Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling use of medical devices

• US 6,733,495 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mederi Rf, LLC
• Original Assignee: Curon Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Bek, Robin, Utley, David S., Bernitt, James J., Qin, Jay, Gaiser, John
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/070,465
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/32-34, 606/41, 606/42
• US Class Current: 606/34
• 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 (26) carries a use monitoring element (82,114) 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 (82, 114) indicates a prior use.

Claims

1. A system for treating a tissue region comprising

a device including a magnetic core carried by the device having a logic state, the magnetic core being operable to be set to either a logic state of one in response to current flow through the core in a first direction or a logic state of zero in response to current flow through the core in a second direction different than the first direction, and

a reader to sense the logic state of the core 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 pass current through the core in the direction that changes 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 device according to claim 1 wherein the device is adapted to apply radio frequency energy to the tissue region.