METHOD AND DEVICE FOR UPDATING MEDICAL APPARATUS

• US 20150006196A1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weinmann Gerate Fur Medizin GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Weinmann Gerate Fur Medizin GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: SCHOELLER, Bernd, MARX, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,939,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/022 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/14 Electro-oculogram [EOG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/20 Blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 : Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 : Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 : for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and the device for updating a ventilation device that has a memory for an operating program. The memory is at least partially designed as a variable memory and is connected with an input device for a current operating program. The memory and the input device are connected to control devices, which have testing means for evaluating at least one code. At least one function of the apparatus is released only when the code agrees with a reference value.

Claims

1. A method for updating an electronic ventilation device, wherein the method comprises, while performing an update, at least partially replacing an operating program which is at least partially stored in a variable memory of the ventilation device by a new operating program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the new operating program is stored on a data carrier and is transferred to the variable memory by a reading device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the new operating program is transferred to the ventilation device online

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a base operating program that cannot be altered by the update is stored in the ventilation device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein testing elements of the ventilation device compare an input code with a reference value, at least one function of the ventilation device being released only when the code is in agreement with the reference value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a hardware component present in the ventilation device is activated by the new operating program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a functionality of a hardware component present in the ventilation device is altered by the new operating program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a code is input or transmitted to an input device of the ventilation device by a data carrier with patient-related, practice-related, or physician-related data or by a reading device designed for this purpose.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a code is input or transmitted to an input device of the ventilation device by a device that is internally or externally associated, at least temporarily, with a medicinal, medical, or health-related apparatus or acts as an interface to connect several medicinal, medical, or health-related apparatuses by at least temporary data or program exchange.

10. An updatable electronic ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device comprises a memory for an operating program, which memory is at least partially designed as a variable memory and is connected to an input device for updating a current operating program, the memory and the input device being connected to a control device which comprises testing elements for evaluating at least one code, and wherein at least one function of the ventilation device is released only when the at least one code is in agreement with a reference value.

11. An electronic ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device comprises a control unit comprising (i) an internal or external input device for data input or reception, (ii) a memory device which comprises one or more memories and is at least indirectly connected with said input device, data or computing and/or counting algorithms being stored in the one or memories of the memory device and testing elements automatically comparing input or received data in the form of one or more codes with data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device, and (iii) a control device which, based on a comparison result provided by the testing elements automatically causes the ventilation device to at least temporarily be able to perform one or more functions associated with the one or more codes only if the one or more codes are in agreement with data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device, and causes performance of one or more functions associated with the one or more codes to be disabled by the control device or other elements if the one or more codes are not in agreement with data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device.

12. An electronic ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device comprises a control unit comprising (i) an internal or external input device for data and/or computer program input or reception, (ii) a memory device which comprises one or more memories and is at least indirectly connected to said input device, data or computing and/or counting algorithms being stored in the one or more memories of the memory device and testing elements automatically comparing input or received data and/or computer programs in the form of an update with data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device, and (iii) a control device which, based on a comparison result determined by the testing elements, automatically causes the ventilation device to permanently or temporarily apply the input or received data and/or programs or data and/or programs computed therefrom to one or more hardware functions which are associated with the update only if the update is well-defined, and causes performance of one or more hardware functions associated with the update to be disabled by the control device or other elements if the update is not well-defined.

13. The ventilation device of claim 12, wherein the ventilation device further comprises a permanent memory which comprises instructions that are executed after receipt or input of the update, whereupon a rewritable memory unit is searched for updated software and/or firmware, which is then loaded and executed.

14. The ventilation device of claim 12, wherein the ventilation device further comprises (i) a housing comprising an operating panel, a display, and an interface for data transmission, (ii) a respiratory gas pump installed inside the housing, and (iii) a connecting hose attached to the housing by a coupling.

15. The ventilation device of claim 14, wherein the ventilation device further comprises a humidifier.

16. The ventilation device of claim 14, wherein the ventilation device further comprises one or more interfaces for adaptable accessory devices.

17. The ventilation device of claim 16, wherein the adaptable accessory devices comprise at least one of a pulse oximeter and storage media.

18. The ventilation device of claim 14, wherein the ventilation device further comprises one or more interfaces or modems for transmitting recorded data to a physician and/or for transmitting other types of recorded data to maintenance/customer service personnel.

19. The ventilation device of claim 14, wherein the ventilation device further comprises one or more interfaces for adapting one or more sensors for determining one or more bodily parameters.

20. The ventilation device of claim 19, wherein the one or more bodily parameters can be displayed in the display of the housing of the ventilation device.

21. The ventilation device of claim 20, wherein one or more areas of the display are reserved for displaying the one or more bodily parameters and are activated only when a corresponding sensor has been adapted.

22. An electronic ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device comprises a control unit comprising (i) an internal or external input device for data input or reception, (ii) a memory device which comprises one or more memories and is at least indirectly connected with the input device, data or computing and/or counting algorithms being stored in the one or more memories of the memory device and testing elements automatically comparing input or received data in the form of one or more codes with data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device, and (iii) a control device which, based on a comparison result determined by the testing elements automatically causes the ventilation device to cooperate permanently or temporarily with an additional internal or external hardware component associated with the one or more codes only if the one or more codes are well-defined, and causes cooperation of the ventilation device with a hardware component associated with the one or more codes to be disabled by the control device or by other elements without a well-defined code.

23. A method for updating software or firmware in an electronic ventilation device that has a rewritable memory unit for storing an updated and/or a previous version of the software or firmware, wherein the method comprises:

(a) providing the software or firmware for updating by an updating device;

(b) communication of the ventilation device with the updating device;

(c) when communication has been established, transmission of the update from the updating device to the ventilation device;

(d) writing the update into the rewritable memory unit;

(e) verification of the update as a valid version and identification of the previous version as invalid; and

(f) execution of the updated software or firmware.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the ventilation device comprises a microcontroller with a memory unit.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the microcontroller is driven via a date link as follows:

(i) transmission of a signal to the microcontroller to effect a reset of the microcontroller;

(ii) providing a flash program with new firmware for writing the new firmware onto the microcontroller;

(iii) writing a program entry point in a defined location of the microcontroller, which is read out first for the first time after completion of the reset.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the previous version of the software or firmware is overwritten by the updated version of the software or firmware.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the previous version of the software is moved to a restore memory.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein after the update, instructions present in a permanent memory are executed, whereupon a rewritable memory unit is searched for updated software or firmware, which is then loaded and executed.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein a software update or firmware update is input via an interface.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the interface comprises at least one of an infrared interface, a Bluetooth interface, a USB or a cable-connected form.