Medical device and cartridge

Abstract

A cartridge is engageable with a medical device, the cartridge comprising an ordered arrangement of N electrical components ( 540 ) each with different respective values of an electrical property, and an ordered arrangement of N conductors ( 522, 524, 526 ) operably coupled to the ordered arrangement of the N electrical components. A medical device is arranged to receive a cartridge and comprises for each of N conductors on the cartridge, at least a first respective contact arranged to electrically couple with the corresponding conductor when the cartridge is engaged with the medical device; the medical device also comprises an evaluation means operable to evaluate the different respective values of an electrical property of N electrical components on the cartridge, wherein the N electrical components form an ordered arrangement which is operably coupled to the N conductors on the cartridge, and a switching arrangement operable to selectively electrically couple a respective pair of contacts to said evaluation means.

1 . A cartridge engageable with a medical device, the cartridge comprising:
 an ordered arrangement of N electrical components each with different respective values of an electrical property; and   an ordered arrangement of N conductors operably coupled to the ordered arrangement of the N electrical components.   
     
     
         2 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the N components has a value of the electrical property selected from a respective one of N non-overlapping sets of M possible values of the electrical property. 
     
     
         3 . A cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein within the ordered arrangement of N electrical components, the order of the N electrical components is arranged with respect to the ordered arrangement of N conductors to encode information. 
     
     
         4 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the N components has a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;
 the first electrical contact of each of the N electrical components share a common connection; and   the second electrical contact of each respective one of the N electrical components is connected to a respective one of the N conductors.   
     
     
         5 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the N components has a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;
 the first electrical contact of each respective one of the N electrical components is connected to the second electrical contact of a respective other of the N electrical components to form N links; and   each respective one of the N links is connected to a respective one of the N conductors.   
     
     
         6 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical property is impedance. 
     
     
         7 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein all of the N electrical components are one selected from the list consisting of:
 i. resistors;   ii. capacitors;   iii. inductors; and   iv. diodes.   
     
     
         8 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , comprising a further conductor separate to the ordered arrangement of N conductors and not electrically coupled to the ordered arrangement of N electrical components on the cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductors and the ordered arrangement of N electrical components are mounted on an outer surface of the cartridge. 
     
     
         10 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the conductors and the ordered arrangement of N electrical components are mounted on a label;   the label is affixed to an outer surface of the cartridge; and   the label extends around the cartridge and overlaps itself to cover the ordered arrangement of N electrical components.   
     
     
         11 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising a non-conductive protective layer applied over at least the N conductors. 
     
     
         12 . A label for attachment to a cartridge, the cartridge being engageable with a medical device, the label comprising:
 an ordered arrangement of N electrical components each with different respective values of an electrical property; and   an ordered arrangement of N conductors operably coupled to the ordered arrangement of the N electrical components.   
     
     
         13 . A medical device arranged to receive a cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 for each of N conductors on the cartridge, at least a first respective contact arranged to electrically couple with the corresponding conductor when the cartridge is engaged with the medical device;   an evaluation means operable to evaluate the different respective values of an electrical property of N electrical components on the cartridge, wherein the N electrical components form an ordered arrangement which is operably coupled to the N conductors on the cartridge; and   
       a switching arrangement operable to selectively electrically couple a respective pair of contacts to said evaluation means. 
     
     
         14 . A medical device according to  claim 13 , wherein the switching arrangement is operable to short-circuit all but one component that is electrically in parallel with a first component currently electrically coupled to said evaluation means. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a cartridge engageable with a medical device, the method comprising:
 selecting a code, responsive to the intended contents of the cartridge;   selecting a respective one of M possible values of an electrical property from each of N non-overlapping sets;   associating with the cartridge an ordered arrangement of N electrical components operably coupled to an ordered arrangement of N conductors, wherein each component embodies a respective one of the selected values of the electrical property; and   selecting a particular order of the N electrical components with respect to the ordered arrangement of N conductors, wherein   the selected of values of electrical properties together with the selected order with respect to the N conductors of the N electrical components embodying these values signify in combination the selected code.