Systems for identifying catheters and monitoring their use

A system comprising

• a catheter carrying an electrode having a predetermined operating characteristic, the catheter also carrying means for electronically retaining an identification code that uniquely identifies the predetermined operating characteristic of the electrode, the electronic retaining means including an output for generating the identification code in response to a predetermined externally generated prompt, and
• apparatus for interaction with the electrode including means for providing power to said electrode,
• said apparatus further comprising means for coupling the catheter to said apparatus for interaction therewith, and
• means operative, when coupled to the catheter, for prompting the electronic retaining means to generate the identification code,
• a register for registering the generated identification code,
• means for storing predetermined criteria governing the interaction between the catheter and the apparatus, and
• means connected to the register and the storage means for comparing the generated identification code to the predetermined interaction criteria and for generating a first control signal when the generated identification code meets the predetermined interaction criteria and for generating a second control signal, different than the first control signal, when the generated identification code does not meet the predetermined interaction criteria, the apparatus further including an interlock for permitting interaction with said catheter in response to the first control signal and for preventing interaction with said catheter in response to the second control signal.

A system comprising

• a catheter carrying an electrode having a predetermined operating characteristic, the catheter also carrying means for electronically retaining a usage code representing the number of times the electrode has been used, the electronic retaining means including output means for generating the usage code in response to a predetermined prompt and input means for updating the usage code, and
• apparatus for interaction with the catheter including means for providing power to said electrode,
• said apparatus comprising means for coupling the catheter to the apparatus for interaction therewith, including
• means operative, when coupled to the catheter, for prompting the electronic retaining means to generate the usage code,
• a register for registering the generated usage code,
• means for storing a predetermined value representing the maximum number of times the electrode can be used, and
• means connected to the register and the storage means for comparing the generated usage code to said predetermined value and for generating a first control signal when the generated usage code is less than said predetermined value and for generating a second control signal, different than the first control signal, when the generated usage code is equal to or exceeds said predetermined value, one of said control signals permitting power to flow to said electrode and one of said control signals preventing power from flowing to said electrode.

Apparatus for supplying energy to a tissue ablation electrode comprising

• generating means for producing ablating energy for the electrode in a first power mode and in a second power mode different than the first power mode,
• interchangeable catheters, a selected one of which is connected to said generating means, each of said catheters having a catheter body carrying an ablating electrode and each being provided with means for electrically connecting said electrode to the generating means,
• means for registering a first control condition when an ablating electrode having a first characteristic is connected to the generating means and for registering a second control condition when an ablating electrode having a second characteristic, different than the first characteristic, is connected to the generator means, and
• control means operatively connected to and responsive to the register means for operating the generating means in the first power mode when the first control condition is registered and for operating the generating means in the second power mode when the second control condition is registered.