Laser system and delivery device operation logging method and kit

• US 7,837,091 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Laserscope (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Arnold, Ken, Cook, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US11/419,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20060264918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 385/53
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags

Abstract

A method for operating a laser system for a medical procedure, or a similar system, comprises detecting presence of a portable memory device like a smart card coupled to the laser system, and reading data on the portable memory device usable to identify an associated delivery device. An identifier is read from the associated delivery device after it is coupled to the laser. A process is executed to verify the configuration including matching the identifier read from delivery device with the delivery device associated with the portable memory device, verifying that the portable memory device includes a data structure adapted for storage of an event log, and enabling delivery of laser energy if said authenticating and said verifying are successful. A kit comprising a delivery device and a portable memory device supporting the process is provided to users of the laser system.

Claims

1. A method for operating a system to perform a procedure that includes a sequence of events, comprising:

detecting the presence of a portable memory device coupled to the system, and reading data on the portable memory device usable to identify an associated delivery device;

reading an identifier for a delivery device coupled to the system;

matching the identifier read from the delivery device with the associated delivery device indicated by data read from the portable memory device;

verifying that the portable memory device includes a data structure adapted for storage of an event log, comprising event codes corresponding to the events in the sequence of events;

enabling a process for delivery of product to the delivery device if said matching and said verifying are successful; and

writing an event code, including a time stamp, to the data structure adapted for storage of the event log, to record an event in the sequence of events, and verifying whether the event code and time stamp were successfully written, and if the verifying fails, then disabling the system from providing energy to the delivery device.

2. The method of claim 1, including authenticating the portable memory device.

3. The method of claim 1, including writing event codes, including time stamps, to the data structure adapted for storage of the event log, to record an event in the sequence of events.

4. The method of claim 1, including writing an event code, including a time stamp, to the data structure adapted for storage of the event log, to record an event in the sequence of events, and verifying that the event code and time stamp were successfully written.

5. The method of claim 1, including writing an event code, including a time stamp, to the data structure adapted for storage of the event log, to record an event in the sequence of events, and verifying whether the event code and time stamp were successfully written, and if the verifying fails, then signaling an event log error.

6. The method of claim 1, including writing data to the portable memory device indicating a condition of the system usable for interpretation of data in the event log.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a laser and a data processor controlling the laser, and the delivery device comprises an optical fiber.