Medical device payment system

摘要

Methods of providing payment for use of a medical device on a per-treatment session basis are disclosed. The methods include downloading treatment credits to the device linked to a customer account and activating the medical device when the number of available treatment credits is greater the one. The number of treatment credits downloaded to the device is based on at least one of a credit limit provided to the customer account and a number of prepaid treatment credits purchased by the customer. In other embodiments, the medical device monitors the number of treatment sessions performed and activates the device only when a customer's account is current.

主权项

1. A method of providing payment for use of a medical device on a per-treatment session basis, the method comprising:
providing a customer computer system having a customer interface; providing a medical device computing unit including a microcontroller for monitoring a number of treatment sessions available to the medical device and for activating the medical device when the number of treatment sessions available is at least one, the number of treatment sessions available determined based on at least one of a credit limit provided to the customer for postpaid treatment sessions and a number of prepaid treatment credits purchased by the customer; receiving a treatment credit request transmitted through the customer interface, the treatment credit request having purchase information including at least one of payment of a number of postpaid treatment sessions already performed and payment for a number of prepaid treatment credits; transmitting the treatment credit request from the customer computer system to a central payment server for validation; receiving at the customer computer system validation information, the validation information corresponding to at least one of the number of postpaid treatment sessions paid for and the number of prepaid treatment credits purchased; connecting the microcontroller of the medical device computing unit to the customer computer system; transmitting the validation information from the customer computer system to the microcontroller; and adjusting the number of treatment sessions available to the medical device based on the validation information.