METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEDICAL MEASUREMENT AND COMMUNICATION

• US 20100168605A1
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Aarts, Ronald M.
• Application Number:
  US12/063,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20100168605A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for obtaining and communication patient physiological information includes one or more of patient measurement devices (112), patient record devices (100), and portable interface devices. The devices communicate via a wireless communications interface (110, 152, 162) such as a near field communication interface. The patient measurement devices (100) obtain physiological information on each of a plurality of patients. This information is stored on a patient record device (100) associated with each patient. The portable interface devices (114) are used to access the information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a short range wireless communication interface (152); and

patient proximate means (150) for determining the value of a physiological parameter of each of a plurality of patients in succession;

wherein the means (150) for determining is physically coupled with the wireless communications interface (152) for operation therewith, wherein the wireless communication interface (152) communicates output data to a receiving device (100), and wherein the output data includes the physiological parameter value of a patient and a source identifier which identifies a source of the data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source identifier identifies a user associated with the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source identifier identifies a physiological parameter determined by the means for determining.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source identifier identifies the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes means (151) for indicating to an operator that the wireless communication interface (152) is in wireless communication with a second device and wherein operator confirmation is required for communicating the output data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a clock (154) and the output data includes time information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication interface (152) is a very short range wireless communication interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication interface (152) is a near field communication interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for determining (150) includes a thermometer and the physiological parameter is temperature.

10. A method comprising:

using a first apparatus (112) including a short range wireless communication interface (152) to determine a value indicative of a physiological parameter of a patient;

using the short range wireless communication interface (152) to communicate the value to a second apparatus (100), wherein the second apparatus is associated with the patient;

repeating the steps of using the first apparatus (112) and using the short range wireless communication interface (152) for each of a plurality of patients.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication interface (152) is an ultra short range wireless communication interface.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the ultra short range wireless communication interface (152) communicates using magnetic field induction.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of using the short range wireless communication interface (152) includes communicating a parameter identifier to the second apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of using the short range wireless communication interface (152) includes communicating a user identifier to the second apparatus.

15. The method of claim 10 further including indicating to a human that the wireless communication interface (152) has established communication with the second apparatus (100) and requiring human confirmation of the communication.

16. A medical apparatus comprising:

a medical measurement device (150) which generates an output value indicative of a physiological parameter of a patient, wherein the device is adapted for use with succeeding ones of a plurality of patients;

a short range wireless communication interface (152), wherein the wireless communication interface communicates output information to a receiving device (100), and wherein the output information includes the output value and a parameter identifier which identifies the physiological parameter.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the wireless communications interface (152) includes a near field communication interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the near field communication interface (152) operates in the touch and confirm mode.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the wireless communication interface (152) is a very short range wireless communication interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the wireless communication interface (152) is an ultra short range wireless communication interface.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the output information includes information which identifies the apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the output information includes information which identifies a health care provider associated with the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the wireless communication interface (152) and the medical measurement device (150) are contained in a common housing.