Devices and methods for locking and unlocking mechanical equipment

• US 9,852,566 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Orthopedic Technologies IOT AG
• Original Assignee: Innovative Orthopedic Technologies IOT AG
• Inventors: Menzi, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin
• Application Number:
  US14/858,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20160086407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 340 56
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

An electronic locking device for selectively locking a medical device includes an antenna configured to wirelessly receive information from an identification tag, wherein the identification tag comprises unlocked duration period data, a motor coupled to the antenna, and a locking pin coupled to the motor, wherein the motor is configured to transition the locking pin from a locked position to an unlocked position for a predetermined period of time prescribed by the unlocked duration period data in response to an unlocking signal received by the antenna from the identification tag, wherein the locking pin is configured to prevent usage of the medical device in the locked position and allow usage of the medical device in the unlocked position.

Claims

1. An electronic locking device for selectively locking a medical device, comprising:

an antenna configured to wirelessly receive information from an identification tag, wherein the identification tag comprises unlocked duration period data;

a motor coupled to the antenna; and

a locking pin coupled to the motor;

wherein the motor is configured to simultaneously withdraw the locking pin from a locked position to an unlocked position spaced from the locked position and allow usage of the medical device for a predetermined period of time prescribed by the unlocked duration period data in response to an unlocking signal received by the antenna from the identification tag, wherein the locking pin is configured to prevent usage of the medical device in the locked position.

2. The electronic locking device of claim 1, wherein the identification tag comprises initial count data prescribing the number of times the identification tag can instruct the electronic locking device to move the locking pin from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to the unlocking signal from the identification tag.

3. The electronic locking device of claim 1, further comprising a digital display coupled to an integrated circuit, wherein the digital display is configured to visually indicate the unlocked duration period data.

4. The electronic locking device of claim 3, wherein the digital display is configured to visually indicate initial count data prescribing the number of times the identification tag can instruct the electronic locking device to move the locking pin from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to the unlocking signal from the identification tag.

5. The electronic locking device of claim 1, wherein the identification tag comprises a passive radio-frequency identification tag.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to retract the locking pin into the unlocked position in response to the locking pin engaging an obstruction while moving towards the locked position from the unlocked position.

21. The electronic locking device of claim 1, wherein the electronic locking device is mounted to the medical device.

7. A medical device for performing a surgical or diagnostic procedure on a patient, the medical device comprising:

a base;

a locking member moveably coupled to the base; and

an electronic locking device coupled to the base, the electronic locking device comprising;

an antenna configured to wirelessly receive information from an identification tag, wherein the identification tag comprises unlocked duration period data;

a motor coupled to the antenna; and

a locking pin coupled to the motor;

wherein the motor is configured to simultaneously withdraw the locking pin from a first position to a second position spaced from the first position and allow usage of the medical device for a predetermined period of time prescribed by the unlocked duration period data in response to an unlocking signal received by the antenna from the identification tag, wherein the locking pin is configured to restrict relative movement between the locking member and the base in the first position and allow relative movement between the locking member and the base in the second position.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the identification tag comprises initial count data prescribing the number of times the identification tag can instruct the electronic locking device to move the locking pin from the first position to the second position in response to the unlocking signal from the identification tag.

9. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the locking member is pivotally coupled to the base, and comprises a locked position configured to prevent usage of the medical device and an unlocked position configured to allow usage of the medical device.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein, when the locking pin is in the first position, the locking pin is configured to lock the locking member in the locked position.

11. The medical device of claim 9, wherein, when the locking pin is in the first position and the locking member is in the locked position, the locking pin is received in a groove of the locking member.

12. The medical device of claim 9, wherein, when the locking member is in the locked position, the locking member is configured to restrict the rotation of a crank coupled to the base.

13. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the motor is configured to retract the locking pin into the second position in response to the locking pin engaging an obstruction while moving towards the first position from the second position.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the motor is configured to extend the locking pin towards the first position following a predetermined period of time after the retraction of the locking pin into the second position.

15. A method for controllably locking a medical device using an electronic locking device, comprising:

preventing use of the medical device with the electronic locking device coupled to the medical device;

wirelessly communicating an unlocking signal from an identification tag to the electronic locking device coupled to the medical device;

wirelessly communicating unlocked duration period data from the identification tag to the electronic locking device;

actuating a motor of the electronic locking device to simultaneously withdraw a locking pin from a locked position to an unlocked position spaced from the locked position and allow usage of the medical device in response to receiving the unlocking signal from the identification tag; and

actuating the motor to advance the locking pin from the unlocked position to the locked position to prevent use of the medical device after a predetermined period of time prescribed by the unlocked duration period data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising programming the identification tag with unlocked duration period data.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein communicating information from the identification tag to the electronic locking device comprises wirelessly transmitting a radio-frequency identification signal from the identification tag to the electronic locking device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising wirelessly communicating to the electronic locking device from the identification tag initial count data prescribing the number of times the identification tag can communicate the unlocking signal to the electronic locking device to unlock the electronic locking device.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising visually displaying the unlocked duration period data on a digital display of the electronic locking device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein unlocking the electronic locking device in response to receiving the unlocking signal from the identification tag comprises allowing a locking member coupled to a base of the medical device to move relative to the base.