APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND MAINTAINING CRITICAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

• US 20110009061A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Impact Instrumentation, Inc. (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Beck, George, Sherman, Leslie H., LeCroy, Dorian, Eizadkhah, Denise
• Granted Patent: US 8,874,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for maintaining critical medical equipment for stockpile applications are provided. The apparatus, system and method of the present disclosure can be used to monitor and maintain critical medical equipment in a continuous state of readiness. The apparatus includes a storage case which protects a medical device disposed therein and the accessories required for its immediate application while also providing for constant or intermittent charging of the device'"'"'s internal battery and serial data monitoring of the primary systems. The system and method also incorporate design features in the medical device which enable performance testing via a remote interface while the device is secured within the storage case.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a storage case for storing at least one medical device;

an external power connector disposed on a surface of the storage case for providing power to the at least one medical device without opening of the case, the external power connector being coupled to the at least one medical device via a first cable; and

a data communication connector disposed on the surface of the storage case for communicating data from the at least one medical device to an external computing device, the data communication connector being coupled to the at least one medical device via a second cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power supply module disposed in the storage case, wherein the power supply module is coupled between the external power connector and the at least one medical device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data communication connector is a USB connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data communication connector is a RS232 connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data communication connector is a wireless connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data communication connector is a WiFi transceiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data communication connector is a Bluetooth transceiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data communication connector is a cellular transceiver.

9. A system for monitoring and maintaining critical medical equipment comprising:

at least one apparatus comprising;

a storage case for storing at least one medical device;

an external power connector disposed on a surface of the storage case for providing power to the at least one medical device without opening of the case, the external power connector being coupled to the at least one medical device via a first cable; and

a data communication connector disposed on the surface of the storage case for communicating data from the at least one medical device to an external computing device, the data communication connector being coupled to the at least one medical device via a second cable; and

the external computing device for determining a state of readiness of the at least one medical device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the external computing device is configured to simulate operation of the at least one medical device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a test fixture is coupled to the at least one medical device for simulating operation, the test fixture being disposed in the storage case.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the external computing device is configured to calibrate the at least one medical device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the external computing device is configured to cycle an internal battery of the at least one medical device to optimize the battery'"'"'s life expectancy.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the external computing device is configured to generate an alert upon failure of the at least one medical device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the external computing device is configured to store at least one monitored parameter of the at least one medical device in a database.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the external computing device is coupled to the data communication connector via a wireless connection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless connection is one of a WiFi connection, Bluetooth connection or cellular connection.

18. A method for monitoring and maintaining critical medical equipment comprising:

providing at least one apparatus comprising;

a storage case for storing at least one medical device;

an external power connector disposed on a surface of the storage case for providing power to the at least one medical device without opening of the case, the external power connector being coupled to the at least one medical device via a first cable; and

a data communication connector disposed on the surface of the storage case for communicating data from the at least one medical device to an external computing device, the data communication connector being coupled to the at least one medical device via a second cable; and

determining a state of readiness of the at least one medical device by the external computing device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining includes simulating operation of the at least one medical device by the external computing device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising cycling, by the external computing device, an internal battery of the at least one medical device to optimize the battery'"'"'s life expectancy.