MEDICAL DEVICE UPDATE SYSTEM

• US 20130104120A1
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Shults, James R., Vaccaro, Thomas J., Arrizza, John, Ward, Patrick A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,594,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14212 Pumping with an aspiration and an expulsion action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A system and method for providing updates to medical devices is disclosed. In one example, the medical devices are configured to pull update files in response to the reception of an update message from a server. Once the update files are downloaded by a medical device, the update files can be installed. While the medical device pulls the update files, the medical device can continue with its normal operation. If desired, a user can select which medical devices should be updated, based on any desired factors, such as the physical location of the device, the model of the device, the type of device, and the way the device is being used.

Claims

1. A method of providing updates to a medication administering device, the method comprising:

sending a message to the medication administering device, the message containing information relating to one or more update files available to the medication administering device;

receiving the message at the medication administering device;

downloading and storing one or more update files identified by the message; and

installing the one or more update files on the medication administering device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein updates are provided to a plurality of medication administering devices, the method further comprising:

selecting one or more medication administering devices to be updated; and

receiving a message at the selected medication administering devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more medication administering devices are selected based on one or more of:

the physical location of a device, the model of the device, the type of device, and the way the device is being used.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the downloaded update files are stored in a storage location of the medication administering device, and wherein the storage location also stores one or more previous versions of the update files to be updated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the update files include one or more of:

an updated drug library and updated device software.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the update files include a script used for orchestrating an update process.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is sent and the update files are retrieved using a communications network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is sent and update files are retrieved by the medication administering device using one or more portable storage devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more update files are downloaded while the medication administering device is being used to administer medication.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing status messages to a server, the status messages relating to downloading and installing of updates.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the message received at the medication administering device contains the location of update files.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the message received at the medication administering device is a message unique to that device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the medication administering device includes at least one infusion pump.

14. A medical device system comprising:

a server;

a communication network; and

a plurality of medical devices in communication with the server over the communication network, the plurality of medical devices each having a storage location, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the medical device, wherein the control units are configured to pull update files in response to an update message received from the server, and wherein the control units are configured to manage the installation of downloaded update files.

15. The medical device system of claim 14, wherein the medical device system is configured such that a user can select one or more of the medical devices to be updated.

16. The medical device system of claim 15, wherein medical devices are selected based on one or more of:

the physical location of a device, the model of the device, the type of device, and the way the device is being used.

17. The medical device system of claim 14, wherein each respective storage location stores downloaded update files and one or more previous versions of files to be updated.

18. The medical device system of claim 14, wherein the update files include one or more of:

an updated drug library and updated device software.

19. The medical device system of claim 14, wherein each respective update file of the update files includes a script used for orchestrating an update process.

20. The medical device system of claim 14, wherein the update files are downloaded while a respective medical device is being used.

21. The medical device system of claim 14, wherein the control units are configured to provide status messages to the server, the status messages relating to downloading and installing update files.

22. The medical device system of claim 14, wherein the update message received at each respective medical device contains the location of the update files.

23. The medical device system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of medical devices includes at least one infusion pump.