System for identifying the presence and correctness of a medical device accessory

• US 9,283,334 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northgate Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Northgate Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mantell, Robert, Curtis, Chip, Weaver, Steven, Andersen, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell, Theodore
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stiles, Amber
• Application Number:
  US13/683,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20130131579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 604/23, 604/533
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/00 Insufflators for therapeutic or disinfectant purposes , i.e. devices for blowing a gas, powder or vapour into the body hand-held units in which gas flow is produced by muscular energy at the moment of use B05B11/062
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1022 additionally providing electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/56 by using electric or magnetic effects G01F1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/16 using resistive elements resistive elements per se H01C, H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/02 by making use of variations in ohmic resistance, e.g. of potentiometers , electric circuits therefor, e.g. bridges, amplifiers or signal conditioning

Abstract

A medical device accessory comprising an interface configured to connect the medical device accessory with a medical device for administration of a medical treatment using the medical device and the medical device accessory, a plurality of electrical contacts proximate the interface, the electrical contacts comprising a lead electrical contact adapted to receive an voltage from a power source associated with the medical device and one or more identifying electrical contacts, and at least one conductor providing an electrical connection between the lead electrical contact and the one or more identifying electrical contacts. An arrangement of the one or more identifying electrical contacts connected to the lead electrical contact identifies a characteristic of the medical device accessory.

Claims

1. A medical device accessory, comprising:

an interface configured to connect the medical device accessory with a medical device for administration of a medical treatment using the medical device and the medical device accessory;

a plurality of electrical contacts proximate the interface, the electrical contacts comprising a lead electrical contact adapted to receive a voltage from a power source associated with the medical device and a plurality of identifying electrical contacts; and

,

at least one conductor providing an electrical connection between the lead electrical contact and one or more of the plurality of identifying electrical contacts;

wherein an arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of identifying electrical contacts connected to the lead electrical contact identifies a characteristic of the medical device accessory; and

,

wherein a conductor of the at least one conductors is configured for alignment with a severing element associated with the medical device and is mechanically severable by the severing element upon disconnection of the medical device accessory with the medical device.

2. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the medical device accessory that is identified, after disconnection of the medical device accessory with the medical device, is a prior use of the medical device accessory.

3. The medical device accessory of claim 1, characterized by an absence of an active component electrically connected to the lead electrical contact.

4. The medical device accessory of claim 3, wherein the active component is a resistor, a fuse, a memory chip, a capacitor, an optical sensor, or a radio-frequency identification component.

5. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the medical device accessory that is identified is an operating parameter of the medical device for operation with the medical device accessory.

6. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the medical device accessory that is identified is a proper connection of the medical device accessory with the medical device.

7. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the medical device accessory that is identified is an identity of the medical device accessory.

8. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the medical device accessory is a connector configured to connect the medical device with another medical device accessory.

9. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the medical device accessory comprises a conduit having a lumen for transporting a fluid.

10. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of identifying electrical contacts connected to the lead electrical contact is adapted to provide the voltage to a controller associated with the medical device.

12. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts function independent of the interface configured to connect the medical device accessory with a medical device for administration of a medical treatment.

13. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein the medical device accessory is operable with the medical device without receipt of power from the medical device through the plurality of electrical contacts.

14. The medical device accessory of claim 1, wherein an arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of identifying electrical contacts connected to the lead electrical contact after disconnection of the medical device accessory from the medical device is different than the arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of identifying electrical contacts connected to the lead electrical contact upon connection of the medical device accessory with the medical device.

11. A medical device accessory, comprising:

an interface configured to connect the medical device accessory with a medical device for administration of a medical treatment using the medical device and the medical device accessory;

a lead electrical contact adapted to receive a voltage from a power source associated with the medical device and an identifying electrical contact; and

a conductor providing an electrical connection between the lead electrical contact and the identifying electrical contacts;

wherein the conductor is configured for alignment with a severing element associated with the medical device and is mechanically severable by the severing element upon disconnection of the medical device accessory with the medical device to provide an indication of prior use of the medical device accessory.

15. The medical device accessory of claim 11, characterized by an absence of an active component electrically connected to the lead electrical contact.

16. The medical device accessory of claim 15, wherein the active component is a resistor, a fuse, a memory chip, a capacitor, an optical sensor, or a radio-frequency identification component.

17. The medical device accessory of claim 11, wherein the medical device accessory is a connector configured to connect the medical device with another medical device accessory.

18. The medical device accessory of claim 11, wherein the medical device accessory comprises a conduit having a lumen for transporting a fluid.

19. The medical device accessory of claim 11, wherein the lead electrical contact and the identifying electrical contact function independent of the interface configured to connect the medical device accessory with a medical device for administration of a medical treatment.

20. The medical device accessory of claim 11, wherein the medical device accessory is operable with the medical device without receipt of power from the medical device through the lead electrical contact.