Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling use of medical devices

• US 20070093879A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mederi Therapeutics, Inc. (Respiratory Technology Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Curon Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Bek, Robin, Qin, Jay, Utley, David, Gaiser, John, Bernitt, Jame
• Application Number:
  US11/638,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/96
• 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 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 2018/0022 Balloons
• 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 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• 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 carries a use monitoring element that possesses a state or condition that changes in response to use of the device and that is sensed when the device is presented for use. Reuse of the device is not permitted, if the use monitoring element indicates a prior use.

Claims

1. A system for treating a tissue region comprising

a device including a usage regulating mechanism having a logic state being operable to be set to either a logic state of one or a logic state of zero, and

a reader to sense the logic state and enabling operation of the device if the sensed logic state is a pre-established one of the logic state of one and the logic state of zero, the reader further operating, in response to enabling operation of the device, to change the sensed logic state to the other one of the logic state of one and the logic state of zero to prevent subsequent operation of the device.

2. A system as in claim 1

wherein the usage regulating mechanism is a magnetic core.

3. A system as in claim 1

wherein the use regulating mechanism is a latching relay.

4. A system as in claim 3

wherein the latching relay includes a switch arm operable to be set to a first position corresponding to a logic state of one or a second position corresponding to a logic state of zero.

5. A system as in claim 1

wherein the device is adapted to apply radio frequency energy to the tissue region.

6. A system for treating a tissue region comprising

a controller, and

a device including a use register that senses time-of-use of the device and inputs the time-of-use to the controller,

the controller including a processing function for processing the time-of-use to enable operation of the device if the time-of-use is less than a prescribed maximum time period and to disable operation of the device if the time-of-use equals or exceeds the prescribed maximum time period.

7. A system as in claim 6

wherein the use register comprises an array of magnetic cores.

8. A system as in claim 6

wherein the use register comprises a magnetic strip.

9. A system as in claim 6

wherein the use register comprises a stepper motor.

10. A system as in claim 6

wherein the use register comprises a RFID tag element.

11. A system as in claim 6

wherein the device is adapted to apply radio frequency energy to the tissue region.