Method and apparatus for protecting a function mode of a medical device

• US 7,873,416 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zhou, Saixin, Teng, Dazhi, Guo, Yanmei, An, Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram; Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US11/943,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 607/31, 607/5, 607/30
• US Class Current: 607/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for protecting a function mode of a medical device are described. A method can include steps of: when an operator selects to use a function mode that needs protection in the medical device, presenting the operator information on a specified operation for entering the selected function mode; receiving an operation of the operator; determining whether the received operation of the operator is identical to the specified operation; and starting the selected function mode, if the determining result is confirmative.

Claims

1. A method for protecting a function mode of a medical device, the method comprising:

when an operator selects to use a function mode of the medical device that needs protection, presenting to the operator a specified password that is necessary to enter the selected function mode;

receiving a key operation from the operator;

determining whether the key operation received from the operator is identical to the specified password; and

starting the selected function mode if the result of said determining is confirmative;

presenting to the operator an additional password that is different from the specified password;

determining whether the key operation received from the operator is identical to the additional password; and

ending a procedure that comprises said presenting, receiving, and determining without starting the selected function mode of the medical device if the key operation received from the operator is determined to be identical to the additional password.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specified password is an operation of a single key or a combined operation of more than one key.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the combined operation of more than one key is performed on keys that are not adjacent to each other.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

when the operator selects to use the function mode of the medical device that needs protection, presenting the operator information on an alarm.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the medical device includes a defibrillator that also has a parameter monitoring function such that the medical device is usable as a monitor.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the function mode that needs protection includes a function mode that poses a high risk of death to a patient.

7. An apparatus for protecting a function mode of a medical device, comprising:

a presenting unit configured to operate in response to selection of a function mode of a medical device that needs protection, wherein the presenting unit is preconfigured to present to an operator a specified password that is necessary to enter the selected function mode;

a receiving unit configured to receive a key operation from the operator;

a determining unit configured to determine whether a key operation received from the operator via the receiving unit is identical to the specified password; and

a starting unit configured to start the function mode of the medical device when the determining unit determines that the key operation received from the operator via the receiving unit is identical to the specified password,

wherein the presenting unit is configured to present to the operator an additional password that is different from the specified password,

wherein the determining unit is configured to determine whether the key operation received from the operator is identical to the additional password; and

wherein the starting unit is configured to prevent starting of the selected function mode of the medical device if the key operation received from the operator is determined to be identical to the additional password.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the specified password is an operation of a single key or a combined operation of more than one key.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the combined operation of more than one key is performed on keys that are not adjacent to each other.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the medical device includes a defibrillator that also has a parameter monitoring function such that the medical device is usable as a monitor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the function mode that needs protection includes a function mode that poses a high risk of death to a patient.