Apparatus and method to limit the life span of a diagnostic medical ultrasound probe
First Claim
1. An ultrasound probe, comprising:
- a housing, said housing including;
an ultrasound transducer; and
a circuit having a plurality of states to limit the use of the ultrasound probe; and
wherein the circuit comprises an element that disables the probe as a function of said plurality of states.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound probe for diagnostic medical ultrasound imaging, including an ultrasound transducer and a circuit having a plurality of states to limit the use of the ultrasound probe. Ultrasound probe use can be limited based on a unique identification number (e.g., selected by means of electrically programmable fuses) assigned to each ultrasound probe. Alternatively, the ultrasound system software monitors and updates the number of times that the ultrasound probe has been used. Another aspect of the invention is directed to an ultrasound system, including an ultrasound probe with multiple states, a circuit to program and to receive state data from the ultrasound probe and interpret the state data, and a cable to communicate state data between the ultrasound probe and the processor. Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for using a limited use ultrasound probe, including the steps of determining the state of a circuit in the limited use ultrasound probe and determining if the ultrasound probe can be used.
201 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An ultrasound probe, comprising:
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a housing, said housing including;
an ultrasound transducer; and
a circuit having a plurality of states to limit the use of the ultrasound probe; and
wherein the circuit comprises an element that disables the probe as a function of said plurality of states. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An ultrasound probe, comprising:
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an ultrasound transducer; and
a circuit having at least one discrete state to limit the use of the ultrasound probe to a fixed number of uses, wherein each of said at least one discrete state represents one of said fixed number of uses; and
wherein expiration of all of said at least one discrete state renders said ultrasound probe unusable. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An ultrasound probe, comprising:
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an ultrasound transducer; and
a circuit having at least one discrete state to limit the use of the ultrasound probe to a fixed number of uses, wherein each of said at least one discrete state represents one of said fixed number of uses; and
wherein expiration of all of said at least one discrete state causes said ultrasound probe to indicate a thermal fault to an ultrasound system coupled with said ultrasound probe. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of limiting the use of an ultrasound probe comprising:
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(a) providing a circuit with at least one discrete state within said ultrasound probe representing one of a fixed number of uses of said ultrasound probe;
(b) expiring one of said at least one discrete state upon power on of said ultrasound probe;
(c) allowing use of said ultrasound probe, by said circuit, when at least one of said at least one discrete state remains unexpired; and
(d) preventing use of said ultrasound probe, by said circuit, when all of said at least one discrete state are expired. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
(e) simulating a thermal fault within said ultrasound probe, by said circuit, when all of said at least one discrete state are expired.
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19. The method of claim 17 wherein said at least one discrete state comprises at least one fuse, the method further comprising
(e) open circuiting, permanently, said at least one fuse upon power on of said ultrasound probe.
Specification