WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FOR A BREATHING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM

• US 20100078017A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Jourdain, Cedric, Andrieux, Claude
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.220
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0072 Tidal volume piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0266 : Nitrogen (N)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 : with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• 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 2205/702 : automatically during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 : Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 : Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 : Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow

Abstract

A system for wireless data communication for use with a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient is provided. The system includes a wireless notification module, one or more wireless repeaters located remote from ventilation system, and a wireless receiver located remote from the one or more wireless repeaters. The wireless notification module is coupled to a ventilation system and configured to wirelessly transmit data received from the ventilation system. The one or more wireless repeaters are configured to receive the data wirelessly transmitted by the wireless notification module, and wirelessly transmit the received data. The wireless receiver is configured to receive the data wirelessly transmitted by the one or more wireless repeaters, and communicate the received data to a user remote from the ventilation system.

Claims

1. A system for wireless data communication for a system for providing breathing assistance to a patient, comprising:

a wireless notification module coupled to a ventilation system for providing breathing assistance to a patient, the wireless notification module configured to wirelessly transmit data received from the ventilation system;

one or more wireless repeaters located remote from ventilation system and configured to;

receive the data wirelessly transmitted by the wireless notification module; and

wirelessly transmit the received data; and

a wireless receiver located remote from the one or more wireless repeaters and configured to;

receive the data wirelessly transmitted by the one or more wireless repeaters; and

communicate the received data to a user remote from the ventilation system.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a mobile device.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a laptop computer.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver includes a display for displaying the received data.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to communicate the received data to the user by audible signals.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises an alarm notification.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the wireless receiver is further configured to;

store identification data regarding the wireless receiver; and

wirelessly transmit the identification data for receipt by the wireless notification module; and

the wireless notification module is configured to;

determine whether to authenticate the wireless receiver based at least on the identification data received from the wireless receiver; and

communicate data to the wireless receiver if the wireless receiver is authenticated.

8. A method for managing a system for providing breathing assistance to a patient, the method comprising:

receiving a wirelessly communicated alarm signal at a wireless repeater, the alarm signal generated by a ventilation system; and

wirelessly transmitting the received alarm signal from the wireless repeater to a wireless receiver such that the alarm signal may be communicated by the wireless receiver to a user.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a mobile device.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the alarm signal is received at the wireless repeater from another wireless repeater.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising wirelessly transmitting a wakeup signal from the wireless repeater to the wireless receiver, the wakeup signal configured to awaken the wireless receiver from a low power mode such that the wireless receiver may process the alarm signal.

12. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

receiving identification data from the wireless receiver, the identification data for authenticating the wireless receiver; and

wirelessly transmitting the alarm signal to the wireless receiver only if the wireless receiver is authenticated based at least on the identification data.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the alarm signal indicates a fault condition regarding the operation of the ventilation system.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein the alarm signal indicates a physiological condition of a patient connected to the ventilation system.

15. A breathing assistance system for providing breathing assistance to a patient, comprising:

a ventilation system for delivering gas toward a patient;

a controller for controlling the ventilation system;

a wireless notification module coupled to the ventilation system, the wireless notification module configured to wirelessly transmit data received from the ventilation system;

one or more wireless repeaters located remote from ventilation system and configured to;

receive the data wirelessly transmitted by the wireless notification module; and

wirelessly transmit the received data; and

a wireless receiver located remote from the one or more wireless repeaters and configured to;

receive the data wirelessly transmitted by the one or more wireless repeaters; and

communicating the received data to a user remote from the ventilation system.

16. A breathing assistance system according to claim 15, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a mobile device.

17. A breathing assistance system according to claim 15, wherein the wireless receiver comprises one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a laptop computer.

18. A breathing assistance system according to claim 15, wherein the wireless receiver includes a display for displaying the received data.

19. A breathing assistance system according to claim 15, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to communicate the received data to the user by audible signals.

20. A breathing assistance system according to claim 15, wherein:

the wireless receiver is further configured to;

store identification data regarding the wireless receiver; and

wirelessly transmit the identification data for receipt by the wireless notification module; and

the wireless notification module is configured to;

determine whether to authenticate the wireless receiver based at least on the identification data received from the wireless receiver; and

communicate data to the wireless receiver if the wireless receiver is authenticated.