Monitoring of home dialysis machines using a network connected system

• US 10,404,803 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• 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:
  US16/182,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20190173957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 300 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 dialysis machines. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine and establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine. The method also includes receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine, authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine, receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, and providing, to the client device, the received information.

Claims

1. A 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, first video data obtained by a camera of the mobile device;

providing, to the dialysis machine, through the network, the first video data for generating video on a display of the dialysis machine;

receiving, from the dialysis machine, through the network, second video data obtained by a camera of the dialysis machine; and

providing, to the mobile device, through the network, the second video data for generating video on a display of the mobile device.

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

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is located in the home of the patient.

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

5. The 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 system of claim 1, wherein the display of the mobile device is configured to present information that corresponds to information presented on the display of the dialysis machine.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the display of the mobile device is configured to present material that is also presented on the display of the dialysis machine.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the display of the mobile device is configured to present controls for controlling the dialysis machine.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the network device is further configured for:

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

providing, to the dialysis machine, through the network, the received instructions.

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

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

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

14. A method performed by one or more data processors, the method comprising:

receiving, by a network device located in a home of a patient, from a mobile device, over a network, first video data obtained by a camera of the mobile device;

providing, by the network device, to a dialysis machine, through the network, the first video data for generating video on a display of the dialysis machine;

receiving, by the network device, from the dialysis machine, through the network, second video data obtained by a camera of the dialysis machine; and

providing, by the network device, to the mobile device, through the network, the second video data for generating video on a display of the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the network device includes the one or more data processors, and the dialysis machine and the mobile device are configured to connect to the network device over the network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the dialysis machine is located in the home of the patient.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the mobile device is located in the home of the patient.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the dialysis machine and the mobile device are located in the home of the patient.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the network device is a proxy server.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the network is a wireless network.