Importance

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Abstract

A control unit, such as, e.g., an RF generator, for limiting the usage of a medical probe, such as, e.g., a catheter or surgical probe, is provided. The control unit includes a control circuit that is configured for storing a plurality of historical operational indicator sets within a database, wherein each of the historical operational indicator sets corresponds to a respective medical probe operated with a control unit. Each of the historical operational indicator sets includes a probe identification code, the presence of which indicates previous operation of a respective medical probe with a control unit, and one or more supplementary historical operational indicators, such as, e.g., an initial probe usage time and/or an incremental probe usage, which provides additional historical operational information concerning the respective medical probe. The control unit can recall a historical operational indicator set corresponding to a selected medical probe by matching a probe identification code corresponding to the selected medical probe with a stored probe identification code. The control unit can then display the historical operational information on the selected medical probe to the physician and/or conditionally operate the selected medical probe based on the historical operational information.

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First Claim