# US 11,896,794 B2 · System for identifying the presence and correctness of a medical device accessory

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- Number: US 11,896,794 B2
- Document ID: US11896794B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/026,823
- Filed: 2020-09-21
- Published: 2021-06-10
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-23
- Assignees: Northgate Technologies Inc.
- Applicants: Northgate Technologies Inc.
- Inventors: Robert Mantell; Chip Curtis; Steven Weaver; Eric Andersen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896794B2

## CPC

- A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings
- A61B 90/90: Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
- A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
- 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)}
- G01F 1/56: by using electric or magnetic effects (G01F1/66 takes precedence)
- G01K 7/16: using resistive elements
- 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}
- A61B 2017/00482: {with a code}
- A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter}
- A61B 2090/0814: {Preventing re-use}
- A61M 2039/1022: {additionally providing electrical connection}
- A61M 2039/1044: {Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources}
- A61M 2205/14: Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## 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

### Claim 1

A medical device comprising:
an interface configured to connect the medical device with an interface of a medical device accessory for administration of a medical treatment using the medical device and the medical device accessory;
a plurality of electrical contacts proximate the interface on the medical device, the plurality of electrical contacts comprising: a) an electrical supply contact adapted to supply a voltage from a power source associated with the medical device to a lead electrical contact on the medical device accessory; and b) a plurality of reading electrical contacts, each adapted to receive the voltage, if present, from at least one identifying electrical contact on the medical device accessory when the medical device accessory is connected to the medical device; and,
a controller configured to read a presence of the voltage at each of the plurality of reading electrical contacts;
wherein the controller identifies a characteristic of the medical device accessory by reading an arrangement of the plurality of reading electrical contacts supplied with the voltage from the at least one identifying electrical contacts on the medical device accessory.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1, wherein the identified characteristic of the medical device accessory is an operating parameter of the of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1, wherein the identified characteristic of the medical device accessory is a specification of the of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1, wherein the identified characteristic of the medical device accessory is a manufacturer of the of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1, wherein the identified characteristic of the medical device accessory is a compatibility of the of the medical device accessory with the medical device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is configured to selectively disable use of the medical device accessory with the medical device in response to the identified characteristic of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is configured to adjust the medical treatment in response to the identified characteristic of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a severing element configured to sever a conductor on the medical device accessory providing an electrical connection between the lead electrical contact and one or more of the at least one identifying electrical contacts upon disconnection of the medical device accessory with the medical device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10, wherein the identified characteristic of the medical device accessory, after disconnection of the medical device accessory with the medical device, and subsequent connection of the medical device accessory with the medical device, is a prior use of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10, wherein the arrangement of the plurality of reading electrical contacts supplied with the voltage from the at least one identifying electrical contacts before disconnection of the medical device accessory with the medical device is different than the arrangement of the plurality of reading electrical contacts supplied with the voltage from the at least one identifying electrical contact after subsequent connection of the medical device accessory with the medical device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a conduit for supplying a fluid to a conduit of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 14

A medical device comprising:
an interface configured to connect the medical device with an interface of a medical device accessory for administration of a medical treatment using the medical device and the medical device accessory;
a plurality of electrical contacts proximate the interface on the medical device, the plurality of electrical contacts comprising: a) an electrical supply contact adapted to supply a voltage from a power source associated with the medical device to a lead electrical contact on the medical device accessory; and b) a reading electrical contact adapted to receive the voltage from an identifying electrical contact on the medical device accessory when the medical device accessory is connected to the medical device;
a controller configured to read a presence of the voltage at the reading electrical contact;
a severing element configured to sever a conductor on the medical device accessory providing an electrical connection between the lead electrical contact and the identifying electrical contact upon disconnection of the medical device accessory with the medical device; and,
wherein the controller identifies a prior use of the medical device accessory by reading an absence of the voltage at the reading electrical contact when the medical device accessory is connected to the medical device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The medical device of claim 14, wherein the severing element comprises a blade for mechanically severing the conductor on the medical device accessory.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The medical device of claim 14, wherein the severing element comprises a laser for vaporizing at least a portion of the conductor on the medical device accessory.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The medical device of claim 14, wherein the medical device is configured to selectively disable use of the medical device accessory with the medical device in response to an identified prior use of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The medical device of claim 14, wherein the interface comprises a conduit for supplying a fluid to a conduit of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 19

A medical device comprising:
an interface configured to connect the medical device with an interface of a medical device accessory for administration of a medical treatment using the medical device and the medical device accessory;
a plurality of electrical contacts proximate the interface on the medical device, the plurality of electrical contacts comprising: a) an electrical supply contact adapted to supply a voltage from a power source associated with the medical device to a lead electrical contact on the medical device accessory; and b) a plurality of reading electrical contacts adapted to receive the voltage from at least one identifying electrical contact on the medical device accessory when the medical device accessory is connected to the medical device;
a controller configured to read a presence of the voltage at each of the plurality of reading electrical contacts; and,
a severing element configured to sever a conductor on the medical device accessory providing an electrical connection between the lead electrical contact and one or more of the at least one identifying electrical contacts upon disconnection of the medical device accessory with the medical device;
wherein the controller identifies a characteristic of the medical device accessory by reading an arrangement of the plurality of reading electrical contacts supplied with the voltage from the at least one identifying electrical contacts on the medical device accessory; and,
wherein the medical device is configured to selectively disable use of the medical device accessory with the medical device in response to an identified characteristic of the medical device accessory.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The medical device of claim 19, wherein the medical device is configured to adjust the medical treatment in response to an identified characteristic of the medical device accessory.