Bridge apparatus for coupling a medical network with a non-medical network

• US 20110264839A1
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Inventors: Dechow, Dietmar, Bruederle, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 9,111,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Abstract

A bridge apparatus for coupling a medical network with a non-medical network includes a storage unit to store data from the medical network, a first interface device for coupling the storage unit with the medical network, and a second interface device for coupling the storage unit with the non-medical network. The bridge apparatus is configured to execute write-only access requests on the storage unit via the first interface device or to execute read-only access requests on the storage unit via the second interface device.

Claims

1. A bridge apparatus for coupling a medical network with a non-medical network, comprising:

a storage unit for storing data from the medical network;

a first interface device for coupling the storage unit with the medical network; and

a second interface device for coupling the storage unit with the non-medical network,

where the bridge apparatus is configured to execute at least one of write-only access requests to the storage unit via the first interface device, and read-only access requests to the storage unit via the second interface device.

2. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first interface device is configured exclusively for writing access requests to the storage unit.

3. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first interface device includes:

a writing device for writing data from the medical network into the storage unit; and

a data input for coupling the writing device with the medical network.

4. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second interface device includes:

a reading device for reading data from the storage unit; and

a data output for coupling the reading device with the non-medical network.

5. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bridge apparatus is configured to store current data and historical data in the storage unit and to issue them to the non-medical network via the second interface device.

6. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a device to provide data received via the first interface device, where the device is configured to determine at least one of a median value, a time integral or an extreme value within a predetermined time interval.

7. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a temporary storage device and a non-temporary storage device.

8. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bridge apparatus is configured to provide data received via the first interface device with a time stamp.

9. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bridge apparatus is configured to archive or document data on an operation.

10. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1 configured in order to release no error message into the medical network.

14. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second interface device is configured exclusively for reading access requests to the storage unit.

15. The bridge apparatus according to claim 1 configured in order to suppress every error message from a predetermined group of error messages to recipients in the medical network.

11. A method for providing data from a medical network to a non-medical network, comprising the following steps:

coupling a bridge apparatus (30) with a medical network via a first interface device of the bridge apparatus;

coupling the bridge apparatus with a non-medical network via a second interface device of the bridge apparatus;

receiving data from the medical network via the first interface device;

writing the received data to a storage location of a storage unit of the bridge apparatus;

reading data from the storage unit; and

providing data read by the storage unit to the second interface.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of the following steps:

selecting data from the medical network that are to be stored in the storage unit at a user interface in the medical network;

receiving a read message via the second interface device;

discarding a read message received via the first interface device;

discarding a write message received via the second interface device;

verifying an instruction received via the second interface device and discarding the instruction if it is not a read message;

preparing historical data; and

writing historical data into the storage unit.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method is executed by a computer program with program code that is run on at least one of a computer and a processor.