DATA INTERPRETATION TERMINAL

• US 3,693,166 A
• Filed: 09/21/1970
• Issued: 09/19/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward B. Rawson, John B. Dowling
• Original Assignee: Edward B. Rawson, John B. Dowling
• Inventors: Rawson, Edward B., Dowling, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henon, Paul J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chirlin, Sydney R.
• Application Number:
  US05/073,954
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5
• US Class Current: 710/37
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A data terminal for use in a computer-based medical screening system for the entry of interpretive data concerning X-ray pictures, ECG displays and the like. Data is visually verified before entry into a patient record in computer memory, and terminal operation is permitted only by an operator having a verified identification code.

Claims

1. A data terminal for the entry of interpretative data into a computer-based medical record of a patient comprising:

a plurality of console buttons each representing a respective interpretive phrase which is to be entered into said medical record;

a plurality of control buttons for initiating respective control steps in said terminal;

a data keyboard for the manual entry of numerical data;

logic circuitry coupled to said console buttons, control buttons and data keyboard and operative upon actuation of said buttons and keyboard to provide digital signal representations of said actuated buttons and keyboard;

means for assembling said digital signal representations into data words for transmission to a computer;

means for decoding data words received from said computer;

means for visually displaying numerical data decoded from said computer data words;

means for visually indicating steps to be taken during terminal operation;

a plurality of indicator lamps, each associated with a respective console button and control button and each operative in response to a respective data word from said computer to indicate the receipt by said computer of corresponding data representing an interpretive phrase and a control step;

means for displaying messages decoded from said computer data words and indicative of terminal operation;

means for manually causing entry of data into said medical record after visual verification thereof;

means operative in response to an operator identification code for enabling terminal operation; and

wherein said Logic circuitry includes;

a shift register having a serial input and serial output adapted for connection to a data transmission link;

an address decoder coupled to predetermined bit positions of said shift register and operative to provide an output indication upon receipt of a predetermined station address;

a read and write decoder coupled to predetermined bit positions of said shift register and operative to provide read and write command signals to said logic circuitry upon receipt of data words from said computer;

a plurality of data buffers, each coupled to predetermined bit positions of said shift register and each operative in response to data in said predetermined bit positions to provide an output signal;

a plurality of lamp drivers, each coupled to a respective data buffer, and each operative in response to a respective output signal therefrom to cause respective energization of said message displays, visual indicators and console and control button indicators; and

a display decoder coupled to a respective data buffer and operative to drive said numerical display means.

2. A data terminal for the entry of interpretive data into a computer-based medical record of a patient comprising:

a plurality of console buttons each representing a respective interpretive phrase which is to be entered into said medical record;

a plurality of control buttons for initiating respective control steps in said terminal;

a data keyboard for the manual entry of numerical data;

logic circuitry coupled to said console buttons, control buttons and data keyboard and operative upon actuation of said buttons and keyboard to provide digital signal representations of said actuated buttons and keyboard;

means for assembling said digital signal representations into data words for transmission to a computer;

means for decoding data words received from said computer;

means for visually displaying numerical data decoded from said computer data words;

means for visually indicating steps to be taken during terminal operation;

a plurality of visual indicators, each associated with a respective console button and control button and each operative in response to a respective data word from said computer to indicate the receipt by said computer of corresponding data representing an interpretive phrase and a control step;

means for displaying messages decoded from said computer data words and indicative of terminal operation;

means for manually causing entry of data into said medical record after visual verification thereof;

means operative in response to an operator identification code for enabling terminal operation; and

wherein said logic circuitry includes;

a shift register having a serial input and serial output adapted for connection to a data transmission link;

an address decoder coupled to predetermined bit positions of said shift register and operative to provide an output indication upon receipt of a predetermined station address;

a read and write decoder coupled to predetermined bit positions of said shift register and operative to provide read and write command signals to said logic circuitry upon receipt of data words from said computer;

a plurality of data buffers, each coupled to predetermined bit positions of said shift register and each operative in response to data in said predetermined bit positions to provide an output signal;

a plurality of drivers, each coupled to a respective data buffer, and each operative in response to a respective output signal therefrom to cause respective energization of said message displays, visual indicators and console and control button indicators; and

a display decoder coupled to a respective data buffer and operative to drive said numerical display means.

3. A data terminal according to claim 2 wherein said means for visually indicating steps to be taken during terminal operation includes:

a patient identification indicaTor for visually indicating after said terminal operation is enabled that a patient identification number is to be entered;

a patient identification check indicator for visually indicating after entry of a valid patient identification number that a check number is to be entered; and

a data indicator for visually indicating after entry of a valid check number that interpretive phrase data is to be entered by said console buttons.

4. A data terminal according to claim 2 wherein said means for enabling terminal operation includes a card reader adapted to receive a coded identification card and to decode the operator identification number contained therein;

and wherein said circuit means is operative to transmit said identification number to said computer, the receipt of a valid or invalid identification number causing respective data words to be transmitted to said terminal to cause display of appropriate messages on said message display.

5. A data terminal according to claim 2 including:

a plurality of control indicators for denoting a succession of interpretive phrases which are to be entered by said console buttons to constitute a complete interpretive statement.

6. A data terminal for the entry of interpretive data into a compute-based medical record of a patient comprising:

a plurality of console buttons each representing a respective interpretive phrase which is to be entered into said medical record;

a plurality of control buttons representing a succession of interpretive phrases which are to be entered by said console buttons;

a data keyboard for the manual entry of numerical data;

a plurality of visual indicators each associated with a respective console button and a respective control button;

a multi-digit display for visually displaying numerical data;

a display for messages indicative of terminal operation;

means operative in response to an operator identification code for enabling terminal operation;

means including said data keyboard for transmitting a patient identification code to a computer for selection of the medical record stored in memory for an associated patient;

a plurality of visual indicators for denoting subsequent steps to be performed by a terminal operator in entering data;

electronic logic circuitry coupled to said console buttons, control buttons and data keyboard and operative upon actuation of said control buttons, control buttons and keyboard to provide digital signal representations of actuated ones thereof;

electronic circuit means for assembling said digital signal representations into data words for transmission to a computer, said circuit means including electronic data storage means for storing data, means for entering data representing an actuated console button, control button or keyboard into said storage means, and means for transmitting data in said storage means to said computer;

means for decoding data words received from said computer, each of said data words from said computer having an address portion for identifying said terminal and a data portion for controlling operation of said terminal indicators, said decoding means including;

means for energizing selected ones of said console and control button visual indicators;

means for causing the visual display of numerical data on said multi-digit display in response to the transmission by said circuit means to said computer of a data word representing such numerical data;

means for energizing selected ones of said subsequent step indicators in accordance with data entering steps to be performed;

means for displaying messages on said message display indicative of terminal operation; and

means for manually causing entry of numerical data into computer memory after visual verification thereof on said multi-digit display, and for causing entry of interpretive phrase data in said patient medical record after visual verification thereof on the visual indicators associated with actUated ones of said console buttons.

7. A data terminal according to claim 6 wherein said step denoting visual indicators include:

a patient identification indicator for visually indicating after said terminal is enabled that a patient identification number is to be entered;

a patient identification check indicator for visually indicating after entry of a valid patient identification number that a check digit is to be entered by said keyboard; and

a data indicator for visually indicating after entry of a valid check digit that interpretive phrase data is to be entered by said console buttons.

8. A data terminal according to claim 6 wherein said decoding means includes:

storage means having an input and output adapted for connection to a data transmission link coupled to said computer;

an address decoder coupled to said storage means and operative to provide an output indication upon receipt from said computer of a predetermined terminal address;

a read and write decoder coupled to said storage means and operative to provide read and write command signals to said terminal circuitry upon receipt of data words from said computer;

a plurality of data buffers each coupled to said storage means and each operative in response to predetermined data to provide an output signal; and

a plurality of drivers each coupled to a respective data buffer and each operative in response to a respective outlet signal therefrom to cause respective energization of said message display, numerical display, subsequent step indicators and console and control button indicators.