Modular Medical Device System

• US 20140276426A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Borges, Gregory, Carlisle, Thomas John, Clarke, Chris, Daniel, Pascal, Fern, David George, Frearson, Timothy Charles, Nesterenko, Igor V., Roberts, Stephen Daniel, Vik, Daniel Hans, Wilkinson, James Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,522,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps

Abstract

A system includes an inductive backplane, at least one communications interface, and a control unit. The inductive backplane is configured to secure and inductively power a plurality of detachable medical device modules. The control unit controls, via the at least one communications interface, at least one attribute of each medical device module when the medical device module is secured to the inductive backplane. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an inductive backplane configured to secure and inductively power a plurality of detachable medical device modules;

at least one communications interface; and

a control unit to control, via the at least one communications interface, at least one attribute of each medical device module when the medical device module is secured to the inductive backplane.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one optical data transceiver coupled to the at least one communications interface; and

a plurality of first optical data transmission ports along the inductive backplane coupled to the at least one communications interface;

wherein each medical device module comprises a second optical data transmission port positioned along an optical path with a corresponding first optical data transmission port when the medical device module is secured to the inductive backplane.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein the at least one optical data transceiver is an infrared optical data transmitter.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of optical data transceivers and the at least one communications interface comprises a communications bus coupled to each optical data transceiver.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of optical data transceivers and a plurality of communications interfaces that each correspond to a different optical data transceiver.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface is coupled to the inductive backplane and the control unit controls, via an induction-based communications protocol, the at least one attribute of each medical device module when the medical device module is secured to the inductive backplane.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface wirelessly couples the control unit to at least one medical device module.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein each medical device module does not comprise an electrical galvanic connector.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of medical device modules comprise at least one fluid infusion pump.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein the least one fluid infusion pump is selected from a group consisting of:

syringe pumps, patient controlled infusion pumps, large volume infusion pumps, and peristaltic pumps.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of medical device modules comprise a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) system.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of medical device modules comprises at least one of:

a vital signs monitor, a blood analyte monitor, cardiac output monitors, gastric tonometers, an SpO2 sensor, an EtCO2 sensor, an identification module, a barcode scanner, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein the inductive backplane comprises a plurality of mounting seats, each mounting seat being configured to mechanically secure one medical device module.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein the plurality of mounting seats are arranged along a vertical axis of the inductor backplane.

15. A system as in claim 13, further comprising a proximity sensor corresponding to each seat, the proximity sensor detecting presence of a medical device module in the corresponding seat.

16. A system as in claim 15, wherein the at least one communications interface initiates communications with a medical device module in a particular seat after the corresponding proximity sensor detects the presence of the medical device module in the seat.

17. A system as in claim 15, wherein the inductive backplane commences inductive powering of a medical device module in a particular seat after the corresponding proximity sensor detects the presence of the medical device module in the seat.

18. A system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface operable to receive and transmit data from at least one remote computing system.

19. A system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface is operable to receive and transmit data from at least one medical device via a wired or wireless connection, the at least one medical device being different from the plurality of medical device modules.

20. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary power source for powering one or more medical device modules that are not inductively powered.

21. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a battery for selectively powering the inductive backplane and the medical device modules.

22. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a touch screen display.

23. A system as in claim 22, further comprising:

an adjustable display arm coupling the touch screen display with the inductive backplane.

24. A system as in claim 23, wherein the adjustable display arm is a tilt and swivel arm.

25. A system as in claim 22, further comprising:

a housing enveloping the inductive backplane;

wherein the touch screen display is integrated into an outer surface of the housing.

26. A system as in claim 22, wherein the control unit controls the at least one attribute of one or more of the medical device modules in response to user-generated input received via the touch screen display.

27. A system as in claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the at least one attribute of one or more of the medical device modules in response to data received from a remote source.

28. A system comprising:

an inductive backplane configured to secure and inductively power a plurality of detachable medical device modules; and

a display to display one or more attributes of the medical device modules when secured to the inductive backplane.

29. A medical device module comprising:

at least one data processor;

memory storing instructions for execution by the at least one data processor;

an inductive receiver for powering the at least one data processor; and

a housing having a shape and size to be secured by an inductive backplane of a modular medical device system, the inductive backplane inductively powering the inductive receiver when the housing is secured thereto, the modular medical device system further comprising at least one communications interface and a control unit, the control unit controlling, via the at least one communications interface, at least one attribute of the medical device module when the housing is secured to the inductive backplane.

30. A medical device module as in claim 29, wherein the housing has no external electric galvanic connections.

31. A medical device module comprising:

at least one data processor;

memory storing instructions for execution by the at least one data processor; and

a housing having a shape and size to be secured by to a modular medical device system, the housing having no external electrical galvanic connections, the modular medical device system further comprising at least one communications interface and a control unit, the control unit controlling, via the at least one communications interface, at least one attribute of the medical device module when the housing is secured to the modular medical device system.

32. A medical device module comprising:

at least one data processor;

memory storing instructions for execution by the at least one data processor;

a self-contained power source;

a communications interface; and

a housing having a shape and size to be secured by to a modular medical device system, wherein the medical device module operates independently when not secured to the modular medical device system and wherein medical device module is controlled via the communications interface of the medical device module by the modular medical device system when it is secured to the modular medical device system.

33. An infusion pump comprising:

at least one data processor;

memory storing instructions for execution by the at least one data processor; and

at least one pumping sub-system for pumping fluid passing therethrough;

wherein the infusion pump does not include an external electrical galvanic connector.

34. A method comprising:

inductively powering, by a modular medical device system, each of a plurality of medical device modules, the modular medical device system comprising an inductive backplane configured to secure and inductively power the plurality of medical device modules, at least one communications interface, a display, and a control unit to control, via the at least one communications interface, at least one attribute of each medical device module when the medical device module is secured to the inductive backplane;

initiating communications between each of the medical device modules and the control unit via the at least one communications interface; and

displaying, on the display of the modular medical device system, one or more attributes characterizing operation of at least one of the medical device modules.

35. A method as in claim 34, further comprising:

receiving, via the display of the modular medical device system, user-generated input modifying at least one attribute of at least one medical device module; and

modifying, by the control unit, the at least one attribute for the at least one medical device module specified by the user-generated input.

37. A method as in claim 35, further comprising:

providing data characterizing the medical device modules when secured to the inductive backplane.

38. A method as in claim 37, wherein providing data comprises at least one of:

displaying the provided data, storing the provided data, loading the provided data into memory, and transmitting the provided data to at least one remote computing system or medical device.

36. A method comprising:

inductively powering, by a modular medical device system, each of a plurality of medical device modules, the modular medical device system comprising an inductive backplane configured to secure and inductively power the plurality of medical device modules, at least one communications interface, and a control unit to control, via the at least one communications interface, at least one attribute of each medical device module when the medical device module is secured to the inductive backplane;

initiating communications between each of the medical device modules and the control unit via the at least one communications interface; and

controlling, by the control unit, one or more attributes of at least one of the medical device modules.