1. A single use medical imaging device that is removably connected to a control unit, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a connector on the proximal end for connecting the device to a control unit; an image sensor at or adjacent to the distal end of the device for producing images in a predefined format for receipt by an imaging board within the control unit; a memory having a code stored therein that encodes a serial identifier uniquely associated with the imaging device; and a transmit circuit that transmits the code to the imaging board in the format of the image signals produced by the image sensor.