Patient monitoring system

• US 6,616,606 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Protocol Incorporated (Welch Allyn Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Protocol Incorporated (Welch Allyn Incorporated)
• Inventors: Petersen, Eric G., Weiner, Herbert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCrosky, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,095
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 128/903, 128/904, 340/2.1, 340/825, 370/216-228, 370/254-258, 714/2-4, 714/8, 455/7, 455/8, 455/9
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/04 Constructional details of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 : Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 : Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 : detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 : Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 : Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A wireless medical telemetry system includes at least one wireless patient monitor configured to monitor a patient by collecting vital signs data from the patient, and a first central station associated with one or more wireless transceivers, and adapted to establish communications with the at least one patient monitor and receive the vital signs data via the one or more wireless transceivers. A second central station is associated with the one or more wireless transceivers, and adapted to receive vital signs data via the one or more wireless transceivers. The second central station is configured to automatically attempt to establish communications with the at least one patient monitor and receive the vital signs data in place of the first central station in the event the communications between the first central station and the at least one patient monitor are lost. There is also a method for monitoring a patient.

Claims

1. A wireless medical telemetry system, comprising:

at least one wireless patient monitor configured to monitor a patient by continuously collecting vital signs data from the patient;

a first central station associated with one or more wireless transceivers, and adapted to establish communications with the at least one patient monitor and continuously receive the vital signs data therefrom via the one or more wireless transceivers; and

a second central station associated with the one or more wireless transceivers, and adapted to continuously receive the vital signs data via the one or more wireless transceivers;

where the second central station is configured to automatically attempt to establish communications with the at least one patient monitor and continuously receive the vital signs data in place of the first central station in the event the communications between the first central station and the at least one patient monitor are lost.

2. The system of claim 1, where the second central station is configured to monitor the communications between the first central station and the at least one patient monitor.

3. The system of claim 2, where the second central station is configured to monitor the communications between the first central station and the at least one patient monitor by receiving the vital signs data from the first central station, and to automatically attempt to establish communications with the at least one patient monitor if the second central station stops receiving the vital signs data from the first central station.

4. The system of claim 1, where the at least one patient monitor is configured to transmit a request to establish communications to the second central station via the one or more wireless transceivers in the event the communications with the first central station are lost.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third central station associated with the one or more wireless transceivers, and adapted to receive vital signs data via the one or more wireless transceivers, and where both the second and third central stations are configured to automatically attempt to establish communications with the at least one patient monitor and receive the vital signs data in place of the first central station in the event the communications between the first central station and the at least one patient monitor are lost.

6. The system of claim 1, where the first central station is configured to communicate instructions to the at least one patient monitor to control the patient monitor, and where the second central station is configured to automatically attempt to assume control of the at least one patient monitor in the event the communications between the first central station and the at least one patient monitor are lost.

7. A method for monitoring a patient, comprising:

establishing wireless communications between a patient monitor and a first central station;

continuously collecting vital signs data from a patient at the patient monitor;

continuously communicating the vital signs data from a patient at the patient monitor;

continuously communicating the vital signs data from the patient monitor to the first central station; and

if communications between the patient monitor and the first central station are lost, automatically establishing wireless communications between the patient monitor and a second central station, and continuously communicating the vital signs data from the patient monitor to the second central station.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising monitoring, at the second central station, the communications between the patient monitor and the first central station.

9. The method of claim 8, where the step of monitoring includes receiving, at the second central station, the vital signs data from the first central station.

10. The method of claim 7, where the step of establishing wireless communications between the patient monitor and the second central station includes detecting, at the patient monitor, a loss of communications with the first central station, and transmitting a request to establish communications from the patient monitor to the second central station.