SMART PNEUMATIC COUPLER

• US 20160275258A1
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Curtin, Barry, Bielstein, Matthew, Apperson, Ryan, Barnes, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 10,108,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0266 for monitoring or limiting apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0487 Special user inputs or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/226 comprising means for identifying the connector, e.g. to prevent incorrect connection to socket
• 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 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Technologies and implementations for a smart pneumatic coupler apparatus are generally disclosed.

Claims

1. A pneumatic coupler comprising:

a pneumatic control device;

a coupler detection module coupled to the pneumatic control device; and

a signal bearing medium communicatively coupled to the coupler detection module, the signal bearing medium configured to be communicatively coupled to a pneumatic device, the pneumatic device being pneumatically coupled to the pneumatic coupler.

2. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic control device comprises a pneumatic valve device.

3. The pneumatic coupler of claim 2, wherein the pneumatic valve comprises a poppet device.

4. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1, wherein the coupler detection module comprises a device configured to generate an electrical signal.

5. The pneumatic coupler of claim 4, wherein the device configured to generate the electrical signal comprises a transducer device.

6. The pneumatic coupler of claim 4, wherein the device configured to generate the electrical signal comprises an optical proximity detection device.

7. The pneumatic coupler of claim 4, wherein the device configured to generate the electrical signal comprises a switch configured to be activated when the pneumatic coupler is coupled to the intelligent health monitoring device.

8. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1, wherein the coupler detection module comprises:

a processor;

a storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a radio device communicatively coupled to the processor.

9. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1, wherein the coupler detection module comprises:

a processor;

a storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor;

a radio device communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a power supply.

10. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1, the coupler detection module comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

11. The pneumatic coupler of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag.

12. The pneumatic coupler of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag comprises a semi-active RFID tag.

13. The pneumatic coupler of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag comprises an active RFID tag.

14. The pneumatic coupler of claim 10, wherein the RFID tag comprises a RFID tag configured to use capacitive technology.

15. A method for pneumatic coupling, the method comprising:

at a coupler detection module, detecting a pneumatic coupling via a pneumatic control device;

generating an electrical signal upon detection of the pneumatic coupling; and

transmitting the generated electrical signal to a pneumatically coupled device.

16. A machine readable non-transitory medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, operatively enable a coupler detection module to:

detect a pneumatic coupling via a pneumatic control device;

generate an electrical signal upon detection of the pneumatic coupling; and

transmit the generated electrical signal to a pneumatically coupled device.