Single-Use Medical Device Tracking via Mode Transition Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to manage the operating status of single-use medical devices to ensure proper usage and prevent reuse, as existing methods rely on time and operation count which can be unreliable.

Innovation Solution

A medical device management system with detection and recording units to track the transition from an operation check mode to a use mode, recording the device's status, and potentially restricting functions to prevent reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If time-based or operation-count-based methods are used to determine device usage status, then the management process is simple, but the reliability of usage status determination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanagement process complexityVSAvoidusage status determination reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting mode transitions (operation check mode to use mode) and recording usage status in real-time. This ensures the usage status is captured at the critical moment of transition, preventing any ambiguity about whether the device was used or not, thereby resolving the reliability issue without significantly increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the operational modes and automatically updating the usage status record based on detected transitions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the usage status accurately reflects the actual device usage, improving reliability while maintaining a relatively simple management process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If single-use medical devices are implemented to ensure safety, then infection prevention is improved, but the cost and availability of devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection riskVSAvoiddevice availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements single-use medical devices that are discarded after one use to eliminate infection risks. The management system tracks and records the usage status of these disposable devices, ensuring they are not reused. This approach prioritizes patient safety through disposable devices while the recording system helps manage the supply chain efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a tracking mechanism that records when single-use devices are activated and used. By monitoring the transition from operation check mode to use mode, the system ensures devices are properly discarded after use and prevents accidental reuse, thereby maintaining both safety and efficient inventory management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Measurement precision

If mode transition detection and recording is implemented, then usage status accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage status accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management system integrates multiple functions into a unified recording unit that handles both operation check mode detection and use mode detection. This multi-functional approach improves usage status accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity by consolidating detection and recording capabilities into a single integrated system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12508098B2Medical device management system, medical device, relay device, medical device management method and recording medium

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

A detection unit has a function of detecting the end of an operation check mode for checking the operation of a medical device and detecting the start of a use mode for using the medical device. A record processing unit records information indicating that the medical device has been used once in a recording unit when the detection unit detects the end of the operation check mode and the start of the use mode.