REMOTE CONTROL OF DIALYSIS MACHINES

• US 20170180482A1
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Crnkovich, Martin Joseph, Yuds, David, Wang, Aiyuan, Wang, Fei, Lee, Sue-Jane, Leung, Hak Kan, Tarn, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,948,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00 ; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

This disclosure relates to remote control of dialysis machines. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine and establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine. The method also includes receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine, authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine, receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, and providing, to the client device, the received information.

Claims

1. A method performed by a data processor, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine;

establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine;

receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine;

authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine;

receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine; and

providing, to the client device, the received information

wherein an interface of the client device is configured to present controls for controlling the dialysis machine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the client device, instructions for the dialysis machine; and

providing, to the dialysis machine, the received instructions.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a connection from a second dialysis machine;

receiving, from a second client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;

authorizing the second client device to access the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from the second dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the second dialysis machine;

providing, to the second client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from the second client device, instructions for the second dialysis machine; and

providing, to the second dialysis machine, the received instructions.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising assigning a proxy port for communication with each dialysis machine.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the client device and the second client device are the same device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing the client device comprises using an access control list stored on the data processor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the access control list is configured to allow updating of a set of client devices that are authorized to access the dialysis machine by updating, at the data processor, the access control list stored on the data processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data processor is at a remote location from the dialysis machine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data processor is at a clinic.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the dialysis machine is at a home of a patient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device and the data processor are the same device.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine comprises receiving a user login and password from the client device.

26. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, from a third client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;

authorizing the third client device to access the second dialysis machine;

providing, to the third client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from the third client device, instructions for the second dialysis machine; and

providing, to the second dialysis machine, the received instructions.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the instructions received from the second client device for the second dialysis machine have a priority over the instructions received from the third client device for the second dialysis machine.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, when there is a conflict between the instructions received from the second client device for the second dialysis machine and the instructions received from the third client device for the second dialysis machine, the instructions received from the second client device are executed by the second dialysis machine, and the instructions received from the third client device are not executed by the second dialysis machine.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the information provided to the client device comprises voice data.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the information provided to the client device comprises one or both of video and audio.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the video and audio comprise information related to connections and components of the dialysis machine.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the client device, a video stream; and

providing, to a display of the dialysis machine, the received video stream.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the video stream includes audio.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine comprises data related to a dialysis treatment.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine comprises one or more of time remaining for a dialysis treatment, arterial pressure, venous pressure, transmembrane pressure, data related to ultrafiltration (UF), data related to dialysate, treatment status, and alarm information.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine is presented by the interface of the client device.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the interface presents at least some of the information that is presented on a display of the dialysis machine.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is a mobile computing device.

39. The method of claim 2, wherein the instructions for the dialysis machine comprise one or more of initiating a dialysis treatment and pausing a dialysis treatment.

40. The method of claim 2, wherein at least some of the instructions for the dialysis machine are for setting one or more treatment parameters for a dialysis treatment.

41. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing, to the client device, a virtual control interface, wherein the instructions for the dialysis machine are received from the client device through the virtual control interface.

12. A method performed on a data processor of a dialysis machine, the method comprising:

sending a request, to a server, to establish a network connection with the server;

receiving an access request from the server, the access request requesting access to the dialysis machine by the server;

providing a response to the access request; and

providing, to a client device, via the server, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine,

wherein an interface of the client device is configured to present controls for controlling the dialysis machine.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, from the client device, via the server, instructions; and

executing the received instructions.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the dialysis machine is at a remote location from the server.

42. The method of claim 13, wherein a virtual control interface is provided to the client device that is configured to access the dialysis machine, and the instructions are received from the client device through the virtual control interface.

15. A system comprising:

a server;

a dialysis machine configured to connect to the server through a network; and

a client device configured to connect to the server through the network, wherein the server is configured for;

maintaining an access control list to determine whether the client device is authorized to connect to the dialysis machine; and

providing a connection for transfer of data between the dialysis machine and the client device,

wherein an interface of the client device is configured to present controls for controlling the dialysis machine.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is configured for:

receiving a request for a network connection from the dialysis machine;

establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine;

receiving, from the client device, a request to access the dialysis machine;

authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine;

receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine; and

providing, to the client device, the received information.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured for:

receiving, from the client device, instructions for the dialysis machine; and

providing, to the dialysis machine, the received instructions.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising

a second dialysis machine wherein the server is further configured for:

receiving a connection from the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from a second client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;

authorizing the second client device to access the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from the second dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the second dialysis machine;

providing, to the second client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from the second client device, instructions for the second dialysis machine; and

providing, to the second dialysis machine, the received instructions.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further configured for assigning a proxy port for communication with each dialysis machine.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the client device and the second client device are the same device.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the access control list is configured to allow updating of a set of client devices that are authorized to access the dialysis machine by updating, at the server, the access control list.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is at a remote location from the dialysis machine.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is at a clinic.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the dialysis machine is at a home of a patient.

43. The system of claim 16, wherein authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine comprises receiving a user login and password from the client device.

44. The system of claim 18, wherein the server is further configured for:

receiving, from a third client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;

authorizing the third client device to access the second dialysis machine;

providing, to the third client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from the third client device, instructions for the second dialysis machine; and

providing, to the second dialysis machine, the received instructions.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the instructions received from the second client device for the second dialysis machine have a priority over the instructions received from the third client device for the second dialysis machine.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein, when there is a conflict between the instructions received from the second client device for the second dialysis machine and the instructions received from the third client device for the second dialysis machine, the instructions received from the second client device are executed by the second dialysis machine, and the instructions received from the third client device are not executed by the second dialysis machine.

47. The system of claim 16, wherein the information provided to the client device comprises voice data.

48. The system of claim 16, wherein the information provided to the client device comprises one or both of video and audio.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the video and audio comprise information related to connections and components of the dialysis machine.

50. The system of claim 16, wherein the server is further configured for:

receiving, from the client device, a video stream; and

providing, to a display of the dialysis machine, the received video stream.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the video stream includes audio.

52. The system of claim 16, wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine comprises data related to a dialysis treatment.

53. The system of claim 16, wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine comprises one or more of time remaining for a dialysis treatment, arterial pressure, venous pressure, transmembrane pressure, data related to ultrafiltration (UF), data related to dialysate, treatment status, and alarm information.

54. The system of claim 16, wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine is presented by the interface of the client device.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the interface presents at least some of the information that is presented on a display of the dialysis machine.

56. The system of claim 15, wherein the client device is a mobile computing device.

57. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions for the dialysis machine comprise one or more of initiating a dialysis treatment and pausing a dialysis treatment.

58. The system of claim 17, wherein at least some of the instructions for the dialysis machine are for setting one or more treatment parameters for a dialysis treatment.

59. The system of claim 17, wherein the server is further configured for providing, to the client device, a virtual control interface, wherein the instructions for the dialysis machine are received from the client device through the virtual control interface.