Medical device with dual communications bus

• US 20030046439A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Scheunert, Peter, Manke, Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 6,880,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/253
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of programming, of the execution of test sequences, of diagnosis and of the maintenance of medical appliances which, due to their computer architecture, comprise two communications buses. One such computer architecture is generally provided when a medical appliance, due to safety requirements, comprises an auxiliary computer system in addition to its action computer system. Said auxiliary computer system independently monitors the functional mode of the action computer system and can induce a reliable state of the appliance in an emergency. The aim of the invention is to be able to easily, quickly and reliably implement a programming, the execution of test sequences, the diagnosis and the maintenance of such an appliance. To these ends, the invention provides that a connection line, which can be interrupted by a switch, is arranged between the communications buses, and both communications buses can be connected to form a unified communications bus via said connection line. The invention also relates to a method for executing such a programming process, testing process, diagnostic process and/or maintenance process of a medical appliance.

Claims

1. Medical device

comprising at least two units (20, 21, 22) for monitoring and/or controlling the medical device, which exhibit to this end at least one computer (20′

, 21′

, 22′

) each with a microprocessor,

wherein at least one unit has a second computer (20″

, 21″

, 22″

) with a second microprocessor,

comprising two communications buses (24, 25),

wherein each of the computers is attached to either the first or the second communications bus,

characterized by

a connecting line (71), which can be interrupted by a switch (70),

and by means of which the two communications buses can be connected to form a uniform communications bus.

2. Medical device, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the switch is designed as a relay switch.

3. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the switch can be actuated by means of one of the computers.

4. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting line can be interrupted by means of two switches connected in series.

5. Medical device, as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that one of the switches is actuated by a computer, connected to the first communications bus;

and the other switch is actuated by a computer, connected to the second communications bus.

6. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized by means, which are intended for mode identification and which allow the first and the second communications bus to be connected together by means of the switch only when the device is in a special mode provided to this end.

7. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the communications buses are CAN buses.

8. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that both communications buses use addressing techniques that allow unambiguous addressing of the computers and their components when the communications buses are connected together.

9. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that one of the communications buses exhibits an interface for the purpose of connecting to an external device.

10. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that one of the computers exhibits an interface (32) for the purpose of connecting to an external device.

11. Medical device, as claimed in claim 4, characterized by an interface to an external device in the connecting line between the two switches.

12. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 11, characterized in that individual computers or all computers of the medical device can be programmed, tested, diagnosed and/or maintenanced with the aid of the external device.

13. Medical device, as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said at least two units (20, 21, 22) exhibit an action computer (20′

, 21′

, 22′

) and an auxiliary computer (20″

, 21″

, 22″

).

14. Medical device, as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the action computers are connected together by means of the first communications bus (24);

and the auxiliary computers are connected together by means of the second communications bus (25).

15. Medical device, as claimed in claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the medical device is a blood treatment device.

16. Medical device, as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the blood treatment device is a hemodialysis, hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration device.

17. Medical device, as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the unit comprises an operating unit (20) for data input and output, a hydraulic unit (21) for supplying and draining biological fluids and a functional unit (22) for controlling an extracorporeal blood circulation.

18. Method for implementing a programming, test, diagnosis and/or maintenance operation of a medical device comprising at least two units, which are intended for monitoring and/or controlling the medical device and which exhibit to this end at least one computer with a microprocessor each, and where at least one unit contains a second computer with a second microprocessor;

comprising two communications buses, where each of the computers is attached to either the first or the second communications bus;

comprising an interface to an external device, which is attached to one of the computers or one of the communications buses,

characterized in that

for this purpose an external device is attached to the interface provided to this end,

the two communications buses are connected to form a uniform communications bus,

the programming, test, diagnostic and/or maintenance operation is carried out by means of the external device, and

following completion of the programming, test, diagnostic and/or maintenance operation, the communications buses are separated again.

19. Method, as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that prior to connecting the two communications buses, the mode of the medical device is identified;

and the connection is rendered a function of whether the device is in a special state for carrying out the programming, test, diagnostic and/or maintenance operation.