Method and apparatus for automatically integrating a medical device into a medical facility network

• US 10,212,032 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Sobie, Robert Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Tae K
• Application Number:
  US15/411,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20170134221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/003 with drawers, trays or shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/006 Medication carts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 31/00 Service or tea tables, trolleys, or wagons serving trays A47G23/06; features relating to running gear or to movement by hand B62B
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A method for integrating a medical device into a medical facility network by equipping the medical device with wireless communication device is disclosed. The medical device is provided into a medical treatment area within wireless range of the medical facility network. The medical facility network is configured to detect the medical device upon entry into the medical treatment area, and then recognize or authenticate the medical device. The medical facility network is configured to thereafter transmit an initialization signal to the medical device. A system for integrating medical devices, a medical device capable of integration, and a medical facility network are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of initializing a medical device within a medical treatment area, comprising:

detecting the medical device upon introduction of the medical device into the medical treatment area within a wireless range of a medical facility network;

authenticating the medical device based on device identity information specific to the medical device if the medical device is not recognized by the medical facility network;

transmitting an initialization signal from the medical facility network to the medical device if the medical device is recognized or authenticated by the medical facility network;

initializing the medical device in response to the medical device receiving the initialization signal, wherein initializing comprises one of powering the medical device into an active power state, starting up the software program, and unlocking the medical device; and

preventing transmission of the initialization signal from the medical facility network to the medical device based on a user request to forgo transmission of the initialization signal during the authenticating of the medical device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein after detection of the medical device, the medical facility network transmits an identity information request signal to the medical device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein in response to the identity information request signal, the medical device transmits an identity information signal to the medical facility network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical facility network is connected to the internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless range is limited to approximately the medical treatment area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical facility network comprises a local network or facility-wide network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identity information specific to the medical device is an electronic serial number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is not recognized by the medical facility network because the medical device is new and has not yet been entered into the medical facility network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing transmission of the one or more initialization signals from the medical facility network to the medical device based on user input during the authenticating the medical device.

10. A system for integrating a medical device into a medical facility network, comprising:

a terminal interfacing with the medical facility network;

a display in communication with the terminal; and

a medical device within wireless range of the medical facility network, wherein the medical facility network is configured to;

detect the medical device upon introduction of the medical device into a medical treatment area;

determine if the detected medical device is recognized;

authenticate the medical device based on device identity information specific to the medical device if the medical device is not recognized;

transmit an initialization signal to the medical device if the medical device is recognized or authenticated; and

prevent transmission of the one or more initialization signals from the medical facility network to the medical device based on a user request to forgo transmission of the one or more initialization signals during the authenticating of the medical device,

wherein, in response to receiving the transmitted initialization signal, the medical device is configured to initialize by one of powering the medical device into an active power state, starting up a software program, and unlocking the medical device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical facility network is connected to the internet, thereby facilitating data exchange between the medical facility network and another entity.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the wireless range is limited to approximately the medical treatment area.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical facility network comprises a local network or facility wide network.

14. A medical device comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium; and

a wireless communication interface, wherein the medical device is configured to be;

automatically detected upon introduction into a medical treatment area;

recognized or authenticated by a medical facility network, the authentication based on device identity information specific to the medical device if the medical device is not recognized;

automatically initialized, in response to receiving an initialization signal, the automatic initialization comprising one of powering the medical device into an active power state, starting up a software program, and unlocking the medical device; and

prevented from receiving the initialization signal based on a user request to forgo transmission of the initialization signal during the authenticating of the medical device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the medical device is further configured to transmit an identity information signal to the medical facility network in response to receiving an identity information request signal.

16. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the device identity information specific to the medical device is an electronic serial number.

17. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the medical device is new and has not yet been entered into the medical facility network, causing the medical device to not be recognized by the medical facility network.

18. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the medical device is retired and has been removed from the medical facility network, causing the medical device to not be recognized by the medical facility network.