SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND PAIRING DEVICES

• US 20100318578A1
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nxstage Medical Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Nxstage Medical Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Albiston, Kevin, TREU, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/00 ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/967 Peer-to-peer

Abstract

A computer system and method for identifying and pairing devices. The system includes a plurality of remote user interface computers, each having a display device and a user input device and each connected to a first network via a first respective data communication link. The system also includes a plurality of medical devices each having a medical device user interface and a second data communication link adapted to exchange data with the remote user interface computers. The system also includes a database adapted to communicate with the remote user interface computers via a connection to the first network or via a direct connection to one of the remote user interface computers, the database being adapted to store patient medical information including a treatment prescription that includes use of one of the medical devices.

Claims

1. A system for device identification and pairing comprising:

a plurality of remote user interface computers, each including a display device and a user input device and each connected to a first network via a first data communication link and connected to a second network via a second data communication link;

a plurality of medical devices each having a medical device user interface and a second data communication link adapted to exchange data with the remote user interface computers; and

a database adapted to store patient medical information including a treatment prescription that includes use of one of the medical devices,

wherein each remote user interface computer is associated with a patient based on identification and verification information entered by an operator to the remote user interface computer via the user input device,

wherein, based on the patient identification and verification, the remote user interface computer retrieves the treatment prescription associated with the patient from the database,

wherein, based on the treatment prescription, the remote user interface computer senses, using the second data communication link, the available devices indicated for use in the treatment prescription, and prompts the operator to enter a verification key sequence generated, by the remote user interface computer, on a selected device that the operator intends to use for treating the patient,

wherein, when the remote user interface computer does not receive a verification key sequence or receives an incorrect key sequence from one or more of the medical devices, the operator is prompted to retry the key sequence or change devices, and

wherein, when the remote user interface computer receives a correct verification key sequence from the selected medical device, the remote user interface computer identifies the selected medical device as the one the operator intends to use and pairs with the selected medical device to establish a communication link for carrying out the prescribed treatment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical devices are hemodialysis devices.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the medical device user interface includes buttons disposed on each of the hemodialysis devices.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the medical devices further include one of a blood pressure monitor, a thermometer, and a weight scale.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the verification key sequence is a random sequence of keys to be pressed by the patient on the selected medical device intended for use in delivering health care services to the patient.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operator and the patient are the same person.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication connection between the remote user interface computer and the selected medical device is periodically checked to ensure that a communication connection is maintained.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the identification and pairing between the remote user interface computer and the selected medical device is periodically verified.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the periodic verification of the identification and pairing between the remote user interface computer and the selected medical device is initiated automatically.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the periodic verification of the identification and pairing between the remote user interface computer and the selected medical device is initiated manually.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a health care provider computer system connected to the first data communication network and adapted to retrieve, add and modify patient medical information stored in the database.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the health care provider computer system is adapted to monitor patient treatment in real-time as it occurs on any of the medical devices that are being used to treat a patient associated with a health care provider authorized to use the health care provider computer system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the health care provider can control each medical device being used to treat a patient associated with the health care provider.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the database is disposed on a server adapted to communicate with the remote user interface computers via a connection to the first network.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the database is disposed on a computer readable medium coupled adapted to be directly connected to one of the remote user interface computers.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the computer readable medium includes a nonvolatile memory device.

14. A method for identifying a medical device and pairing the identified medical device with a remote user interface computer, the method comprising:

receiving patient identification information representing the identity of a patient;

verifying the patient identification information using information stored in a database;

receiving, based on verified patient identification information, a prescribed medical treatment regimen from the database;

scanning for medical devices connected to a second network;

if devices needed for carrying the prescribed medical treatment regimen are present and connected, displaying patient identification and connected devices;

determining if a multi-system environment is present;

if a multi-system environment is present, carrying out a first operational sequence including;

displaying patient identification and devices to verify;

for each device to verify;

receiving input from an operator indicating a selected device to verify;

displaying patient identification and a verification key sequence;

receiving key sequence data from the selected device;

verifying the received key sequence data;

indicating that the selected device is verified when the received key sequence data matches the displayed verification key sequence;

displaying selected device and prompting the operator to retry or change devices when the received key sequence data does not match the displayed verification key sequence;

repeating the first operational sequence until all devices are verified;

if a multi-system environment is not present or if all devices in the multi-system environment have been verified, carrying out a second operational sequence including;

displaying patient identification and verified devices;

exchanging handshake signals with each verified device, respectively; and

initiating the prescribed medical treatment regimen.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

when devices are not connected or moved, carrying out a third operational sequence comprising;

displaying a list of available devices connected to the second network and not connected to the remote user interface computer;

prompting the operator to retry a connection with one or more devices or to change devices;

receiving input data from the operator indicating whether the operator selected to retry or change devices;

retrying to connect with one or more devices when the operator selects retry; and

performing a pairing and setup parameter test when the operator selects to change devices.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the medical devices are hemodialysis devices.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the medical devices further include one of a blood pressure monitor, a thermometer, and a weight scale.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the verification key sequence is a random sequence of keys to be pressed by the patient on the selected medical device the patient intends to use.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the operator and the patient are the same person.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising periodically checking a data communication connection between the remote user interface computer and one of the connected medical devices to ensure that a communication connection is maintained.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising periodically verifying the identification and pairing between the remote user interface computer and one of the connected medical devices.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the periodic verification of the identification and pairing between the remote user interface computer and one of the connected medical devices is initiated automatically.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the periodic verification of the identification and pairing between the remote user interface computer and one of the connected medical devices is initiated manually.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the database is disposed in a server accessible over a computer network.

28. The method of claim 14, wherein the database is disposed on a computer readable medium adapted to be directly coupled to the remote user interface computer.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the computer readable medium includes a nonvolatile memory device.