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

• US 8,103,811 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• 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 ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wille, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Peyton, Tammara
• Application Number:
  US12/232,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 710 8- 10, 710/102, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 713/182, 713/300
• US Class Current: 710/62
• 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. An upgradable medical system adapted to perform a plurality of functions, comprising a first memory for storing a number of programmable functions, each of said functions adapted to be enabled and disabled, a second memory for storing enable/disable flags that indicate the operational status of the programs stored in said first memory, a memory card that when electrically mated to said system changes the functionality of said system by selectively activating the flag in said second memory for at least one particular function with a code directed to said particular function when said system powers up and said memory card mated to said system so that said at least one particular function is retrieved from said first memory and stored in a third memory for operation, the at least one particular function could also be disabled if enabled by said memory card by the deactivation of the flag in said second memory for said at least one particular function, said memory card recording the functions enabled/disabled in said system and the serial number of said system, information stored in said memory card including the functions enabled/disabled in said system may be downloaded from said memory card by the manufacturer of said system.

2. System of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a multi-functional monitor for monitoring at least one physiological parameter of a patient.

3. System of claim 1, wherein said memory card is matable to an input of said system, said memory card including at least one code adapted to selectively activate and deactivate at least one of said functions stored in said first memory.

5. System of claim 1, wherein said plurality of functions comprise at least ECG, RSP, NIBP and 5-lead ECG.

6. System of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a plurality of sensing means connectable to a patient for collecting at least one physiological parameter from said patient.

4. System of claim, wherein said system comprises a monitor that displays to a user an options screen when said memory card is mated to said system, said user interfacing with said options screen to selectively control the operational status of at least one of said functions.

7. In combination, a plurality of upgradable electronic devices each having a given serial number, one of said upgradable electronic devices comprising:

a first memory for storing a plurality of programs each when activated is adapted to enable said device to perform a particular function, at least one of said programs being activated when said one device is first put into operation;

a second memory for storing enable/disable flags that indicate the operational status of the programs stored in said first memory;

a third memory wherein the activated another of the programs is stored after being retrieved from said first memory;

an input for accepting a token having stored therein at least one command code to selectively activate at least another one of said programs by enabling the flag in said second memory to thereby update said one device to be able to perform the function associated with the activated another one of said programs;

wherein said token is removable from said one device and inputtable to an other of said electronic devices that has at least the same program as said one program activated by said token in said one device so that said one program in said other device can be selectively activated and deactivated depending on the activation status of said one program in said one device;

wherein said token records information including the functions enabled/disabled in said one and other devices and the respective serial numbers of said devices, information stored in said token including the functions enabled/disabled in said one and other devices and their respective serial numbers may be downloaded from said token so that a record of the different functions enabled/disabled for the devices may be kept by the manufacturer of said devices.

8. Combination of claim 7, wherein said token comprises a memory card having a predetermined count number, said predetermined count number being decremented by one each time said memory card is used with any one of said electronic devices to enable said particular function in said any one device so long as said predetermined count number remains greater than zero, and said predetermined count number being incremented by one each time said memory card is used with said any one device to disable said particular function in said any one device.

9. Combination of claim 7, wherein said functions stored in each of said devices comprise at least ECG, RSP, NIBP and 5-lead ECG.

10. Combination of claim 7, wherein said one device comprises a plurality of sensing means connectable to a patient for collecting at least one physiological parameter from said patient.

11. In a medical device capable of performing a plurality of functions having at least one prestored function in said device that said device is capable of performing, the plurality of functions stored in a first memory, a method of updating the functions that are operable by said medical device, comprising the steps of:

mating a token to said device, said token having a code to selectively activate and deactivate said one prestored function;

interfacing with an options menu displayed by said device corresponding to the status of an enable/disable flag stored in a second memory that shows the operational state of at least said one prestored function;

activating the enable/disable flag to its enable or disable state to change the functions that are operable by said device by selectively enabling and disenabling said one prestored function in said device, said one prestored function if enabled is written onto a working memory for operation; and

withdrawing said token from said device;

wherein a predetermined count number in said token for said one prestored function is either decremented or incremented in response to the enabling or disabling, respectively of said one prestored function in said device; and

wherein said token records the functions enabled/disabled in said device, the functions enabled/disabled in said device may be downloaded from said token so that a record of the functions enabled/disabled for said device may be kept by the manufacturer of said device.

12. Method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

mating said token to an other medical device having at least the same said one prestored function; and

interfacing with an options menu displayed by said other device to change the functionality of said other device by selectively changing the operational status of said one prestored function prestored in said other device;

wherein said token records the functions enabled/disabled in said other device, the functions enabled/disabled in said other device may be downloaded from said token so that respective records of the functions enabled/disabled for said device and said other devices may be kept by the manufacturer of said device.