System and method for configuring a medical device

• US 7,997,474 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Zuhars, Joel, Groszmann, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US11/766,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20080314973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

In one embodiment a medical device comprising an interface, a portable component and a controller is provided. The interface is configured for receiving identification data of a user, the portable component is configured for storing configuration data and the controller is configured for retrieving the configuration data based on the identification data and for configuring the medical device based on the configuration data.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an interface configured to receive identification data for a user;

a portable component configured to store configuration data for the medical device and security data for the user; and

a controller configured to determine whether a user associated with the identification data is authorized to use the medical device based on the identification and security data received at the interface, the controller further configured to retrieve the configuration data from the portable component based on the identification data and to configure the medical device based on the configuration data.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the portable component is an RFID tag operable to be attached to a user.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the portable component is one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) storage device and a removable media.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the identification data is obtained from at least one of the portable component, a physical key, a biometric device and a user input.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the identification data is obtained from a physical key, and the physical key comprises one of a physical signature, a magnetic signature and a digital signature.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the identification data is obtained from a biometric device, and the biometric device comprises one of a fingerprint analyzer, a voiceprint analyzer and a retinal scanner.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a surgical device.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the interface is a transceiver operable to receive and transmit data.

9. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the interface is operable to program the portable component with a modified configuration data, and the portable component is operable to receive and store the modified configuration data.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the portable component is also configured to store the identification data.

11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the portable component is also configured to store calibration data for the medical device.

12. A method for configuring a medical device, the method comprising:

receiving identification data and security data at an interface operable to receive the identification data in the medical device;

determining at a controller in the medical device whether a user associated with the identification data is authorized to use the medical device based on the identification and security data received at the interface;

retrieving configuration data from a portable component based on the identification data; and

configuring the medical device based on the configuration data retrieved.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the portable component is an RFID tag operable to be attached to the user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the portable component is one of a USB storage device and a removable media.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the identification data is obtained from at least one of the portable component, a physical key, a biometric device and a user input.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the identification data is obtained from a physical key, and the physical key comprises one of a physical signature, a magnetic signature and a digital signature.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the identification data is obtained from a biometric device, and the biometric device comprises one of a fingerprint analyzer, a voiceprint analyzer and a retinal scanner.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the medical device is a surgical device.

19. A computer program product stored in a computer readable media for providing a method for configuring a medical device, the computer program product comprising:

a routine for receiving configuration data stored in a portable component;

a routine for receiving identification data and security data at an interface operable to receive the identification data in the medical device;

a routine for determining at a controller in the medical device whether a user associated with the identification data is authorized to use the medical device based on the identification data and security data received at the interface;

a routine for retrieving the configuration data from the portable component based on the identification data; and

a routine for configuring the medical device based on the configuration data retrieved.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the portable component is an RFID tag operable to be attached to the user.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the portable component is one of a Universal serial bus (USB) storage device and a removable media.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the identification data is obtained from at least one of the portable component, a physical key, a biometric device and a user input.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the identification data is obtained from a physical key, and the physical key comprises one of a physical signature, a magnetic signature and a digital signature.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the identification data is obtained from a biometric device, and the biometric device comprises one of a fingerprint analyzer, a voiceprint analyzer and a retinal scanner.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the medical device is a surgical device.