Surgical instrument with charging station and wireless communication

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an electrically power surgical instrument having a handle assembly. The apparatus also comprises a communication device positioned within the handle assembly. The communication device is operable to communicate with at least a portion of the electrically powered surgical instrument. The apparatus further comprises an external device in wireless communication with the communication device. The external device is operable to receive information from the communication device and the external device is operable to provide an output viewable to the user.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) an electrically powered surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly;   (b) a communication device positioned within the handle assembly, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate with at least a portion of the electrically powered surgical instrument; and   (c) an external device, wherein the communication device is configured to wirelessly transmit information to the external device, wherein the external device is configured to receive and process information from the communication device, wherein the external device is configured to provide an output viewable to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the information sent to the external device comprises identification information regarding the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the information sent to the external device comprises status information regarding the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the external device is further configured to transmit information to the communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the external device is configured to send updated software to the communication device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the external device is configured to send user preferences to the communication device. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the external device is configured to send instructions to the communication device operable to modify the functionality of the electrically powered surgical instrument. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device and the external device are in communication through RF communication. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly comprises a removable memory unit. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the external device comprises a charger unit operable to hold a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the charger unit is configured to clamp onto a laparoscope monitor. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the charger unit comprises an LCD display operable to display information associated with the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the external device comprises a foot pedal operable to control the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the external device is configured to display a power meter operable to show the power level of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the external device comprises a charging station. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) an electrically powered surgical instrument;   (b) a communication device positioned within the electrically powered surgical instrument; and   c) an external device operable to hold at least one rechargeable battery, wherein the external device is in communication with the communication device, wherein the external device is configured to display information associated with the electrically powered surgical instrument received from the communication device, wherein the external device is configured to recharge the at least one rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the external device comprises a visual indicator operable to show the charge state of the at least one rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a memory unit in communication with the at least one rechargeable battery, wherein the memory unit is operable to send and receive information to and from the external device. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the external device is configured to be in wireless communication with the communication device. 
     
     
         20 . A method of providing information to a user during a surgical procedure using an electrically powered surgical instrument, a communication device contained within the surgical instrument, and an external device in wireless communication with the communication device, the method comprising:
 (a) using the surgical instrument in a surgical procedure;   (b) sending information from the surgical instrument to the communication device;   (c) transmitting information wirelessly from the communication device to the external device; and   (d) displaying information to the user with the external device.