Patient Monitoring Platform Interface

• US 20120311219A1
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ma, Wanran, Hansen, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,671,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Physical monitoring systems are disclosed which may include a platform interface between a platform device and a monitoring module. The platform interface may allow physiological information from a patient such as sensor signal data, physiological trend data, other suitable data, or combinations thereof to be communicated from the monitoring module to the platform device. The platform interface may include a connector with pins configured to receive UART communications, transmit UART communications, communicate diagnostic information, be coupled to a ground, be coupled to a serial clock, receive serial data, transmit serial data, be coupled to a regulated power supply, be coupled to an unregulated power supply, communicate using USB standard, communicate using any other suitable standards, perform any other suitable functions, or any combinations thereof. The monitoring module may connect directly to the platform device, or a wired cable with suitable connectors may be used to electrically couple the monitoring module to the platform device.

Claims

1. A monitoring module configured to communicate physiological information to a platform device, the monitoring module comprising:

at least one connector comprising a plurality of pins, wherein the connector is configured to connect to a corresponding connector of the platform device, the plurality of pins comprising;

at least two pins configured for receiving UART communications;

at least two pins configured for transmitting UART communications;

at least one pin configured for communicating diagnostic information between the monitoring module and the platform device;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a ground;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a serial clock;

at least one pin configured for transmitting and receiving serial communications;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a regulated power supply;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to an unregulated power supply; and

at least two pins configured for standardized universal serial bus communication between the monitoring module and the platform device, wherein;

the corresponding connector comprises a corresponding plurality of pins for interfacing with the plurality of pins of the monitoring module connector.

2. The monitoring module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins comprises an array of 20 pins.

3. The monitoring module of claim 1, wherein the monitoring module further comprises an interface configured to communicatively couple to at least one sensor.

4. The monitoring module of claim 1 further comprising processing circuitry configured to:

process physiological information; and

communicate physiological information to the platform device at a time when the connector is coupled to the corresponding connector of the platform device.

5. The monitoring module of claim 4, wherein the physiological information is provided by the monitoring module to the platform device using at least one of the pins of the plurality of pins.

6. The monitoring module of claim 4, wherein the physiological information is communicated by the monitoring module to the platform device using the at least two pins configured for transmitting UART communications.

7. The monitoring module of claim 4, wherein the physiological information is communicated by the monitoring module to the platform device using the at least two pins configured for standardized universal serial bus communication.

8. The monitoring module of claim 4, wherein the physiological information is selected from the group consisting of sensor signal data, physiological parameter trend data, alarm data, message data, monitoring module identification information, and/or sensor identification, and/or combinations thereof.

9. The monitoring module of claim 1, wherein the connector is further configured to connect to a wired cable, wherein the wired cable includes a first connector and a second connector arranged at opposite ends of the wired cable, and wherein the first connector is configured to connect to the connector of the monitoring module, and wherein the second connector is configured to connect to the corresponding connector of the platform device.

10. The monitoring module of claim 1, wherein the corresponding plurality of pins of the corresponding connector of the platform device are configured to mate with the plurality of pins of the connector of the monitoring module.

11. A physiological monitoring system comprising:

a monitoring module comprising a module connector comprising a plurality of pins, wherein the plurality of pins comprise;

at least two pins configured for receiving UART communications;

at least two pins configured for transmitting UART communications;

at least one pin configured for communicating diagnostic information between the monitoring module and the platform device;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a ground;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a serial clock;

at least one pin configured for transmitting and receiving serial communications;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a regulated power supply;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to an unregulated power supply; and

at least two pins configured for standardized universal serial bus communication between the monitoring module and the platform device; and

a platform device comprising a platform connector, wherein the platform connector is configured to connect to the module connector, and wherein the platform connector comprises a corresponding plurality of pins for interfacing with the plurality of pins of the monitoring module connector.

12. The physiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of pins comprises an array of 20 pins.

13. The physiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring module further comprises an interface configured to communicatively couple to at least one sensor.

14. The physiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring module further comprises processing circuitry configured to:

process physiological information; and

communicate physiological information to the platform device at a time when the module connector is coupled to the platform connector.

15. The physiological monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the physiological information is provided by the monitoring module to the platform device using at least one of the pins of the plurality of pins.

16. The physiological monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the physiological information is communicated by the monitoring module to the platform device using the at least two pins configured for transmitting UART communications.

17. The physiological monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the physiological information is communicated by the monitoring module to the platform device using the at least two pins configured for standardized universal serial bus communication.

18. The physiological monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the physiological information is selected from the group consisting of sensor signal data, physiological parameter trend data, alarm data, message data, monitoring module identification information, and/or sensor identification, and/or combinations thereof.

19. The physiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the module connector is further configured to connect to a wired cable, wherein the wired cable includes a first connector and a second connector arranged at opposite ends of the wired cable, and wherein the first connector is configured to connect to the module connector, and wherein the second connector is configured to connect to the platform connector.

20. The physiological monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring module is a first monitoring module, and wherein the module connector is a first connector, the first monitoring module further comprising:

a second connector configured to couple to a second monitoring module, the second connector comprising a plurality of pins, the plurality of pins of the second connector comprising;

at least two pins configured for receiving DART communications;

at least two pins, configured for transmitting UART communications;

at least one pin configured for communicating diagnostic information between the first monitoring module and the second monitoring module;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a ground;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a serial clock;

at least one pin configured for transmitting and receiving serial communications;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to a regulated power supply;

at least one pin configured to be coupled to an unregulated power supply; and

at least two pins configured for standardized universal serial bus communication between the second monitoring module and the first monitoring module.