ADAPTOR DEVICE AND MEDICAL APPARATUS SYSTEM

• US 20090193160A1
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: KAGAWA, Ryohei
• Application Number:
  US12/361,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20090193160A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

An adaptor device connected to both a portable medical apparatus and a computer comprises: a first interface which communicates at a first communication speed with the computer; a second interface which communicates at a second communication speed with the portable medical apparatus; a communication control unit for adjusting the speed between a signal exchanged by way of the first interface and a second signal exchanged by way of the second interface; a first insulation unit, which electrically insulates between a terminal on the second interface side and a terminal on the communication control unit side, for outputting, to the communication control unit, the second signal input from the second interface; and a second insulation unit, which electrically insulates between a terminal on the second interface side and a terminal on the communication control unit side, for outputting, to the second interface, a signal input from the communication control unit.

Claims

1. An adaptor device connected to both a portable medical apparatus and a computer which exchanges data with the portable medical apparatus, comprising:

a first interface which is connected to the computer and which communicates at a first communication speed with the computer;

a second interface which is connected to the portable medical apparatus and which communicates at a second communication speed with the portable medical apparatus;

a communication control unit for adjusting the speed between a first signal exchanged at the first communication speed by way of the first interface and a second signal exchanged at the second communication speed by way of the second interface;

a first insulation unit, which is equipped between the second interface and the communication control unit and which electrically insulates between a terminal on the second interface side and a terminal on the communication control unit side, for outputting, to the communication control unit, the second signal input from the second interface; and

a second insulation unit, which is equipped between the second interface and the communication control unit and which electrically insulates between a terminal on the second interface side and a terminal on the communication control unit side, for outputting, to the second interface, a signal input from the communication control unit.

2. The adaptor device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication control unit converts the communication speed of a second signal input by way of the first insulation unit into the first communication speed that is higher than the second communication speed, outputs the converted communication speed to the first interface, converts the communication speed of a first signal input by way of the first interface into the second communication speed, and outputs the converted communication speed to the second insulation unit.

3. The adaptor device according to claim 1, further comprising

a first power supply unit for driving the first insulation unit and communication control unit, and a second power supply unit which drives the second insulation unit and which is insulated from the first poser supply unit.

4. The adaptor device according to claim 3, wherein

the first power supply unit is a power supply based on the bus power of a universal serial bus (USB) if the first interface is an interface based on the USB, and

the second power supply unit is a power supply based on the power supplied from the portable medical apparatus.

5. The adaptor device according to claim 3, wherein

the first power supply unit is a power supply based on the bus power of a universal serial bus (USB) if the first interface is an interface based on the USB, and

the second power supply unit is an insulated alternate current (AC) adaptor enabled to supply commercial electric power by being connected to the adaptor device.

6. The adaptor device according to claim 3, wherein

the first power supply unit is a power supply based on the bus power of a universal serial bus (USB) if the first interface is an interface based on the USB, and

the second power supply unit is an insulated power supply circuit which adjusts electric power supplied from an alternate current (AC) adaptor to supply the second insulation unit with the adjusted power if the AC adaptor enabled to supply commercial electric power by being connected to the adaptor device is an uninsulated AC adaptor.

7. The adaptor device according to claim 1, wherein

the first insulation unit and the second insulation unit are photo couplers, wherein

the second communication speed is within a range compatible with the photo coupler.

8. The adaptor device according to claim 1, wherein

the first communication speed is a communication speed based on a communication protocol used for a general purpose computer equipped with at least a universal serial bus (USB).

9. The adaptor device according to claim 1, wherein

the adaptor device is a cradle enabled to attach the portable medical apparatus.

10. The adaptor device according to claim 9, further comprising

a first power supply unit for driving the first insulation unit and communication control unit,

a second power supply unit which drives the second insulation unit and which is insulated from the first poser supply unit;

and

a charger unit for charging, via the second interface, a rechargeable battery existing inside of the portable medical apparatus, wherein

the charger unit supplies the rechargeable battery with electric power when the portable medical apparatus is attached, and the second power supply unit supplies electric power for driving the portable medical apparatus by way of the second interface while the charging is being performed when the portable medical apparatus is attached.

11. A medical apparatus system constituted by a portable medical apparatus, a computer, and an adaptor device connecting the portable medical apparatus to the computer, wherein

the adaptor device comprises:

a first interface which is connected to the computer and which communicates at a first communication speed with the computer;

a second interface which is connected to the portable medical apparatus and which communicates at a second communication speed with the portable medical apparatus;

a communication control unit for adjusting the speed between a first signal exchanged at the first communication speed by way of the first interface and a second signal exchanged at the second communication speed by way of the second interface;

a first insulation unit equipped between the second interface and the communication control unit and which electrically insulates between a terminal on the second interface side and a terminal on the communication control unit side, for outputting, to the communication control unit, the second signal input from the second interface; and

a second insulation unit equipped between the second interface and the communication control unit and which electrically insulates between a terminal on the second interface side and a terminal on the communication control unit side, for outputting, to the second interface, a signal input from the communication control unit.

12. The medical apparatus system according to claim 11, wherein

the communication control unit converts the communication speed of a second signal input by way of the first insulation unit into the first communication speed, which is higher than the second communication speed, outputs the converted communication speed to the first interface, converts the communication speed of a first signal input by way of the first interface into the second communication speed, and outputs the converted communication speed to the second insulation unit.

13. The medical apparatus system according to claim 11, further comprising

a first power supply unit for driving the first insulation unit and the communication control unit, and

a second power supply unit which drives the second insulation unit and which is insulated from the first poser supply unit.

14. The medical apparatus system according to claim 13, wherein

the first power supply unit is a power supply based on the bus power of a universal serial bus (USB) if the first interface is an interface based on the USB, and

the second power supply unit is a power supply based on the power supplied from the portable medical apparatus.

15. The medical apparatus system according to claim 13, wherein

the first power supply unit is a power supply based on the bus power of a universal serial bus (USB) if the first interface is an interface based on the USB, and

the second power supply unit is an insulated alternate current (AC) adaptor enabled to supply commercial electric power by being connected to the adaptor device.

16. The medical apparatus system according to claim 13, wherein

the first power supply unit is a power supply based on the bus power of a universal serial bus (USB) if the first interface is an interface based on the USB, and

the second power supply unit is an insulated power supply circuit which adjusts electric power supplied from an alternate current (AC) adaptor to supply the second insulation unit with the adjusted power if the AC adaptor enabled to supply commercial electric power by being connected to the adaptor device is an uninsulated AC adaptor.

17. The medical apparatus system according to claim 11, wherein

the first insulation unit and the second insulation unit are photo couplers, wherein

the second communication speed is within a range compatible with the photo coupler.

18. The medical apparatus system according to claim 11, wherein

the first communication speed is a communication speed based on a communication protocol used for a general purpose computer equipped with at least a universal serial bus (USB).

19. The medical apparatus system according to claim 11, wherein

the adaptor device is a cradle enabled to be attached to the portable medical apparatus.

20. The medical apparatus system according to claim 19, wherein

the adaptor device further comprises

a first power supply unit for driving the first insulation unit and the communication control unit,

a second power supply unit which drives the second insulation unit and which is insulated from the first poser supply unit, and

a charger unit for charging, via the second interface, a rechargeable battery existing inside of the portable medical apparatus, wherein

the charger unit supplies the rechargeable battery with electric power when the portable medical apparatus is attached, and the second power supply unit supplies electric power for driving the portable medical apparatus by way of the second interface while the charging is performed when the portable medical apparatus is attached.