SYSTEMS, METHODS AND ANALYZERS FOR ESTABLISHING A SECURE WIRELESS NETWORK IN POINT OF CARE TESTING

• US 20120232367A1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Point Of Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Point Of Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Allegri, Luis Enrique, Shedrinsky, Felix, Neurauter, Lloyd James, Francoeur, James Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• 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: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A system and method for initiating and maintaining a secure wireless communication between a wireless analyzer and a target network (e.g., a hospital network connected to a LIS and/or HIS). The present disclosure provides novel processes and systems for securely networking a wireless analyzer with a Wi-Fi network without the need for an operator or user to engage in manual initiation steps on, or through, the wireless analyzer.

Claims

1. A system for connecting a wireless analyzer to a primary wireless network comprising:

(a) a wireless analyzer enabled to communicate via an ad hoc wireless network wherein said wireless analyzer is further enabled to read a patient health parameter;

(b) a computer enabled to provide and communicate access credentials with said wireless analyzer via said ad hoc wireless network; and

(c) a primary wireless network in communication with said wireless analyzer wherein said primary wireless network authenticates a secure connection with said wireless analyzer using said access credentials.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless analyzer may repeatedly access said primary access network without requiring further communication via an ad hoc network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said secure connection comprises an SSL connection, a TLS connection, an SSL/TLS connection, or combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said primary wireless network comprises a hospital wireless network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said hospital wireless network comprises a connection with a laboratory information system or hospital information system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless analyzer is configured to perform a function via said primary wireless network comprising (i) communicating location;

(ii) receiving and displaying a custom message;

(iii) communicating and installing software updates;

(iv) communicating print requests with a printer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(v) communicating battery level;

(vi) communicating dynamic display information with a computer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(vii) synchronizing time with a computer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(viii) providing network access to another wireless analyzer;

or (ix) combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless analyzer communicates patient blood test results with said primary wireless network, said patient blood test results comprising (i) analyte concentrations, (ii) time of test, (iii) date of test, (iv) patient identification, (v)user identification, or (vi) combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless analyzer communicates information with said primary wireless network, wherein said information comprises:

(i) an instrument calibration coefficient;

(ii) an instrument self-validation test result;

(iii) an instrument self-testing result;

or (iv) combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless analyzer receives data communicated from said primary wireless network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said data comprises:

(i) a software upgrade;

(ii) an instrument calibration coefficient;

(iii) an instrument self-validation protocol;

(iv) an instrument self-testing protocol;

or (v) a combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless analyzer receives a blood testing cartridge with at least one sensor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless analyzer is a glucose meter and receives a glucose test strip.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless analyzer is a blood coagulation meter and receives a prothrombin time test device.

14. A method of connecting a wireless analyzer enabled to read a patient health parameter to a primary wireless network comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a computer enabled to provide and communicate access credentials via an ad hoc wireless network;

(b) establishing an ad hoc wireless connection between said computer and a wireless analyzer via a secure connection;

(c) communicating said access credentials between said computer and said wireless analyzers;

(d) terminating said ad hoc wireless connection; and

(e) authenticating a connection between said wireless analyzer and said primary wireless network using said access credentials.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless analyzer may repeatedly access said primary access network without requiring further communication via the ad hoc network.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said secure connection comprises an SSL connection, a TLS connection, an SSL/TLS connection, or combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said primary wireless network comprises a hospital wireless network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said hospital wireless network comprises a connection with a laboratory information system or hospital information system.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless analyzer is configured to perform a function via said primary wireless network comprising:

(i) communicating location;

(ii) receiving and displaying a custom message;

(iii) communicating and installing software updates;

(iv) communicating print requests with a printer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(v) communicating battery level;

(vi) communicating dynamic display information with a computer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(vii) synchronizing time with a computer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(viii) providing network access to another wireless analyzer;

or (ix) combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless analyzer communicates blood analysis patient data with said primary wireless network.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless analyzer communicates information with said primary wireless network, wherein said information comprises:

(i) an instrument calibration coefficient;

(ii) an instrument self-validation test result;

(iii) an instrument self-testing result;

or (iv) combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless analyzer receives data communicated from said primary wireless network.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said data comprises:

(i) a software upgrade;

(ii) an instrument calibration coefficient;

(iii) an instrument self-validation protocol;

(iv) an instrument self-testing protocol;

or (v) a combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless analyzer receives a blood testing cartridge with at least one sensor.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless analyzer is a glucose meter and receives a glucose test strip.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless analyzer is a blood coagulation meter and receives a prothrombin time test device.

27. A wireless analyzer enabled for secure communication with a primary wireless network comprising:

a display;

an input device;

a battery;

a sensing apparatus for detecting a patient health parameter; and

a wireless communication device enabled for secure wireless communication with a primary wireless network wherein said wireless communication is authenticated using at least one access credential.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said wireless analyzer may repeatedly access said primary access network without requiring further communication via an ad hoc network.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said wireless analyzer communicates patient blood test results with said primary wireless network, said patient blood test results comprising (i) analyte concentrations, (ii) time of test, (iii) date of test, (iv) patient identification, (v)user identification, or (vi) combinations thereof.

30. The wireless analyzer of claim 27, wherein said wireless analyzer is configured to perform a function via said primary wireless network comprising:

(i) communicating location;

(ii) receiving and displaying a custom message;

(iii) communicating and installing software updates;

(iv) communicating print requests with a printer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(v) communicating battery level;

(vi) communicating dynamic display information with a computer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(vii) synchronizing time with a computer in communication with said primary wireless network;

(viii) providing network access to another wireless analyzer;

or (ix) combinations thereof.