System and method for upgrading a pressure generating system
First Claim
1. A method of upgrading a pressure generating system comprising:
- providing a pressure generating system including (a) a pressure generator adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas, (b) a controller that controls operation of the pressure generator, (c) a memory storing a first operating routine wherein the controller controls operation of the pressure generator according to the first operating routine and a user defined setting, wherein a first set of operating features of the pressure generating system is determined based on the first operating routine, and wherein an internal access key is associated with each set of operating features of the pressure generating system;
providing an external device adapted to communicate with the controller;
establishing a communication link between the external device and the controller;
inputting an external access key to the external device;
comparing the internal access key provided by the pressure generating system with the external access key;
enabling upgrading of the pressure generating system by enabling the first operating routine to be replaced responsive to the internal access key matching the external access key;
upgrading the pressure generating system by replacing the first operating routine with a second operating routine and causing the controller to execute the second operating routine so that the pressure generating system operates according to a second set of operating features and the user defined setting;
maintaining a database for a plurality of pressure generating systems external to a pressure support systems, wherein the database includes (a) a serial number unique to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure systems, (b) one or more operating routines available to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure generating systems, and (c) external access keys associated with each of the one or more operating routines; and
updating the database by assigning a new serial number for an upgraded pressure generating system.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of upgrading a medical device having a controller that controls operation of the medical device according to an operating routine executed by the controller. Upgrading the medical device includes communicating an external device, such as a conventional computer, with the controller. An external access key is provided to the external device and compared to an internal access key provided by the medical device. Upgrading of the medical device is enabled if the two access keys match. Upgrading includes modifying or rewriting the operating routine stored in the medical device. A medical device manufacturer, supplier, or seller controls the distribution of the external access keys, thereby providing the ability to track the medical devices being upgraded and the upgrade provided to that device.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of upgrading a pressure generating system comprising:
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providing a pressure generating system including (a) a pressure generator adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas, (b) a controller that controls operation of the pressure generator, (c) a memory storing a first operating routine wherein the controller controls operation of the pressure generator according to the first operating routine and a user defined setting, wherein a first set of operating features of the pressure generating system is determined based on the first operating routine, and wherein an internal access key is associated with each set of operating features of the pressure generating system; providing an external device adapted to communicate with the controller; establishing a communication link between the external device and the controller; inputting an external access key to the external device; comparing the internal access key provided by the pressure generating system with the external access key; enabling upgrading of the pressure generating system by enabling the first operating routine to be replaced responsive to the internal access key matching the external access key; upgrading the pressure generating system by replacing the first operating routine with a second operating routine and causing the controller to execute the second operating routine so that the pressure generating system operates according to a second set of operating features and the user defined setting; maintaining a database for a plurality of pressure generating systems external to a pressure support systems, wherein the database includes (a) a serial number unique to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure systems, (b) one or more operating routines available to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure generating systems, and (c) external access keys associated with each of the one or more operating routines; and updating the database by assigning a new serial number for an upgraded pressure generating system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pressure generating system upgrading system, comprising
a pressure generating systems including (a) a pressure generator adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas, (b) a controller that controls operation of the pressure generator, and (c) a memory associated with the controller that stores a first operating routine, wherein the controller control operation of the pressure generator according to the first operating routine and a user defined setting, wherein a first set of operating features of the pressure generating system is determined based on the first operating routine, and wherein an internal access key is associated with each set of operating features of the pressure generating system; -
an external device adapted to communicate with the controller via a communication link between the external device and the controller, wherein the external device is adapted to receive an external access key, and wherein the controller or the external device compares the internal access key of the pressure generating system with the external access key and upgrades the pressure generating system by replacing the first operating routine with a second operating routine responsive to the internal access key matching the external access key; and a database for a plurality of pressure generating systems, wherein the database includes (a) a serial number unique to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure systems, (b) one or more operating routines available to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure generating systems, and (c) external access keys associated with each of the one or more operating routines, and wherein the database is updated to assign a new serial number for an upgraded pressure generating system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A pressure generating system upgrading system comprising:
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(a) a pressure generating system including; (1) a pressure generator adapted to generate a flow of breathing gas, (2) processing means for controlling at least one operation of the pressure generator according to a first operating routine executed by the processing means and a user defined setting, and (3) memory means, associated with the processing means, for storing the first operating routine, wherein a first set of operating features of the pressure generating system is determined based on the first operating routine, and wherein an internal access key is associated with each set of operating features of the pressure generating system; (b) an external device adapted to communicate with the processing means via a communication link between the external device and the processing means, wherein the external device includes means for receiving an external access key, wherein the processing means or the external device includes means for comparing the internal access key of the pressure generating system with the external access key and for upgrading the pressure generating system by replacing the first operating routine with a second operating routine responsive to the internal access key matching the external access key; and (c) a database for a plurality of pressure generating systems, wherein the database includes (1) a serial number unique to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure systems, (2) one or more operating routines available to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure generating systems, and (3) external access keys associated with each of the one or more operating routine, and wherein the database is updated to assign a new serial number for an upgraded pressure generating system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of processing and tracking an upgrade of a pressure generating system, comprising:
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identifying a pressure generating system to be upgraded; providing an upgrade request from an upgrade requester to a pressure generating system supplier, wherein the upgrade request includes a first serial number associated with the pressure generating system to be upgraded and a requested upgrade of the pressure generating system; maintaining a database for a plurality of pressure generating systems, available to the pressure generating system supplier, wherein the database includes (a) the first serial number for each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure generating systems, (b) one or more upgrades available to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure generating systems, and (c) an external access keys associated with both the pressure generating system and an available upgrade from the one or more for that pressure generating system; accessing the database, by the pressure generating system supplier, to determine an external access key associated with both the pressure generating system to be upgraded and the requested upgrade; providing the external access key to the pressure generating system; comparing the external access key with an internal access key associated with the pressure generating system; upgrading the pressure generating system responsive to the internal access key matching the external access key; and wherein upgrading the pressure generating system comprises replacing a first operating routine with a second operating routing and causing a controller to execute the second operating routine so that the pressure generating system operates according to a second set of operating features and a user defined setting; and updating the database to indicate that the pressure generating system having the first serial number has been upgraded with the desired upgrade by assigning a new serial number for an upgraded pressure generating system. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for a pressure generating system supplier to process and track an upgrade of a pressure generating system:
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receiving, from an upgrade requester, an upgrade request including first serial number associated with the pressure generating system and a desired upgrade; maintaining a database for a plurality of pressure generating systems, available to the pressure generating system supplier, wherein the database includes (a) the first serial number for each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure generating systems, (b) one or more upgrades available to each pressure generating system in the plurality of pressure generating systems and (c) an external access keys associated with both the pressure generating system and an available upgrade from the one or more upgrades for that pressure generating system; accessing the database, by the pressure generating system supplier, responsive to receiving the upgrade request, to determine an external access key associated with both the pressure generating system to be upgraded and the desired upgrade based on the first serial number; providing, from the pressure generating system supplier to the upgrade requester, the external access key associated with the pressure generating system and the desired upgrade so that the upgrade requester can introduce the upgrade to the pressure generating system responsive to the external access key matching an internal access key associated with the pressure generating system; and upgrading the pressure generating system by replacing a first operating routine with a second operating routing and causing a controller to execute the second operating routine so that the pressure generating system operates according to a second set of operating features and the user defined setting; and updating the database to indicate that the pressure generating system has been upgraded with the desired upgrade by assigning a new serial number for an upgraded pressure generating system. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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Specification