System for Monitoring the Use of Medical Devices

• US 20130023719A1
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gerald Makoid
• Original Assignee: Oakwell Distributin Inc.
• Inventors: Bennett, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,114,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• 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 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/106 for the lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/045 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/208 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• 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

Abstract

A system for monitoring the use of a home-based medical apparatus providing medical therapy to a patient incorporates communication technology to permit communication from the operated component of the medical apparatus to a central station through one or more of Bluetooth® telephone communications, Smart Phone communications, Internet communications through a network, or other known or forthcoming communication devices. The operated medical apparatus can report any operational function to the central station for monitoring by medical professionals or caregivers, including the timing of any operation of the apparatus, the duration of operation, the effectiveness of the therapy, and malfunctions in the operation of the apparatus. The monitoring system is particularly adapted for use with inflation garment therapy and negative pressure wound therapy systems. The medical apparatus can also be provided with an RFD tag so that the medical apparatus, and perhaps the patient using the medical apparatus, can be found.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for medical apparatus being self-operated in a home environment, said medical apparatus including a powered device, comprising:

a communications transmitter operatively connected to said powered device, said communications transmitter being operable to transmit data relating to the operation of the medical apparatus to a remote central station.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said data is at least one of the following parameters, a time at which the powered device is operated, a length of duration the powered device is operated, effectiveness of the operation of the powered device, existence of a malfunction of the powered device,

3. The monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the effectiveness of operation of the powered device is determined by at least one sensor associated with the powered device to ascertain any existence of blood from the patient, a volume of exudates collected by the operation of the powered device, a quality of said exudates collected by the powered device, a level of oxygen detected in the blood of the patient.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3 wherein said medical apparatus is a negative pressure wound therapy system and said powered device is a pump operable to apply a negative pressure to a remote bandage applied to the patient to collect said exudates from a wound on said patient, said pump including sensors for determining pressure applied by said pump, for determining volume of flow of said exudates from said wound, and for determining color of said exudates, said sensors being operably connected to said communications transmitter to provide data thereto for transmission to said remote central station.

5. The monitoring system of claim 2 wherein said medical apparatus is an inflatable garment therapy system and said powered device is a pump and a controller for applying pressurized air to an inflatable garment worn by the patient, said controller being operably connected to said communications transmitter to transmit to said remote central station the operation of the inflatable garment therapy system including the heart rate of the patient, the length of time the therapy is utilized and the frequency of operation of the therapy.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5 wherein said inflatable garment therapy system further includes a pulse oximeter that determines the oxygen level in an appendage of the patient, said communications transmitter providing feedback to said patient as to the oxygen level to give the patient a positive feedback on the utilization of the inflatable garment therapy system.

7. The monitoring system of claim 2 wherein said medical apparatus is an electromagnetic bone growth stimulator and said powered device is a controller controlling the application of electricity to a transducer, said controller being operatively connected to said communications transmitter to provide information to said central station about the frequency and duration of use of the electromagnetic bone growth stimulator.

8. A method of applying medical therapy to a home-based patient through use of a medical apparatus having a powered device, comprising the steps of:

sensing operational parameters of said medical apparatus;

transmitting said operational parameters from said powered device to a remote central station;

reviewing said operational parameters to determine the effectiveness of said medical therapy; and

communicating with said patient when said reviewing step provides a basis for changes in said medical therapy.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said reviewing step is accomplished by a medical professional accessing the operational parameters at said remote central station.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said remote central station send an alert to said medical professional when one of said operational parameters falls outside of a predetermined range of values.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said communicating step is accomplished by a caregiver visiting said home-based patient.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said medical apparatus is a negative pressure wound therapy system and said powered device is a pump providing a source of negative pressure by a conduit to a remote bandage covering a wound on said patient to collect exudates from said wound, said sensing step detecting the negative pressure applied by said pump, the volume of flow of said exudates collected from said wound, and the color of said exudates.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said remote central station alerts said medical professional when the detected color of said exudates indicates a presence of blood in said exudates.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said pump is operatively coupled to a transmitter that communicates said operational parameters to said remote central station, said reviewing step including said medical professional reviewing said operational parameters from said remote central station to ascertain proper utilization of the medical apparatus and effectiveness of the medical therapy.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said medical apparatus is an inflatable garment therapy system and said powered device is a pump and a controller for applying pressurized air to an inflatable garment worn by said patient, said transmitting step being accomplished by said controller, said sensing step detecting the heart rate of the patient, the length of time said inflatable garment therapy system is operated, and the frequency at which said inflatable garment therapy system is utilized by said patient.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said medical apparatus is an electromagnetic bone growth stimulator and said powered device is a controller controlling the application of electricity to a transducer to create an electromagnetic field applied to said patient, said sensing step detecting the frequency of use and the duration of use of the electromagnetic bone growth stimulator.

17. A method of operating a negative pressure wound therapy system having a pump providing a source of negative pressure by a conduit to a remote bandage covering a wound on a patient to collect exudates from said wound, comprising the steps of:

sensing operational parameters of said negative pressure wound therapy system, including the negative pressure applied by said pump, the volume of flow of said exudates collected from said wound, and the color of said exudates;

transmitting said operational parameters to a remote central station;

reviewing said operational parameters by to determine the effectiveness of said negative pressure wound therapy; and

communicating with said patient when said reviewing step provides a basis for changes in said negative pressure wound therapy.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said remote central station alerts said medical professional when the detected color of said exudates indicates a presence of blood in said exudates.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said communicating step is accomplished by a caregiver visiting said patient.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said transmitting step is accomplished by a communications transmitter operatively connected to said pump to transmit said operational parameters to said remote central station.