Catheter calibration and usage monitoring system
AssigneeBiosense, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Osadchy, Shlomo Fried, Shlomo Ben-Haim, Maier Fenster
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A probe (20) for insertion into the body of a subject, the probe (20) having distal (22) and proximal ends, and including an electronic microcircuit (90), which stores information relating to calibration of the probe (20). Preferably, the microcircuit (90) stores a calibration code, which is encrypted. Alternatively or additionally, the microcircuit (90) stores a usage code, which controls availability of the probe (20) to a user thereof. Preferably, the probe (20) includes access control circuitry (90) that allows the usage code to be changed so as to reduce the availability of the probe (20), but not to increase the availability thereof.
Claims21
A method of calibrating a probe for insertion into the body of a subject, comprising:
- providing a probe having a programmable microcircuit and a distal end, the distal end including a functional portion adjacent to a distal tip of the distal end for performing diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions, the distal end also including a position signal generating device for generating signals used to determine the position of the probe within the subject's body;
- determining calibration data for the position signal generating device with respect to the distal tip of the probe;
- and
- programming the microcircuit so as to record the calibration data in the microcircuit.
A method for programming a probe for insertion into the body of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a probe having a programmable microcircuit and a distal end, the distal end including a functional portion adjacent to a distal tip of the distal end for performing diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions, the distal end also including a position signal generating device for generating signals used to determine the position of the probe within the subject's body;
- and
- programming the microcircuit with an expiration date and time.
A method for programming and tracking usage of a probe for insertion into the body of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a probe having a programmable microcircuit and a distal end, the distal end including a functional portion adjacent to a distal tip of the distal end for performing diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions, the distal end also including a position signal generating device for generating signals used to determine the position of the probe within the subject's body;
- programming the microcircuit with a number of times that the probe may be used;
- and
- tracking with the microcircuit the number of times that the probe is used.
A method for programming and tracking the usage of a probe for insertion into the body of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a probe having a programmable microcircuit and a distal end, the distal end including a functional portion adjacent to a distal tip of the distal end for performing diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions, the distal end also including a position signal generating device for generating signals used to determine the position of the probe within the subject's body;
- storing a record in the microcircuit corresponding to a duration of use for the probe, the record including a minimum value;
- reducing the record for each use of the probe;
- and
- preventing further operation of the probe when the record reaches the minimum value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.