Control of home dialysis machines using a network connected system

• US 10,154,097 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2018
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Wang, Aiyuan, Crnkovich, Martin Joseph, Wang, Fei, Lee, Sue-Jane, Yuds, David, Leung, Hak Kan, Tarn, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kenneth W
• Application Number:
  US15/910,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20180191830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00 ; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

This disclosure relates to remote control of home dialysis machines, for example, using a network connected system including a network device. In an aspect, a dialysis system includes a network device, a dialysis machine configured to connect to the network device over a network, and a mobile device configured to connect to the network device over the network. The network device is configured for receiving, from the mobile device, through the network, a request to access the dialysis machine, receiving an authorization for the mobile device to access the dialysis machine, and after receiving the authorization, transferring, through the network, between the dialysis machine and the mobile device, information pertaining to one or more of an operation of the dialysis machine or the mobile device.

Claims

1. A dialysis system comprising:

a network device located in a home of a patient;

a dialysis machine configured to connect to the network device over a network; and

a mobile device configured to connect to the network device over the network, wherein the network device is configured for;

receiving, from the mobile device, through the network, a request to access the dialysis machine;

receiving an authorization for the mobile device to access the dialysis machine, wherein the authorization is based at least in part on an identity of one or both of the mobile device or a user of the mobile device;

receiving a designation of a level of access among a plurality of levels of access to the dialysis machine granted to the mobile device, wherein the level of access allows one or both of monitoring or controlling of the dialysis machine; and

after receiving the authorization, transferring, through the network, between the dialysis machine and the mobile device, information pertaining to one or more of an operation of the dialysis machine or the mobile device in accordance with the designation.

2. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine is located in the home of the patient.

3. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine and the mobile device are located in the home of the patient.

4. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the dialysis machine and the mobile device are located in the home of the patient.

5. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is one or more of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop, a netbook or a smartphone.

6. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine is presented by an interface of the mobile device.

7. The dialysis system of claim 6, wherein the interface presents at least some of the information that is presented on a display of the dialysis machine.

8. The dialysis system of claim 6, wherein the interface presents controls for controlling the dialysis machine.

9. The dialysis system of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the mobile device, instructions for the dialysis machine; and

providing, to the dialysis machine, the received instructions.

10. The dialysis system of claim 9, wherein the instructions for the dialysis machine comprise one or more of initiating a dialysis treatment and pausing a dialysis treatment.

11. The dialysis system of claim 9, wherein at least some of the instructions for the dialysis machine are for setting one or more treatment parameters for a dialysis treatment.

12. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein receiving an authorization for the mobile device to access the dialysis machine comprises processing a user login and password at the mobile device.

13. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine comprises one or more of time remaining for a dialysis treatment, arterial pressure, venous pressure, transmembrane pressure, data related to ultrafiltration (UF), data related to dialysate, treatment status, and alarm information.

14. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the network device is a proxy server.

15. The dialysis system of claim 1, wherein the network is a wireless network.

16. A method performed by a data processor, the method comprising:

receiving, by a network device located in a home of a patient, from a mobile device, a request to access a dialysis machine;

receiving an authorization for the mobile device to access the dialysis machine, wherein the authorization is based at least in part on an identity of one or both of the mobile device or a user of the mobile device;

receiving a designation of a level of access among a plurality of levels of access to the dialysis machine granted to the mobile device, wherein the level of access allows one or both of monitoring or controlling of the dialysis machine; and

after receiving the authorization, transferring, by the network device, between the dialysis machine and the mobile device, information pertaining to one or more of an operation of the dialysis machine or the mobile device in accordance with the designation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the network device includes the data processor, and the dialysis machine and the mobile device are configured to connect to the network device over the network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the dialysis machine is located in the home of the patient.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the dialysis machine and the mobile device are located in the home of the patient.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the dialysis machine and the mobile device are located in the home of the patient.