Method and apparatus for tracking usage of a respiratory measurement device
First Claim
1. A respiratory device for measuring a pulmonary condition of a patient, comprising:
- a processor operable to determine at least a first respiratory parameter based on at least a first measurement signal;
a memory operable to store calibration information to determine the at least a first respiratory parameter and a counter for tracking a number of respiratory measurements performed by the respiratory device; and
at least a first detachable component operable to receive a respiratory airflow of a user.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a reusable respiratory measurement device having a discardable flow tube in which a counter is included in a detachable (discardable) memory unit that removably engages the respiratory measurement device body. The memory unit includes a counter that tracks usage of the respiratory measurement device and disables the respiratory measurement device when usage has reached certain predetermined thresholds. The memory unit is then replaced with a new memory unit which re-enables the respiratory measurement device for further measurements. The memory unit is typically sold as part of a batch or lot of disposable flow tubes in which case the counter value is commonly the same as the number of flow tubes in the batch or lot.
42 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A respiratory device for measuring a pulmonary condition of a patient, comprising:
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a processor operable to determine at least a first respiratory parameter based on at least a first measurement signal;
a memory operable to store calibration information to determine the at least a first respiratory parameter and a counter for tracking a number of respiratory measurements performed by the respiratory device; and
at least a first detachable component operable to receive a respiratory airflow of a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A monitoring device for detachable engagement with a respiratory measurement device, comprising:
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a memory including calibration information for measurements of the respiratory measurement device; and
a counter that determines a number of measurements taken by the respiratory measurement device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for monitoring use of a respiratory measurement device, comprising:
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(a) engaging a flow tube with the respiratory measurement device;
(b) engaging a monitoring unit with the respiratory measurement device, the monitoring unit including a memory including calibration information associated with at least one of the respiratory measurement device and the flow tube and a counter for determining a number of measurements taken by the respiratory measurement device;
(c) performing a respiratory measurement with the respiratory measurement device; and
(d) at least one of decrementing and incrementing the counter in response to the performing step. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for monitoring use of a respiratory measurement device, comprising:
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(a) providing a monitoring unit with the respiratory measurement device, the monitoring unit including a memory;
(b) performing a respiratory measurement with the respiratory measurement device; and
(c) at least one of decrementing and incrementing a counter in response to the performing step. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A monitoring device for detachable engagement with a respiratory device, comprising:
memory means including counting means for counting a number of measurements taken by the respiratory device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A monitoring device for detachable engagement with a respiratory device, comprising:
a memory including usage information associated with a number of measurements taken by the respiratory device. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for supplying a disposable component for a respiratory measurement device, comprising:
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(a) manufacturing at least a first disposable component for a respiratory measurement device;
(b) determining first calibration information for the first disposable component;
(c) manufacturing a first enabling device, including a first memory storing at least one of the first calibration information and a first counter for counting a number of measurements performed by the respiratory measurement device; and
(d) packaging at least the first disposable component together with the corresponding first enabling device for use by a respiratory measurement device user. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification