DE102021105917A1 - Surgical device assembly with integrated light - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a surgical device arrangement, in which a surgical instrument, in particular a hand-held surgical device, preferably an applicator, is connected to a generator via an optical fiber connection, preferably an optical fiber, and the use of an optical fiber connection to identify the status of a surgical instrument and/or for distinguishing a surgical instrument from at least one other surgical instrument. The invention also relates to a method for distinguishing between surgical instruments and a method for identifying a state of a surgical instrument.

Description

The invention relates to a surgical device arrangement according to claim 1 and a use of an optical fiber connection according to claim 2. The invention also relates to a method for distinguishing surgical instruments according to claim 9 and a method for identifying a state of a surgical instrument according to claim 10.

Background of the Invention

Surgical device configurations are known in the prior art, in which systems are used in which the user attaches stickers to connecting lines of different surgical instruments in order to be able to distinguish between them if they are used simultaneously in or on the patient. A well-known system is e.g. the power system from Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH.

In the system described in the prior art, the manual process can result in errors with regard to the correct assignment. Furthermore, a disadvantage of the prior art system is that the durability of the adhesive material is limited. If stickers with handwritten inscriptions are used, there are also disadvantages in terms of legibility and the durability of the inscription. The readability of an inscription, whether it is handwritten or created by machine, is also goniometrically limited. Readability is generally adversely affected or limited when the surgical instruments are used under conditions where lighting conditions are limited, i.e. when working in low light.

Proceeding from this, the object of the present invention is to provide a system by means of which the above-mentioned problems are solved and which does not have the disadvantages described.

description

The problem underlying the present invention is solved by the subject-matters of the appended independent and dependent claims.

In a first aspect, the problem on which the present invention is based is solved by a surgical device arrangement, in which a surgical instrument, in particular a hand-held surgical device, preferably an applicator, is connected to a generator via an optical fiber connection, preferably an optical fiber.

In a second aspect, the problem on which the present invention is based is solved by an inventive use of an optical fiber connection for identifying one or the state of a surgical instrument and/or for distinguishing a surgical instrument from at least one other surgical instrument.

In a preferred embodiment, the light guide connection in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention is in the form of preferably coated glass fibers or in the form of plastic, the light guide connection preferably containing structures for coupling light in and/or out.

In a preferred embodiment, the light guide connection in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention is provided with diffusers, so that light is emitted uniformly, preferably over the entire length of the light guide connection.

In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber connection in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention is a part, preferably an integral component, of an energy supply, preferably a cable, or another line for carrying a medium, preferably for carrying water, air and/or or sewage.

In a preferred embodiment, in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention, light is fed and/or controlled into the light guide connection, preferably via the generator.

In a preferred embodiment, in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention, the light is fed in and/or controlled during operation of the generator in a permanently or selectively controlled manner.

In a preferred embodiment, in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention, the light fed in is white or colored, preferably white, red, blue, green, yellow, violet or orange.

In a preferred embodiment, in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention, the light feed, preferably via the generator, into the light guide connection can be charged with a frequency or permanently.

In a preferred embodiment, in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention, at least one additional surgical instrument is connected to the generator or at least one additional generator via at least one additional optical fiber connection.

In a preferred embodiment, in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention, the surgical instrument is or the surgical instruments are selected from the group comprising high-frequency instruments, such as endoscopes, preferably resectoscopes, nephroscopes; Catheter; intra-abdominal cameras; retractors; Forceps, mainly gripping forceps, biopsy forceps, dissection forceps; scissors; knot pusher. However, the surgical instrument of a surgical device arrangement according to the invention can also be another surgical instrument known in the prior art, a surgical hand-held device and/or an applicator. If the surgical device arrangement according to the invention comprises a plurality of surgical instruments, each individual surgical instrument can be selected from the group specified above or can be another surgical instrument, surgical hand-held device and/or an applicator known in the prior art.

In a preferred embodiment, in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention that comprises at least two light guide connections, the at least two light guide connections can be supplied with two different colors or white and one color.

In a preferred embodiment, in a surgical device arrangement according to the invention or in a use according to the invention that comprises at least two fiber optic connections, one fiber optic connection can be permanently supplied with white or a color and the at least one other fiber optic connection can be supplied with a frequency of white or a color.

1. i) Anzeige eines Alarmzustandes,
2. ii) Anzeige eines ausgewählten Zustandes durch einen Anwender,
3. iii) Anzeige eines Zustandes,
4. iv) Anzeige einer Parametrierung und/oder
5. v) Kommunikation mit einem Anwender.

In a preferred embodiment, when used according to the invention, the light guide connection is used to identify a state of a surgical instrument, the state identifier being selected from the following functions or fulfilling one or more of the following functions:

1. i) indication of an alarm condition,
2. ii) display of a selected status by a user,
3. iii) indication of a condition,
4. iv) display of a parameterization and/or
5. v) communicating with a user.

In a third aspect, the problem on which the present invention is based is solved by a method for distinguishing surgical instruments, in particular when they are used simultaneously in a patient, the method comprising the steps: a) connecting each individual surgical instrument via its own optical fiber connection with one or one generator each, with the fiber optic connection or fiber optic connections differing from one another in that they are exposed to white or colored light that can be distinguished from one another and/or to frequencies that can be distinguished from one another or permanent light, and b) optionally switching on the generator or generators.

1. i) Anzeige eines Alarmzustandes,
2. ii) Anzeige eines ausgewählten Zustandes durch einen Anwender,
3. iii) Anzeige eines Zustandes,
4. iv) Anzeige einer Parametrierung und/oder
5. v) Kommunikation mit einem Anwender.

In a fourth aspect, the problem on which the present invention is based is solved by a method for identifying a state of a surgical instrument, in particular when it is used in or on a patient, the method comprising the steps of: a) connecting a surgical instrument via a Optical fiber connection with a generator, wherein the optical fiber connection is supplied with distinguishable white or colored light and/or with distinguishable frequencies or permanent light; and b) optionally switching on the generator and/or the surgical instrument, wherein the status identifier is selected from the following functions or fulfills one or more of the following functions:

1. i) indication of an alarm condition,
2. ii) display of a selected status by a user,
3. iii) indication of a condition,
4. iv) display of a parameterization and/or
5. v) communicating with a user.

The present invention is based on the finding that the use of fiber optic connections as a connection from the respective power source to the respective surgical instrument allows the user to correctly assign the surgical instrument. Confusion caused by, for example, illegible inscriptions or inscriptions that have become detached are avoided. According to the invention, the working method of the user of surgical instruments is also made easier, in particular when several surgical instruments are used in parallel. Due to the different color and / or frequency markings of the various fiber optic connections, a simple identification is possible, which also z. B. is not limited by goniometric aspects and / or limited by unfavorable lighting conditions.

According to the present invention, the surgical device arrangement includes an optical fiber connection, preferably an optical fiber. Light guide connections, in particular light guide bodies, are known to the person skilled in the art from the prior art. They are used to receive the light rays emitted by a light source, for example an LED, and to direct them to an object to be illuminated. A light guide connection from the prior art, in particular a light guide body, typically includes a coupling surface via which the light beams emitted by a light source are coupled into the light guide connection or the light guide body. Furthermore, the light guide connection or the light guide body from the prior art typically includes a decoupling surface from which the light beams coupled into the light guide connection or the light guide body are decoupled. A light guide connection according to the invention, in particular a light guide body according to the invention, preferably also comprises a coupling surface via which the light beams emitted by a light source are coupled into the light guide connection or the light guide body. Likewise preferably, a light guide connection according to the invention, in particular a light guide body according to the invention, comprises a decoupling surface from which the light beams coupled into the light guide connection or the light guide body are decoupled. An optical fiber connection according to the invention can, for. B. in the form of fibers, tubes or rods.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement or the use of an optical fiber connection to identify one or the state of a surgical instrument and/or to distinguish a surgical instrument from at least one other surgical instrument, the optical fiber connection is in the form of, preferably encased, glass fibers or in Form of plastic, preferably PMMA or polycarbonate, before, wherein the light guide connection preferably contains structures for coupling and / or decoupling of light. In a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention, the optical fiber connection is in the form of, preferably sheathed, glass fibers with diffusers.

An advantage of glass or glass fibers as the material of an optical fiber connection used according to the invention compared to plastic is that the temperature resistance of these very flexible glass or glass fiber lines also makes it possible to illuminate areas that are difficult to access at and with high temperatures.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the light guide connection, preferably the light guide body, according to the present invention comprises structures for coupling and/or decoupling light. These structures are preferably in the form of scattering bodies.

The person skilled in the art knows how to provide an optical fiber connection with structures for coupling and/or decoupling light, in particular scattering bodies, so that light is emitted uniformly, preferably over the entire length of the optical fiber connection. The person skilled in the art also knows how to produce variants of the light guide connection to be used according to the invention which, for example, instead of emitting light uniformly over the entire length of the light guide connection, only emits the light in alternating sections. In the context of the invention, it is also conceivable to use light guide connections that emit the light gradually increasing or decreasing over the distance from the generator or the light source to the connection point of the light guide connection - surgical instrument.

In a preferred embodiment of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, the light guide connection is part of a power supply. In this case, it is preferred if the optical fiber connection is an integral part of the energy supply. Power is preferably supplied via a cable. In terms of the present invention, it is therefore preferred if the optical fiber connection is an integral part of a cable for the power supply. In a likewise preferred embodiment of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, the light guide connection is part of another line for carrying a medium, preferably for carrying water, air and/or waste water. It is known to the person skilled in the art from the prior art how he can provide cables and/or lines with an optical fiber connection. It is conceivable, for example, that a cable or line is covered with an optical fiber connection.

In a further preferred embodiment of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, the light guide connection is connected to the surgical instrument at its proximal end. Preferably, the proximal end or the proximal area of the surgical instrument also comprises as an integral part a light guide connection or a light guide body, which is connected, preferably directly, to the light guide connection which connects the surgical instrument to the generator. It is preferred that the fiber optic connection or the fiber optic body is designed as part of the proximal end or the proximal area of the surgical instrument in exactly the same way as the fiber optic connection, preferably the fiber optic body, which connects the surgical instrument to the generator. In a further preferred embodiment, the proximal end or the proximal area of the surgical instrument is encased with a fiber optic connection. The advantage of these described embodiments is that not only the fiber optic connection, preferably the fiber optic body, which connects the surgical instrument to the generator, can be identified by light, but also the proximal end or the proximal area of the surgical instrument itself The marking is thus even easier to recognize for the user.

In accordance with the present invention, the surgical instrument assembly includes a generator. The generator arranged according to the invention in the surgical device arrangement preferably supplies the surgical instrument with electricity. In a surgical device arrangement according to the invention, the light guide connection, preferably the light guide body, is preferably connected to the generator via a connection (e.g. a plug). The connection is preferably an integral part of the light guide connection, preferably of the light guide body. It is further preferred that the connection is formed on its surface in exactly the same way as the light guide connection, preferably the light guide body, which connects the surgical instrument to the generator. It is further preferred if the connection is encased with an optical fiber connection. The advantage of these described embodiments is that not only the fiber optic connection, preferably the fiber optic body, which connects the surgical instrument to the generator, can be marked by light, but also the connection itself. The marking is therefore for the user even easier to spot.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the surgical device arrangement comprises a light source which emits light rays. It is further preferred that the light source, which emits light beams, is part of the generator of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, light is fed and/or controlled via the generator into the light guide connection. It is therefore preferred that the generator comprises a light source, e.g. an LED lamp, which feeds and/or controls light or light beams into the light guide connection. The feeding and/or control can take place as a frequency.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, the feeding and/or control of the light during operation of the generator can take place in a permanently or selectively controlled manner. By "permanent" is meant that as soon as the generator is switched on, the light is fed and/or controlled into the fiber optic connection. In this way, in particular, the surgical instrument can already be identified via the light guide connection without the surgical instrument itself having to be in operation. The surgical instrument itself therefore does not yet have to carry any current. By "selectively controlled" is meant that once the generator is turned on, the light is not automatically injected and/or commanded into the fiber optic link. In order for the light to be fed and/or controlled into the fiber optic connection, the feed and/or control must first be released via a control element. The advantage here is that the surgical instrument can be marked via the light guide connection independently of whether the generator is switched on and/or whether the surgical instrument is supplied with power.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, the feeding and/or control of light or light beams into the light guide connection can take place via a control unit on the generator, which the user can operate. This control unit can preferably be designed separately only for the feeding and/or control of light or light beams into the fiber optic connection or in combination with the power supply. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, both current is applied via the control unit to the generator and, when current is applied, light or light rays in the fiber optic connection fed and / or controlled.

In a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention, the generator has its own control unit for each connected surgical instrument.

Furthermore, an embodiment according to the invention is preferred in which the power supply is automatically interrupted in the event of a malfunction of the surgical instrument. In an embodiment according to the invention, which is particularly preferred, the power supply of the surgical instrument is coupled to the light feed and/or light control. The coupling is designed in such a way that if the power supply is automatically interrupted due to a malfunction of the surgical instrument, the light is also no longer fed in and/or light is controlled in the light guide connection. The advantage of this particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention lies in particular in the fact that the user immediately recognizes that there must be a fault or a fault due to the lack of light being coupled out of the light guide connection.

Damage caused by continuing the application because the malfunction is not noticed or is noticed too late can be avoided.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, the light fed into the light guide connection via a light source, which is preferably part of the generator, is white or colored, preferably white, red, blue, green, yellow, violet or orange. In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, the light fed into the light guide connection via a light source, which is preferably part of the generator, is fed in at a frequency or permanently. It is further preferred here that the decoupling from the light guide connection also takes place at a frequency or permanently.

In a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, at least one additional surgical instrument is connected to the generator or at least one additional generator via at least one additional optical fiber connection. According to the invention, two or more surgical instruments can be connected to the generator, each with its own fiber optic connection, to which a first surgical instrument is already connected via a first fiber optic connection. The various optical fiber connections can preferably each be controlled via their own control unit. In an embodiment of the invention, the various light guide connections are supplied with light via a light source. Alternatively, each fiber optic link can have its own light source.

In a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention in which at least one further surgical instrument with at least one further light guide connection is present, the at least two and also further light guide connections are supplied with different colors or white and one color that can be distinguished from one another. In an embodiment of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention, there are three surgical instruments, each with its own fiber optic connection, with one fiber optic connection coupling out white light, the second fiber optic connection red light and the third fiber optic connection coupling out green light.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention of the surgical device arrangement according to the invention or the use according to the invention in which at least one additional surgical instrument with at least one additional light guide connection is present, one light guide connection can be permanently supplied with white or a color and the at least second light guide connection with a frequency of white or a color can be applied. In this embodiment, it is possible to differentiate between the two surgical instruments even if light of the same color is coupled out via a different frequency. In one embodiment, red light is permanently coupled out via the first light guide connection and red light with a frequency of, for example, 1x/second via the second light guide connection. The person skilled in the art can easily produce variants of these embodiments which differ in terms of color and/or frequency due to the different decoupling of light in the respective light guide connections.

1. a) Verbinden eines jeden einzelnen chirurgischen Instrumentes über eine eigene Lichtleiterverbindung mit einem oder jeweils einem Generator, wobei sich die Lichtleiterverbindung oder die Lichtleiterverbindungen darin voneinander unterscheiden, dass sie mit voneinander unterscheidbaren Weiß- oder Farblicht und/oder mit voneinander unterscheidbaren Frequenzen oder Permanentlicht beaufschlagt sind;
2. b) optional Anschalten des Generators oder der Generatoren.

The invention further provides a method for distinguishing surgical instruments, in particular when they are used simultaneously in a patient, the method comprising the steps:

1. a) Connecting each individual surgical instrument via its own light guide Connection to one or one generator each, with the light guide connection or the light guide connections differing from one another in that they are exposed to white or colored light that can be distinguished from one another and/or with frequencies that can be distinguished from one another or permanent light;
2. b) optional switching on of the generator or generators.

• c) Einspeisen und/oder Einsteuern von Licht in die eine, zwei oder mehrere Lichtleiterverbindungen.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention of the method according to the invention for differentiating surgical instruments, the method comprises the further step:

• c) feeding and/or directing light into the one, two or more light guide connections.

Light is fed and/or controlled into the one, two or more fiber optic connections in such a way that the fiber optic connections decouple light with distinguishable white or colored light and/or with distinguishable frequencies or permanent light.

At least one surgical device arrangement according to the invention in accordance with at least one of the embodiments listed above can preferably be used for a method according to the invention for differentiating surgical instruments.

1. a) Verbinden eines chirurgischen Instrumentes über eine Lichtleiterverbindung mit einem Generator, wobei die Lichtleiterverbindung mit unterscheidbarem Weiß- oder Farblicht und/oder mit unterscheidbaren Frequenzen oder Permanentlicht beaufschlagbar ist; und
2. b) optional Anschalten des Generators und/oder des chirurgischen Instrumentes,

wobei die Zustandskennzeichnung ausgewählt ist aus den folgenden Funktionen oder eine oder mehrere der folgenden Funktionen erfüllt:

1. i) Anzeige eines Alarmzustandes,
2. ii) Anzeige eines ausgewählten Zustandes durch einen Anwender,
3. iii) Anzeige eines Zustandes,
4. iv) Anzeige einer Parametrierung und/oder
5. v) Kommunikation mit einem Anwender.

The present invention also provides a method for identifying a condition of a surgical instrument, in particular when it is used in or on a patient, the method comprising the steps:

1. a) connecting a surgical instrument to a generator via an optical fiber connection, wherein the optical fiber connection can be charged with distinguishable white or colored light and/or with distinguishable frequencies or permanent light; and
2. b) optionally switching on the generator and/or the surgical instrument,

wherein the status indication is selected from the following functions or fulfills one or more of the following functions:

1. i) indication of an alarm condition,
2. ii) display of a selected status by a user,
3. iii) indication of a condition,
4. iv) display of a parameterization and/or
5. v) communicating with a user.

According to the method according to the invention, the status of a surgical instrument is identified by the application of the light guide connection of the surgical instrument. For example, the i) display of an alarm condition can be controlled in such a way that the feeding and/or control of light into the fiber optic connection (and corresponding decoupling) is coupled with the power supply, so that if the current flow is interrupted (e.g. due to an error in the surgical Instrument or wear of a component in the surgical instrument) is no feeding and / or control of light in the fiber optic connection, so that no decoupling occurs. In another embodiment, an alarm condition may be indicated via the fiber optic link via an appropriately programmed control unit, e.g., the fiber optic link emitting light at a high frequency (identifiable as rapid blinking). The status of a surgical instrument can also be identified according to the method according to the invention if the light guide connection is controlled via a control unit, in which a user can select different statuses. For example, a user can use such a control unit to select whether the surgical instrument is being used for the first time or whether it has already been used repeatedly. The user or a third party can be informed about this state by coupling out the correspondingly defined light via the light guide connection and can react if necessary if an exchange of this surgical instrument is indicated.

The status of a surgical instrument according to the method according to the invention can also be identified in such a way that the status of the surgical instrument is displayed. It can be provided, for example, that the quantity or the frequency of light coupled out via the optical fiber connection of the surgical instrument is controlled depending on the duration of use of an application or depending on the total duration of use of the surgical instrument. If a surgical instrument must not exceed a maximum total application time and it has to be replaced beforehand, the decoupling of the light via the fiber optic connection of this surgical instrument can be programmed in such a way that the frequency of the decoupled light, for example, is clearly before the maximum total application time is reached increases, possibly additionally combined with a color change of the decoupled light.

A parameterization can also be carried out by the status identification of a surgical instrument according to the method according to the invention. In a method according to the invention, the user can introduce parameters to the desired extent into the status identification.

Furthermore, the status identification of a surgical instrument according to the method according to the invention can fulfill the function of communication with a user. By indicating the status of a surgical instrument by decoupling light of a specific color via the fiber optic connection of this surgical instrument, the surgical instrument can communicate to the user, for example, its type of instrument and/or its functionality and/or an error and/or power failure, etc. This communication via color or frequency of light is much faster than other ways of communication that the user could use (e.g. finding and deciphering the manual labeling).

1. i) Anzeige eines Alarmzustandes,
2. ii) Anzeige eines ausgewählten Zustandes durch einen Anwender,
3. iii) Anzeige eines Zustandes,
4. iv) Anzeige einer Parametrierung und/oder
5. v) Kommunikation mit einem Anwender.

The present invention further relates to the use of an optical fiber connection to identify the status of a surgical instrument, preferably at least according to one of the described embodiments, the status indicator being selected from the following functions or fulfilling one or more of the following functions:

1. i) indication of an alarm condition,
2. ii) display of a selected status by a user,
3. iii) indication of a condition,
4. iv) display of a parameterization and/or
5. v) communicating with a user.

Further embodiments and options for using an optical fiber connection according to the invention to characterize the state of a surgical instrument are specified above in relation to the method according to the invention for characterizing a state of a surgical instrument and can be applied equally to the use according to the invention.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen chirurgischen Geräteanordnung.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of a surgical device arrangement according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

• 1 shows a schematic representation of a surgical device arrangement according to the invention.

In the 1 a stereo endoscope 10 is shown, which is connected to a generator 19 via an optical fiber connection 17 by means of a connection 18 . The stereo endoscope 10 has a main body 11, a distal end 15 and a proximal end 16. The main body 11 includes a handle 13 and a connector 14. The stereo endoscope 10 further includes a shaft 12. The light guide connection 17 is connected to the proximal end 16 of the stereo endoscope 10 connected. Light is coupled out 20 over the entire length of the light guide connection 17. In addition, light is coupled out 20 at the connection 18 and in the proximal region of the stereo endoscope.

Reference List

10

stereo endoscope

11

main body

12

shaft

13

Handle

14

connection

15

distal end

16

proximal end

17

fiber optic connection

18

connection

19

generator

20

light extraction

Claims (10)

Surgical device arrangement, characterized in that a surgical instrument, in particular a hand-held surgical device, preferably an applicator, is connected to a generator via an optical fiber connection, preferably an optical fiber. Use of an optical fiber connection to identify the condition of a surgical instrument and/or to distinguish a surgical instrument from at least one other surgical instrument. Surgical equipment arrangement claim 1 or use after claim 2 , characterized in that the light guide connection is in the form of, preferably coated, glass fibers or in the form of plastic, the light guide connection preferably containing structures for coupling in and/or out of light. Surgical device arrangement or use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light guide connection is provided with diffusers so that the light is emitted evenly, preferably over the entire length of the light guide connection. Surgical device arrangement or use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light guide connection is a part, preferably an integral part, of a power supply, preferably a cable, or another line for carrying a medium, preferably for carrying water, air and / or sewage, is. Surgical device arrangement or use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that light is fed and/or controlled into the light guide connection, preferably via the generator. Surgical device arrangement or use after claim 6 , characterized in that the light fed in is white or colored, preferably white, red, blue, green, yellow, violet or orange. Surgical device assembly or use according to any of Claims 6 or 7 , characterized in that the light feed, preferably via the generator, can be acted upon in the optical fiber connection with a frequency or permanently. Method for distinguishing surgical instruments, in particular when they are used simultaneously in a patient, characterized in that the method comprises the steps: a) connecting each individual surgical instrument via its own fiber optic connection to one or a generator, with the fiber optic connection or the optical fiber connections differ from one another in that they are exposed to white or colored light that can be distinguished from one another and/or to frequencies that can be distinguished from one another or permanent light; b) optional switching on of the generator or generators. Method for identifying a condition of a surgical instrument, in particular when it is used in or on a patient, characterized in that the method comprises the steps: a) connecting a surgical instrument via an optical fiber connection to a generator, the optical fiber connection having a distinguishable white or Colored light and/or can be acted upon with distinguishable frequencies or permanent light; and b) optionally switching on the generator and/or the surgical instrument, wherein the status indication is selected from the following functions or fulfills one or more of the following functions: i) display of an alarm condition, ii) display of a selected condition by a user, iii) display of a status, iv) display of a parameterization and/or v) communication with a user.

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