Functional isolation of upgradeable components to reduce risk in medical treatment devices

• US 20040249330A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.), Nxstage Medical Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Nxstage Medical Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Treu, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02455 provided with high/low alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1639 linked by membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1698 Blood oxygenators with or without heat-exchangers intracorporal A61M1/1678; manufacturing of membranes therefor B01D67/00; semi-permeable membranes for separation processes characterised by their properties B01D69/00; semi-permeable membranes characterised by their material B01D71/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/34 Filtering material out of the blood by passing it through a membrane, i.e. hemofiltration or diafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3444 in which the collected ultra-filtrate expels an equal volume of substitution fluid from a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• 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 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A medical treatment system isolates more risk-sensitive equipment from less risk-sensitive components of a treatment device to allow upgrades to be made to the latter more easily without an concomitant increase in risk to a patient caused by upgrades. For example, the latter may serve a pure monitoring function while the former encapsulates the treatment functions thereby preventing errors from the latter from propagating into the treatment-sensitive portions of the device.

Claims

1. A medical treatment device comprising:

a treatment unit and a monitor unit positioned together at a treatment location;

said treatment unit including components that deliver medical treatment to a patient;

said monitor unit being signally connected to said treatment unit by means of a one-way communication mechanism such that said monitor unit are prevented from affecting the state of said treatment unit;

said monitor unit receiving data from said treatment unit and outputting at least data relating to a status of a treatment being delivered by said treatment unit.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said treatment unit and said monitor unit are housed together in a single housing.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said treatment unit and said monitor are connected to a common control panel with inputs and outputs, each connected such that any signals from said monitor unit are prevented from affecting a state of said treatment unit.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein said treatment unit and said monitor unit and said control panel are located within a common housing.

5. A device as in claim 3, wherein said control panel comprises physically separate components that are connected by a one-way communications channel.

6. A medical treatment device, comprising:

a treatment machine with sensors and actuators configured to multiplex status information;

a monitor device having a programmable processor with a memory, said processor being configured to control functions, including data synthesis and display, of said monitor device responsively to software run by said programmable processor;

a one-way communications channel providing communications between said treatment machine and said monitor device, such that said treatment machine status is prevented from being affected by said software;

said treatment machine sensors and actuators being configured to apply data signals to said one-way communications channel, said processor being configured to control said functions responsively to said data signals.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein said treatment machine and monitor device share a common housing.

8. A device as in claim 6, wherein said one-way communications channel is wireless.

9. A medical treatment device, comprising:

a blood treatment unit;

a monitoring control and display device;

a control computer controlling said blood treatment unit;

a monitoring computer controlling said monitoring control and display device;

said monitoring computer signally connected to said blood treatment unit such that failures in said monitoring computer cannot affect the state of said control computer.

10. A device as in claim 9, wherein said monitoring computer translates status information from said control computer and displays a translated result on said monitoring.