General Electric Company
Catheter authorization system and method

Abstract:

In the present invention, a medical device authorization system is employed to associate software contained on a medical computing system/computer, such as an EP mapping and recording system, that pertains to a specific medical device, e.g., a catheter, connected to the computer such that the software is only utilized by the computer in conjunction with a catheter that is authorized for use with the computer. The authorization system utilizes an analog authorization waveform/signal that is mixed with the analog device/catheter measured signals transmitted to the computer. The authorization waveform distorts the measured signals in a manner that renders the signals able to be displayed by the system but unusable, unless the computer includes a signal filter operably connected to the device/catheter interface that is configured to remove the interfering authorization waveform from the measured signal.