Medical apparatus with remote control

• US 20020143290A1
• Filed: 01/03/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Wilson, Larry, Bui, Tuan
• Granted Patent: US 6,689,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A medical treatment administration system 610 for delivering a medical treatment to a patient 618. The system 610 has a medical device 612 disposed in a first location, an electronic processor 628 coupled to the medical device 612, a sensor 616 coupled to the processor 628, and a remote controller 646 disposed at a second location remote from the first location. The remote controller 646 has an input device to control operation of the electronic processor 628. The sensor 616 receives one or more signals which it transfers 624 to the processor 628. The signals can be derived from the patient'"'"'s physiological condition and/or the environment of the patient. The processor 628 receives the signals and performs a calculation 630 of the signal. Based on the result of the calculation, the processor 628 regulates the distribution of medical treatment to the patient 618 over a period of time.

Claims

1. A remotely-controlled medication delivery system, comprising:

a medical treatment device having a supply of medication and a means for delivering the medication to the patient, the medical treatment device being disposed in a first location;

a control algorithm coupled to the medical device;

a sensing device coupled to the control algorithm, the sensing device sending a signal to the control algorithm, wherein the control algorithm processes the signal received from the sensing device and develops a feedback control based on a result of processing the signal to determine whether medication should be delivered from the medical treatment device to the patient, and providing the feedback control to the medical treatment device to control the delivery of the medical treatment to the patient; and

,

a remote controller disposed at a second location remote from the first location, the remote controller having an input device to control operation of the control algorithm.

2. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein the remote controller communicates with the control algorithm via an internet.

3. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein the remote controller communicates with the control algorithm via an intranet.

4. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein the remote controller communicates with the control algorithm via a wireless network.

5. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein the remote controller is a server.

6. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein the medical treatment device comprises an infusion pump for administering a liquid medicant to the patient, the infusion pump having liquid injection device adapted to be connected to the patient, a conduit connected to the liquid injection device, a pumping mechanism for pumping the liquid medicant through the conduit and into the patient via the liquid injection device, and a pump controller for controlling the pumping mechanism, the pump controller receiving the feedback control to the medical treatment device to control the delivery of the medical treatment to the patient.

7. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a sensor coupled to the patient to receive information from the patient concerning the physiological condition of the patient, the information being converted into a signal.

8. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is a vital signs monitor.

9. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a sensor that receives information concerning the patient'"'"'s environment.

10. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a light sensor.

11. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a local input device coupled to the control algorithm, the local input device being located in the first location.

12. The remotely-controlled medication delivery system of claim 11, wherein the local input device has a plurality of entry keys disposed in a spatial configuration, and wherein the remote controller has a display, the medication delivery system further comprising a means operatively coupled to the display for generating a visual display of a plurality of virtual entry keys having a spatial configuration substantially the same as the entry keys of the local input device.

14. The medication delivery system of claim 13, further comprising a medical device having a supply of medical treatment and a means for delivering the medical treatment to the patient, the medical device operatively coupled to the control algorithm, the control algorithm controlling the delivery of the medical treatment from the medical device to the patient.

15. The medication delivery system of claim 13, further comprising a local input device operatively connected to the control algorithm, the local input device controlling the process parameters of the control algorithm.

16. The medication delivery system of claim 13, further comprising a display connected to the remote input device, the display providing a visual readout of the control algorithm.

17. The medication delivery system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is operatively coupled to the patient and receives information concerning the physiological condition of the patient.

19. The medication delivery system of claim 18, wherein the second input device is a bar code reader.

20. The medication delivery system of claim 18, wherein patient information and medical data is entered via the second input device.

21. The medical apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a display device, display means for generating a visual display of a virtual input device substantially corresponding to said input device of said programmable medical device, the display means operatively coupled to the display device, and means for allowing a user at the second location to activate the virtual input device to allow the user to control the operation of the programmable medical device from the second location.

13. A remotely-controlled medication delivery system for delivering a medical treatment to a patient from a medical device capable of delivering the medical treatment, comprising:

a sensor receiving a signal, a control algorithm operatively connected to the sensor, and a remote input device disposed at a location remote from the sensor, wherein the sensor obtains the signal, the control algorithm processing the signal obtained by the sensor and develops a feedback control adapted to control the delivery of the medical treatment from the medical device to the patient, and wherein the remote input device has a means for manipulating operation of the control algorithm.

18. A medication delivery system, comprising:

a programmable medical device located at a first location for administering a medical treatment to a patient, wherein the programmable medical device has a means for administering the medical treatment to the patient, and wherein the programmable medical device has a first input device for entering control commands for the programmable medical device;

a local controller operatively connected to the programmable medical device, the local controller being disposed at the first location and having a second input device for entering control commands for the local controller, the local controller also being operatively connected to the patient to receive a signal from the patient, wherein the local controller manipulates operation of the programmable medical device; and

,

a remote controller for controlling the local controller, the remote controller being disposed at a second location remote from the first location at which the programmable medical device is disposed, said remote controller having means to allow a user at the second location to control the local controller.

22. A method to provide medication to a patient where the medication delivery is triggered by one or more physiological conditions of the patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a medication delivery device;

providing a local controller having a control algorithm;

providing a sensor;

providing a remote controller, the remote controller having an input device; and

,

utilizing the sensor to obtain a signal concerning the physiological condition of the patient, transferring the signal to the controller, entering information contained in the signal in the control algorithm, developing a result based on resulting data from the control algorithm, developing feedback control based on the result from the control algorithm, and manipulating the medication delivery device as appropriate based on the feedback control to deliver the medication to the patient.

23. A method to provide medication to a patient where the medication delivery is triggered by one or more environmental conditions, comprising the steps of:

providing a medication delivery device;

providing a local controller having a control algorithm;

providing a sensor;

providing a remote controller, the remote controller having an input device; and

,

utilizing the sensor to obtain a signal concerning an environmental condition of the patient'"'"'s environment, transferring the signal to the controller, entering information contained in the signal in the control algorithm, developing a result based on resulting data from the control algorithm, developing feedback control based on the result from the control algorithm, and manipulating the medication delivery device as appropriate based on the feedback control to deliver the medication to the patient.