Medical device having a combination data reader and infrared data transceiver and method of using same

• US 20020165436A1
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brodnick, Donald E., Schluter, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers

Abstract

An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing; an infrared filter window supported by the housing; and an infrared transceiver mounted in the housing so that infrared light emitted by the infrared transceiver is focused in the vicinity of the infrared window, and radiates from the infrared filter window in an approximately 30 degree illumination cone.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an infrared filter window supported by the housing; and

an infrared transceiver mounted in the housing so that infrared light emitted by the infrared transceiver is focused in the vicinity of the infrared filter window, and radiates from the infrared filter window in an approximately 30 degree illumination cone.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the infrared transceiver includes a light emitting diode.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the infrared transceiver includes a lens supported by the housing.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the infrared transceiver includes at least one photodetector.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a processor supported by the housing and electrically connected to the infrared transceiver.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus further comprises a software program stored in the processor for decoding both infrared light reflected from a data source and infrared data transmitted from another electronic apparatus.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a Holter monitor.

8. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a combination data reader and infrared data transceiver;

a processor connected to the combination data reader and infrared data transceiver; and

a software program executed by the processor to decode both infrared light reflected from a data source and infrared data transmitted from another electronic apparatus.

9. The electronic apparatus of claim 8 wherein the software program initiates transmission of data via infrared light to another electronic apparatus.

10. The electronic apparatus of claim 8 wherein the infrared data transceiver includes a light emitting diode and lens to focus a light source to a small point.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 8 wherein the infrared data transceiver includes a light emitting diode and lens to create an illumination cone subtending at least 30 degrees beyond the infrared filter window.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data reader includes at least one photodetector.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data reader detects reflected infrared light from a reflective surface.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data reader detects infrared light emitted from another electronic device within a 30°

degree illumination cone.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is a Holter monitor.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the positioning of the infrared data transceiver is such that the infrared beam of light has a direct line of sight to the reflective surface.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the electronic device includes a keypad, and wherein the method further comprises the act of applying a force to the keypad to activate the infrared data transceiver to emit infrared light.

19. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the electronic device includes a filter window, and wherein the method further comprises the act of applying a force to the filter window to activate the infrared data transceiver to emit infrared light.

16. A method of inputting data into an electronic device having an infrared data transceiver, the method comprising the acts of:

positioning the infrared data transceiver adjacent a reflective surface having data encoded thereon;

activating the infrared data transceiver to emit infrared light; and

detecting infrared light reflected from the reflective surface.

20. A medical device comprising:

a housing;

an infrared filter window supported by the housing; and

an infrared transceiver mounted in the housing so that infrared light emitted by the infrared transceiver is focused in the vicinity of the infrared filter window, and radiates from the infrared filter window in an approximately 30 degree illumination cone.

21. The medical device of claim 20, wherein the infrared transceiver includes a light emitting diode.

22. The medical device of claim 20, wherein the infrared transceiver includes a lens.

23. The medical device of claim 20, wherein the infrared transceiver includes at least one photodetector.

24. The medical device of claim 20, wherein the apparatus further comprises a processor supported by the housing and electrically connected to the infrared transceiver.

25. The medical device of claim 24, wherein the apparatus further comprises a software program stored in the processor for decoding both infrared light reflected from a data source and infrared data transmitted from another electronic apparatus.

26. The medical device of claim 20, wherein the electronic apparatus is a Holter monitor.

28. The medical device of claim 27 wherein the software program initiates transmission of data via infrared light to another electronic apparatus.

29. The medical device of claim 27 wherein the infrared data transceiver includes a light emitting diode and lens to focus a light source to a small point.

30. The medical device of claim 27 wherein the infrared data transceiver includes a light emitting diode and lens to create an illumination cone subtending at least 30°

beyond the infrared filter window.

31. The medical device of claim 27 wherein the data reader includes at least one photodetector.

32. The medical device of claim 27 wherein the data reader detects reflected infrared light from a reflective surface.

33. The medical device of claim 27 wherein the data reader detects infrared light from another electronic device within a 30 degree illumination cone.

27. A medical device comprising:

a combination data reader and infrared data transceiver;

a processor connected to the combination data reader and infrared data transceiver; and

a software program executed by the processor to decode both infrared light reflected from a data source and infrared data transmitted from another electronic apparatus.