CONFIGURABLE HEALTH-CARE EQUIPMENT APPARATUS

• US 20150351643A1
• Filed: 08/20/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: EDWARDS, IAN K., LIA, RAYMOND A., MARTIN, SCOTT A., SALVATI, JON R., VIVENZIO, ROBERT L., WAWRO, THADDEUS J., WOOD, ROBERT J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,591,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00148 using anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1208 Multiple lens hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/18 Arrangement of plural eye-testing or -examining apparatus
• 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: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02141 Details of apparatus construction, e.g. pump units or housings therefor, cuff pressurising systems, arrangements of fluid conduits or circuits A61B5/02233, A61B5/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 : Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/10 : Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 : Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 : Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 : for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 : Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4221 : being an input/output bus, e.g. ISA bus, EISA bus, PCI bus, SCSI bus

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for providing health-care equipment in a plurality of customizable configurations. A configuration includes a selection and arrangement of health-care equipment modules that each provide specialized support for the provision of health care, including the measurement of physiological parameters. Various types of configurations include those adapted to be mounted upon a desk top or a wall surface, or adapted for wheel mounting or hand-carriable mobile configurations.

Claims

1. A system for integrating one or more embedded components with health-care equipment, comprising:

a housing including one or more embedded components;

an electrical interface between a computing component and at least one of the embedded components for transfer of at least one of electrical power and data between the computing component and each of the embedded components; and

wherein each of the embedded components is configured to perform a measurement and to communicate results of the measurement to the computing component during interoperation with the computing component; and

wherein the housing is configured to engage at any one time, one of at least a first face plate and a second face plate, and wherein the first face plate and the second face plate are each configured differently with respect to each other, and

wherein the first face plate and the second face plate each provide a connection to at least one peripheral component that is located outside of the housing, and wherein the housing is further configured to be attached to a bed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first face plate and the second face plate each provide at least one of a mechanical interface, an electrical interface and a software interface to said at least one peripheral component located outside of the housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the embedded components is configured for executing at least one communications protocol via the electrical interface for facilitating identification of the embedded component to the computing component, and wherein an identification of the embedded component includes communicating at least one of a vendor-identification value and a product-identification value from the identification component to the computing component.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the computing component performs a decision to permit or deny interoperation between the computing component and the embedded component and wherein the decision is based upon at least one of the vendor-identification value and the product-identification value.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is integrated into a head board of the bed.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the housing is also a hand held apparatus that can be inserted or un-inserted from the headboard of the bed.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is attached to a support pole that is attached to a frame of the bed.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the support pole has a telescopic structure for vertical and rotational adjustment.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is attached to a side rail of the bed.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is disposed within an opening of the side rail of the bed.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is attached to a frame of the bed via a friction fit attachment mechanism.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one embedded component is a temperature measuring, oxyhemoglobin saturation measurement via pulse oximetry (SPO2) measuring or a blood pressure measuring device.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the peripheral component is a device that is configured for measurement of a physiological parameter.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the peripheral component is at least one of an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a rhinoscope, a laryngnoscope, an anoscope, an audiometer, a tympanometric instrument, a thermometer, and a vaginoscope.

15. An apparatus for integrating one or more embedded components with health-care equipment, comprising:

a housing including one or more embedded components;

an electrical interface between a computing component and at least one of the embedded components for transfer of at least one of electrical power and data between the computing component and each of the embedded components; and

wherein each of the embedded components is configured to perform a measurement and to communicate results of the measurement to the computing component during interoperation with the computing component; and

wherein the housing is configured to engage at any one time, one of at least a first face plate and a second face plate, and wherein the first face plate and the second face plate are each configured differently with respect to each other, and

wherein the first face plate and the second face plate each provide a connection to at least one peripheral component that is located outside of the housing, and wherein the housing is further configured to be attached to a bed.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first face plate and the second face plate each provide at least one of a mechanical interface, an electrical interface and a software interface to said at least one peripheral component located outside of the housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the peripheral component is a device that is configured for measurement of a physiological parameter.

18. A method for integrating one or more embedded components with health-care equipment, comprising the steps of:

providing a housing including one or more embedded components;

providing an electrical interface between a computing component and at least one of the embedded components for transfer of at least one of electrical power and data between the computing component and each of the embedded components; and

wherein each of the embedded components is configured to perform a measurement and to communicate results of the measurement to the computing component during interoperation with the computing component; and

wherein the housing is configured to engage at any one time, one of at least a first face plate and a second face plate, and wherein the first face plate and the second face plate are each configured differently with respect to each other, and

wherein the first face plate and the second face plate each provide a connection to at least one peripheral component that is located outside of the housing, and wherein the housing is further configured to be attached to a bed.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first face plate and the second face plate each provide at least one of a mechanical interface, an electrical interface and a software interface to said at least one peripheral component located outside of the housing.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the peripheral component is a device that is configured for measurement of a physiological parameter.