System for Processing Patient Monitoring Power and Data Signals

• US 20120197094A1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hongxuan Zhang, Vincent Potenzone
• Inventors: Zhang, Hongxuan, Potenzone, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A device interface selectively acquires patient physiological parameter data. An acquisition processor acquires physiological data from a patient. A communication processor is coupled to an optical communication pathway for receiving a plurality of optical signals from a source. A conversion processor is electrically coupled to the acquisition processor and communication processor and converts a first optical power signal at a first frequency and received via the optical communication pathway using the communication processor, to a first electrical signal for providing power to said device interface. The conversion processor converts an optical control signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency and received via the optical communication pathway using the communication processor, to a second electrical signal for providing control data to the acquisition processor directing the acquisition processor to acquire at least one physiological parameter from a patient.

Claims

1. A medical device user interface for selectively monitoring patient physiological parameter data comprising:

a user interface for receiving user entered command data representing at least one control signal for controlling the operation of a device interface in acquiring at least one physiological parameter from a patient;

a conversion processor electrically coupled to said user interface for

converting an electrical power signal obtained from a power source into an optical power signal having a first frequency; and

converting said at least one control signal received from said user interface into an optical control signal having a second frequency different from said first frequency, said optical control signal including control data for controlling the device interface; and

a communication processor electrically coupled to said conversion processor for transmitting said optical power signal and said optical control signal via an optical communication pathway for receipt by the device interface.

2. The medical device interface according to claim 1, wherein

said communication processor selectively receives an optical data signal at a third frequency different from said first and second frequencies, said optical data signal includes patient parameter data acquired by the device interface, and

said conversion processor automatically converts said optical data signal into a medical data format for at least one of (a) monitoring of a patient and (b) storage in a storage medium.

3. The medical device interface according to claim 2, further comprising

a display electrically coupled to said conversion processor for displaying said patient parameter data in said medical data format.

4. The medical device interface according to claim 2, further comprising

a patient monitoring unit electrically coupled to said conversion processor for receiving said patient parameter data in said medical data format and automatically notifying a user if said acquired patient parameter data exceeds a threshold value.

5. The medical device interface according to claim 1, wherein

said optical power signal and said optical control signal are substantially isolated from each other and spurious electrical noise.

6. The medical device interface according to claim 2, wherein

said optical power signal, said optical control signal and said optical data signal are substantially isolated from each other and from spurious electrical noise.

7. The medical device interface according to claim 2, wherein

said communication processor is conditioned for bidirectional simultaneous communication of a plurality of optical energy signals between said medical device interface and said device interface.

8. The medical device interface according to claim 1, wherein

said optical power signal and said optical control signal are transmitted over a single optical link.

9. The device interface according to claim 2, wherein

said optical power signal and said optical control signal are transmitted over and said optical patient data signal is received over a single optical link.

10. A method for monitoring patient physiological parameter data comprising the activities of:

converting an electrical power signal obtained from a power source into an optical power signal at a first frequency;

receiving user input representing at least one control signal for directing the operation of a device interface in acquiring at least one physiological parameter from a patient;

converting the at least one control signal into an optical control signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency and including control data for directing operation of the device interface; and

transmitting the optical power signal and the optical control signal over an optical communication pathway for receipt by the device interface for powering the device interface and to acquire the at least one physiological parameter.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the activities of

receiving an optical data signal at a third frequency different from the first and second frequencies, the optical data signal includes patient parameter data acquired by the device interface in response to the control data, and

automatically converting the optical data signal into a medical data format for at least one of (a) monitoring of a patient and (b) storage in a storage medium.