System and method for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment

• US 20080059239A1
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Jain, Bharat K., Gerst, Kimberly S., Somberg, Benjamin L., Canady, Larry D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,773,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• 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: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment. Connectivity to a centralized server over a network connection is confirmed. Data reporting for a patient by one or more monitoring devices that are wirelessly connectable is induced through control provided through a user interface. Each of the devices is registered as the device attempts to establish a wireless connection and report the data conditioned on permission for access. Upon granting of the permission for access, the device is wirelessly connected and the data is subsequently received over the wireless connection.

Claims

1. A system for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment, comprising:

a remote interface to confirm connectivity over a network connection to a centralized server;

a configuration module to induce data reporting for a patient by one or more monitoring devices that are wirelessly connectable through control provided through a user interface;

a lookup module to register each of the devices as the device attempts to establish a wireless connection and report the data conditioned on permission for access; and

a remote interface to wirelessly connect with the device upon granting of the permission for access and to subsequently receive the data over the wireless connection.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the devices are reconfigured by specifying operational parameters to the device.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the operational parameters are selected from the group comprising personal identification number, service name, and time clock.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the operational parameters are specified through at least one of the user interface and the centralized server.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the registration of each device is restricted by class.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reporting module to generate an alert when the connectivity to the centralized server cannot be confirmed.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein access validation is selected from the group comprising personal identification number, service name, model number, serial number, and device type.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of patient profiles and device configurations are retrieved from the centralized server over the network connection.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reporting module to provide a status to the centralized server of each device that has been granted the permission for access.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a security module to protect the data received over the wireless connection.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the data protection comprises one or more of:

an authentication submodule to authenticate the data upon receipt as to originating source against those devices to which permission for access has previously been granted;

an integrity submodule to determine integrity of the data upon receipt by evaluating the data against predetermined limits and thresholds; and

an encryption submodule to encrypt the data while in transit over the wireless connection.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the devices to which permission for access has previously been granted is wirelessly reconnected and further data is subsequently received over the wireless connection.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the further data has been temporarily stored due to an unsuccessful wireless reconnection attempt.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connection is implemented as a Bluetooth connection.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring devices comprise one of implantable medical devices and external medical devices.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the external medical devices are selected from the group comprising external devices that operate autonomously;

external devices that operate under patient, attendant, or caregiver control; and

external devices that include a user interface for receiving or providing subjective feedback or communications.

17. A method for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment, comprising:

confirming connectivity over a network connection to a centralized server;

inducing data reporting for a patient by one or more monitoring devices that are wirelessly connectable through control provided through a user interface;

registering each of the devices as the device attempts to establish a wireless connection and report the data conditioned on permission for access; and

wirelessly connecting with the device upon granting of the permission for access and subsequently receiving the data over the wireless connection.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

reconfiguring one or more of the devices by specifying operational parameters to the device.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the operational parameters are selected from the group comprising personal identification number, service name, and time clock.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the operational parameters are specified through at least one of the user interface and the centralized server.

21. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

restricting the registration of each device by class.

22. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

generating an alert when the connectivity to the centralized server cannot be confirmed.

23. A method according to claim 17, wherein access validation is selected from the group comprising personal identification number, service name, model number, serial number, and device type.

24. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

retrieving at least one of patient profiles and device configurations from the centralized server over the network connection.

25. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

providing a status to the centralized server of each device that has been granted the permission for access.

26. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

protecting the data received over the wireless connection.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the data protection comprises one or more of:

authenticating the data upon receipt as to originating source against those devices to which permission for access has previously been granted;

determining integrity of the data upon receipt by evaluating the data against predetermined limits and thresholds; and

encrypting the data while in transit over the wireless connection.

28. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

wirelessly reconnecting with at least one of the devices to which permission for access has previously been granted and subsequently receiving further data over the wireless connection.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the further data has been temporarily stored due to an unsuccessful wireless reconnection attempt.

30. A method according to claim 17, wherein the wireless connection is implemented as a Bluetooth connection.

31. A method according to claim 17, wherein the monitoring devices comprise one of implantable medical devices and external medical devices.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the external medical devices are selected from the group comprising external devices that operate autonomously;

external devices that operate under patient, attendant, or caregiver control; and

external devices that include a user interface for receiving or providing subjective feedback or communications.

33. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 17.

34. An apparatus for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment, comprising:

means for confirming connectivity over a network connection to a centralized server;

means for inducing data reporting for a patient by one or more monitoring devices that are wirelessly connectable through control provided through a user interface;

means for registering each of the devices as the device attempts to establish a wireless connection and report the data conditioned on permission for access; and

means for wirelessly connecting with the device upon granting of the permission for access and subsequently receiving the data over the wireless connection.