Smart supplies, components and capital equipment

A method for automating the performance of pre-use checks on a plurality of medical treatment supplies for use with a medical treatment apparatus, said method comprising:

• affixing to each of said items an electronically readable identification tag, said identification tag being adapted to store information regarding each particular tagged item, said information at least including the use status of said tagged item;
• attaching to said medical treatment apparatus means for reading said information stored on each electronically readable identification tag, said means for reading said information being adapted to read any tagged medical treatment supply or component being attached to said medical treatment apparatus for use by said medical treatment apparatus;
• installing one or more of said tagged medical treatment supplies on said medical treatment apparatus such that said installed supplies may be used by said medical treatment apparatus;
• reading said information stored on each electronically readable identification tag associated with each tagged medical supply or component with said means for reading, wherein said reading is conducted prior to each use of said medical treatment apparatus;
• and
• providing an indication representative of the current status of each medical treatment supply or component to an operator of said medical treatment apparatus.

A care system for alleviating patient pain, anxiety and discomfort associated with medical or surgical procedures said system comprising:

• a patient health monitor device adapted so as to be coupled to a patient and generate a signal reflecting at least one physiological condition of the patient;
• a drug delivery controller supplying one or more drugs to the patient;
• at least one single-use supply or component removably connected to said system, wherein said supply or component includes a data carrier tag;
• a recognition device that reads information carried on said data carrier tag and that generates a signal reflecting the information, wherein said information comprises one or more of the following:
• a unique ID for the supply or component, identification of the supply or component, identification of the source of the supply or component, purity levels of any drug contained in the supply or component, concentration levels of any drug contained in the supply or component, status of whether said supply or component has been previously used, a batch number of the supply or component, a date of manufacture of the supply or component, an address where updated information on said supply or component can be obtained, number of recorded use cycles and recommended number of use cycles for the supply or component, and an expiration date of the supply or component;
• a memory device storing a safety data set reflecting parameters of at least one monitored patient physiological condition and reflecting certification parameters for said supply or component;
• and
• an electronic controller interconnected between the patient health monitor, the drug delivery controller, the recognition device, and the memory device storing the safety data set;
• wherein said electronic controller receives said signals and in response manages the application of the drugs in accord with the safety data set.

A capital equipment unit, said unit comprising:

• at least one supply or component removably connected to said unit, wherein said supply or component includes a data carrier tag;
• and
• an electronic data reader or reader/writer that reads information carried on said data carrier tag and that generates a signal reflecting the information, wherein said information comprises one or more of the following:
• a unique ID for the supply or component, identification of the supply or component, identification of the source of the supply or component, purity levels of any drug contained in the supply or component, concentration levels of any drug contained in the supply or component, status of whether said supply or component has been previously used, a batch number of the supply or component, a date of manufacture of the supply or component, an address where updated information on said supply or component can be obtained, number of recorded use cycles and recommended number of use cycles for the supply or component, and an expiration date of the supply or component;
• wherein said information provided by said tag can be altered electronically via a signal generated by said electronic data reader/writer and said unit further comprises a shielded region that prevents said tag from being altered electronically via a signal generated by said electronic data reader/writer when said component is placed within the shielded region.