Identifying a Self-Powered Device Connected to a Medical Device

• US 20100168653A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Levin, Roland
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

In some aspects, a method includes determining whether a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device is connected to a USB monitoring device that is connected to a medical device and drawing power from the medical device. The medical device is configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient. The method also includes determining whether the USB peripheral device is drawing power from the medical device if the USB peripheral device is determined to be connected to the USB monitoring device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device is connected to a USB monitoring device, the USB monitoring device being connected to a medical device and drawing power from the medical device, the medical device being configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient; and

if the USB peripheral device is determined to be connected to the USB monitoring device, determining whether the USB peripheral device is drawing power from the medical device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the USB peripheral device is determined to not be drawing power from the medical device, activating an alarm.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the alarm comprises at least one of the following:

displaying a warning light on the USB monitoring device;

or

triggering an audible alarm on the USB monitoring device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the alarm comprises:

triggering an audible alarm on the medical device;

or

causing a warning message to be displayed on a user interface, the medical device comprising the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the USB peripheral device is determined to not be drawing power from the medical device, electrically isolating the USB peripheral device from the medical device and the patient.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein electrically isolating the USB peripheral device from the medical device and the patient comprises:

disconnecting one or more signal lines connected to a USB port of the USB monitoring device, the USB port configured to receive a USB connector of the USB peripheral device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more signal lines comprise a first USB data line, a second USB data line, a USB power line, and a USB ground line.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a USB host device capable of providing power to the USB monitoring device and the USB peripheral device, the USB monitoring device comprising a first USB connector and the USB peripheral device comprising a second USB connector, the USB host device comprising a first USB port to receive the first USB connector, the USB monitoring device comprising a second USB port to receive the second USB connector so that the USB peripheral device can be connected to the USB monitoring device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the USB monitoring device comprises:

a first USB port to receive a first USB connector of the USB peripheral device;

a second USB port to receive a second USB connector of a second USB peripheral device; and

a USB hub circuit configured to receive power from the medical device and to distribute power to the first USB peripheral device and the second USB peripheral device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the USB monitoring device further comprises:

a first current detection circuit connected between the first USB port and the USB hub circuit; and

a second current detection circuit connected between the second USB port and the USB hub circuit.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the USB monitoring device comprises one or more processing devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device comprises:

monitoring a first USB data line and a second USB data line using the one or more processing devices; and

if at least one of the first USB data line or the second USB data line goes to a high state, determining that the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device comprises:

triggering an interrupt of the one or more processing devices if at least one of a first USB data line or a second USB data line goes to a high state.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device further comprises:

polling the first USB data line and the second USB data line using the one or more processing devices to confirm that the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein determining whether the USB peripheral device is drawing power from the medical device comprises:

monitoring an output of a current detection circuit using the one or more processing devices, the USB monitoring device comprising the current detection circuit; and

if the output is at a low state, determining that the USB peripheral device is not drawing power from the medical device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the current detection circuit comprises:

an operational amplifier, the operational amplifier comprising a positive input, a negative input, and the output of the current detection circuit;

a first resistor connected between a power supply and the positive input;

a second resistor connected between a signal ground and the positive input, the first and the second resistors forming a voltage divider between the power supply and the signal ground; and

a third resistor connected between the power supply and the negative input.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the power supply comprises a power supply of the USB monitoring device and the signal ground comprises a signal ground of the USB monitoring device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the power supply of the USB monitoring device comprises a power supply of the medical device or a power supply that draws power from the power supply of the medical device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the output is at a low state when a first voltage at the positive input is less than a second voltage at the negative input.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical procedure comprises hemodialysis and the medical device comprises a hemodialysis device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical procedure comprises an extracorporeal medical procedure in which a portion of blood is removed from the patient, the portion of the blood is processed by the medical device, and at least some of the portion of blood is subsequently returned to the patient.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical procedure comprises peritoneal dialysis and the medical device comprises a peritoneal dialysis device.

23. A universal serial bus (USB) monitoring device, comprising:

a memory, the memory configured to store instructions for execution; and

one or more processing devices configured to execute the instructions, the instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to;

determine whether a USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device, the USB monitoring device being configured to be connected to a medical device and being configured to draw power from the medical device, the medical device being configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient; and

if the USB peripheral device is determined to be connected to the USB monitoring device, determine whether the USB peripheral device is drawing power from the medical device.

24. The USB monitoring device of claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

if the USB peripheral device is determined to not be drawing power from the medical device, activating an alarm.

25. The USB monitoring device of claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

if the USB peripheral device is determined to not be drawing power from the medical device, electrically isolate the USB peripheral device from the medical device and the patient.

26. The USB monitoring device of claim 23, wherein the medical device comprises a USB host device capable of providing power to the USB peripheral device, the USB peripheral device comprising a USB connector, the USB host device comprising a USB port to receive the USB connector so that the USB peripheral device can be connected to the medical device, the USB host device comprising the memory and the one or more processing devices.

27. The USB monitoring device of claim 23, wherein determining whether the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device comprises:

monitoring a first USB data line and a second USB data line; and

if at least one of the first USB data line or the second USB data line goes to a high state, determining that the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device.

28. The USB monitoring device of claim 23, further comprising:

a current detection circuit; and

wherein determining whether the USB peripheral device is drawing power from the medical device comprises;

monitoring an output of the current detection circuit; and

if the output is at a low state, determining that the USB peripheral device is not drawing power from the medical device.

29. The USB monitoring device of claim 28, wherein the current detection circuit comprises:

an operational amplifier, the operational amplifier comprising a positive input, a negative input, and the output of the current detection circuit;

a first resistor connected between a power supply of the medical device and the positive input;

a second resistor connected between a signal ground of the medical device and the positive input, the first and the second resistors forming a voltage divider between the power supply and the signal ground; and

a third resistor connected between the power supply and the negative input.

30. The USB monitoring device of claim 23, wherein the medical procedure comprises hemodialysis and the medical device comprises a hemodialysis device.

31. The USB monitoring device of claim 23, wherein the medical procedure comprises peritoneal dialysis and the medical device comprises a peritoneal dialysis device.

32. One or more computer-readable media storing executable instructions, the one or more computer-readable media comprising tangible media, the instructions for causing one or more processing devices to:

determine whether a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device is connected to a USB monitoring device, the USB monitoring device comprising the one or more processing devices, the USB monitoring device being configured to be connected to a medical device and being configured to draw power from the medical device, the medical device being configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient; and

if the USB peripheral device is determined to be connected to the USB monitoring device, determine whether the USB peripheral device is drawing power from the medical device.

33. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

if the USB peripheral device is determined to not be drawing power from the medical device, activating an alarm.

34. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

if the USB peripheral device is determined to not be drawing power from the medical device, electrically isolate the USB peripheral device from the medical device and the patient.

35. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the medical device comprises a USB host device capable of providing power to the USB peripheral device, the USB peripheral device comprising a USB connector, the USB host device comprising a USB port to receive the USB connector so that the USB peripheral device can be connected to the medical device.

36. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein determining whether the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device comprises:

monitoring a first USB data line and a second USB data line; and

if at least one of the first USB data line or the second USB data line goes to a high state, determining that the USB peripheral device is connected to the USB monitoring device.

37. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein determining whether the USB peripheral device is drawing power from the medical device comprises:

monitoring an output of a current detection circuit, the USB monitoring device comprising the current detection circuit; and

if the output is at a low state, determining that the USB peripheral device is not drawing power from the medical device.

38. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the current detection circuit comprises:

an operational amplifier, the operational amplifier comprising a positive input, a negative input, and the output of the current detection circuit;

a first resistor connected between a power supply of the medical device and the positive input;

a second resistor connected between a signal ground of the medical device and the positive input, the first and the second resistors forming a voltage divider between the power supply and the signal ground; and

a third resistor connected between the power supply and the negative input.

39. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the medical procedure comprises hemodialysis and the medical device comprises a hemodialysis device.

40. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the medical procedure comprises peritoneal dialysis and the medical device comprises a peritoneal dialysis device.

41. A method, comprising:

determining that a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral device connected to a USB monitoring device is not drawing power from a medical device, the USB monitoring device being configured to be connected to the medical device and being configured to draw power from the medical device, the medical device being configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient; and

responsively to determining that the USB peripheral device is not drawing power from the medical device, activating an alarm.

42. A universal serial bus (USB) monitoring device, comprising:

a memory, the memory configured to store instructions for execution; and

one or more processing devices configured to execute the instructions, the instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to;

determine that a USB peripheral device connected to the USB monitoring device is not drawing power from a medical device, the USB monitoring device being configured to be connected to the medical device and being configured to draw power from the medical device, the medical device being configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient; and

responsively to the determining that the USB peripheral device is not drawing power from the medical device, activating an alarm.

43. A method, comprising:

monitoring a first universal serial bus (USB) data line and a second USB data line on a USB monitoring device, the USB monitoring device being configured to be connected to a medical device and being configured to draw power from the medical device, the medical device being configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient; and

if at least one of the first USB data line or the second USB data line goes to a high state, monitoring an output of a current detection circuit, the output being indicative of whether power is or is not being drawn from the medical device by a USB peripheral device connected to the USB monitoring device.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

if the output indicates that power is not being drawn from the medical device by the USB peripheral device, performing at least one of the following;

electrically isolating the USB peripheral device from the medical device and the patient;

or

activating an alarm.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the USB monitoring device comprises one or more processing devices.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein monitoring the first USB data line and the second USB data line, and monitoring the output of the current detection circuit comprise:

monitoring the first USB data line and the second USB data line using the one or more processing devices; and

monitoring the output of the current detection circuit using the one or more processing devices.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the medical device comprises a USB host device capable of providing power to the USB peripheral device, the USB peripheral device comprising a USB connector, the USB host device comprising a USB port to receive the USB connector so that the USB peripheral device can be connected to the medical device.

48. A universal serial bus (USB) monitoring device, comprising:

a current detection circuit;

a memory, the memory configured to store instructions for execution; and

one or more processing devices configured to execute the instructions, the instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to;

monitor a first USB data line and a second USB data line on the USB monitoring device, the USB monitoring device being configured to be connected to a medical device and being configured to draw power from the medical device, the medical device being configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient; and

if at least one of the first USB data line or the second USB data line goes to a high state, monitor an output of the current detection circuit, the output being indicative of whether power is or is not being drawn from the medical device by a USB peripheral device connected to the USB monitoring device.

49. The USB monitoring device of claim 48, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to:

if the output indicates that power is not being drawn from the medical device by the USB peripheral device, perform at least one of the following;

electrically isolating the USB peripheral device from the medical device and the patient;

or

activating an alarm.

50. A universal serial bus (USB) monitoring device, comprising:

a memory, the memory configured to store instructions for execution;

USB ports configured to receive respective USB connectors of respective USB peripheral devices to connect the respective USB peripheral devices to the USB monitoring device;

current detection circuits respectively coupled to the USB ports, the current detections circuits having respective outputs;

a USB hub circuit coupled to the current detection circuits, the USB hub circuit configured to provide power from a medical device to the respective USB peripheral devices and to provide signal connections between the USB peripheral devices and the medical device, the USB monitoring device being configured to be connected to the medical device and being configured to draw power from a device, the medical device being configured for use in a medical procedure with a patient; and

one or more processing devices configured to execute the instructions, the instructions for causing the one or more processing devices to;

determine whether one or more USB peripheral devices are connected to the USB monitoring device at any of the USB ports; and

if one or more USB peripheral devices are determined to be connected to the USB monitoring device, determine whether any of the one or more USB peripheral devices is drawing power from the medical device by monitoring the respective outputs of the current detection circuits.