants of the surgical set using the device after a surgery in order to ascertain missing implants; f) classifying a missing implant as used in surgery.

Claims

1. A method for documenting a use of at least one implant used in a surgery and/or for the localization thereof, wherein the implant can be provided for a surgery and used in the surgery, comprising: a) providing a surgical set having a plurality of implants; b) capturing a first sequence of images of the plurality of implants of the surgical set using a device, wherein the surgical set is illuminated at least in the region of one implant using light from a light source during the capture of the sequence of images, wherein the operation set is scanned with an image recording device of the device and at the same time with the light source; c) analyzing the sequence of images of the plurality of implants in order to identify each individual implant; d) optionally outputting a signal when one and/or each implant has been identified; e) capturing a second sequence of images of the plurality of implants of the surgical set using the device after a surgery in order to ascertain missing implants; f) classifying a missing implant as used in surgery.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in b) the surgical set is traveled over by image capturing equipment of the device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein an enlarged image is outputted by the image capturing equipment.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the image capturing equipment is essentially guided over the surgical set in a plane.

5. (canceled)

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification in c) is carried out via a batch number and/or part number read out from the images.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification in c) includes an identification of structural features.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the batch number and/or part number and/or structural features are determined from captured images and matched with a database.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein b) and c) are repeated if not all implants are identified.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a surgical set having a screen is provided, and wherein the implants are arranged on and/or attached to the screen.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein an audible and/or a visual signal is outputted if all implants have been uniquely identified.

12. A device for documenting and/or localizing a use of at least one implant used in a surgery, wherein the implant can be provided for a surgery and used in the surgery, comprising image capturing equipment for capturing a sequence of images of implants of a surgical set, wherein a light source for illuminating the implants during the capture of the sequence of images is provided and wherein the image recording device can be moved, evaluation equipment, and optionally a data carrier on which a dataset is stored, wherein the sequence of images can be evaluated using the evaluation equipment in order to identify implants, and a storage unit via which the localization of an implant can be depicted.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein a movement mechanism is provided with which the image capturing equipment can be moved.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the image capturing equipment can be moved in a plane using the movement mechanism.

15. (canceled)

Description

[0043] Additional features, advantages, and effects of the invention follow from the exemplary embodiment illustrated below. In the drawings which are thereby referenced:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a surgical set having a plurality of implants;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a device according to the invention in a first perspective view;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows the device according to the invention from FIG. 2 in another perspective view;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to the invention.

[0048] In FIG. 1, a surgical set 3 having a plurality of implants 2 is illustrated. The surgical set 3 comprises a container open at the top with an inserted screen on which a plurality of implants 2 is positioned and, if necessary, fixed in place.

[0049] A surgical set 3 according to FIG. 1 is supplied to the operating doctor(s) in a surgery. During the surgery, the implants 2 necessary for the specific surgery are then removed, although only a portion of the implants 2 is required, depending on what is needed for the surgery. In order to ascertain, given the plurality of implants 2 provided, those which were implanted, a documentation is necessary during the surgery. Without documentation, it can no longer be reliably ascertained afterwards which implants 2 were used given the plurality of implants 2, since the surgical set 3 is restocked after the surgery and, in the stocked state, is once again used in a surgery.

[0050] In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a device 1 according to the invention is illustrated, wherein the measuring construction is emphasized. In terms of size, the device according to the invention is designed such that a surgical set 3 together with the implants 2 arranged therein can be positioned inside of the device 1, or the device 1 can be placed onto the surgical set 3 in a precisely fitting manner. The device 1 comprises image capturing equipment 4 that is embodied as an endoscope in the example. The image capturing equipment 4 is oriented such that the optical axis thereof is perpendicular to a screen of the surgical set 3 on which the implants 2 are arranged. The image capturing equipment 4 is thus perpendicular to a plane in which the implants are arranged.

[0051] The image capturing equipment 4 is mounted on a transport unit of the device 1. With the transport unit, the image capturing equipment 4 can in particular be moved in an x,y plane that is parallel to the plane in which the implants 2 are arranged. It is thereby possible to travel over the entire x,y plane. As a result, it is possible to capture the screen or the implants 2 of the surgical set 3 completely in each case. A sequence of images that are evaluated in a manner which will be described below is thereby generated.

[0052] In the present example according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the image capturing equipment 4 is rigidly mounted on a platform. However, it can also be provided that the image capturing equipment 4 is mounted on the platform or another base in an articulated manner so that the image capturing equipment 4 can be pivoted about the x,y plane at a predetermined angle, for example ±45°. It can furthermore be provided that the image capturing equipment 4 is alternatively or additionally mounted such that it can also be rotated in the x,y plane. This is then expedient if the optical axis of the image capturing equipment is not perpendicular to the x,y plane and/or no circular images are to be captured.

[0053] The construction according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 furthermore comprises a movement mechanism 8 that includes multiple parts. In the exemplary embodiment, the movement mechanism 8 is designed such that a stationary lateral frame 83 is provided on which the platform with the image capturing equipment 4 is hinged. The lateral frame 83 is designed such that the hinging of the platform together with image capturing equipment 4 is mounted such that it can be displaced in the x direction. For this purpose, a motor, not illustrated in greater detail, is provided with which the movement unit 84 can be moved back and forth in the x direction, whereby the platform with the image capturing equipment 4 is moved in the x direction. The platform is thereby mounted on rods which connect to the unit 84. Opposite of the unit 84 is a further unit 85 that serves as a counter bearing. The two units 84, 85 are connected to one another via three rods. The unit 85 is thereby embodied with a bottom-side rolling and/or sliding element 81. Furthermore, an element 82 which serves as a receiver for the rods, is embodied to be height-adjustable, for example via a screw connection to the base of the rolling and/or sliding element 81. As a result, the height in relation to the unit 84 can be adjusted, or it can be ensured that an x,y plane can be oriented parallel to a screen plane of the surgical set 3, and thus parallel to the implants 2. The platform, together with the image capturing equipment 4 arranged thereon, can also be displaced, in this case namely in a y direction, along the three rods which connect the units 84, 85 by means of a drive that engages the unit 84. The image capturing equipment 4 can thus travel over an entire x,y plane, and therefore also the screen plane located thereunder in a parallel position.

[0054] In FIG. 3, a connected evaluation unit 5, a data carrier 6, and a storage unit 7 are also illustrated. The corresponding components are typically integrated in a single device, but can also be present such that they are physically separate from one another.

[0055] In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the device 1 is illustrated by way of example with the aid of a construction. In practice, all components of the device 1 that are necessary for the measurement as such are integrated in a housing that is, to the extent necessary, open or openable at the bottom for the capture of images using the image capturing equipment 4, or is at least designed to be sufficiently transparent for the capture of images. This housing is, in terms of the dimensions of the bottom side, embodied such that the housing and the device 1 can be placed onto the surgical set 3 in a form fit. Preferably, not only is the bottom side of the housing embodied with a corresponding fit for this purpose, but rather the housing has an essentially cuboid shape or form. Handle pieces or notches can be provided on the sides so that the housing can be easily placed onto the surgical set 3 and removed therefrom again. The operating device can be arranged on the top side of the device 1, or can be attached thereon or integrated therein. In this case, an easy-to-handle device 1 is then ensured which is simply placed onto the surgical set 3 before the surgery. A scan that will be explained in greater detail below then occurs. Once this scan is finished, the housing is removed again, and the surgery can take place. Once the surgery is complete, the housing or the device 1 is placed again in order to perform another scan.

[0056] To perform the scan, the device 1 or the housing thereof is placed onto the surgical set 3 in a form fit, as can be seen schematically in FIG. 4. The device 1 can thus also be embodied as a lid, preferably as a lid with a height of less than 20 cm, in particular 10 cm or less.

[0057] A method according the invention is carried out in the following manner: A surgical set 3 having a plurality of implants 2 is provided for a specific surgery. The housing or the device 1 is then placed onto the surgical set 3. A scan of the implants 2 occurs. Each individual implant is thereby identified in that a plurality of images is captured during the scan. These images are evaluated in particular in regard to batch numbers and/or part numbers. An evaluation can thereby take place by means of image recognition, wherein individual digits and/or letters are recognized and possibly matched with stored digits and/or letters and, where necessary, also manufacturer information. Once a batch number or part number has been completely recognized, it is possible to switch from one implant 2 to the next. If an implant 2 is not recognized, this is outputted on the operating device. A user must then acknowledge that the corresponding part is not permitted to be used for the surgery due to lack of identification.

[0058] When the scan is complete, the device can be removed. The surgical set 3 is then available for a surgery. After the surgery, the device is once again placed onto the surgical set 3 and a scan takes place again, this time only a scan of the implants 2 as such, however, but not an additional recognition of any structural features of the implants 2. A difference is then generated from the scan that was performed prior to the surgery and the scan that was performed after the surgery. The implants 2 that were used or implanted during the surgery follow from the difference. Since these had previously been uniquely identified in the first scan, it is then also known which implants the patient being treated has had implanted.