System and method for controlling access to a medical device

• US 10,216,955 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sociedad Espanola De Electromedicina Y Calidad SA
• Original Assignee: Sociedad Espanola De Electromedicina Y Calidad SA
• Inventors: Diaz Carmena, Angel, Garcia Godoy, David, Rodriguez Gonzalez, Carlos, Gonzalez Romera, Jose Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Allen T
• Application Number:
  US15/644,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20190012479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 340 56- 565
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for controlling access to a medical device are provided. One example system includes an access card configured to wirelessly transmit user identification information and a medical device configured to receive the user identification information from the access card, and enable access to one or more components of the medical device based on permission information associated with the received user identification information. One example medical device includes a plurality of device components; a data receiver configured to wirelessly receive user identification information; a memory configured to store permission information in association with the user identification information; and a processor configured to retrieve the permission information from the memory in response to receiving the user identification information from the data receiver, and enable access to the one or more device components based on the retrieved permission information.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a plurality of device components;

a data receiver configured to wirelessly receive user identification information;

a memory configured to store permission information in association with the user identification information, the permission information identifying one or more of the device components as being permissible for access by the user; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the data receiver, and the plurality of device components, the processor configured to;

retrieve the permission information from the memory in response to receiving the user identification information from the data receiver, and

enable access to the one or more device components based on the retrieved permission information.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the data receiver is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to obtain the user identification information from an RFID device placed within a predetermined proximity of the RFID reader.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more device components includes a locking mechanism movable between a closed position for preventing operation of the medical device and an open position for enabling operation of the medical device, and wherein the processor enables access to the one or more device components by allowing movement of the locking mechanism to the open position.

4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the one or more device components further includes a medical imaging device mounted to the locking mechanism.

5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to enable access to the medical imaging device in the open position and prevent access to the medical imaging device in the closed position.

6. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the one or more device components further includes a user interface for controlling operation of the medical device.

7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to enable access to the user interface in the open position and prevent access to the user interface in the closed position.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more device components includes a transportation system having an unlocked mode for permitting transportation of the medical device and a locked mode for preventing transportation of the medical device, and wherein the processor enables access to the one or more device components by activating the unlocked mode of the transportation system.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more device components includes a patient database comprising information about a plurality of patients.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more device components includes a communication module for wirelessly communicating data via a wireless network.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more device components includes a data port for retrieving medical data from the medical device.

12. A method of controlling access to a medical device, comprising:

wirelessly receiving identification information for a user via a data receiver;

retrieving permission information associated with the received identification information from a memory, the permission information identifying one or more components of the medical device as being permissible for access by the corresponding user; and

enabling, using a processor, access to each component identified by the retrieved permission information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the data receiver is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and wirelessly receiving identification information includes:

detecting an RFID device within a predetermined proximity of the RFID reader; and

obtaining the identification information from the detected RFID device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more components includes a locking mechanism movable between a closed position preventing operation of the medical device and an open position enabling operation of the medical device, and wherein enabling access to each component includes allowing movement of the locking mechanism to the open position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more components further includes a medical imaging device connected to the locking mechanism, and movement of the locking mechanism to the open position enables access to the medical imaging device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more components further includes a user interface for controlling operation of the medical device, and movement of the locking mechanism to the open position enables access to the user interface.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more components includes a transportation system having an unlocked mode for permitting transportation of the medical device and a locked mode for preventing transportation of the medical device, and wherein enabling access to the one or more components includes activating the unlocked mode of the transportation system.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more components includes a patient database comprising information about a plurality of patients.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more device components includes a communication module for wirelessly communicating data via a wireless network.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more device components includes a data port for retrieving medical data from the medical device.

21. An x-ray machine operable by a user, the x-ray machine comprising:

a plurality of device components which is selectively enabled, at least one of the device components including a medical imaging device;

a data receiver configured to wirelessly receive user identification information for the user;

a memory configured to store permission information in association with the user identification information, the permission information identifying one or more of the device components as being permissible for access by the user; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the data receiver, and the plurality of device components, the processor configured to;

retrieve the permission information from the memory in response to receiving the user identification information from the data receiver, and

enable a level of access to the one or more device components based on the retrieved permission information.

22. The x-ray machine of claim 21, wherein the data receiver is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to obtain the user identification information from an RFID device placed within a predetermined proximity of the RFID reader.

23. The x-ray machine of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to enable a calibration mode of the medical imaging device based on the retrieved permission information.

24. The x-ray machine of claim 21, wherein the one or more device components includes a user interface for controlling operation of the x-ray machine.

25. The x-ray machine of claim 21, wherein the one or more device components includes a locking mechanism movable between a closed position for preventing operation of the medical imaging device and an open position for enabling operation of the medical imaging device, and wherein the processor enables access to the one or more device components by allowing movement of the locking mechanism to the open position.