Patent ID: 7604602

Claim:
A medical fluid pressure sensing system, comprising: a pressure transducing device, comprising: a. a pressure-sensitive transducer capable of externally measuring fluid pressures and converting those pressures into electrical signals; b. an identifier which characterizes the pressure transducing device; and a signal receiving device adapted to communicate with the pressure transducing device and receive the electrical signals and being capable of sensing the identifier and therefore the characteristics of the pressure transducing device when placed in communication therewith; wherein the identifier comprises electrical circuitry; wherein the electrical circuitry comprises a resistance/capacitance (RC) combination that possesses a characteristic time constant; wherein the signal receiving device includes decision-making circuitry that will only permit functioning of the system depending on a determination of the time constant; and wherein the decision-making circuitry will only permit functioning of the system if the time constant is within 20% of a reference value.