Method and apparatus for controlling an infusion pump or the like
First Claim
1. A method for associating at least one medical device with a controller that is remote from the medical device, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a device identifier that indicates a device address of the medical device within a communication network;
providing a data collector;
obtaining the device address via the data collector;
transferring the device address from the data collector to the controller; and
associating the controller with the medical device so that the controller can communicate with the medical device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling IV medication delivery and monitoring, the method including providing information tags on IV bags that specify delivery parameters, obtaining delivery parameters for at least one bag, associating a controller with a particular patient, comparing patient information for the particular patient with the delivery parameters, determining the efficacy of delivering the medicant to the patient and affecting pump control as a function of the comparison. The method also includes various timing rules and other verification procedures.
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Citations
192 Claims
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1. A method for associating at least one medical device with a controller that is remote from the medical device, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a device identifier that indicates a device address of the medical device within a communication network;
providing a data collector;
obtaining the device address via the data collector;
transferring the device address from the data collector to the controller; and
associating the controller with the medical device so that the controller can communicate with the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 114)
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25. A method for monitoring at least one IV bag that is linked to at least one pump assembly of an IV pump, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first patient information set indicating a patient to be associated with the pump;
associating the pump with the patient indicated by the first patient information set;
sensing attachment of at least a first IV bag to a first pump assembly of the pump; and
when all IV bags are detached from the pump assembly, performing a health safety function.
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34. A communication apparatus for use with an infusion pump and an IV bag including an information device attached thereto, the pump including a processor, the apparatus comprising:
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an information obtainer for obtaining information from the information device when the obtainer is proximate the device, the information obtainer remote from the processor;
a tubing line linking the bag to the pump;
a communicator linked to the processor; and
a data bus between the communicator and the obtainer wherein the bus is attached to the tubing.
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36. A communication apparatus for use with an infusion pump and an IV bag including an information device attached thereto, the pump including a processor, the apparatus comprising:
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an information obtainer for obtaining information from the information device when the obtainer is proximate the device, the information obtainer remote from the processor;
a receiver linked to the processor; and
a transmitter linked to the obtainer and wherein information is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver via wireless communication.
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42. A method for controlling an infusion pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing a prescription database indicating patients and corresponding prescribed medications;
providing at least one IV bag including an information device that indicates medication information including the medication included in the IV bag;
obtaining medication information from the information device;
providing at least one patient identification device including information identifying a specific patient;
obtaining the patient identifying information from the patient identification device;
accessing the database and identifying the prescriptions for the patient identified by the identification device;
comparing the medication in the IV bag with the prescriptions; and
determining if the medication in the IV bag is administrable to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 50)
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45. A method for controlling an infusion pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing an allergy database indicating patients and corresponding allergies;
providing at least one IV bag including an information device that indicates medication information including the medication included in the IV bag;
obtaining medication information from the information device;
providing at least one patient identification device including information identifying a specific patient;
obtaining the patient identifying information from the patient identification device;
accessing the database and identifying the allergies for the patient identified by the identification device;
comparing the medication in the IV bag with the allergies; and
determining if the medication in the IV bag is administrable to the patient.
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49. A method for controlling an infusion pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing a contraindication database indicating medications that should not be taken together;
providing a prescription database indicating patients and corresponding prescriptions;
providing at least one IV bag including an information device that indicates medication information including the medication included in the IV bag;
obtaining medication information from the information device;
providing at least one patient identification device including information identifying a specific patient;
obtaining the patient identifying information from the patient identification device;
accessing the prescription database and identifying all current prescriptions for the patient identified by the identification device;
accessing the contraindication database and identifying all contraindicated medications corresponding to the medication in the IV bag;
comparing the contraindicated medications with the prescribed medications; and
determining if the medication in the IV bag is administrable to the patient.
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51. A method for controlling an infusion pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing at least a first IV bag including an information device that indicates medication information corresponding to the first IV bag;
providing at least a second IV bag including an information device that indicates medication information corresponding to the second IV bag obtaining medication information from the information devices;
employing the obtained information to determine a control regimen for the medications in the IV bags; and
controlling the infusion pump in accordance with the control regimen. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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56. A method for controlling an infusion pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing at least a first IV bag including an information device that indicates medication information corresponding to the first IV bag;
providing at least one physician identification device;
obtaining medication information from the information devices;
obtaining a physician'"'"'s identification from the physician'"'"'s identification device; and
determining if the physician is authorized to administer the first medication to a patient.
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61. A method for controlling an infusion pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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associating the IV pump with a specific patient;
providing at least a first IV bag including an information device that indicates medication information corresponding to the first IV bag;
obtaining medication information from the information device;
obtaining information related to the specific patient associated with the pump;
employing the medication information and the specific patient information to determine a control regimen for the medication in the IV bag; and
controlling the infusion pump in accordance with the control regimen. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method for controlling an infusion pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing a first IV bag including a first information device indicating information related to the first IV bag;
obtaining the information from the first information device;
associating the pump with the first IV bag;
removing the first IV bag from the pump;
providing a second IV bag including a second information device that indicates medication information corresponding to the second IV bag;
obtaining medication information from the second information device;
comparing the first and second bag information to determine if the first and second medications correspond to similar prescriptions. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method for controlling an infusion pump including at least one infusion pump assembly where a separate line links an IV bag to the at least one pump assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
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associating the at least one pump assembly with a specific control regimen corresponding to the linked IV bag;
providing a sensor for the line to determine when the line is disconnected from the at least one infusion pump assembly;
monitoring the sensor; and
when the sensor indicates that the line has been disconnected from a corresponding pump assembly, disassociating the pump assembly from the corresponding control regimen. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A method for controlling an infusion pump including at least one pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing an information device that indicates a first set of process information related to an infusion process, the first information set including a patient identifier;
obtaining the first information set from the information device; and
associating the pump with the patient. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101)
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102. A method for controlling an infusion pump including at least one pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing an information device that indicates a first set of process information related to an infusion process, the first information set including a physician identifier identifying at least one physician;
obtaining the first information set from the information device; and
associating the pump with the at least one physician identified by the physician identifier. - View Dependent Claims (103, 104, 105)
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106. A method for controlling an infusion process comprising the steps of:
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prior to releasing an IV bag and corresponding medication for delivery to a patient, identifying information specifying a corresponding prescription;
providing an information device on the bag including the specifying information;
providing a database including prescription information;
subsequent to release, obtaining the information from the information device including the prescription;
searching the database for the prescription; and
where the prescription is in the database, providing the date on the information device. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 110)
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111. A method for communicating with a plurality of infusion pumps, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a remote controller; and
associating each of the plurality of pumps with the remote controller for subsequent communication. - View Dependent Claims (112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 127, 128, 130, 131, 132, 134, 135, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 153, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 184, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192)
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126. A method for controlling an infusion pump, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least first and second IV bags;
linking the first bag to the infusion pump;
storing information related to a first infusion process corresponding to the first bag;
de-linking the first bag from the pump assembly;
obtaining information describing a second infusion process corresponding to the second bag;
comparing the second infusion process information to the first infusion process information to determine if the second process is a continuation of the first process and where the second process is a continuation of the first process, enabling the pump assembly to perform the second process.
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129. A method of controlling an IV pump using a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining patient information form a patient identifier;
recording a collection time when the patient information is obtained;
providing patient information and collection time to the processor;
comparing the collection time with the current ime; and
based on the comparison, performing a health safety function.
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133. A method for collecting and using patient information and IV bag information using a data collector, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an indicator;
using the data collector to obtain a first patient information set from a patient identifier;
using the data collector to obtain a second patient information set from an IV bag identifier;
determining a first date when the first patient information set is collected;
determining a second date when the second patient information set is collected;
comparing the first and second dates; and
when the duration between the first and second dates exceeds a threshold period, activating the indicator.
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136. A method for collecting and using patient information and IV bag information using a data collector, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an indicator;
using the data collector to obtain a first patient information set from a patient identifier;
using the data collector to obtain a second patient information set from an IV bag identifier;
determining a first date when the first patient information set is collected;
determining a second date when the second patient information set is collected;
determining a current date, the current date being a third date;
comparing the first, second and third dates; and
when the duration between at least one of the first and third dates and the second and third dates exceeds a threshold period, activating the indicator.
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139. A method for interacting with an infusion pump, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an IV bag including an attached information device including a first information set related to an infusion process associated with a medication in the IV bag;
providing an information collector for obtaining the first information set from the information device;
obtaining the first information set from the information device via the collector;
using the first information set to identify a second information set related to the infusion process;
providing an interface; and
indicating the second information set via the interface.
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143. A method for using a medical device with a medical product that is associated with medical product information to provide enhanced patient care, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an information device associated with the medical product, the information device including medical product information;
obtaining the medical product information from the information device;
based on at least the medical product information, identifying special use instructions related to the medical product;
providing an interface; and
presenting the special use instructions via the interface.
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152. A method for controlling an infusion pump assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing a blood type database indicating medications that should not be taken by persons with specific blood types;
providing at least one IV bag including an information device that indicates medication information including the medication included in the IV bag;
obtaining medication information from the information device;
providing at least one patient identification device including information identifying a specific patient;
obtaining the patient identifying information from the patient identification device;
accessing the blood type database and identifying all medications that the patient should not take; and
determining if the medication in the IV bag is administrable to the patient.
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154. A method for associating at least one medical device with a controller that is remote from the medical device wherein each of the controller and the medical device are network devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a first patient information set in the medical device indicating information related to a patient for which the medical device has been provided;
storing a second patient information set in the controller indicating information related to a patient;
transferring the at least a sub-set of the patient information set from a first of the network devices to a second of the network devices;
comparing the transferred information set to at least a subset of the information set stored in the second of the network devices;
where the compared information indicate the same patient, associating the controller with the medical device;
after association, determining when a terminating event occurs and, when a terminating event occurs, dis-associating the controller and the medical device. - View Dependent Claims (165)
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169. A method for establishing communication between a controller and several medical devices corresponding to a specific patient so that the controller can be used to perform at least one of monitoring and controlling the medical devices, a patient identifier corresponding to the patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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associating each of the medical devices with the patient identifier;
obtaining the patient identifier via the controller; and
establishing communication between the controller and each of the medical devices associated with the patient identifier.
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183. A method for establishing communication between a controller and several medical devices corresponding to a specific patient so that the controller can be used to perform at least one of monitoring and controlling the medical devices and patient identifier corresponding to the patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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associating each of the medical devices with the patient identifier;
providing a patient identifier device that includes related device indicators, a separate indicator indicating each of the medical devices associated with the patient identifier;
obtaining the medical device indicators from the patient identifier device via the controller; and
establishing communication between the controller and each of the medical devices corresponding to the indicators.
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185. A method for collecting and using patient information using a data collector where the collector includes at least one activation button, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least first and second devices having first and second memories;
storing corresponding first and second indicators in the first and second memories, respectively;
activating the at least one activation button and, during activation;
collecting the first and second indicators from the first and second memories via the collector; and
where the first and second indicators are not both collected during a single button activation, performing a safety function.
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Specification