Portable patient monitoring system including location identification capability

• US 7,316,648 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: Mozur, Matthew, Kelly, Clifford Mark, Russ, Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Naqi; Sharick
• Application Number:
  US10/864,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 128903-905, 340/10.42
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A docking station advantageously provides a location identifier to a portable processing device which processes the location identifier to determine docking station location (and other information) and to upload settings and configuration information related to an identified location which is retained until a different docking station location is encountered. In a system for use in a docking station suitable for attaching to a portable patient monitoring device for processing signal parameters acquired from a patient, a power coupler couples power to provide electrical power to a portable processing device. An adaptive communication interface, in a first mode of operation, communicates an identifier associated with a particular docking station to the portable processing device, and in a second mode of operation, establishes connection of the portable processing device to a network.

Claims

1. A system for use in a docking station suitable for attaching to a portable patient monitoring device, said portable patient monitoring device being for processing signal parameters acquired from a patient, comprising:

a power coupler coupling power to provide electrical power to a portable processing device; and

a controller determining whether said portable processing device is attached to a particular docking station and is powered on;

a communication interface,

in a first mode of operation, communicating a location identifier associated with said particular docking station to said portable processing device, and

in a second mode of operation, establishing connection of said portable processing device to a network enabling determination of a geographic location of said particular docking station using said location identifier, transmitting of configuration settings related to the determined geographic location to said particular docking station and transmitting patient data to said network, said first mode of operation being inhibited until said determination is made by said controller preventing changing of configuration settings until said controller determines said portable processing device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein

said controller initiates said first mode of operation and subsequently initiates said second mode of operation.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein

said controller detects said portable processing device is attached to said particular docking station by detecting at least one of, (a) an active communication link to said network is present, (b) an active communication link is present between said particular docking station and said portable processing device and (c) a portable patient monitoring device is docked with said particular docking station and receiving electrical power from said particular docking station.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein

in response to said detection, said controller initiates interruption of said active communication link and communicates said location identifier associated with said particular docking station to said portable processing device in said first mode of operation and subsequently re-connects said active communication link to said network in said second mode of operation.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein

said active communication link comprises an Ethernet compatible communication link.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said controller further determines a patient location by calculating a likelihood estimation derived based on a most recent communication of said location identifier and said likelihood estimation evaluates the time since said portable processing device was docked at said particular docking station having an associated location identifier and determines the location of the patient relative to said particular docking station.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein

said adaptive communication interface supports communication using wireless technologies including at least one of, (a) WLAN 802.11b standard compatible communication, (b) 802.11a standard compatible communication, (c) 802.11g standard compatible communication, (d) 802.15 standard compatible communication, and (e) GSM/GPRS standard compatible communication.

8. A system for use in a portable patient monitoring device for monitoring and processing signal parameters acquired from a patient and being suitable for being attached to a docking station, comprising:

a power coupler processing power received via a power coupler to provide electrical power for said portable patient monitoring device; and

a controller determining whether said portable processing device is attached to a particular docking station and is powered on;

an adaptive communication interface, using said electrical power,

in a first mode of operation, receiving a location identifier associated with a particular docking station, and

in a second mode of operation, establishing connection of said portable patient monitoring device to a network enabling determination of a geographic location of said particular docking station, transmitting of configuration settings related to the determined geographic location to the docking station and transmitting patient data to said network, said first mode of operation being inhibited and the configuration settings are prevented from being changed until said determination is made by said controller.

9. A system according to claim 8 including

a data acquisition processor receiving and processing patient parameter data from a plurality of different patient attached sensors to provide processed patient parameter data;

and

an image reproduction device displaying processed patient parameter data.

10. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said adaptive communication interface communicates processed patient parameter data to a docking station when said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said particular docking station.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein

said processed patient parameter data comprises physiological data including at least one of, (a) electro-cardiograph (ECG) data, (b) blood parameter data, (c) ventilation parameter data, (d) infusion pump related data, (e) blood pressure data, (f) pulse rate data and (g) temperature data.

12. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said power coupler comprises a power unit re-charging a battery and supplying power to said portable patient monitoring device and

said adaptive communication interface communicates said location identifier to said network via wireless communication.

13. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said controller determines said geographic location of said particular docking station from a map associating said identifier with a corresponding geographic location.

14. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said portable patient monitoring device communicates, to a remote device via said network in said second mode said particular docking station location identifier and

in response, said portable patient monitoring device acquires at least one of, (i) patient geographic location information, (ii) configuration information used in configuring said portable patient monitoring device based on geographic location, (iii) configuration information used in selecting particular features of said portable patient monitoring device for activation based on geographic location and (iv) information supporting operation of said portable patient monitoring device with a second device associated with said geographic location.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein

said portable patient monitoring device acquires said information in response to an identifier of said portable processing device.

16. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said portable patient monitoring device communicates, to a remote device via said network in said second mode, said particular docking station location identifier and

in response, said portable patient monitoring device acquires at least one of, (i) an alarm setting associated with a patient parameter and (ii) configuration information used in selecting particular features of said portable patient monitoring device for activation based on geographic location and user entitlement information.

17. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said location identifier associated with said particular docking station comprises at least one of, (a) an Ethernet compatible MAC address, (b) an IP address, (c) a port identifier, (d) an Internet compatible address and (e) a LAN address.

18. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said location identifier associated with said particular docking station enables determination of an association of a plurality of medical devices with a particular patient.

19. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said portable patient monitoring device communicates said particular docking station location identifier to a remote device via said network in said second mode, and enabling said remote device to use said location identifier to initiate identification of a location derived based on said location identifier.

20. A remote system according to claim 19 wherein

said remote device uses said location identifier to initiate identification of said location by at least one of, (a) generating a text message, (b) initiating activation of an alarm indicator and (c) initiating display of an alarm and associated location on a reproduction device.

21. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said adaptive communication interface couples a data transducer in said portable patient monitoring device to a corresponding transducer in said particular docking station to support connection of said portable patient monitoring device to said network and to bidirectionally exchange data.

22. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said adaptive communication interface communicates said particular docking station location identifier by at least one of, (i) wireless and (ii) wired, communication.

23. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said adaptive communication interface supports communication using wireless technologies including at least one of, (a) WLAN 802.11b standard compatible communication, (b) 802.11a standard compatible communication, (c) 802.11g standard compatible communication, (d) 802.15 standard compatible communication, and (e) GSM/GPRS standard compatible communication.

24. A system according to claim 8 wherein

said adaptive communication interface adaptively switches between a wireless network connection when undocked and a docking station supported wired network connection when docked in said particular docking station.

25. A system according to claim 8 including

a memory storing at least one of, (a) a location identifier associated with a previous docking station employed by said portable patient monitoring device prior to a subsequent docking station, (b) information derived using said location identifier associated with said previous docking station and (c) a time stamp of undocking.

26. A system for use in a portable patient monitoring device for monitoring and processing signal parameters acquired from a patient and being suitable for being attached to a docking station, comprising:

a power coupler processing power received via a power coupler to provide electrical power for said portable patient monitoring device; and

a controller determining whether said portable patient monitoring device is attached to a particular docking station and is powered on;

an adaptive communication interface, using said electrical power,

establishing connection of said portable processing device to a network and

acquiring from a particular docking station a location identifier associated with said particular docking station and deriving geographic location of said particular docking station and transmitting of patient data to said network, said acquiring of a location identifier being inhibited until said determination is made by said controller,

communicating said location identifier to a remote system via said network

receiving information including configuration settings dependent on said geographic location from a remote system when said controller determines said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said particular docking station is powered on; and

preventing receipt of configuration settings until said controller determines said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on.

27. A system according to claim 26 wherein

said location identifier is usable by a remote system determining location of a patient attached to said portable patient monitoring device.

28. A method for use by a docking station suitable for attaching to a portable patient monitoring device, said portable patient monitoring device being for processing signal parameters acquired from a patient, comprising the activities of:

coupling power to provide electrical power to a portable processing device; and

determining, using a controller, said portable patient monitoring device is attached to a particular docking station and is powered on;

in a first mode of operation, communicating a location identifier associated with a particular docking station to said portable processing device, and

in a second mode of operation, establishing connection of said portable processing device to a network enabling determination of a geographic location of said particular docking station, transmitting configuration settings related to the determined geographic location and transmitting of patient data to said network, said first mode of operation being inhibited until said determination is made that said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on preventing changing of configuration settings until the controller determines said portable processing device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on.

29. A method for use by a portable patient monitoring device for monitoring and processing sigual parameters acquired from a patient and being suitable for being attached to a docking station, comprising the activities of:

processing power received via a power coupler to provide electrical power for said portable patient monitoring device; and

determining, using a controller, said portable patient monitoring device is attached to a particular docking station and is powered on;

employing said electrical power in,

receiving a location identifier associated with a particular docking station in a first mode of operation, and

establishing connection of said portable processing device to a network in a second mode of operation enabling determination of a geographic location of said particular docking station, transmitting configuration settings related to the determined geographic location and transmitting of patient data to said network, said first mode of operation being inhibited until said determination is made that said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on preventing changing of configuration settings until the controller determines said portable processing device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on.

30. A method for use by a portable patient monitoring device for monitoring and processing signal parameters acquired from a patient and being suitable for being attached to a docking station, comprising the activities of:

determing, using a controller, said portable patient monitoring device is attached to a particular docking station and is powered on;

establishing communication of said portable processing device with a network

acquiring from a particular docking station a location identifier associated with said particular docking station and deriving geographic location of said particular docking station, said acquiring of said location identifier being inhibited until said determination is made that said portable processing device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on;

communicating said location identifier to a remote system via said network;

receiving information including configuration settings dependent on said geographic location from a remote system when said controller determines said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said particular docking station is powered on; and

preventing receipt of configuration settings until said controller determines said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on.