Limited-use medical device

摘要

A medical device may include one or more operable components and one or more limited-use portions. The limited-use portion(s) is configured to transition from a first state to a second state upon being subjected to sterilization above a sterilization threshold. In the second state, the limited-use portion(s) inhibit the operability of the one or more operable components.

主权项

1. A medical device, comprising:
at least one operable component including:
a housing;a pair of jaws coupled to the housing and configured for clamping tissue; andat least one electrode connected to the jaws for applying energy to tissue; and at least one limited-use portion incorporated into at least one of the housing, the jaws, or the at least one electrode, wherein the limited-use portion is configured to transition from a first state to a second state upon being subjected to sterilization above a sterilization threshold, wherein, in the second state, the at least one limited-use portion is at least one of degraded, dissolved, broken down, or destroyed, to inhibit the operability of the at least one operable component.