Method and apparatus for ensuring sterility of disposable medical items used with medical equipment
First Claim
1. An apparatus to determine sterility of a disposable item utilized with a medical device comprising:
- a status device including a plurality of states and secured to said disposable item, wherein the state of said status device indicates a sterility of said disposable item; and
a processor coupled to said medical device and to said status device to determine said sterility of said disposable item based on said status device state and to facilitate control of medical device operation in accordance with said sterility determination.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable medical item for use with medical equipment includes circuitry forming an electrical path between the item and medical equipment. The circuitry is coupled to a medical equipment controller or independent microprocessor and includes a fuse. The controller transmits a status signal over the path in response to the equipment receiving the item. A disabled fuse prevents traversal of the path by the status signal, thereby indicating prior item use. If the controller does not detect the status signal, medical equipment operation is disabled. Otherwise, the controller transmits over the path a signal sufficient to disable the fuse to indicate item use and verifies the disabled fuse status. If the disabled fuse status is verified, the controller enables equipment operation. The controller periodically checks the fuse status during equipment operation and disables operation in response to a prior used item inserted into the medical equipment.
83 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus to determine sterility of a disposable item utilized with a medical device comprising:
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a status device including a plurality of states and secured to said disposable item, wherein the state of said status device indicates a sterility of said disposable item; and
a processor coupled to said medical device and to said status device to determine said sterility of said disposable item based on said status device state and to facilitate control of medical device operation in accordance with said sterility determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A medical device determining sterility of a disposable item utilized with that device to control device operation, wherein said disposable item includes a status device including a plurality of states and secured to said disposable item, and wherein the state of said status device indicates a sterility of said disposable item, said medical device comprising:
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a housing to receive said disposable item and treat a sterile object; and
a processor coupled to said status device to determine said sterility of said disposable item based on said status device state and to facilitate control of medical device operation in accordance with said sterility determination. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A disposable item for use with a medical device including a processor to determine a sterility of that item, said disposable item comprising:
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a receptacle to contain a sterile object; and
a status device configured for coupling to said processor and including a plurality of states, wherein the state of said status device indicates a sterility of said disposable item;
wherein said processor determines said sterility of said disposable item based on said status device state and facilitates control of medical device operation in accordance with said sterility determination. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method to determine sterility of a disposable item utilized with a medical device, wherein said disposable item includes a status device including a plurality of states with the state of said status device indicating a sterility of said disposable item and said medical device includes a processor coupled to said medical device and to said status device, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving the disposable item within said medical device; and
(b) determining said sterility of said disposable item, via said processor, based on said status device state and controlling medical device operation in accordance with said sterility determination. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An apparatus to determine sterility of a disposable item utilized with a medical device comprising:
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status means secured to said disposable item for indicating a sterility of said disposable item and including a plurality of states, wherein the state of said status means indicates a sterility of said disposable item; and
processing means coupled to said medical device and to said status means for determining said sterility of said disposable item based on said status means state and for facilitating control of medical device operation in accordance with said sterility determination. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification