Memory option card having predetermined number of activation/deactivation codes for selectively activating and deactivating option functions for a medical device

• US 7,096,282 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical MD Incorporated
• Inventors: Wille, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Peyton, Tammara
• Assistant Examiner(s): J., A.
• Application Number:
  US09/364,067
• Time in Patent Office: 2,580 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8, 710/10, 710/102, 710/14, 710/16, 710/100, 710/103, 713/1, 713/100
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A device such as for example a electronic medical device has a memory that has prestored therein a number of programs or routines for performing various functions. Some of those functions are optional functions that were not enabled when the equipment was put into service. If the user of the equipment desires thereafter to activate any one of those optional functions, an options card that has a number of memory blocks each specifically configured to enable one of the prestored optional functions is sent to the user. The user can then insert the options card into a receptacle integrated into the device and, upon power up of the device, elect a menu for enabling the desired optional function(s) prestored in the device. The options card may be configured to have a count number that indicates the number of devices the card may be used for enabling a particular optional function. The options card may further be configured to include data that may be used to enable or disable multiple optional functions prestored in the device. When returned to the manufacturer, given that the serial numbers of the machines to which the options card was inserted are recorded therein, the manufacturer can easily keep tab of the status of those machines in the field that had had optional functions enabled/disabled.

Claims

1. A multi-functional device, comprising:

memory means for pre-storing a number of programs or routines each for performing a number of functions, at least one of said functions being an optional function at the time said device was first put into operation, said optional function adaptable to be in an activated mode and a deactivated mode; and

an input port means for accepting a memory card, said memory card having at least one code stored therein that selectively activates and deactivates said optional function for said device and other devices that have stored therein said optional function, said memory card including a count number that predetermines the number of devices that said token means can activate;

wherein said memory card inserted into said input port, said optional function pre-stored in said memory means is selectively enabled and disabled by said one code stored in said memory card, said optional function remaining in the selected mode for said device thereafter.

2. Device of claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises a ROM for storing said programs or routines, further comprising:

a RAM for storing at least the program or routine that is to be run by said processor means to perform a function;

a static RAM for storing a number of parameters each for enabling or disabling one of the functions performed by a corresponding one of said programs or routines stored in said RAM.

3. Device of claim 1, wherein said memory card comprises a PCMCIA flash memory card having a non-volatile memory for storing at least one activation or deactivation code for enabling or disabling a particular prestored function in said device.

4. Device of claim 1, wherein said device is a medical instrument having a display.

5. Device of claim 1, wherein said memory card comprises a PCMCIA flash memory card having a non-volatile memory for storing at least one activation or deactivation code for activating or deactivating one of said parameters stored in said static RAM so as to enable or disable a corresponding one of said functions stored in said RAM.

6. Device of claim 1, wherein said memory card comprises a PCMCIA flash memory card, said memory card being adaptable to be used to provide said one code to other devices;

wherein after said memory card has been used to selectively enable and disable said prestored optional function in said device, said predetermined count number is selectively decremented and incremented, respectively, by a given amount; and

wherein said memory card thereafter can be used to selectively enable and disable said optional function prestored in said other devices, said memory card being useable for selectively activating and deactivating said optional function prestored in all said other devices, said given amount being decremented and incremented, respectively, after the selective activation and deactivation of said optional function in each of said other device.

7. Device of claim 1, wherein said functions prestored in said device include at least ECG, RSP, NIBP and 5-lead ECG.

8. Device of claim 7, wherein said ECG and RSP functions are functions that are operational at the time said device is put into operation.

9. Device of claim 1, wherein said device is a monitor having a plurality of sensing means connectable to a patient for collecting and displaying physiological data from said patient.

10. A memory card to be inserted into a receptacle of a device for selectively activating and deactivating at least one optional function prestored in said device, said prestored optional function adaptable to be performed by said device, comprising:

at least one memory block for storing data to selectively activate and deactivate one particular optional function stored in said device, said memory block having a number of data fields including one that contains a preset count number that allows said memory card to be used to selectively activate a and deactivate said one particular optional function in said device and in other devices having the same said particular optional function prestored therein so that said optional function, upon selective activation and deactivation, becomes a selective active and inactive operational function, respectively, in said device and said other devices thereafter independent of said memory card, said preset count number being decremented and incremented by a given amount each time said memory card is inserted into the receptacle of each of said other devices for selectively activating and deactivating, respectively, said particular optional function in said each other device, said memory card being usable for selectively activating and deactivating other optional functions in said device and said other devices.

11. Memory card of claim 10, wherein one of said data fields is used to store the serial or identification numbers of the devices having functions enabled by said memory card.

12. Memory card of claim 10, wherein one of said data fields is used to store a number representing the amount decremented from said preset count number.

13. Memory card of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of memory blocks each adaptable to activate a corresponding optional function prestored in said device and said other devices.

14. Memory card of claim 10, wherein said device is a device having a display for displaying a menu to prompt a user to selectively activate at least said one particular optional function prestored in said device after said memory card is inserted into said receptacle.

15. Memory card of claim 10, wherein said device is a medical device.

25. Device of claim 14, wherein said device is a monitor having a plurality of sensing means connectable to a patient for performing said functions to collect and display physiological data from said patient.

16. A medical device adaptable for performing a number of functions, comprising:

a first memory store for prestoring a number of programs or routines each for performing one of said functions; and

a port for accepting a token, said token having a memory for storing data including multiple codes at least one of which is adaptable to selectively enable and disable a selective one of said programs or routines stored in said first memory store;

a second memory store for storing data that provides an indication of the respective operational status of said functions;

wherein to enable and disable said particular prestored function in a selected mode, upon insertion of said token into said port, a corresponding one of said codes stored in said token is provided to said second memory store to indicate said particular prestored function should be selectively enabled and disabled, said particular prestored function in said device thereafter remaining in the selected mode after said token is removed from said port.

17. Device of claim 16, wherein said device is a medical multi-function monitor.

18. Device of claim 16, wherein said first memory store comprises at least one RAM.

19. Device of claim 16, wherein the data in said second memory store is alterable by the data stored in said token when an options menu is selected from said device after said token has been inserted into said port, and any function desired to be enabled chosen from said options menu.

20. Device of claim 16, wherein said token comprises a PCMCIA flash memory card having at least one memory block including a plurality of data fields for enabling a particular prestored function in said device after said memory card is inserted into said port.

21. Device of claim 20, wherein said memory card includes a predetermined count number, said memory card being adaptable to be used to provide activation codes to other devices;

wherein after said memory card has been used to enable said particular prestored function in said device, said predetermined count number is decremented by one, and said memory card thereafter can be used to enable said particular prestored function in other devices that have said particular prestored function so long as said predetermined count number is greater than zero.

22. Device of claim 20, wherein said memory card comprises an other memory block including a plurality of data fields for enabling an other function prestored in said device after said memory card is inserted into said port.

23. Device of claim 16, wherein said functions prestored in said device include at least ECG, RSP, NIBP and 5-lead ECG.

24. Device of claim 23, wherein said ECG and RSP functions are operational functions built into said device that are not selectively enableable by said token.

26. Device of claim 23, wherein one of said data fields of said memory card is used to store the serial or identification numbers of the devices having functions enabled by said memory card.

28. Device of claim 26, wherein said device is a monitor that has a number of sensing means connectable to a patient for collecting physiological data from said patient by performing said functions.

29. Device of claim 26, wherein said memory card comprises a PCMCIA flash memory card being adaptable to be used to provide said one code to an other device;

wherein after said memory card has been used to enable said prestored optional function in said device, said predetermined count number is decremented by a given amount; and

wherein said memory card thereafter can be used to enable said optional function prestored in said other devices, said memory card being useable for activating all said other devices that have prestored therein said optional function, said given amount being decremented after the activation of said optional function in each of said other devices.

30. Device of claim 26, wherein said functions prestored in said device include at least ECG, RSP, NIBP and 5-lead ECG.

31. Device of claim 26, wherein said ECG and RSP functions are operational functions when said device is first put into service.

27. A multi-functional medical device, comprising:

processor means;

memory means for prestoring a number of programs or routines for performing a corresponding number of functions, at least one of said functions being an optional function selectable to be operable at the time said device was first shipped;

an input port for accepting a memory card, said memory card having at least one code stored therein for selectively activating and deactivating said optional function in said device and other devices that have the same optional function prestored therein, said memory card including a count number that determines the number of devices said memory card can activate;

a bus for interconnecting said processor means, said memory means and said input port;

wherein, with said memory card inserted into said input port, said one code stored in said memory card is read on power up of said device for selectively activating and deactivating said optional function prestored in said memory means.