Electrosurgical system for communicating information embedded in an audio tone

Abstract

An electrosurgical system is provided. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator including a computer having one or more microprocessors in operable communication with memory for storing information pertaining to the electrosurgical generator. An audio output module is in operable communication with the computer and configured to generate an audio output having the information pertaining to the electrosurgical generator embedded therein. A speaker is in operable communication with the audio output module for outputting the audio output. A recording device is configured to record the audio output. An audio collector is configured to receive the audio output from the recording device and decipher the embedded audio so that the information pertaining to the electrosurgical generator may be utilized for future use.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An electrosurgical generator comprising:
 a memory configured to store data pertaining to the electrosurgical generator;   a processor in operable communication with the memory;   an audio output module coupled to the processor and configured to generate an audio signal encoding the data;   a speaker coupled to the audio output module and configured to output the audio signal; and   an audio collector configured to receive the audio signal and decode the data encoded in the audio signal.   
     
     
         21 . The electrosurgical generator according to  claim 20 , wherein the audio output module is further configured to encrypt the audio signal. 
     
     
         22 . The electrosurgical generator according to  claim 21 , the audio collector is configured to decrypt the encrypted audio signal. 
     
     
         23 . The electrosurgical generator according to  claim 20 , wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of date and time of an electrosurgical procedure, activation time of the electrosurgical generator, type of an electrosurgical instrument connected to the electrosurgical generator, serial number of the electrosurgical generator, amount of electrosurgical energy delivered to an electrosurgical instrument, and shut off condition. 
     
     
         24 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
 an electrosurgical instrument;   an electrosurgical generator configured to supply electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical instrument, the electrosurgical generator including:
 a memory configured to store data pertaining to the electrosurgical generator; 
 a processor in operable communication with the memory; 
 an audio output module coupled to the processor and configured to generate an audio signal encoding the data; 
 a speaker coupled to the audio output module and configured to output the audio signal; and 
 an audio collector configured to receive the audio signal and decode the data encoded in the audio signal. 
   
     
     
         25 . The electrosurgical system according to  claim 24 , wherein the audio output module is further configured to encrypt the audio signal. 
     
     
         26 . The electrosurgical system according to  claim 25 , the audio collector is configured to decrypt the encrypted audio signal. 
     
     
         27 . The electrosurgical system according to  claim 24 , wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of date and time of an electrosurgical procedure, activation time of one of the electrosurgical generator or the electrosurgical instrument, type of the electrosurgical instrument, serial number of at least one of the electrosurgical generator or the electrosurgical instrument, amount of electrosurgical energy delivered to the electrosurgical instrument, and shut off condition. 
     
     
         28 . A method for transferring information pertaining to an electrosurgical generator, comprising:
 encoding data in an audio signal at an audio output module, the data pertaining to an electrosurgical generator;   outputting the audio signal through a speaker coupled to the audio signal;   receiving the audio signal at an audio collector; and   decoding the data encoded in the audio signal at the audio collector.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 encrypting the audio signal prior to outputting the audio signal.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 decrypting the audio signal at the audio collector.