Limited use medical probe
First Claim
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1. A method for limiting the use of a medical probe according to a set of usage criteria using a security function, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) coupling a probe memory to a medical probe, the probe memory having an identifying data about the medical probe, therein;
(b) coupling the medical probe to a medical device;
(c) coupling the medical probe to a patient;
(d) retrieving a set of use values associated with use of the medical probe from the probe memory;
(e) using a security function to verify that the contents of the probe memory have not been corrupted or tampered with;
(f) applying a set of usage criteria periodically during use of the medical probe, comprising repetition of the following steps;
(i) updating the set of use values of the medical probe during use and creating an updated set of use values;
(ii) testing the updated set of use values against the set of usage criteria related to the medical probe;
(iii) performing an expiration response when one or a combination of the usage criteria are violated;
(iv) storing the updated set of use values on a periodic basis in the probe memory;
(g) retrieving and storing the identifying data about the medical probe from the probe memory, and storing the data in a memory component of the medical device;
(h) storing a time and date stamp of the use of the medical probe memory in a memory component of the medical device;
(i) comparing the identifying data about the medical probe, read from the probe memory, with the identifying data and time and date stamp of the use(s) corresponding to a previously coupled medical probe(s) as stored in the medical device memory; and
including determining whether an interrupted usage of the medical probe has resumed, or a new usage of the medical probe has begun.
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Abstract
A limited use medical probe is disclosed, including a memory for maintaining a use value. The medical probe is coupled to a medical device that inhibits its function when the use value reaches a predetermined threshold value, preventing improper use of the probe. The probe memory may also store identification, usage, and clinical data. A probe auto-identification function, a probe re-identification function and a probe functional test sequence are disclosed for the medical probe. After use, a reprocessing step may reset the probe memory, permitting further probe use.
1972 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for limiting the use of a medical probe according to a set of usage criteria using a security function, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) coupling a probe memory to a medical probe, the probe memory having an identifying data about the medical probe, therein; (b) coupling the medical probe to a medical device; (c) coupling the medical probe to a patient; (d) retrieving a set of use values associated with use of the medical probe from the probe memory; (e) using a security function to verify that the contents of the probe memory have not been corrupted or tampered with; (f) applying a set of usage criteria periodically during use of the medical probe, comprising repetition of the following steps; (i) updating the set of use values of the medical probe during use and creating an updated set of use values; (ii) testing the updated set of use values against the set of usage criteria related to the medical probe; (iii) performing an expiration response when one or a combination of the usage criteria are violated; (iv) storing the updated set of use values on a periodic basis in the probe memory; (g) retrieving and storing the identifying data about the medical probe from the probe memory, and storing the data in a memory component of the medical device; (h) storing a time and date stamp of the use of the medical probe memory in a memory component of the medical device; (i) comparing the identifying data about the medical probe, read from the probe memory, with the identifying data and time and date stamp of the use(s) corresponding to a previously coupled medical probe(s) as stored in the medical device memory; and
including determining whether an interrupted usage of the medical probe has resumed, or a new usage of the medical probe has begun. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for limiting the use of a medical probe according to a set of usage criteria using a security function, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) coupling a probe memory to a medical probe, the probe memory having an identifying data about the medical probe, therein; (b) coupling the medical probe to a medical device; (c) coupling the medical probe to a patient; (d) retrieving a set of use values associated with use of the medical probe from the probe memory; (e) using a security function to verify that the contents of the probe memory have not been corrupted or tampered with; (f) applying a set of usage criteria periodically during use of the medical probe, comprising repetition of the following steps; (i) updating the set of use values of the medical probe during use and creating an updated set of use values; (ii) testing the updated set of use values against the set of usage criteria related to the medical probe; (iii) performing an expiration response when one or a combination of the usage criteria are violated; (iv) storing the updated set of use values on a periodic basis in the probe memory; (g) storing a time and date stamp of the use of the medical probe memory in the probe memory, and storing identifying data about the medical device in the probe memory; and (h) comparing the stored medical device identifying data, read from the memory component of the medical device, to identifying data and time and date stamp of use(s) corresponding to previously coupled medical device(s) as read from the probe memory; and
including determining whether an interrupted usage of the medical probe with the medical device has been resumed, or a new usage of the medical probe has begun.
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15. A method for limiting the use of a medical probe according to a set of usage criteria using a security function, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) coupling a probe memory to a medical probe, the probe memory having an identifying data about the medical probe, therein; (b) coupling the medical probe to a medical device; (c) coupling the medical probe to a patient; (d) retrieving a set of use values associated with use of the medical probe from the probe memory; (e) using a security function to verify that the contents of the probe memory have not been corrupted or tampered with; and (f) applying a set of usage criteria periodically during use of the medical probe, comprising repetition of the following steps; (i) updating the set of use values of the medical probe during use and creating an updated set of use values; (ii) testing the updated set of use values against the set of usage criteria related to the medical probe; (iii) performing an expiration response when one or a combination of the usage criteria are violated; (iv) storing the updated set of use values on a periodic basis in the probe memory; (v) (performing an auto identification function, including comparing the medical probe type, the medical device, a patient, and a mode of operation of the medical device to verify that the mode of operation of the medical device is permitted when applying the medical probe to the patient.
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16. A method for limiting the use of a medical probe according to a set of usage criteria using a security function, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) coupling a probe memory to a medical probe, the probe memory having an identifying data about the medical probe, therein; (b) coupling the medical probe to a medical device; (c) coupling the medical probe to a patient; (d) retrieving a set of use values associated with use of the medical probe from the probe memory; (e) using a security function to verify that the contents of the probe memory have not been corrupted or tampered with; (f) applying a set of usage criteria periodically during use of the medical probe, comprising repetition of the following steps; (i) updating the set of use values of the medical probe during use and creating an updated set of use values; (ii) testing the updated set of use values against the set of usage criteria related to the medical probe; (iii) performing an expiration response when one or a combination of the usage criteria are violated; (iv) storing the updated set of use values on a periodic basis in the probe memory; and (g) storing a functional test sequence in the probe memory;
storing a set of function test results in the probe memory;
activating the medical probe to perform the functional test sequence and gathering results of the functional test sequence;
comparing results of the functional test sequence with the stored set of function test results and reporting the results of the functional test sequence.
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17. A method for limiting the use of a medical probe according to a set of usage criteria using a security function, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) coupling a probe memory to a medical probe, the probe memory having an identifying data about the medical probe, therein; (b) coupling the medical probe to a medical device; (c) coupling the medical probe to a patient; (d) retrieving a set of use values associated with use of the medical probe from the probe memory; (e) using a security function to verify that the contents of the probe memory have not been corrupted or tampered with; (f) applying a set of usage criteria periodically during use of the medical probe, comprising repetition of the following steps; (i) updating the set of use values of the medical probe during use and creating an updated set of use values; (ii) testing the updated set of use values against the set of usage criteria related to the medical probe; (iii) performing an expiration response when one or a combination of the usage criteria are violated; (iv) storing the updated set of use values on a periodic basis in the probe memory; and (g) storing identifying information and demographic information about the patient coupled to the medical probe in the probe memory.
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18. A method for limiting the use of a medical probe according to a set of usage criteria using a security function, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) coupling a probe memory to a medical probe, the probe memory having an identifying data about the medical probe, therein; (b) coupling the medical probe to a medical device; (c) coupling the medical probe to a patient; (d) retrieving a set of use values associated with use of the medical probe from the probe memory; (e) using a security function to verify that the contents of the probe memory have not been corrupted or tampered with; (f) applying a set of usage criteria periodically during use of the medical probe, comprising repetition of the following steps; (i) updating the set of use values of the medical probe during use and creating an updated set of use values; (ii) testing the updated set of use values against the set of usage criteria related to the medical probe; (iii) performing an expiration response when one or a combination of the usage criteria are violated; (iv) storing the updated set of use values on a periodic basis in the probe memory; and (g) storing a set of therapeutic and monitoring results associated with the patient in the probe memory.
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19. A method for limiting the use of a medical probe according to a set of usage criteria using a security function, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) coupling a probe memory to a medical probe, the probe memory having an identifying data about the medical probe, therein; (b) coupling the medical probe to a medical device; (c) coupling the medical probe to a patient; (d) retrieving a set of use values associated with use of the medical probe from the probe memory; (e) using a security function to verify that the contents of the probe memory have not been corrupted or tampered with; (f) applying a set of usage criteria periodically during use of the medical probe, comprising repetition of the following steps; (i) updating the set of use values of the medical probe during use and creating an updated set of use values; (ii) testing the updated set of use values against the set of usage criteria related to the medical probe; (iii) performing an expiration response when one or a combination of the usage criteria are violated; (iv) storing the updated set of use values on a periodic basis in the probe memory; and (g) transmitting a query signal from the medical device to the medical probe and waiting for an acknowledge signal from the medical probe device prior to beginning the therapeutic or monitoring function of the medical probe.
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Specification