Energy application system with ancillary information exchange capability, energy applicator, and methods associated therewith
First Claim
1. An apparatus for applying energy to human tissue, comprising:
- (a) means for generating energy, said generating means comprising;
(i) means for connecting with means for delivering energy and (ii) means for communicating data;
(b) usage-limited means for delivering energy, said delivering means comprising;
(i) a connection end of a construction sufficient for connection with the connecting means of said generating means to provide for energy delivery from said generating means to said delivering means and (ii) a distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue; and
(c) means for transferring data between said delivering means and said generating means, said transferring means associated with said delivering means and operably connectable to the communicating means of said generating means for communicating data therebetween, said transferring means comprising means for storing primary data and for receiving secondary data from the communicating means of said generating means, said primary data including information indicative of usage of said delivering means prior to an energy application and said secondary data including information indicative of usage of said delivering means during or following the energy application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for applying energy to human tissue, which includes an energy generator and a usage-limited, energy delivery device, and ancillary information exchange capability therebetween for the purposes of security, reliability and operational monitoring and control. The invention also provides a usage-limited, energy delivery device for use in such an apparatus, a method for determining the suitability of the delivery device for use in such an apparatus, and a method of using the delivery device in such an apparatus. The present invention provides an efficient medical treatment system having ready data-communication capability between its permanent and non-permanent components, for the security, reliability and operational monitoring and control desired in such medical systems.
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Citations
160 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying energy to human tissue, comprising:
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(a) means for generating energy, said generating means comprising;
(i) means for connecting with means for delivering energy and (ii) means for communicating data;
(b) usage-limited means for delivering energy, said delivering means comprising;
(i) a connection end of a construction sufficient for connection with the connecting means of said generating means to provide for energy delivery from said generating means to said delivering means and (ii) a distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue; and
(c) means for transferring data between said delivering means and said generating means, said transferring means associated with said delivering means and operably connectable to the communicating means of said generating means for communicating data therebetween, said transferring means comprising means for storing primary data and for receiving secondary data from the communicating means of said generating means, said primary data including information indicative of usage of said delivering means prior to an energy application and said secondary data including information indicative of usage of said delivering means during or following the energy application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for applying energy to human tissue, comprising:
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(a) an energy generator, said generator comprising;
(i) a connector of a construction sufficient for connection with an energy delivery device and (ii) a microprocessor;
(b) a usage-limited energy delivery device, said delivery device comprising;
(i) a connection end of a construction sufficient for connection with the connector of said generator to provide for energy delivery from said generator to said delivery device and (ii) a distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue; and
(c) a communication device associated with said delivery device and operably connectable to the microprocessor for communicating data therebetween, said communication device comprising a memory device for storing primary data and for receiving secondary data from the microprocessor, said primary data including information indicative of usage of said delivery device prior to an energy application and said secondary data including information indicative of, usage of said delivery device during or following the energy application. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143)
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64. A disposable device for delivering energy from a source of energy to human tissue, wherein the energy source includes means for communicating data, said device comprising:
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means for delivering energy, said delivering means having a connection end of a construction sufficient for connection with the energy source to provide for energy delivery from the energy source to said delivering means and having a distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue; and
means for transferring data between said delivering means and the energy source, said transferring means associated with said delivering means and operably connectable to the communicating means of the energy source for communicating data therebetween, said transferring means including means for storing primary data and for receiving secondary data from the communicating means of the energy source, said primary data including information indicative of usage of said delivering means prior to an energy delivery procedure and said secondary data including information indicative of usage of said delivering means during or following the energy delivery procedure. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A disposable device for delivering energy from a source of energy to human tissue, wherein the energy source includes a microprocessor, said device comprising:
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an energy delivery device, said delivery device having a connection end of a construction sufficient for connection with the energy source to provide for energy delivery from the energy source to said delivery device and having a distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue; and
a communication device associated with said delivery device and operably connectable to the microprocessor for communicating data therebetween, said communication device including a memory device for storing primary data and for receiving secondary data from the microprocessor, said primary data including information indicative of usage of said delivery device prior to an energy delivery procedure and said secondary data including information indicative of usage of said delivery device during or following the energy delivery procedure. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160)
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Specification