US Patent N0.  US 6,308,089 B1   October 23, 2001

US Patent No.  US 7,048,687 B1  May 23, 2006

A limited use medical probe is disclosed including a memory for maintaining a use value. The medical probe is coupled to a medical device that inhibits its function when the use value reaches a predetermined threshold value, preventing improper use of the probe. The probe memory may also store identification, usage, and clinical data. A probe auto-identification function, a probe re-identification function and a probe functional test sequence are disclosed for the medical probe. After use, a reprocessing step may reset the probe memory, permitting further probe use.