System for monitoring a use of a medical device

Abstract

The invention provides a system for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element. The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element upon a drive signal. The system can identify the medical device from a database of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus to recognize an identification characteristic of a medical device carrying an ultrasound element, the apparatus comprising:
 an interface to the medical device, wherein the interface is configured to send a drive signal to the ultrasound element and to receive a detection signal from the ultrasound element;   a data storage configured to store a database of known identification characteristics of medical devices; and   a processor configured to:   receive, in response to a coupling of the medical device to the apparatus, a detection signal from the ultrasound element of the medical device;   determine the identification characteristic of the medical device based upon the detection signal received from the ultrasound element; and   compare the identification characteristic to information stored in the database of known identification characteristics to thereby identify the medical device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the identification characteristic of the medical device is determined based on detection signals received from at least two different ultrasound elements, wherein the at least two different ultrasound elements are oriented in different directions within the medical device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the identification characteristic of the medical device is determined based on detection signals from at least one ultrasound element originating from a piezoelectric ultrasound array or from a capacitive micro-machined ultrasound array. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the identification characteristic is a feature vector. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the identification characteristic is determined based on detection signals received from an ultrasound element comprising at least an acoustical coupling material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to update a database of known identification characteristics of medical devices by adding to the database the identification characteristic of the medical device coupled to the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the database of known identification characteristics of medical devices is stored in the internal memory unit of the apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the database of known identification characteristics of medical devices is located on an external server and wherein the apparatus is arranged to communicate with the external server for transmitting and/or receiving at least the identification characteristic of the medical device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a transmission path between the medical device and the apparatus and/or a transmission path between the apparatus and the external server is arranged through wireless connection. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to recognize the identification characteristic of the medical device from a database based on a quadratic norm of feature vector differences. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to update information in the database about a duration and a frequency of use of the medical device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is operable to send a warning signal to the user of the apparatus when a predetermined limit of use of the medical device is exceeded. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is operable to update the database of known identification characteristics of medical devices on an external server with a warning message for use of the medical device exceeding the predetermined limit. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is arranged to discontinue the use of the ultrasound element when a predetermined limit of use of the medical device is exceeded. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an energy source unit for energy application to a tissue, and wherein the apparatus is arranged to disable transmission of energy from the energy source unit to the medical device when a predetermined limit of use of the medical device is exceeded. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ultrasound element comprises an active portion and a passive portion, wherein an acoustic coupling layer of the passive portion is fixed upon a surface of the active part, and wherein the identification characteristic is indicative of the passive part of the ultrasound element. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a medical device for insertion into a body lumen of a patient, the medical device comprising an ultrasound element that produces a detection signal in response to a drive signal; and   an apparatus comprising:
 an interface configured to electrically couple to the medical device, wherein the interface is configured to send the drive signal to the ultrasound element of the medical device and to receive the detection signal from the ultrasound element; 
 a data storage configured to store a database of known identification characteristics of medical devices; and 
 a processor configured to: 
 receive, in response to a coupling of the medical device to the apparatus, a detection signal from the ultrasound element of the medical device; 
 determine the identification characteristic of the medical device based upon the detection signal received from the ultrasound element; and 
 compare the identification characteristic to information stored in the database of known identification characteristics to thereby identify the medical device. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the ultrasound element of the medical device comprises an active portion and a passive portion, wherein an acoustic coupling layer of the passive portion is fixed upon a surface of the active part, and wherein the identification characteristic is indicative of the passive part of the ultrasound element.