CYCLE COUNTING

• US 20100027582A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Whitaker, Tyson B., Quinn, David E., Meyerson, Craig M., Martin, Scott A., Kinsley, Matthew J., Lane, John A., Stone, Ray D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,308,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/142
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/08 Registering or indicating the production of the machine either with or without registering working or idle time

Abstract

The present invention provides a platform for a manufacturer of reusable medical apparatuses to provide timely post-sale service for replaceable parts. In one embodiment, the probe assembly of an electronic thermometer has a connector that is equipped with a memory device, e.g., EEPROM, that stores a variety of probe-specific service information including usage count of the probe, probe warranty information and error codes. The user can plug the connector, e.g., through an adapter module, to a local computer'"'"'s USB port and submit the stored service information to a website maintained by the probe manufacturer to check up and get service for the specific probe in a timely fashion. Automatic alert for replacement probe orders depending on the amount of usage, automatic generation of RMA numbers when the probe warranty is determined to be in effect, and automatic service calls for malfunctioning thermometers can all be accomplished accordingly without the need for manual record-keeping. A healthcare provider can simply set aside a day at a scheduled interval to check all of its reusable medial apparatuses equipped with the invented system to keep them safe and effective.

Claims

1. An electronic thermometer comprising:

a controlling base that houses controlling electronics programmed to at least calculate a sensed temperature;

a probe assembly comprising a heat-conducting probe removably attached to the controlling base to communicate electrically with the controlling electronics; and

an electronic memory associated with the probe assembly programmed to store at least one piece of probe-specific service information.

2. The thermometer of claim 1 wherein the electronic memory is disposed in a connector in electrical communication with the heat-conducting probe, the connector providing removable electrical connection between the probe assembly and the controlling electronics.

3. The thermometer of claim 2 wherein the connector comprises a programmable lead accessible for programming.

4. The thermometer of claim 2 wherein the connector comprises an electrical erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

5. The thermometer of claim 1 wherein the electronic memory comprises an electrical erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

6. The thermometer of claim 1 wherein the controlling base comprises a user interface that comprises a display and at least one button configured for controlling operation of the thermometer, and the controlling electronics comprises a microprocessor.

7. The thermometer of claim 1 wherein the at least one piece of probe-specific service information comprises a usage count of the probe, and the thermometer further comprises a counter for generating the usage count, the counter being electrically coupled to the electronic memory for storing the usage count.

8. The thermometer of claim 7 configured to generate a signal when the usage count of the probe reaches a predetermined number.

9. The thermometer of claim 8 wherein said signal comprises a message for user action.

10. The thermometer of claim 8 wherein the thermometer further comprises an indicator for generating said signal.

11. The thermometer of claim 7 configured to display information useful for ordering the heat-conducting probe or the entire probe assembly when the usage count of the probe reaches a predetermined number.

12. The thermometer of claim 1 wherein the at least one piece of probe-specific service information comprises information related to a probe warranty.

13. The thermometer of claim 12 configured to display whether the probe warranty is still in effect and, if so, information useful for requesting a return merchandise authorization number.

14. The thermometer of claim 1 wherein the at least one piece of probe-specific service information comprises error codes for malfunctions related to the probe.

15. The thermometer of claim 14 configured to display error information useful for initiating a service call or otherwise remedying the detected malfunction.

16. The thermometer of claim 1 wherein the electronic memory further stores identification information of the probe.

17. The thermometer of claim 1 wherein the electronic memory is disposed in the controlling base.

18. A system for servicing a reusable medical apparatus, the system comprising:

a reusable medical apparatus comprising a reusable part and an electronic memory associated with the reusable part, the electronic memory being programmed to store at least one piece of service information specific to the reusable part, and

a remote processing system programmed to process the at least one piece of service information for servicing the reusable medical apparatus.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein at least part of said remote processing system is disposed in a local computer.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein at least part of said remote processing system is disposed in a handheld module.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein at least part of the remote processing system is connectable to said electronic memory through a network.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said network comprises the Internet.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said network comprises an extranet or intranet.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the reusable medical apparatus is configured to or adapted to plug into a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for connecting to the network that allows access to the remote processing system.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein the reusable medical apparatus comprises a medical sensor apparatus.

26. The system of claim 18 wherein the reusable medical apparatus comprises a vital signs monitor.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein the electronic memory comprises an electrical erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

28. The system of claim 18 wherein the reusable medical apparatus comprises an electronic thermometer that comprises:

(a) a controlling base that houses controlling electronics programmed to at least calculate a sensed temperature; and

(b) a probe assembly comprising a reusable, heat-conducting probe removably attached to the controlling base to communicate electrically with the controlling electronics and the electronic memory.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the electronic memory is disposed in a connector in electrical communication with the heat-conducting probe, the connector providing removable electrical connection between the probe assembly and the controlling electronics.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the connector comprises a programmable lead accessible for programming.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein said at least one piece of service information comprises usage count of the reusable part, and the reusable medical apparatus further comprises a counter for generating the usage count, the counter being electrically coupled to the electronic memory for storing the usage count.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the remote processing system is programmed to generate a signal when the usage count of the reusable part reaches a predetermined number.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the remote processing system is programmed to display information useful for ordering the reusable part when the usage count of the reusable part reaches a predetermined number.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the remote processing system is programmed to initiate an order for the reusable part when the usage count of the reusable part reaches a predetermined number.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the remote processing system is programmed such that the order requires confirmation for completing the order.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the remote processing system is programmed to complete the order without further confirmation.

37. The system of claim 18 wherein said at least one piece of service information comprises information related to a warranty.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the remote processing system is programmed to generate a return merchandise authorization number if the warranty is in effect.

39. The system of claim 18 wherein said at least one piece of service information comprises error codes.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the remote processing system is programmed to provide error information useful for initiating a service call or otherwise remedying the detected malfunction.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein the remote processing system is programmed to initiate a service call.

42. The system of claim 18 wherein the electronic memory further stores identification information of the reusable part.

43. The system of claim 18 wherein the reusable medical apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a thermometer, spirometer, pulse oximeter, sphygmomanometer, electronic stethoscope and a combination of any of the above.

44. The system of claim 18 wherein the reusable medical apparatus comprises an instrument for interrogating a sensory organ selected from the group consisting of the eye, ear, nose, throat, oral tract and skin.

45. The system of claim 18 wherein the reusable medical apparatus is selected from the group consisting of an otoscope, ophthalmoscope, retinoscope, autorefractor, tympanometer, audiometer, illuminator, laryngoscope, and rhinolaryngoscope.

46. A system for servicing an electronic thermometer, the system comprising:

an electronic thermometer comprising;

(a) a controlling base that houses controlling electronics programmed to at least calculate a sensed temperature;

(b) a probe assembly comprising a heat-conducting probe; and

(c) a connector in electrical communication with the heat-conducting probe and providing removable electrical connection between the probe assembly and the controlling electronics, the connector comprising an electrical erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) that stores at least one piece of service information selected from the group consisting of usage count of the probe, probe warranty information, and probe error codes; and

a remote processing system accessible through an internetwork and programmed to process the at least one piece of service information for servicing the electronic thermometer.