Synchronizing Clocks on a Medical Device and Server

• US 20090177248A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical MD Incorporated (ICU Medical Incorporated)
• Inventors: Roberts, Nick
• Application Number:
  US12/189,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• 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: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and systems of patient treatment are disclosed. The methods and systems include use of medical device informatics to modify and validate therapies and drugs used in those therapies. In certain embodiments, a medical device, such as a medical infusion pump, interfaces with a server to administer the patient treatments. In one aspect, a method of synchronizing clocks between a medical device and a medical device server is disclosed. The method includes maintaining a server time value on a medical device server communicatively connected to a medical device, and transmitting the server time value from the medical device server to the medical device, the medical device maintaining a device time value. The method further includes replacing the device time value with the server time value.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing clocks between a medical device and a medical device server, the method comprising:

maintaining a server time value on a medical device server communicatively connected to a medical device;

transmitting the server time value from the medical device server to the medical device, the medical device maintaining a device time value; and

replacing the device time value with the server time value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the server time value is based on the Universal Time Protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device time value represents a time zone in which the medical device is located.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the server time value to reflect the time zone in which the medical device is located.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein converting the server time value occurs prior to replacing the device time value with the server time value.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein converting the server time value occurs prior to transmitting the server time value from the medical device server to the medical device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the server time value occurs in response to a request from the medical device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a medical infusion pump.

7. The method of claim 235, further comprising, upon replacing the device time value, transmitting from the medical device to the medical device server a confirmation signal.

10. A medical device time synchronization system comprising:

a medical device configured to maintain a device time value;

a medical device server communicatively connected to the medical device, the medical device server comprising;

a memory configured to store a server time value;

a programmable circuit operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit configured to execute program instructions to;

maintain the server time value; and

transmit the server time value to the medical device;

wherein the medical device is further configured to, upon receipt of the server time value, replace the device time value with the server time value.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the server time value is based on the Universal Time Protocol.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the device time value represents a time zone in which the medical device is located.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device server and the medical device reside in different time zones.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device is configured to convert the server time value to reflect the time zone in which the medical device is located prior to replacing the device time value with the server time value.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device server is configured to convert the server time value to reflect the time zone in which the medical device is located prior to transmitting the server time value to the medical device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device is configured to, upon replacing the device time value, transmit a confirmation signal to the medical device server.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the programmable circuit is programmed to transmit the server time value to the medical device in response to a request from the medical device.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device is a medical infusion pump

19. A method of synchronizing clocks between a plurality of medical devices and a medical device server, the method comprising:

maintaining a server time value on a medical device server communicatively connected to the plurality of medical devices;

transmitting the server time value from the medical device server to the medical devices, the medical devices each maintaining a device time value;

replacing the device time values of each medical device with the server time value; and

receiving a confirmation signal from the medical devices to the medical device server.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the medical devices reside in a plurality of different time zones.