A method (400, 500, 600) for authorizing a limited use intravascular device, comprising: determining (402, 502) if the intravascular device is in communication with a clinical system; determining (402, 502), when the intravascular device is in communication with the clinical system, by a self-authentication logic carried out by a processing component comprised within the intravascular device, whether the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation without providing the clinical system access to intravascular device data stored on the intravascular device; wherein, for the determining whether the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation, it is determined by the processing component whether a parameter value is greater than or less than a threshold value without providing the parameter value to the clinical system; wherein the parameter value is stored on a memory component included in a connector of the intravascular device; and providing (508, 608) an authorization signal based on the self-authentication logic by the processing component from the intravascular device to the clinical system when it is determined that the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation; and further comprising: i) providing (404, 506) the clinical system access to the intravascular device data stored on the intravascular device when it is determined that the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation; and ii) providing a denial signal to the clinical system when it is determined that the intravascular device is unauthorized for clinical operation such that the clinical system disallows clinical operation of the intravascular device. determining (402, 502) if the intravascular device is in communication with a clinical system; determining (402, 502), when the intravascular device is in communication with the clinical system, by a self-authentication logic carried out by a processing component comprised within the intravascular device, whether the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation without providing the clinical system access to intravascular device data stored on the intravascular device; wherein, for the determining whether the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation, it is determined by the processing component whether a parameter value is greater than or less than a threshold value without providing the parameter value to the clinical system; wherein the parameter value is stored on a memory component included in a connector of the intravascular device; and providing (508, 608) an authorization signal based on the self-authentication logic by the processing component from the intravascular device to the clinical system when it is determined that the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation; and further comprising: i) providing (404, 506) the clinical system access to the intravascular device data stored on the intravascular device when it is determined that the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation; and ii) providing a denial signal to the clinical system when it is determined that the intravascular device is unauthorized for clinical operation such that the clinical system disallows clinical operation of the intravascular device. i) providing (404, 506) the clinical system access to the intravascular device data stored on the intravascular device when it is determined that the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation; and ii) providing a denial signal to the clinical system when it is determined that the intravascular device is unauthorized for clinical operation such that the clinical system disallows clinical operation of the intravascular device.