Method and system for locating a portable medical device

• US 20040155772A1
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Physio-Control Manufacturing Corp.
• Inventors: Nova, Richard C., Saltzstein, William E., Medema, Douglas K., Niskanen, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,937,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3931 Protecting, e.g. back-up systems
• 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: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The invention provides a wireless automatic location identification (ALI) capable system (10), including a medical device (12) having a wireless data communicator (14), a wireless communication network (16), and a remote locating service (18) for remotely locating and monitoring one or more medical devices over the wireless communication network. When the medical device is linked to the remote locating service over the communication network, the ALI-capable system identifies the location of the medical device and relays the location information to the remote locating service. The system permits reliable determination of the location of the medical device wherever the medical device is situated. The medical device may further be configured to transmit signals indicative of its status, condition, or self-test results, to the remote locating service. This feature allows the remote locating service to centrally monitor the status or condition of a plurality of medical devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a triggering event associated with a portable medical device;

establishing a link between the portable medical device and a remote locating service via a wireless network in response to detecting the triggering event;

identifying a location of the portable medical device using a wireless automatic location identification (ALI) technology;

indicating the location of the portable medical device to the remote locating service when the link is established; and

transmitting information between the portable medical device and the remote locating service via the link based on a type of the triggering event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a signal indicative of the type of the triggering event from the portable medical device to the remote locating service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event comprises one of activation of the portable medical device, application of electrodes coupled to the portable medical device to a patient, and a user of the portable medical device calling a number associated with the remote locating service using a wireless data communicator of the portable medical device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting information comprises transmitting physiological information of a patient being treated with the portable medical device from the portable medical device to the remote locating service.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting the physiological information in response to a request signal received from the remote locating service.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting information comprises transmitting instructions from the remote locating service to the portable medical device.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting information comprises establishing a two-way communication channel for transmission of at least one of verbal, text, and graphical messages between the portable medical device and the remote locating service.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting information comprises transmitting pre-stored information related to a patient being treated with the portable medical device from the remote locating service to the portable medical device.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting information comprises transmitting information related to at least one of a status and a self-test result of the portable medical device to the remote locating service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is related to a status of the portable medical device, and transmitting information comprises transmitting information related to at least one of the status and a self-test result of the portable medical device to the remote locating service.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the triggering event is indicated by a schedule stored in a memory of the portable medical device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising at least one of determining the status and performing the self-test according to the schedule.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the triggering event and the transmitted information are related to at least one of expiration of a component of the portable medical device and a malfunction of the portable medical device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising requesting dispatch of a technician to the identified location of the portable medical device in response to receiving the information at the remote locating service.

15. A portable medical device comprising:

a controller to detect a triggering event associated with a portable medical device; and

a wireless data communicator to establish a link between the portable medical device and a remote locating service via a wireless network in response to detection of the triggering event, identify a location of the portable medical device using a handset-based wireless automatic location identification (ALI) technology, and indicate the location of the portable medical device to the remote locating service when the link is established,

wherein the controller transmits information to the remote locating service via the link based on a type of the triggering event.

16. The portable medical device of claim 15, wherein the controller transmits a signal indicative of the type of the triggering event to the remote locating service.

17. The portable medical device of claim 15, wherein the triggering event comprises one of activation of the portable medical device, application of electrodes coupled to the portable medical device to a patient, and a user of the portable medical device calling a number associated with the remote locating service using the wireless data communicator.

18. The portable medical device of claim 17, wherein the information comprises physiological information of a patient being treated with the portable medical device.

19. The portable medical device of claim 18, wherein the controller receives a request signal from the remote locating service, and transmits the physiological information to the remote locating service in response to the request signal.

20. The portable medical device of claim 17, wherein the wireless data communicator establishes a two-way communication channel for transmission of at least one of verbal, text, and graphical messages between the controller and the remote locating service.

21. The portable medical device of claim 17, wherein information relates to at least one of a status and a self-test result of the portable medical device.

22. The portable medical device of claim 17, wherein the triggering event is related to a status of the portable medical device, and the information is related to at least one of the status and a self-test result.

23. The portable medical device of claim 22, further comprising a memory to store a schedule, wherein the triggering event is indicated by the schedule.

24. The portable medical device of claim 23, wherein the controller at least one of determines the status and controls performance of the self-test according to the schedule.

25. The portable medical device of claim 23, wherein the triggering event and the transmitted information are related to at least one of expiration of a component of the portable medical device and a malfunction of the portable medical device.

26. The portable medical device of claim 15, wherein the portable medical device comprises an external defibrillator.

27. A system comprising:

a portable medical device having a wireless data communicator;

a wireless communication network; and

a remote locating service;

wherein the portable medical device detects a triggering event, and the wireless data communicator establishes a link between the portable medical and the remote locating service in response to detection of the triggering event,

wherein at least one of the wireless data communicator and the wireless communication network utilizes a wireless automatic location identification (ALI) technology to determine a location of the medical device and to provide information identifying the location of the medical device to the remote locating service when the link is established, and

wherein at least one of the portable medical device and the remote locating service transmit information via the link based on a type the triggering event.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the portable medical device sends a signal indicative of the type of the triggering event to the remote locating service.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the triggering event comprises one of activation of the portable medical device, application of electrodes coupled to portable medical device to a patient, and a user of the portable medical device calling a number associated with the remote locating service using the wireless data communicator.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the information comprises instructions, and the remote locating service transmits the instructions to the portable medical device.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the information comprises at least one of verbal, text, and graphical messages, and the wireless data communicator and the remote locating service establish a two-way communication channel for transmission of the at least one of verbal, text, and graphical messages between the portable medical device and the remote locating service.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the information comprises pre-stored information related to a patient being treated with the portable medical device, and the remote locating service transmits the pre-store information to the portable medical device.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the triggering event is related to a status of the portable medical device, the information comprises information related to at least one of the status and a self-test result of the portable medical device transmitted by the portable medical device to the remote locating service, and the remote locating service requests dispatch of a technician to the identified location of the portable medical device in response to receiving the information at the remote locating service.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the portable medical device comprises an external defibrillator.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the remote locating service comprises at least one of a medical emergency dispatch service and a medical device monitoring service.

36. A method for remotely monitoring a portable medical device comprising:

establishing a link with the portable medical device via a wireless network;

receiving an indication of a location of the portable medical device from at least one of a wireless data communicator of the portable medical device and the wireless communication network when the link is established, the location identified using a wireless automatic location identification (ALI) technology; and

receiving information related to at least one of a status of the portable medical device and a self-test performed by the portable medical device via the link.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein receiving information related to at least one of a status of the portable medical device and a self-test performed by the portable medical device comprises:

issuing a request to the portable medical device via the link; and

receiving the information in response to the request.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the request directs the portable medical device to at least one of determine the status and perform the self-test.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein establishing a link the portable medical device comprises periodically establishing a link to periodically receive location and status information.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein receiving information comprises receiving information related to at least one of expiration of a component of the portable medical device and a malfunction of the portable medical device.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein receiving information comprises receiving information related to a change level of a battery of the portable medical device.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising requesting dispatch of a technician to the identified location of the portable medical device in response to receiving the information.

43. The method of claim 36, further comprising changing a software configuration of the portable medical device via the link.

44. The method of claim 36, further comprising establishing links with a plurality of portable medical devices via the wireless network to receive location and status information from each of the plurality of portable medical devices.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

receiving a call from an individual relating to a medical emergency;

receiving information relating to a location of at least one of the individual and the emergency;

identifying one of the portable medical devices located proximate to the location; and

providing the location of the identified portable medical device to the individual.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

establishing a link with the identified portable medical device via the wireless network; and

directing the identified portable medical device to issue an alarm to assist the individual in locating the identified portable medical device to respond to the medical emergency, wherein the alarm is at least one of a audible and visual alarm.

47. A system comprising:

a portable medical device that includes a wireless data communicator;

a wireless network; and

a remote locating service that establishes a link with the portable medical device via a wireless network, receives an indication of a location of one of the portable medical devices from at least one of a wireless data communicator of the portable medical device and the wireless communication network when the link is established, and receives information related to at least one of a status of the portable medical device and a self-test performed by the portable medical device via the link, wherein the location is identified using a wireless automatic location identification (ALI) technology.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the remote locating service issues a request to the portable medical device via the link, and receives the information in response to the request.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the request directs the portable medical device to at least one of determine the status and perform the self-test.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the remote locating service periodically establishes a link with the portable medical device to periodically receive location and status information.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein the information is related to at least one of expiration of a component of the portable medical device and a malfunction of the portable medical device.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein portable medical device includes a battery, and the information is related to a change level of the battery.

53. The system of claim 47, wherein the remote locating service requests dispatch of a technician to the identified location of the portable medical device in response to receiving the information.

54. The system of claim 47, wherein the remote locating service changes a software configuration of the portable medical device via the link.

55. The system of claim 47, wherein the remote locating service establishes links with a plurality of portable medical devices via the wireless network and receiving status and location information from each of the plurality of portable medical devices.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the remote locating service receives a call from an individual relating to a medical emergency, receives information relating to a location of at least one of the individual and the emergency, identifies one of the portable medical devices located proximate to the location, and provides the location of the identified portable medical device to the individual.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the remote locating service establishes a link with the identified portable medical device via the wireless network, and directs the identified portable medical device to issue an alarm to assist the individual in locating the identified portable medical device to respond to the medical emergency.

58. The system of claim 47, wherein the portable medical device comprises an external defibrillator.

59. The system of claim 47, wherein the remote locating service is associated with an emergency number.