System to automatically locally control a device according to preferences of a user entering a local area of the device from a remote area

• US 20030025604A1
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curtis W. Freeman
• Original Assignee: Curtis W. Freeman
• Inventors: Freeman, Curtis W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,600,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present invention provides sensor generating measurement information based upon a patient parameter measured by the sensor and a processor managing local output of the measurement information according to automatically detected control signals locally and wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter entering a local area of the sensor from a remote area. The control signals include identification of a user and the transmitter travels with the user entering the local area of the sensor from a remote area so that the processor can manage local output of the measurement information according to stored preferences of the user. The processor can also control patient parameter measurements according to the preferences of the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a sensor generating measurement information based upon a patient parameter measured by the sensor; and

a processor managing local output of the measurement information according to automatically detected control signals locally and wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter entering a local area of the sensor from a remote area.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is traveling with a user entering the local area from the remote area.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a storage unit storing preferences of the user and the control signals include identification information of the user, the processor managing the local output of the measurement information according to the preferences of the user based upon identifying the user from the control signals.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control signals include preferences of the user and the processor manages the local output of the measurement information according to the preferences of the user.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor manages the local output of the measurement information to a local display unit, a local sound unit and a local recorder in communication with the apparatus, the local display unit locally displaying the measurement information, the local sound unit locally annunciating alarms and providing audible information based upon the measurement information, and the local recorder locally printing the measurement information.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor further uses the measurement information to generate diagnostic information and archives the measurement information according to the control signals.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor further uses the measurement information to generate diagnostic information and archives the measurement information according to the preferences of the user.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor further controls the sensor to monitor the parameter of the patient according to the control signals.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor further controls the sensor to monitor the parameter of the patient according to the preferences of the user.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the local area is a room or a predetermined short distance from the sensor.

11. A system, comprising:

a sensor generating measurements based upon a patient parameter measured by the sensor;

a transmitter transmitting control signals and entering a local area of the sensor from a remote area; and

a processor managing local output of the measurements according to the control signals automatically detected upon the entering of the transmitter to the local area of the sensor.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter is traveling with a user entering the local area from the remote area.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a storage unit storing preferences of the user and the control signals include identification information of the user, the processor managing the local output of the measurements according to the preferences of the user based upon identifying the user from the control signals.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the control signals include preferences of the user and the processor manages the local output of the measurements according to the preferences of the user.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor further uses the measurements to generate diagnostic information and archives the measurements according to the control signals.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor further uses the measurements to generate diagnostic information and archives the measurements according to the preferences of the user.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor further controls the sensor to monitor the parameter of the patient according to the control signals.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor further controls the sensor to monitor the parameter of the patient according to the preferences of the user.

19. A method, comprising:

generating measurements based upon a patient parameter measured by a sensor;

automatically detecting locally and wirelessly transmitted control signals from a transmitter entering a local area of the sensor; and

managing local output of the measurements according to the control signals.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter travels with a user entering the local area from the remote area.

21. A transmitter, comprising

a processor wirelessly and automatically transmitting control signals for automatic detection by a patient monitor when the transmitter enters a local area of the patient monitor, the patient monitor managing according to the control signals local output of patient parameters measured by the patient monitor.

22. The transmitter according to claim 21, wherein the transmitter is traveling with a user entering the local area from a remote area.

23. The transmitter according to claim 22, wherein the transmitter further comprises a storage unit storing preferences of a user and the control signals include the preferences of the user.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface transmitting/receiving information via a network to/from a patient monitor, the information including measurements from monitoring a patient parameter by the patient monitor; and

a processor managing local output of the measurements received by the communication interface according to automatically detected control signals locally and wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter entering a local area of the apparatus from a remote area.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the transmitter is traveling with a user entering the local area from the remote area.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the apparatus further comprises a storage unit storing preferences of the user and the control signals include identification information of the user, the processor managing the local output of the measurements according to the preferences of the user based upon identifying the user from the control signals.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the processor further controls the patient monitor according to the control signals.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processor further controls the patient monitor according to the preferences of the user.

29. A system, comprising:

a communication interface transmitting/receiving information via a network to/from a patient monitor, the information including measurement information from monitoring a patient parameter by the patient monitor;

a transmitter transmitting control signals and entering a local area of the communication interface from a remote area; and

a processor managing local output of the measurement information received by the communication interface according to control signals automatically detected upon the entering of the transmitter to the local area of the communication interface.