US 11,969,299 B2
Tool having a working end determining device in the shaft region
Frederick Lenzenhuber, Tuttlingen (DE); and Andre Bürk, Villingen-Schwenningen (DE)
Assigned to Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen (DE)
Appl. No. 17/285,173
Filed by Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 18, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/078453
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 14, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/079268, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 125 884.4 (DE), filed on Oct. 18, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0378779 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/98 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 90/08 (2016.02) [A61B 17/00 (2013.01); A61B 90/98 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00221 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0806 (2016.02)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tool comprising a resistor and a writable and/or readable data storage device arranged in a shaft region of the tool for identifying a working end of the tool, wherein the resistor is configured to identify the working end of the tool and the writable and/or readable data storage device is configured to store data related to the working end of the tool in at least a first memory area, and wherein the resistor and the writable and/or readable data storage device are arranged to provide the data related to the working end of the tool in an externally detectable manner for recognizing the working end of the tool, wherein the resistor and the writable and/or readable data storage device are integrated as a unit into the tool and connectable to an external control device via an electrical contact in the shaft region, wherein the unit comprises a channel structure that extends into the tool from an end of the tool on a handle side or shaft side toward the working end of the tool, wherein the resistor and/or the writable and/or readable data storage device is arranged in the channel structure at a first end of the channel structure facing the working end of the tool, and wherein the electrical contact is arranged at a second end of the channel structure facing away from the working end of the tool, wherein at least one conductive section makes electrical contact with the resistor and/or the storage device, and wherein the channel-shaped structure is enclosed by an insulator and is electrically insulated by the insulator with respect to the tool.