Reusable instruments and related systems and methods

• US 20040049172A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optim LLC
• Original Assignee: Optim LLC
• Inventors: Krupa, Robert J., Root, Thomas V.
• Application Number:
  US10/391,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049172A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00062 provided with means for preventing overuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

Reusable instruments, such as reusable medical instruments, and related systems and methods, are disclosed. In some embodiments, the reusable instrument can be an endoscope.

Claims

1. A method of charging a client for use of a reusable instrument, the method comprising:

charging the client for use of the reusable instrument, the charge to the client being at least partially based on a number of times the client has used the reusable instrument since last being charged for use of the reusable instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a total number of reusable instrument uses associated with the client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a total number of treatment system uses associated with the client, the treatment system being designed to treat a reusable instrument.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a frequency of uses of the reusable instrument.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a frequency of uses of a total number of reusable instruments associated with the client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a time of day when the reusable instrument is used.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on an average time of day that the client uses a reusable instrument.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on an amount of time that the client has had the reusable instrument.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is charged after each use of the reusable instrument.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is charged before each use of the reusable instrument.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is charged after a predetemined number of uses of the reusable instrument.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the client is charged before a predetermined number of uses of the reusable instrument.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the client based on an identity of the reusable instrument.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the client includes communicating data associated with the identity of the reusable instrument to a data processor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data processor is remote from the reusable instrument.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the client further includes communicating data associated with the client from a data storage instrument to the data processor.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a payment status of the client.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising preventing the reusable instrument from being used in a procedure based on the payment status of the client.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a payment status of the client.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising preventing the reusable instrument from being used in a procedure based on the payment status of the client.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an identity of the reusable instrument.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the identity of the reusable instrument includes reading recognition data from the reusable instrument.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising communicating the recognition data to a data processor.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising communicating between the data processor and a data storage device to determine a client associated with the reusable instrument.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the data processor is remote from the reusable instrument.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein determining the client further includes communicating data associated with the client from a data storage instrument to the data processor.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the reusable instrument and a treatment system to the client, the treatment system being designed to treat a reusable instrument.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the treatment system is a sterilization system or a disinfection system.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the client includes a person that used the reusable instrument, a company affiliated with a person that used the reusable instrument, a subject on whom the reusable instrument was used, a person associated with a subject on whom the reusable instrument was used, an insurance company, or a government agency.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

105. The method of claim 1, wherein the reusable instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

31. A method of charging a client for use of a reusable instrument, the reusable instrument having an identity, the method comprising:

reading recognition data from the reusable instrument to determine the identity of the reusable instrument;

determining the client based on the identity of the reusable instrument; and

charging the client based on data associated with the client.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the data associated with the client includes a number of times the reusable instrument has been used by the client.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the data associated with the client includes a total number of reusable instrument uses associated with the client.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the data associated with the client includes a total number of treatment system uses associated with the client.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein determining the client includes communicating the recognition data to a data processor.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the data processor is remote from the reusable instrument.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein determining the client further includes communicating data associated with the client from a data storage instrument to the data processor.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the recognition data is read from the reusable instrument using a instrument selected from the group consisting of magnetic instruments, inductance instruments, electrical instruments, optical instruments, and mechanical instruments.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining a payment status of the client.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising preventing the reusable instrument from being used in a procedure based on the payment status of the client.

41. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing the reusable instrument and a treatment system to the client, the treatment system being designed to treat a reusable instrument.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the treatment system is a sterilization system or a disinfection system.

43. The method of claim 31, wherein the client is selected from the group consisting of a person that used the reusable instrument;

a company affiliated with a person that used the reusable instrument, a subject on whom the reusable instrument was used, a person associated with a subject on whom the reusable instrument was used, an insurance company, and a government agency.

44. The method of claim 31, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

106. The method of claim 31, wherein the reusable instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

45. A method of managing a condition of a reusable instrument, the reusable instrument having an identity, the method comprising:

determining the identity of the reusable instrument; and

determining, based on the identity of the reusable instrument, a number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the reusable instrument last underwent a maintenance procedure.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein determining the identity of the reusable instrument includes reading recognition data from the reusable instrument.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein determining the number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the reusable instrument last underwent a maintenance procedure includes communicating the recognition data to a data processor.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the data processor is remote from the reusable instrument.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein determining the number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the reusable instrument last underwent a maintenance procedure further includes communicating data associated with the reusable instrument from a data storage instrument to the data processor.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising preventing the reusable instrument from being used in a procedure based on the number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the reusable instrument last underwent a maintenance procedure.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising performing a maintenance procedure on the reusable instrument based on the number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the reusable instrument last underwent a maintenance procedure.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising charging a client associated with the reusable instrument for performance of the maintenance procedure.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

107. The method of claim 45, wherein the reusable instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

54. A method of maintaining a supply material associated with uses of a reusable instrument, the reusable instrument having an identity, the method comprising:

determining the identity of the reusable instrument; and

determining, based on the identity of the reusable instrument, a number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the supply material was last acquired by a client associated with the reusable instrument.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein determining the identity of the reusable instrument includes reading recognition data from the reusable instrument.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein determining the number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the supply material was last acquired by the client includes communicating the recognition data for the reusable instrument to a data processor.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the data processor is remote from the reusable instrument.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein determining the number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the supply material was last acquired by the client further includes communicating data associated with the reusable instrument from a data storage instrument to the data processor.

59. The method of claim 54, further comprising preventing the reusable instrument from being used in a procedure based on the number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the supply material was last provided to the client.

60. The method of claim 54, further comprising providing the supply material to the client based on the number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the supply material was last provided to the client.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising charging the client for providing the supply material.

62. The method of claim 54, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

108. The method of claim 54, wherein the reusable instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

63. A method of preventing use of a reusable instrument, the reusable instrument having an identity, the method comprising:

determining a client associated with the reusable instrument based on the identity of the reusable instrument; and

preventing the reusable instrument from being used in a procedure based on data associated with the client.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the data associated with the client is a payment status of an account associated with the client.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein preventing the reusable instrument from being used in a procedure includes disabling the reusable instrument from being capable of being used in a procedure.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising informing the client that the reusable instrument has been disabled.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising, after disabling the reusable instrument, allowing the reusable instrument to be used in a procedure based on data from an account associated with the client.

68. The method of claim 63, further comprising informing the client that the reusable instrument is being prevented from being used in a procedure.

69. The method of claim 63, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

109. The method of claim 63, wherein the reusable instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

70. A method of maintaining a database for a reusable instrument, the method comprising:

determining, each time the reusable instrument has been used in a procedure, that the reusable instrument has been used in a procedure; and

updating, each time the reusable instrument has been used in a procedure, the database to indicate that the reusable instrument has been used in another procedure.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein determining that the reusable instrument has been used in a procedure includes determining an identity of the reusable instrument.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein determining the identity of the reusable instrument includes reading recognition data from the reusable instrument.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein updating the database includes communicating the recognition data to a data processor.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the data processor identifies the database associated with the reusable instrument, and communicates the procedure use data to the database.

75. The method of claim 70, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

110. The method of claim 70, wherein the reusable instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

76. A method of charging a client, the method comprising:

charging the client, the charge to the client being at least partially based on a number of times the client has treated a reusable instrument since last being charged.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the treatment is sterilization, disinfection or cleaning.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a total number of treatment systems associated with the client.

79. The method of claim 76, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a frequency of treatments.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a total number of uses of a treatment system.

81. The method of claim 76, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a total number of treatment systems associated with the client.

82. The method of claim 76, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a frequency of uses of a total number of treatment systems associated with the client.

83. The method of claim 76, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on a time of day when treatment is performed.

84. The method of claim 76, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on an average time of day that the client treats a reusable instrument.

85. The method of claim 76, wherein the charge to the client is at least partially based on an amount of time that the client has had a treatment system for treating the reusable instrument.

86. The method of claim 76, wherein the client is charged after each treatment of the reusable instrument.

87. The method of claim 76, wherein the client is charged before each treatment of the reusable instrument.

88. The method of claim 76, wherein the client is charged after a predetermined number of treatments of the reusable instrument.

89. The method of claim 76, wherein the client is charged before a predetermined number of treatments of the reusable instrument.

90. The method of claim 76, wherein the reusable instrument is an endoscope.

111. The method of claim 76, wherein the reusable instrument is a reusable medical instrument.

91. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause a process to occur, the process including;

charging a client for use of the reusable instrument, the charge to the client being at least partially based on a number of times the client has used a reusable instrument since last being charged for use of the reusable instrument.

92. The computer program product of claim 91, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

93. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

reading recognition data from a reusable instrument to determine an identity of the reusable instrument;

determining a client associated with the reusable instrument based on the identity of the reusable instrument; and

charging the client based on data associated with the client.

94. The computer program product of claim 93, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

95. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

determining an identity of the reusable instrument; and

determining, based on the identity of the reusable instrument, a number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the reusable instrument last underwent a maintenance procedure.

96. The computer program product of claim 95, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

97. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

determining an identity of the reusable instrument; and

determining, based on the identity of the reusable instrument, a number of times the reusable instrument has been used since the supply material was last acquired by a client associated with the reusable instrument.

98. The computer program product of claim 97, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

99. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

determining an account for a client based on an identity of a reusable instrument; and

preventing the client from using the reusable instrument in a procedure based on data associated with the client.

100. The computer program product of claim 99, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

101. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

determining, each time a reusable instrument has been used in a procedure, that the reusable instrument has been used in a procedure; and

updating, each time the reusable instrument has been used in a procedure, the database to indicate that the reusable instrument has been used in another procedure.

102. The computer program product of claim 101, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.

103. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause the occurrence of a process, the process including;

charging a client, the charge to the client being at least partially based on a number of times the client has treated a reusable instrument since last being charged.

104. The computer program product of claim 103, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a random access memory, and a read-only memory.