Controlling usage of replaceable tool ends

• US 9,463,287 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bing Innovations Llc
• Original Assignee: Bing Innovations Llc
• Inventors: Lorberbaum, Mark, Yagoda, Bernardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eckman, Michelle C
• Application Number:
  US14/803,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20160317759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 600/235, 600237-245, 600/249, 604/22, 601/46, 601/78, 601/80
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0073 with means for minimising or preventing pain during treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2059 Mechanical position encoders
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/028 Arrangements to prevent overuse, e.g. by counting the number of uses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• 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: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0188 Illumination related features
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1418 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1685 interchangeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1688 : disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5005 : for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 : computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 : connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 : Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 : Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 : with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 : using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 : with rotary motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/007 : Stimulation by mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 : sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 : by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/422 : Desensitising skin
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A device vibrates body tissue to reduce pain experience by the body tissue in a therapeutic procedure. The device includes a frame and a tip connectable to the frame which can be activated to produce vibration. An electromagnetic reader is connected to the frame and includes an antenna for sending and receiving electromagnetic radiation. An electromagnetic tag is connected to the removable tip, and also has an antenna for sending and receiving electromagnetic radiation in communication with the electromagnetic reader antenna. The antennas are disposed proximate to each other when the removable tip is connected to the frame, whereby the electromagnetic tag can transmit information to the electromagnetic reader.

Claims

1. A device for vibrating body tissue, comprising:

a frame;

an activatable source of vibration positioned in the frame;

a removable tip connectable to the frame and having a distal end, the tip connected to the source of vibration when the tip is connected to the frame to thereby vibrate the distal end when the source of vibration is activated;

an electromagnetic reader positioned in the frame and including a first antenna configured to receive electromagnetic radiation; and

an electromagnetic tag affixed to the removable tip and including a second antenna configured to send electromagnetic radiation in communication with the first antenna, the first and second antennas disposed proximate to each other with the first antenna overlapping an interior space of the tip when the removable tip is connected to the frame, the electromagnetic tag thereby configured to transmit information to the electromagnetic reader,

wherein the first antenna of the electromagnetic reader receives information from the electromagnetic tag only when the first antenna overlaps the interior space of the tip or the first and second antenna are located a distance less than 8 mm apart.

2. The device of claim 1, further including a processor communicatively connected to the electromagnetic reader, the processor configured to execute software stored on non-transitory media, the software configured to store and process information provided by the electromagnetic reader obtained from the electromagnetic tag.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein processing information includes at least one of:

(a) a count of a number of times that the source of vibration has been activated with a unique removable tip connected to the frame;

(b) an amount of time that the source of vibration has been activated with a unique removable tip connected to the frame;

(c) a number of times that communication has been initiated between the reader and the tag;

(d) a number of times that data has been transmitted between the reader and the tag; and

(e) a hash function wherein a unique value transmitted by the tag is analyzed to determine authenticity of the tag.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second antennas overlap at least partially when the tip is connected to the frame.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication is carried out using an NFC protocol.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic tag is a passive style tag.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna projects into an interior space of the tip when the tip is connected to the frame.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second antenna is connected to an interior surface of the tip.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication is carried out using the ISO/IEC 14443A protocol.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tip includes at least two opposing sides forming a space therebetween, the space sized to admit application of a medical device into contact with the body tissue.

11. The device of claim 1, further including a light configured to shine in a direction of the distal end of the tip when the source of vibration is activated.

12. The device of claim 1, further including:

a motor;

a cam connected to the motor;

a light source; and

a light pipe connected to the light source to transmit light away from the light source, the light pipe connected to the cam to transmit vibration to a distal end of the tip.

13. The device of claim 1, further including:

a battery;

a coil connected to the battery, the coil configured to inductively receive electromagnetic energy to charge the battery.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic tag includes an electronic component to store data that uniquely identifies the tag, the tag configured to transmit the stored data upon a read request from the electromagnetic reader.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the component is configured to store data received from the electromagnetic reader.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the data is at least one of:

(a) a count of a number of times that the source of vibration has been activated with a unique removable tip connected to the frame;

(b) an amount of time that the source of vibration has been activated with a unique removable tip connected to the frame;

(c) a number of times that communication has been initiated between the reader and the tag;

(d) a number of times that data has been transmitted between the reader and the tag; and

(e) a unique value transmitted by the tag that is analyzable to determine authenticity of the tag.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein processing information includes preventing activation of the source of vibration if at least one of the following conditions are met:

(a) a count of a number of times;

or

(b) an amount of time;

that the source of vibration has been activated with a unique removable tip connected to the frame exceeds a predetermined threshold.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic tag includes an electronic component to store data that includes a code useable to validate an authenticity of the tag.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the removable tip includes a base connected to the distal end by a flexible sleeve affixed to both the base and the distal end, the device further including:

a connector formed between the frame and the base, the connector requiring relative rotation between the base and the frame to connect and disconnect the removable tip;

a coupling formed between the distal end and the frame to rotationally affix the distal end relative to the frame when the base is connected to the frame, whereby when the removable tip is rotated to be disconnected from the frame, the distal end is rotationally affixed relative to the base by the coupling to thereby cause the flexible sleeve to be torn.

20. An endpiece for therapeutically vibrating body tissue, the endpiece connectable to a frame having an activatable source of vibration and an electromagnetic reader and reader antenna, the endpiece comprising:

a removable tip releasably connectable to the frame and having a distal end, the tip connected to the source of vibration when the tip is connected to the frame to thereby vibrate the distal end when the source of vibration is activated, the tip having an opening into which the reader antenna is inserted; and

an electromagnetic tag connected to the removable tip and including a tag antenna configured to receive and send electromagnetic radiation using an NFC protocol in communication with the reader antenna, the tip and reader antennas disposed in proximity to each other when the removable tip is connected to the frame, the electromagnetic tag thereby configured to transmit information to the electromagnetic reader;

the tag including data storage including a unique value transmittable by the tag to the reader that is analyzable to determine authenticity of the tag.

21. A method of vibrating body tissue, comprising:

connecting a removable tip to a handheld frame, the tip having a distal end, the tip connected to a source of vibration when the tip is connected to the frame to thereby vibrate the distal end when the source of vibration is activated; and

activating an electromagnetic reader within the frame and including a first antenna configured to send and receive electromagnetic radiation using an NFC protocol to read an electromagnetic tag connected to the removable tip and including a second antenna configured to receive and send electromagnetic radiation in communication with the electromagnetic reader antenna, the first antenna projecting into the removable tip, the first and second antennas thereby disposed proximate to each other when the removable tip is connected to the frame, the electromagnetic tag thereby configured to transmit information to the electromagnetic reader.