METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY INTEGRATING A MEDICAL DEVICE INTO A MEDICAL FACILITY NETWORK

• US 20100138524A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Sobie, Robert Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,585,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/003 with drawers, trays or shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/006 Medication carts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 31/00 Service or tea tables, trolleys, or wagons serving trays A47G23/06; features relating to running gear or to movement by hand B62B
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 97/00 Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• 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: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• 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 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A method for integrating a medical device into a medical facility network by equipping the medical device with wireless communication device is disclosed. The medical device is provided into a medical treatment area within wireless range of the medical facility network. The medical facility network is configured to detect the medical device upon entry into the medical treatment area. The medical facility network is configured to thereafter transmit an initialization signal to the medical device. A system for integrating medical devices, a medical device capable of integration, and a medical facility network are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of initializing a medical device within a medical treatment area, comprising:

providing the medical device into the medical treatment area within a wireless range of a medical facility network;

transmitting an initialization signal from the medical facility network to the medical device; and

automatically initializing the medical device in response to the medical device receiving the initialization signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is automatically detected by the medical facility network upon introduction into the medical treatment area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein after detection of the medical device, the medical facility network transmits an identity information request signal to the medical device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein in response to the identity information request signal, the medical device transmits an identity information signal to the medical facility network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing comprises powering the medical device into an active power state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing comprises performing start up of a software program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical facility network is connected to the internet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless range is limited to approximately the medical treatment area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical facility network comprises a local network or facility-wide network.

10. A system for integrating medical devices into a medical facility network, comprising:

a terminal interfacing with the medical facility network;

a display in communication with the terminal; and

a medical device within wireless range of the medical facility network;

wherein the medical facility network is configured to transmit an initialization signal to the medical device and the medical device is configured to automatically initialize in response to receiving the initialization signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical device is automatically detected by the medical facility network upon introduction into the medical treatment area.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein initializing comprises powering the medical device into an active power state.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical facility network is connected to the internet, thereby facilitating data exchange between the medical facility network and another entity.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the wireless range is limited to approximately the medical treatment area.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the medical facility network comprises a local network or facility wide network.

16. A medical device comprising:

wireless communication capability, the medical device being configured to be automatically detected upon introduction into a medical treatment area and initialized in response to receiving an initialization signal from within the medical treatment area.

17. A medical facility network comprising:

wireless communication device, the medical facility network being configured to transmit an initialization signal to one or more medical devices located within wireless range of the medical facility network.

18. A method of integrating a medical device into a medical facility network, comprising:

providing the medical device into the medical treatment area within a wireless range of a medical facility network;

detecting the medical device in the medical treatment area by the medical facility network; and

transmitting an initialization signal from the medical facility network to the medical device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

automatically initializing the medical device in response to the medical device receiving the initialization signal.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

verifying the identity of the medical device.