Systems and methods for monitoring and enabling use of a medical instrument
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring and enabling use of a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner, the system comprising a use register sized and configured to be carried by the medical instrument and comprising a memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the medical instrument, and a use monitoring controller adapted and configured to be coupled to the use register including a start validation function that compares the start date and time to a present real date and time and provides a start validation output based upon the comparison, and an enablement function that enables operation of the medical instrument only if the start validation output meets prescribed criteria.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods monitor and enable the use of a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner. The systems and methods employ a use register sized and configured to be carried by the medical instrument, which comprises a memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the medical instrument. The systems and methods also employ a use monitoring controller, which is adapted and configured to be coupled to the use register. The use monitoring controller includes a start validation function that compares the start date and time to a present real date and time and provides a start validation output based upon the comparison. The use monitoring controller also includes an enablement function that enables operation of the medical instrument only if the start validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring and enabling use of a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner, the system comprising
a use register sized and configured to be carried by the medical instrument and comprising a memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the medical instrument, and a use monitoring controller adapted and configured to be coupled to the use register including a start validation function that compares the start date and time to a present real date and time and provides a start validation output based upon the comparison, and an enablement function that enables operation of the medical instrument only if the start validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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2. A system for monitoring and enabling use of an ultrasound energy applicator including an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be coupled to an ultrasound generator for operation, the system comprising
a use register sized and configured to be carried by the ultrasound applicator and comprising a memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the ultrasound transducer, and a use monitoring controller adapted and configured to be coupled to the use register including a start validation function that compares the start date and time to a present real date and time and provides a start validation output based upon the comparison, and an enablement function that enables operation of the ultrasound transducer only if the start validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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7. A system for monitoring and enabling use of a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner, the system comprising
a use register sized and configured to be carried by the medical instrument and comprising a memory field for recording a prescribed copyright notice, and a use monitoring controller adapted and configured to be coupled to the use register including a copyright validation function that assesses the contents of the memory field and provides a copyright validation output based upon the assessment, and an enablement function that enables operation of the medical instrument only if the copyright validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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8. A system for monitoring and enabling use of an ultrasound energy applicator including an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be coupled to an ultrasound generator for operation, the system comprising
a use register sized and configured to be carried by the ultrasound applicator and comprising a memory field for recording a prescribed copyright notice, and a use monitoring controller adapted and configured to be coupled to the use register including a copyright validation function that assesses the contents of the memory field and provides a copyright validation output based upon the assessment, and an enablement function that enables operation of the ultrasound transducer only if the copyright validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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13. A system for monitoring and enabling use of a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner, the system comprising
a use register sized and configured to be carried by the medical instrument and comprising a first memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the medical instrument, and a second memory field for incrementally registering an elapsed time of operation of the medical instrument following the instance of first operation, and a use monitoring controller adapted and configured to be coupled to the use register including a start validation function that compares the start date and time to a present real date and time and provides a start validation output based upon the comparison, an elapsed time validation function that assesses the elapsed time of operation and provides an elapsed time validation output based upon the assessment, and an enablement function that enables operation of the medical instrument only if both the start validation output and the elapsed time validation output meet prescribed criteria.
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14. A system for monitoring and enabling use of an ultrasound energy applicator including an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be coupled to an ultrasound generator for operation, the system comprising
a use register sized and configured to be carried by the ultrasound applicator and comprising a first memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the ultrasound transducer, and a second memory field for incrementally registering an elapsed time of operation of the ultrasound transducer following the instance of first operation, and a use monitoring controller adapted and configured to be coupled to the use register including a start validation function that compares the start date and time to a present real date and time and provides a start validation output based upon the comparison, an elapsed time validation function that assesses the elapsed time of operation and provides an elapsed time validation output based upon the assessment, and an enablement function that enables operation of the ultrasound transducer only if both the start validation output and the elapsed time validation output meet prescribed criteria.
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20. A method of using a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner, the method comprising the steps of
coupling a use register to the medical instrument comprising a memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the medical instrument, comparing the start date and time to a present real date and time and providing a start validation output based upon the comparison, and enabling operation of the medical instrument only if the start validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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21. A method for using an ultrasound applicator including an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be coupled to an ultrasound generator for operation, the method comprising the steps of
coupling a use register to the ultrasound applicator comprising a memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the ultrasound transducer, comparing the start date and time to a present real date and time and providing a start validation output based upon the comparison, and enabling operation of the ultrasound transducer only if the start validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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24. A method for using a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner, the method comprising the steps of
coupling a use register to the medical instrument comprising a memory field for recording a prescribed copyright notice, and assessing the contents of the memory field and provides a copyright validation output based upon the assessment, and enabling operation of the medical instrument only if the copyright validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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25. A method for using an ultrasound energy applicator including an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be coupled to an ultrasound generator for operation, the method comprising the steps of
coupling a use register to the ultrasound applicator comprising a memory field for recording a prescribed copyright notice, and assessing the contents of the memory field and provides a copyright validation output based upon the assessment, and enabling operation of the ultrasound transducer only if the copyright validation output meets prescribed criteria.
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28. A method for using a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner, the method comprising the steps of
coupling a use register to the medical instrument comprising a memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the medical instrument and a memory field for incrementally registering an elapsed time of operation of the medical instrument following the instance of first operation, comparing the start date and time to a present real date and time and providing a start validation output based upon the comparison, assessing the elapsed time of operation and providing an elapsed time validation output based upon the assessment, and enabling operation of the medical instrument only if both the start validation output and the elapsed time validation output meet prescribed criteria.
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29. A method for using an ultrasound energy applicator including an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be coupled to an ultrasound generator for operation, the method comprising the steps of
coupling a use register to the ultrasound applicator comprising a memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the ultrasound transducer and a memory field for incrementally registering an elapsed time of operation of the ultrasound transducer following the instance of first operation, comparing the start date and time to a present real date and time and providing a start validation output based upon the comparison, assessing the elapsed time of operation and providing an elapsed time validation output based upon the assessment, and enabling operation of the ultrasound transducer only if both the start validation output and the elapsed time validation output meet prescribed criteria.
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33. A method for using a medical instrument that is configured to be operated in a prescribed manner, the method comprising the steps of
coupling a use register to the medical instrument comprising a first memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the medical instrument, a second memory field for incrementally registering an elapsed time of operation of the medical instrument following the instance of first operation, and a third memory field for recording a prescribed copyright notice, comparing the start date and time to a present real date and time and providing a start validation output based upon the comparison, assessing the elapsed time of operation and providing an elapsed time validation output based upon the assessment, assessing the contents of the third memory field and providing a copyright validation output based upon the assessment, and enabling operation of the medical instrument only if all the start validation output, the elapsed time validation output, and the copyright validation output meet prescribed criteria.
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34. A method for using an ultrasound energy applicator including an ultrasound transducer adapted and configured to be coupled to an ultrasound generator for operation, the method comprising the steps of
coupling a use register to the ultrasound applicator comprising a first memory field for recording a start date and time at an instance of first operation of the ultrasound transducer, a second memory field for incrementally registering an elapsed time of operation of the ultrasound transducer following the instance of first operation, and a third memory field for recording a prescribed copyright notice, comparing the start date and time to a present real date and time and providing a start validation output based upon the comparison, assessing the elapsed time of operation and providing an elapsed time validation output based upon the assessment, assessing the contents of the third memory field and providing a copyright validation output based upon the assessment, and enabling operation of the ultrasound transducer only if all the start validation output, the elapsed time validation output, and the copyright validation output meet prescribed criteria.
Specification