INTERFACE DEVICES AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED BENCHMARKING OF BEST MEDICAL PRACTICES AND PRODUCTS

• US 20110270633A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Medical Care Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Friel, John P., Uber III, Arthur E., Griffiths, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for the collection, management, and dissemination of information relating at least to a medical procedure is disclosed. The system includes a user interface adapted to provide raw data information at least about one of a patient, the medical procedure, and a result of the medical procedure. A medical device communicates with the user interface, receives the raw data information from the user interface, and generates operational information during use. A central database communicates at least with the medical device and receives data from the medical device. The central database is used to create related entries based on the raw data information and the operational information and optionally transmits the related entry to the medical device or the medical device user. The related entry includes information that provides guidance based on previously tabulated, related medical procedures. A system for the iterative analysis of medical standards is also disclosed along with methods for the evaluation of medical procedures and standards.

Claims

1-3. -3. (canceled)

4. An interface device capable of collecting, managing and disseminating information relating to medical procedures, the interface device comprising:

(a) a user interface for enabling an operator of said interface device to interact therewith;

(b) a microprocessor for enabling said interface device to be in communication with at least one of a fluid administration device, a scanning device, an information system and at least one other device and to receive therefrom (I) before performance of a medical procedure, patient identification information from at least one of said user interface, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device and (II) at least one of during and after performance of the medical procedure, fluid administration information obtained from said fluid administration device and imaging study information associated therewith obtained from said scanning device; and

(c) a storage medium associated with said microprocessor, the storage medium having a database therein for storing as a record therein the patient identification information, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information for each of the medical procedures performed for use by the operator thereof.

5. The interface device of claim 4 further including a communications link for enabling communication with a central computer through which one or more of the records stored in said database can be optionally transmitted to said central computer for use thereby.

6. The interface device of claim 5 wherein said communications link for enabling communication between said interface device and said central computer is accomplished at least in part through a network.

7. The interface device of claim 6 wherein said network includes the Internet.

8. The interface device of claim 5 further adapted to generate operational information pertaining thereto at least one of before, during, and after each use thereof and for transmitting via said communications link the operational information to said central computer.

9. The interface device of claim 8 further adapted to display the operational information via said user interface.

10. The interface device of claim 5 further adapted to receive operational information from at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device and for transmitting via said communications link the operational information to said central computer.

11. The interface device of claim 5 further adapted to receive information about equipment used by said fluid administration device and for transmitting via said communications link the equipment information to at least one of a vendor thereof and said information system, the equipment information including at least one of size(s) of syringe(s) used, volume(s) of syringe(s) used, type(s) of fluid(s) used, manufacturing lot(s) of fluid(s) used, rate(s) of flow of fluid(s) used, volume(s) of fluid(s) used, type(s) of catheter(s) used, and, generally, number(s) of disposables used.

12. The interface device of claim 4 wherein said at least one other device includes one of a second fluid administration device, a second scanning device, a second information system, a separate user interface and another one of said interface devices.

13. The interface device of claim 5 wherein said user interface includes at least one of:

(a) a keyboard for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(b) a mouse for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(c) a barcode reader for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(d) a touch-screen for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(e) a monitor for displaying at least one of the patient-specific information, the patient identification information, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information of at least one of the records; and

(f) a printer for printing at least one of the patient-specific information, the patient identification information, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information of at least one of the records.

14. The interface device of claim 13 further permitting entry therein of an algorithm to apply to at least one of the patient-specific information, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information and determination therefrom of result-oriented information based thereon for communication via said communications link to said central computer.

15. The interface device of claim 4 further adapted to receive the patient identification information automatically from at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device.

16. The interface device of claim 5 further adapted to receive from said central computer via said communications link information affecting operation of said interface device for use thereby.

17. The interface device of claim 5 further adapted to receive via said communications link information from a vendor of at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device for use thereby.

18. The interface device of claim 4 wherein the patient identification information includes at least one of patient name, age, weight, health, medical condition, disease type and medical history.

19. The interface device of claim 4 wherein the fluid administration information includes at least one of flow rate of administration, volume administrated, type of contrast media, density of contrast media, viscosity of contrast media, manufacturing lot for contrast media, temperature of contrast media, syringe size, syringe volume, phase(s) of administration, administration start time, administration end time, and delay.

20. The interface device of claim 4 wherein the imaging study information includes at least one of imaging modality, region of study, type of study, quality of study, images of study, study start time, study end time, and final imaging report.

21. The interface device of claim 4 wherein the imaging study information includes parameters for said scanning device, the scanning device parameters including at least one of number of slices, slice thickness, slice spacing, speed, window, level, time to echo, field of view, voxel size, pulse sequence, flip angle, software version, coil(s) used, time of acquisition, milliamp-seconds, X-ray information.

22. The interface device of claim 5 further adapted to receive via said communications link updated software for operation thereof from at least one of said central computer a vendor of said interface device.

23. The interface device of claim 5 further adapted to transmit via said communications link statistical information about operation of at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device received therefrom, the statistical information includes at least one of usage rate, patterns of use, service history and reliability history of at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device.

24. The interface device of claim 4 wherein said information system is a hospital information system.

25. An interface device capable of collecting, managing and disseminating information relating to medical procedures, the interface device comprising:

(a) at least one microprocessor for enabling said interface device to be in communication with at least one of a fluid administration device, a scanning device, an information system and at least one other device and to receive therefrom (I) at least one of before, during and after performance of a medical procedure, patient identification information from at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device and (II) at least one of during and after performance of the medical procedure, fluid administration information obtained from said fluid administration device and imaging study information associated therewith obtained from said scanning device; and

(b) a storage medium associated with said at least one microprocessor, the storage medium having a database therein for storing as a record therein the patient identification information, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information for each of the medical procedures performed for use by a user thereof.

26. The interface device of claim 25 wherein said at least one microprocessor is adapted to at least one of:

(a) receive the patient identification information automatically from at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said infatuation system and said at least one other device;

(b) obtain the fluid administration information automatically from said fluid administration device; and

(c) obtain the imaging study information automatically from said scanning device.

27. The interface device of claim 25 further including a user interface, the user interface including at least one of:

(a) a keyboard for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(b) a mouse for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(c) a barcode reader for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(d) a touch-screen for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(e) a monitor for displaying at least one of the patient-specific information, the patient identification information, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information of at least one of the records; and

(f) a printer for printing at least one of the patient-specific information, the patient identification information, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information of at least one of the records.

28. The interface device of claim 25 further including a communications link, said communications link for enabling at least one of:

(a) transmission to a central computer for use thereby of one or more of the records stored in said database;

(b) reception from said central computer of information affecting operation of said interface device for use thereby;

(c) transmission to said central computer of operational information pertaining to said interface device at least one of before, during, and after each use thereof;

(d) reception of updated software for said interface device from at least one of said central computer and a vendor of said interface device;

(e) reception of information from a vendor of at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device for use thereby;

(f) transmission to said central computer of statistical information about operation of at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device received therefrom, the statistical information including at least one of usage rate, patterns of use, service history and reliability history of at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device;

(g) transmission to said central computer of operational information received from at least one of said fluid administration device, said scanning device, said information system and said at least one other device; and

(h) transmission to at least one of said information system and a vendor of said fluid information device of information about equipment used by said fluid administration device, the equipment information including at least one of size(s) of syringe(s) used, volume(s) of syringe(s) used, type(s) of fluid(s) used, manufacturing lot(s) of fluid(s) used, rate(s) of flow of fluid(s) used, volume(s) of fluid(s) used, type(s) of catheter(s) used, and, generally, number(s) of disposables used.

29. The interface device of claim 28 further including a user interface through which to at least display at least one of the operational information, the statistical information and the equipment information.

30. The interface device of claim 28 further including an algorithm for processing at least one of the fluid administration information, the imaging study information and patient-specific information so as to determine therefrom result-oriented information based thereon for communication via said communications link to said central computer.

31. The interface device of claim 25 wherein the fluid administration information includes at least one of flow rate of administration, volume administered, type of contrast media, density of contrast media, viscosity of contrast media, manufacturing lot for contrast media, temperature of contrast media, syringe size, syringe volume, phase(s) of administration, administration start time, administration end time, and delay.

32. The interface device of claim 25 wherein the imaging study information includes at least one of imaging modality, region of study, type of study, quality of study, images of study, study start time, study end time, and final imaging report.

33. The interface device of claim 25 wherein the imaging study information includes parameters for said scanning device, the scanning device parameters including at least one of number of slices, slice thickness, slice spacing, speed, window, level, time to echo, field of view, voxel size, pulse sequence, flip angle, software version, coil(s) used, time of acquisition, milliamp-seconds, X-ray information.

34. The interface device of claim 25 wherein said information system is a hospital information system.

35. An interface device capable of collecting, managing and disseminating information relating to procedures, the interface device comprising:

(a) a microprocessor for enabling said interface device to be in communication with at least one of a first device, a second device and an information system and to receive therefrom (I) at least one of before, during and after performance of a procedure, a set of personal identification information from at least one of said first device, said second device and said information system and (II) at least one of during and after performance of the procedure, a first set of procedure information obtained from said first device and a second set of procedure information associated therewith obtained from said second device; and

(b) a storage medium associated with said microprocessor, the storage medium having a database therein for storing as a record therein the patient identification information, the first set of procedure information and the second set of procedure information for each of the procedures performed for use by a user thereof.

36. The interface device of claim 35 further including a user interface, the user interface including at least one of:

(a) a keyboard for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(b) a mouse for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(c) a barcode reader for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(d) a touch-screen for enabling entry into said interface device of at least one of patient-specific information and the patient identification information;

(e) a monitor for displaying at least one of the patient-specific information, the patient identification information, the first set of procedure information and the second set of procedure information of at least one of the records; and

(f) a printer for printing at least one of the patient-specific information, the patient identification information, the first set of procedure information and the second set of procedure information of at least one of the records.

37. The interface device of claim 35 wherein said first device is a contrast medium injector and the first set of procedure information includes injection information pertaining to injection of at least one of a contrast medium and a diluent into a patient.

38. The interface device of claim 37 wherein said second device is a scanning device and the second set of procedure information includes imaging study information obtained therefrom that is associated with the injection information obtained from said contrast medium injector.

39. The interface device of claim 35 further including a communications link, said communications link for enabling at least one of:

(a) transmission to a central computer for use thereby of one or more of the records stored in said database;

(b) reception from said central computer of information affecting operation of said interface device for use thereby;

(c) transmission to said central computer of operational information pertaining to said interface device at least one of before, during, and after each use thereof;

(d) reception of updated software for said interface device from at least one of said central computer and a vendor of said interface device;

(e) reception of information from a vendor of at least one of said first device, said second device and said information system for use thereby;

(f) transmission to said central computer of statistical information about operation of at least one of said first device and said second device received therefrom, the statistical information including at least one of usage rate, patterns of use, service history and reliability history of at least one of said first device and said second device;

(g) transmission to said central computer of operational information received from at least one of said first device and said second device; and

(h) transmission to at least one of said information system and a vendor of said first device of information about equipment used by said first device, the equipment information including data pertaining to use of disposables by said first device.

40. The interface device of claim 39 further including an algorithm for processing at least one of the first set of procedure information, the second set of procedure information and patient-specific information so as to determine therefrom result-oriented information based thereon for communication via said communications link to said central computer.

41. The interface device of claim 35 wherein said info illation system is a hospital information system.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein said communications link is implemented at least in part though at least one of (a) a network, (b) a wired connection and (c) a wireless connection.

42. A method of collecting, managing and disseminating information relating to procedures, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling communication with a first device and a second device;

(b) receiving at least one of before, during and after performance of a procedure a set of personal identification information from at least one of said first device and said second device;

(c) receiving at least one of during and after performance of the procedure a first set of procedure information obtained from said first device;

(c) receiving at least one of during and after performance of the procedure a second set of procedure information obtained from said second device, the second set of procedure information corresponding to the first set of procedure information obtained from the first device; and

(d) storing as a record in a database the patient identification information, the first set of procedure information and the second set of procedure information for each of the procedures performed.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein:

(a) said first device is a contrast medium injector and the first set of procedure information includes injection information pertaining to injection of at least one of a contrast medium and a diluent into a patient;

(b) said second device is a scanning device and the second set of procedure information includes imaging study information obtained therefrom pertaining to at least one image of the patient that is associated with the injection information obtained from said contrast medium injector; and

(c) an interface device enables the communication with said contrast medium injector and said scanning device and the receipt of the personal identification information, the injection information and the imaging study information therefrom.

44. The method of claim 42 further including the step of providing a communications link, said communications link for enabling at least one of:

(a) transmission to a central computer for use thereby of one or more of the records stored in said database;

(b) transmission to said central computer of statistical information about operation of at least one of said first device and said second device received therefrom, the statistical information including at least one of usage rate, patterns of use, service history and reliability history of at least one of said first device and said second device;

(c) transmission to said central computer of operational information received from at least one of said first device and said second device; and

(d) transmission to at least one of said information system and a vendor of said first device of information about equipment used by said first device, the equipment information including data pertaining to use of disposables by said first device.

46. The method of claim 42 further including the steps of:

(a) providing a communications link; and

(b) using an algorithm for processing at least one of the first set of procedure information, the second set of procedure information and patient-specific information so as to determine therefrom result-oriented information based thereon for communication via said communications link to a central computer for use thereby.