Medical device information system

• US 7,510,526 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Emergency Response Systems Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Ciliberti, Molly, Browne, David W., Merry, Randy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Yun Haeng
• Application Number:
  US11/027,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 607/5, 600/300
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting

Abstract

In general, the invention is directed to management of information from a plurality of emergency medical devices, such as automated external defibrillators, and associated docking stations. The medical devices and docking stations may communicate with one another and with a remote unit. The managed information includes information pertaining to authorized access and maintenance, inspection indications and inspection certifications. In general, an authorized user can access the emergency medical device without activating alarms that would accompany an emergency. The authorized user can further use the user input interface to enter an inspection certification, which records the inspection, the maintenance performed, the date the device is returned to service, and so forth.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at an emergency medical device an inspection certification from an inspector via a user interface of the emergency medical device;

receiving at a docking station the emergency medical device, wherein the docking station comprises a communication interface; and

receiving at the communication interface of the docking station the inspection certification from the emergency medical device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the inspection certification from the docking station to a remote unit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

validating the inspection certification to determine whether the inspection certification is invalid; and

generating an alert when the inspection certification is invalid.

4. A method comprising:

receiving at an emergency medical device an inspection certification from an inspector via a user interface of the emergency medical device;

receiving in a docking station the emergency medical device; and

receiving at the docking station the inspection certification from the emergency medical device,

wherein the inspection certification comprises an identification code that identifies the inspector of the emergency medical device.

5. A method comprising:

using an emergency medical device to treat a patient;

after using the emergency medical device, placing the emergency medical device in a docking station; and

in response to the emergency medical device being placed in the docking station after being used to treat a patient;

establishing communication with a remote unit via a communication network; and

communicating an inspection indication to the remote unit, the inspection indication requesting a physical inspection for the emergency medical device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising communicating emergency medical device status information to the remote unit.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the emergency medical device comprises an external defibrillator.