Aircraft medical management system

• US 10,157,264 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2015
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Daniel, Shelton, Jason W., Mitchell, Timothy McNally
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiedeman, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US14/663,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20160275260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2, 705 3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method and system for providing medical assistance onboard an aircraft is provided. A number of secure wireless connections are established between an onboard device located on the aircraft and a remote device located remotely with respect to the aircraft, to enable communications between a device operator using the onboard device and a medical professional using the remote device. Information about a medical event that occurs onboard the aircraft is sent from the onboard device to the remote device using the number of secure wireless connections. A medical assessment of the medical event by the medical professional is received at the onboard device from the remote device over the number of secure wireless connections.

Claims

1. A method for providing medical assistance onboard an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving, prior to a flight of the aircraft, in an airline computer system, an authorization to transfer medical data into a medical storage data infrastructure comprising policies;

a policy in the policies comprising at least one of;

a set of rules, a set of guidelines, a set of restrictions, a set of authorizations, or a set of criteria, determining which medical data may;

be accessed by each of an onboard device located on the aircraft and a remote device located remotely from the aircraft, or transferred;

from the medical storage data infrastructure to the onboard device or the remote device, or between the onboard device and the remote device;

establishing a first wireless connection between the onboard device located on the aircraft and the airline computer system located remotely with respect to the aircraft and the remote device, the airline computer system comprising an intrusion prevention system for preventing unauthorized devices from connecting wirelessly to the airline computer system, and the onboard device comprising an authorization acceptable to the airline computer system for enabling communications with the onboard device;

preventing, until completion of a security measure comprising the airline computer system authenticating at least one of an identity of the onboard device or of the aircraft comprising the onboard device, the onboard device from accessing a medical data storage infrastructure, the medical storage data infrastructure being located remote from the aircraft and the airline computer system, and comprising medical data, about a person on the aircraft, authorized, prior to the flight, for at least one of;

transfer into the medical data storage infrastructure;

transfer from the medical data storage infrastructure to the remote device; and

transfer from the medical data storage infrastructure to a onboard device after the airline computer system accepts the authorization from the onboard device;

preventing, until completion of a security measure comprising the medical data storage infrastructure authenticating at least one of the identity of the onboard device or of the aircraft comprising the onboard device, the onboard device from accessing the medical data storage infrastructure;

the onboard device connecting to the medical data storage infrastructure via a second wireless connection comprising an intrusion prevention system for preventing unauthorized devices from connecting wirelessly to the medical data storage infrastructure, and the onboard device comprising a certificate acceptable to the medical data storage infrastructure for enabling communications with the onboard device;

subsequently, establishing communications, using a third wireless connection, between the onboard device and the remote device in communication with a medical professional via;

the onboard device comprising an intrusion prevention system for preventing unauthorized devices from connecting wirelessly to the onboard device via the onboard device validating a certificate from the remote device for enabling communications with the onboard device; and

the remote device comprising an intrusion prevention system for preventing unauthorized devices from connecting wirelessly to the remote device via the remote device validating a certificate from the onboard device for enabling communications with the remote device;

sending, information, comprising information about the aircraft and an output, from a medical device onboard the aircraft about a medical event onboard the aircraft from the onboard device to the remote device, the medical device communicating with the onboard device and selected from a group comprising;

a digital thermometer, an electronic stethoscope, an electrocardiogram machine, a tympanometric instrument, a sphygmomanometer, an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a pulse oximeter, a vital signs monitor, and a diagnostic station;

responsive to receiving a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant authorization to transfer medical data related to the medical event from the medical data storage infrastructure to the remote device, transferring medical data related to the medical event from the medical data storage infrastructure to the remote device;

receiving, at the onboard device, a medical assessment of the medical event and a medical professional directed action, from the remote device;

executing the medical professional directed action onboard the aircraft;

directing, using the medical assessment, a route for the aircraft; and

flying the aircraft on the route.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

directing, using health insurance information for a person associated with the medical event, the route for the aircraft;

the remote device communicating, using a set of policies, with a previously loaded medical data storage infrastructure; and

using the medical data storage infrastructure for deriving the medical assessment.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the medical device further comprising;

a laryngoscope, an x-ray machine, d aan ultrasound device; and

collecting, using the medical device, physiological data and a set of symptoms related to the medical event onboard the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

sending the physiological data from the onboard device to the remote device and using the physiological data for formulating the medical assessment for the set of symptoms.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a secure wireless connection between the medical data storage infrastructure storing medical data for a number of persons onboard the aircraft and the remote device; and

authenticating between the onboard device and the airline computer system, at least one of;

an identity of a user of the onboard device, a tail identifier for the aircraft;

at least a portion of Out, Off, On, In, data for the aircraft confirming a phase of flight for the aircraft.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

retrieving, from the medical data storage infrastructure over the secure wireless connection by the at least one of the onboard device or the remote device, corresponding medical data pertaining to the medical event onboard the aircraft.

7. The method of claim 1, -further comprising performing a number of actions based on the medical assessment to at least one of:

isolate, treat, or advise onboard the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the person should be treated on-ground before the aircraft will reach a current destination;

selecting an on-ground medical center from a plurality of on-ground medical centers based on the medical assessment in response to a determination that the person should be treated on-ground before the aircraft will reach the current destination; and

changing the route of the aircraft by selecting a new destination for the aircraft based on the on-ground medical center selected.

9. The method of claim 8, -further comprising:

determining whether the person has authorized forwarding data about the person to the on-ground medical center; and

sending the data about the person to the on-ground medical center in response to a determination that the person has authorized forwarding the data about the person to the on-ground medical center, wherein the data includes at least one of medical data, mental health data, physiological data, or personal data about the person.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein selecting the on-ground medical center comprises:

selecting the on-ground medical center based on at least one of;

a fuel status of the aircraft, an approved route structure for the aircraft, a passenger manifest, and a nearest airport to the on-ground medical center.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a first secure wireless connection between the onboard device, comprising a mobile computer system, and a conference server system; and

establishing a second secure wireless connection between the conference server system and the remote device comprising a remote computer system.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving the medical assessment pertaining to the person through a conference session established between the remote device and the onboard device through a conference server system.

13. A method for reducing a time, on an aircraft during flight, between an observation of medical symptoms of a medical event related to a person experiencing a set of symptoms on the aircraft and an initiation of a medical professional directed action using a medical assessment of the symptoms, the method comprising:

receiving, prior to the flight of the aircraft, in an airline computer system, an authorization to transfer medical data into a medical storage data infrastructure comprising policies;

a policy in the policies comprising at least one of;

a set of rules, a set of guidelines, a set of restrictions, a set of authorizations, or a set of criteria, determining which medical data may;

be accessed by each of an onboard device located on the aircraft and a remote device located remotely from the aircraft, or transferred;

from the medical storage data infrastructure to the onboard device or the remote device, or between the onboard device and the remote device;

establishing a first wireless connection between the onboard device located on the aircraft and the airline computer system located remotely with respect to the aircraft and the remote device, the airline computer system comprising an intrusion prevention system for preventing unauthorized devices from connecting wirelessly to the airline computer system, and the onboard device comprising an authorization acceptable to the airline computer system for enabling communications with the onboard device;

preventing, until completion of a security measure comprising the airline computer system authenticating at least one of an identity of the onboard device or of the aircraft comprising the onboard device, the onboard device from accessing a medical data storage infrastructure, the medical storage data infrastructure being located remote from the aircraft and the airline computer system, and comprising medical data, about a person on the aircraft, authorized, prior to the flight, for at least one of;

transfer into the medical data storage infrastructure;

transfer from the medical data storage infrastructure to the remote device; and

transfer from the medical data storage infrastructure to the onboard device after the airline computer system accepts the authorization from the onboard device;

preventing, until completion of a security measure comprising the medical data storage infrastructure authenticating at least one of the identity of the onboard device or of the aircraft comprising the onboard device, the onboard device from accessing the medical data storage infrastructure;

the onboard device connecting to the medical data storage infrastructure via a second wireless connection comprising an intrusion prevention system for preventing unauthorized devices from connecting wirelessly to the medical data storage infrastructure, and the onboard device comprising a certificate acceptable to the medical data storage infrastructure for enabling communications with the onboard device;

subsequently, establishing communications, using a third wireless connection, between the onboard device and the remote device in communication with a medical professional via;

the onboard device comprising an intrusion prevention system for preventing unauthorized devices from connecting wirelessly to the onboard device via the onboard device validating a certificate from the remote device for enabling communications with the onboard device; and

the remote device comprising an intrusion prevention system for preventing unauthorized devices from connecting wirelessly to the remote device via the remote device validating a certificate from the onboard device for enabling communications with the remote device;

generating, using the onboard device communicating with a medical device selected from a group comprising;

a digital thermometer, an electronic stethoscope, an electrocardiogram machine, a tympanometric instrument, a sphygmomanometer, an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a pulse oximeter, a vital signs monitor, and a diagnostic station, physiological data for the medical event related to the person experiencing the set of symptoms during the flight;

responsive to receiving a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant authorization to transfer physiological data related to the medical event, sending the physiological data from the onboard device to the remote device during the flight;

receiving, the medical assessment and the medical professional directed action, formulated using the physiological data from the remote device;

performing the medical professional directed action onboard the aircraft during the flight based on the medical assessment;

directing, using;

the medical assessment, health insurance information for a person associated with the medical event, and the medical professional directed action, a route for the aircraft; and

flying the aircraft on the route.

14. An aircraft medical management system that comprises an onboard device, located on an aircraft, that comprises:

an airline computer system configured to receive, prior to a flight of the aircraft, an authorization to transfer medical data into a medical storage data infrastructure that comprises policies;

a policy, in the policies, that comprises at least one of;

a set of rules, a set of guidelines, a set of restrictions, a set of authorizations, or a set of criteria, that determine which medical data may;

be accessed by each of the onboard device located on the aircraft and a remote device located remotely from the aircraft, or transferred;

from the medical storage data infrastructure to the onboard device or the remote device, or between the onboard device and the remote device;

a first wireless connection between the onboard device and the airline computer system located remotely with respect to the aircraft and the remote device, the airline computer system comprising an intrusion prevention system configured to prevent unauthorized devices from a connection with the airline computer system, such that the onboard device comprises an authorization, acceptable to the airline computer system, that enables communications with the onboard device;

a first security measure that comprises an authentication from the airline computer system of at least one of;

an identity of the onboard device or of the aircraft, such that an access, by the onboard device, to a medical data storage infrastructure requires the authentication from the airline computer system, the medical storage data infrastructure being;

located remote from the aircraft and the airline computer system, and comprising medical data, about a person on the aircraft, authorized, prior to the flight, for at least one of;

transfer into the medical data storage infrastructure;

transfer from the medical data storage infrastructure to the remote device; and

transfer from the medical data storage infrastructure to the onboard device after the airline computer system accepts the authorization from the onboard device;

a second security measure that comprises an authentication from the medical storage data infrastructure of at least one of;

the identity of the onboard device or of the aircraft that comprises the onboard device, such that the access, by the onboard device, to the medical data storage infrastructure requires the authentication from the medical data storage infrastructure;

a connection between the onboard device and the medical data storage infrastructure via a second wireless connection that comprises an intrusion prevention system configured to prevent a connection by unauthorized devices to the medical data storage infrastructure, such that the onboard device comprises a certificate acceptable to the medical data storage infrastructure to allow communications with the onboard device;

a third wireless connection, between the onboard device and the remote device in communication with a medical professional, such that the onboard device comprises an intrusion prevention system configured to prevent unauthorized devices from a connection with the onboard device via;

a validation requirement by the onboard device of a certificate from the remote device; and

an intrusion prevention system in the remote device configured to prevent unauthorized devices from a connection with the remote device via a validation requirement by the remote device of a certificate from the onboard device;

an interactive interface on the onboard device configured to receive;

a medical assessment of a set of symptoms related to a medical event onboard the aircraft; and

a medical professional directed action based upon the access to the medical data storage infrastructure during the flight, such that the medical professional directed action comprises a determination of whether a person experiencing a set of symptoms onboard the aircraft should be treated on-ground before the aircraft will reach a current destination of the aircraft; and

authenticate, with the airline computer system, at least one of;

an identity of a user of the onboard device, a tail identifier for the aircraft;

at least a portion of Out, Off, On, In, data for the aircraft;

a phase of flight for the aircraft;

a medical kit and a medical device, each configured to perform a portion of the medical professional directed action onboard the aircraft; and

an indicator for a route, based upon the medical assessment and the medical professional directed action, for the aircraft to fly responsive to the medical event onboard the aircraft.

15. The aircraft medical management system of claim 14, wherein the medical assessment comprises a number of actions to assist the person experiencing a set of symptoms onboard the aircraft during the flight.

16. The aircraft medical management system of claim 14, further comprising:

a number of medical devices in communication with the onboard device and configured to generate physiological data, such that the number of medical devices comprises at least one of;

a digital thermometer, an electronic stethoscope, an electrocardiogram machine, a tympanometric instrument, a sphygmomanometer, an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a pulse oximeter, a vital signs monitor, a laryngoscope, a penlight, or a diagnostic station.

17. The aircraft medical management system of claim 14, further comprising:

the medical data storage infrastructure configured to store medical data about the person, the onboard device configured to;

establish a secure wireless connection between the onboard device and the medical data storage infrastructure; and

enable retrieval from the medical data storage infrastructure, of the medical data about the person.

18. The aircraft medical management system of claim 14, wherein the medical assessment comprises at least one of:

a medical diagnosis, a number of isolation instructions, a number of treatment instructions, or a number of advising instructions.

19. The aircraft medical management system of claim 14, wherein the onboard device is a mobile computer system selected from one of a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, and a tablet-laptop hybrid.

20. The aircraft medical management system of claim 14, further comprising:

a conference server system;

a first secure wireless connection between the onboard device and the conference server system; and

a second secure wireless connection between the conference server system and the remote device.