Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling use of medical devices

• US 20050070978A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mederi Rf, LLC
• Original Assignee: Curon Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Bek, Robin, Utley, David S., Qin, Jay, Gaiser, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,465,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00269 endoscopic mucosal resection EMR
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00494 Stomach, intestines or bowel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00553 Sphincter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags

Abstract

A device for treating a tissue region is supplied with a separate usage key card. The usage key card comprises a storage medium, which is formatted to contain an identification code unique to the usage key card. The usage key card is adapted to be read by a remote reader, to download the identification code for processing by a controller for the device. Processing of the identification code by the controller either enables or disables operation of the device according to prescribed criteria.

Claims

1. A system for controlling use of a device for treating a tissue region comprising

a controller to control operation of the device,

a reader to download information to the controller, and

a usage key card adapted to be handled separate from the device and comprising a storage medium formatted to contain an identification code unique to the usage key card that, upon reading by the reader, is downloaded to the controller,

the controller maintaining for each downloaded identification code a time record with a prescribed maximum time period of permitted use, the controller including a processing means for processing the identification code and enabling operation of the device if the prescribed maximum time period has not been equaled or exceeded and preventing subsequent operation of the device if the maximum time period has been equaled or exceeded.

2. A system according to claim 1

wherein the processing means causes the controller to create a table by registering unlike identification codes in memory as they are downloaded by the reader and to enable operation of the device when a new identification code is registered in the table.

3. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller enables subsequent operation only until the prescribed maximum time period is equaled.

4. A system according to claim 1

wherein the device applies radio frequency energy to the tissue region.

5. A system according to claim 4

wherein the time record contains a value reflecting the period of time during which energy was applied during previous enabled operations.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller updates the time record during operation.

7. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller outputs to a graphical user interface the time of permitted use remaining until the prescribed maximum time period is equaled.

8. A system according to claim 1

wherein the controller outputs to a graphical user interface notice of prior operation of the device.