SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESSLY CONTROLLING MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20130176230A1
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Georgiev, Emil Markov, Robinson, Scott William, Upton, Bayne Robin
• Granted Patent: US 9,168,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

Systems and methods for wirelessly controlling medical devices are provided. One system includes a portable user interface having a housing and a communication module within the housing configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one medical device. The portable user interface also includes a display displaying a graphical user interface to control the at least one medical device remotely, wherein the displayed graphical user interface corresponds to a control interface of the at least one medical device.

Claims

1. A portable user interface for controlling medical devices, the portable user interface comprising:

a housing;

a communication module within the housing configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one medical device; and

a display displaying a graphical user interface to control the at least one medical device remotely, wherein the displayed graphical user interface corresponds to a control interface of the at least one medical device.

2. The portable user interface of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface emulates a control interface of the at least one medical device.

3. The portable user interface of claim 1, wherein the display displays a plurality of user selectable elements for controlling operation of the at least one medical device.

4. The portable user interface of claim 3, wherein the user selectable elements corresponds to controls for changing settings of the at least one medical device.

5. The portable user interface of claim 1, wherein the display displays a plurality of user selectable elements corresponding to a plurality of wirelessly controllable medical devices.

6. The portable user interface of claim 5, wherein the display displays a graphical user interface corresponding to a control interface of a selected one of the medical devices, wherein the displayed graphical user interface for at least one of the other medical devices is different.

7. The portable user interface of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch-screen display.

8. The portable user interface of claim 1, further comprising one or more user inputs separate from the display.

9. The portable user interface of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an electronic tablet type housing.

10. The portable user interface of claim 1, wherein the display displays updated data for the at least one medical device.

11. The portable user interface of claim 1, wherein graphical user interface includes at least one user selectable element and displays monitoring data for the at least one medical device.

12. The portable user interface of claim 1, wherein the display displays location information.

13. The portable user interface of claim 1, further comprising a processor for generating a log session corresponding to changes made to settings of the at least one medical device with the graphical user interface.

14. A wireless control arrangement comprising:

at least one medical device having a communication module; and

a portable user interface having a housing, a communication module within the housing configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one medical device, and a display displaying a graphical user interface to control the at least one medical device remotely, wherein the displayed graphical user interface corresponds to a control interface of the at least one medical device, and the at least one medial device and the portable user interface communicate via the communication modules.

15. The wireless control arrangement of claim 14, wherein the graphical user interface emulates a control interface of the at least one medical device and wherein the display displays a plurality of user selectable elements for controlling operation of the at least one medical device.

16. The wireless control arrangement of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of medical devices and wherein the display displays a plurality of user selectable elements corresponding to a plurality of wirelessly controllable medical devices, and wherein the graphical user interface corresponding to a control interface of a selected one of the medical devices is different than the graphical user interface of another one of the plurality of medical devices.

17. The wireless control arrangement of claim 14, wherein the display comprises a touch-screen display.

18. The wireless control arrangement of claim 14, wherein the at least one medical device comprises a medical monitoring device.

19. A method for controlling a medical device, the method comprising:

detecting one or more wirelessly controllable medical devices;

receiving a user input at a portable electronic device to remotely control the one or more medical devices, the user input selected at a graphical user interface displayed on the portable electronic device, the graphical user interface corresponding to a control interface of the one or more medical devices; and

wirelessly controlling the one or more medical devices from the portable electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising emulating the control interface as the graphical user interface.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving feedback from the controlled one or more devices and displaying the feedback on a display of the portable electronic device.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving a user input selecting another one of the medical devices and displaying a different graphical user interface on the portable electronic device.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating a log session based on the control of the one or more medical devices.