# US 2021/0330306 A1 · Repair or refurbishment of limited use medical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330306 A1 - Document ID: US20210330306A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/372,223 - Filed: 2021-07-09 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-02 - Assignees: Medline Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Medline Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Richard Walton; Harold D. Pogue; Richard L. McCulley, JR.; James Patrick Wiggins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330306A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20) - A61B 18/1402: {Probes for open surgery} - H01R 13/665: {with built-in electronic circuit (H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence)} - H01R 13/68: with built-in fuse - H01R 43/205: {with a panel or printed circuit board} - H05K 7/02: Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure - A61B 2017/00225: {Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems} - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/00988: {Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter} - A61B 2090/0803: {Counting the number of times an instrument is used} - A61B 2090/0813: {Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable} - Y10T 29/49004: including measuring or testing of device or component part - Y10T 29/49718: Repairing - Y10T 29/53174: Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A powered medical device includes electronic components on a circuit board embedded within the body of a plug for connecting the device with a control apparatus. The medical device may be repaired or refurbished without the need to access the embedded circuit board through the use of a supplemental circuit board installed into the open end of the plug adjacent the plug pins. The supplemental circuit board may include a variety of electronic components, including fuses or non-volatile memory. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical device comprising: a plug adapted to connect the medical device to a device controller, the plug comprising a connector; a first electronic component electrically connected with the connector, the first electronic component having previously been adapted to perform a first function and having been disabled from performing the first function; and a second electronic component adapted to perform the first function and electrically connected with the connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first electronic component is a fuse. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical device of claim 2, wherein the second electronic component is a fuse. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first electronic component comprises non-volatile memory. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The medical device of claim 4, wherein the second electronic component comprises non-volatile memory. ### Claim 6 (depends on 6) A medical device comprising: an electrically powered medical device; a connector that connects the medical device to an external device; a first electronic component electrically connected to the medical device, the first electronic component performing a first function when the medical device is connected to the external device a first time, and the first electronic component being disabled from performing the first function when the medical device is connected to the external device a subsequent time; a second electronic component electrically connected to the medical device, the second electronic component performing the first function when the medical device is connected to the external device the subsequent time. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the external device comprises a generator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6, wherein the external device comprises a power supply. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6, wherein the external device comprises a measuring apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6, wherein the first electronic component is embedded in the medical device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6 further comprising a plug, wherein the plug comprises the connector, and wherein the first electronic component is embedded in the plug. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical device of claim 11, wherein the second electronic component is inserted into the plug. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6, wherein the second electronic component is not connected with the connector when the medical device is connected to the external device the first time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The medical device of claim 13, wherein the second electronic component is connected with the connector after the medical device is connected to the external device the first time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6, wherein the second electronic component is connected with the connector when the medical device is connected to the external device the subsequent time. ### Claim 16 A medical device comprising: a plug adapted to connect the medical device to an external device, the plug comprising a connector; a first electronic component electrically connected with the connector, the first electronic component being functionally disabled; a second electronic component electrically connected with the connector; wherein the second electronic component is functionally enabled and is functionally equivalent to a non-disabled first electronic component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein the first electronic component is positioned inside a body of the plug. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein the first electronic component is positioned inside a body of the medical device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein the second electronic component is positioned inside an opening of the plug. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The medical device of claim 16, wherein the second electronic component is positioned inside a body of the medical device.