METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING COMPUTER PERIPHERAL SAFETY

• US 20060282691A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G., Jaeger, Paul M., Kouklev, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A method and system for enhancing computer peripheral safety is provided. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the exemplary method and system are configured to monitor and/or isolate alternating current (A.C.) supplies with and/or from any peripheral subsystems or devices. An exemplary method and system comprises an A.C. supply, a host computer system, and a peripheral subsystem or device connected to the host computer system, such as an ultrasound imaging and/or therapy peripheral, and an isolation subsystem configured for monitoring and/or isolating the A.C. supply from the peripheral subsystem or device. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an isolation subsystem comprises application software and associated modules and functions that when executed continuously monitors and/or polls the host computer'"'"'s hardware and/or operating system for the presence of an isolated source, such as a battery, or an unisolated power source, such as through a battery charger and/or other connection path to the A.C. main supply. In accordance with other exemplary embodiments, an isolation subsystem can comprises a wireless or other safe/isolated electrical link for connecting a patient contact device, and/or a verification link or other verification mechanisms configured between an isolation transformer and host computer to monitor or observe usage to power the host computer and peripheral subsystem.

Claims

1. A treatment system configured for enhanced computer peripheral safety for use with medical devices, said treatment system comprising:

an A.C. main power supply;

a host computer system configured with a power supply, said host computer system further coupled to said A.C. main power supply;

a peripheral system coupled to said host computer system and configured for control of medical devices; and

an isolation subsystem configured for isolating said A.C. power supply from said peripheral system during operation of said peripheral system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said isolation subsystem comprises a detection module configured within said host computer system for monitoring supply of power from said A.C. power supply to said host computer system.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said detection module is configured to disable at least one function of said peripheral system when said A.C. power supply is supplying power to said host computer system.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said detection module is configured to provide warnings to a user to allow for disabling of at least one function of said peripheral system when said A.C. power supply is supplying power to said host computer system.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said detection module is configured to confirm with a user whether isolation hardware is operable prior to disabling of at least one function of said peripheral system when said A.C. power supply is supplying power to said host computer system.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said power supply of said host computer further comprises an A.C. powered battery charger and an isolated battery, and wherein said detection module is configured to determine whether said A.C. power supply is supplying power through said battery charger or whether said isolated battery is supplying power to said host computer system.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said detection module is further configured to monitor power levels of said isolated battery and provide at least one of a disabling function and a warning function to a user if said power levels are below acceptable levels.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein said isolation subsystem further comprises an isolation transformer configured between said power supply of said host computer system and said A.C. power supply.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said isolation subsystem further comprises a low-leakage power supply configured between said peripheral system and said A.C. power supply.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said isolation subsystem comprises a wireless/isolated electrical link coupled between a medical peripheral device and said A.C. power supply.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said wireless/isolated electrical link is connected between said medical peripheral device and said peripheral system.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said isolation subsystem comprises an isolation transformer and a verification link, each configured between said A.C. power supply and said host computer.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said isolation transformer comprises a low-leakage, medical-grade isolation transformer.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said verification link comprises a feedback mechanism configured to monitor operations of at least one of isolation transformer and said peripheral system.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said verification link comprises a wired connection from said isolation transformer to a USB port of said host computer.

16. A computer-implemented method for enhancing computer peripheral safety for use with medical applications, said computer-implemented method comprising:

determining whether a host computer is being powered by an isolated power source or by an unisolated power source comprising an A.C. power supply;

providing at least one of a disabling function to a peripheral system and a warning function to a peripheral system user if said host computer is powered by the A.C. power supply; and

continuing operation of said peripheral system if said host computer is powered by the isolated power source.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said method further comprises monitoring power levels of said isolated power source and providing at least one of a disabling function and a warning function to a user if said power levels are below acceptable levels.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said method further comprises continuously monitoring for the supply of power from said A.C. power supply.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said method comprises detecting the supply of power from A.C. power supply through operating system interrupts.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein said method initially provides said warning function to a user and waits for acknowledgement before disabling any functions within said peripheral system.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein said method confirms with a user whether isolation hardware is operable before disabling any functions within said peripheral system.

22. A peripheral isolation system configured for enhancing safety with a medical peripheral device when used with an A.C. power supply, said peripheral isolation system comprising:

an isolation subsystem coupled between the A.C. power supply and the medical peripheral device, said isolation subsystem configured to perform at least one of monitoring and isolating the A.C. power supply during operation of the medical peripheral device.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said isolation subsystem comprises a detection module configured within a host computer system for monitoring supply of power from the A.C. power supply to the host computer system, and configured to disable at least one function of the medical peripheral device when the A.C. power supply is supplying power to the host computer system.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said detection module is further configured to provide warnings to a user prior to disabling of at least one function of said medical peripheral device when the A.C. power supply is supplying power to the host computer system.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said detection module is further configured to determine whether an isolated battery is supplying power to said host computer system, and is configured to monitor power levels of the battery and provide at least one of a disabling function and a warning function to a user if the power levels are below acceptable levels.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein said isolation subsystem comprises a wireless/isolated electrical link coupled between the medical peripheral device and the A.C. power supply.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein said isolation subsystem comprises an isolation transformer and a verification link, each coupled between the A.C. power supply and the host computer, and wherein said verification link comprises a feedback mechanism configured to monitor operations of at least one of the isolation transformer and the medical peripheral device.

28. A method for enhancing computer peripheral safety for use with medical applications, said method comprising:

providing an isolation subsystem coupled between an A.C. power supply and a medical peripheral device; and

performing at least one of monitoring and isolating the A.C. power supply during operation of the medical peripheral device.

29. The method according to claim 28, said method comprising:

determining in a host computer whether the host computer is being powered by a battery or by the A.C. power supply;

providing at least one of a disabling function to the medical peripheral device and a warning function to a peripheral system user if the host computer is powered by the A.C. power supply; and

continuing operation of the medical peripheral device if the host computer is powered by the battery.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein said method further comprises providing a wireless/isolated electrical link coupled between the medical peripheral device and the A.C. power supply.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein said method further comprises providing an isolation transformer coupled between the A.C. power supply and a host computer, and providing a verification link comprising a feedback mechanism configured to monitor operations of at least one of the isolation transformer and the medical peripheral device.