Limited use medical probe
AssigneeOB Scientific, Inc.
InventorsGerhard von der Ruhr, Dennis E. Bahr, Michael T. Larsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A limited use medical probe is disclosed. The medical probe includes a memory storage component for maintaining a use value, representing either the number of uses and/or the duration of use of the medical probe. The medical probe is coupled to a medical monitoring device which prevents the performance of monitoring functions when the number of uses or the total duration of use reaches a predetermined threshold value, thereby preventing overuse of the probe.
Claims34
A method for limiting the use of a medical probe to a threshold use value, the method comprising the following steps:
- coupling a memory storage component to a medical probe;
- coupling the medical probe to a medical monitoring device;
- coupling the medical probe to a patient;
- retrieving a use value associated with use of the medical probe from the memory storage component;
- decrypting stored data to verify that the use value has not been corrupted or tampered with;
- updating the use value of the medical probe during use;
- and
- disabling monitoring functions when the use parameter is substantially equivalent to the threshold use value.
A method for limiting the use of a medical probe to a threshold use value, the method comprising the following steps:
- coupling a memory storage component to a medical probe;
- coupling the medical probe to a medical monitoring device;
- coupling the medical probe to a patient;
- monitoring a use value of the medical probe;
- disabling monitoring functions when the use parameter is substantially equivalent to the threshold use value;
- storing identifying information in the memory storage of the medical probe;
- and
- encrypting the identifying information stored in the medical probe, transmitting the encrypted serial number to the monitoring device, and decrypting the serial number in the monitoring device.
A limited use fetal sensor device comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one sensor device;
- and
- a token chip card including a communications port, the token chip card storing a use value for limiting the use of the probe to a predetermined threshold value.
A medical monitoring system comprising:
- a medical probe including at least one sensor, a memory storage component, a communications port, a sensor, and a probe connector, wherein the memory storage component includes a use value for limiting a usage of the medical probe, a serial number identifying the medical probe and at least one encryption key;
- and
- a monitoring device including a monitor connector, a controller, a memory storage device storing a serial number identifying the monitoring device and at least one encryption key, and a communications port, wherein the monitoring device limits the usage of the medical probe to a predetermined threshold value.
A method for verifying the identity of components of a medical monitoring system to prevent tampering with stored data:
- storing a serial number, an encryption key, and at least one medical monitoring parameter in a memory storage component of a medical probe;
- storing a serial number and an encryption key in a memory storage component of a medical monitoring device;
- coupling the medical probe to the medical monitoring device,
- encrypting the serial number stored in the medical probe, transmitting the encrypted serial number to the medical monitoring device, and decrypting the serial number in the medical monitoring device;
- verifying the identity of the medical monitoring device through the decrypted data;
- allowing the medical monitoring device to access the medical monitoring parameter if the identity of the medical monitoring device is verified;
- and
- preventing the medical monitoring device from accessing the medical monitoring parameter if the identity of the monitoring device is not verified.
A method for maintaining a history of the use of a medical probe, the method comprising the following steps:
- storing a serial number identifying the medical probe in a memory component of the medical probe;
- storing a date and time stamp in the memory component of the medical probe;
- storing the identity of a medical worker associated with a procedure and storing the identity of the medical worker in the memory component of the medical probe;
- storing patient data in the medical probe;
- and
- retrieving the stored information to provide a history of a medical procedure.
A limited use fetal sensor device comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one sensor device;
- and
- a memory storage component storing a protected use value for limiting the use of the probe to a predetermined threshold value, wherein the memory storage component further includes a medical history of the use of the fetal sensor device.
A medical monitoring system comprising:
- a medical probe including at least one sensor, a token card chip, a communications port, a sensor, and a probe connector, wherein the token card chip includes a use value for limiting a usage of the medical probe and a serial number identifying the medical probe;
- and
- a monitoring device including a monitor connector, a controller, a memory storage device storing a serial number identifying the monitoring device, and a communications port, wherein the monitoring device limits the usage of the medical probe to a predetermined threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.