Portable and light programmable medical device system

• US 8,055,830 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dorsey, Michael C., Waldhoff, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knoll; Clifford
• Application Number:
  US12/894,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20110022763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 710303-304, 601 6- 7, 601 9- 10, 439 38- 40, 340/10.42, 604/319, 604317-318, 604322-326
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A medical device system includes a portable medical device and a docking unit on which the medical device can be removably mounted. The docking unit is configured to communicate with a controller of the medical device when the medical device is mounted on the docking unit to instruct the controller to execute a selected program.

Claims

1. A medical device system comprising:

a portable medical device including a controller programmed to selectively execute at least two programs for controlling at least one operation of the medical device; and

a docking unit on which the medical device can be removably mounted, the docking unit comprising an operator interface for selecting a program from said at least two programs, the docking unit being configured to communicate with the controller of the medical device when the medical device is mounted on the docking unit to instruct the controller to execute the selected program, the controller of the medical device being configured to control the medical device according to the selected program when the medical device is removed from the docking unit;

the docking unit including a plurality of distinct light sources for generating light signals corresponding to the program selected at the operator interface, and the medical device including a plurality of light sensors for detecting the light signals generated by the light sources when the medical device is mounted on the docking unit, the light sensors being in communication with the controller.

2. A medical device system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the docking unit comprises a controller configured to control the activation and deactivation of each of the light sources based on the program selected at the operator interface.

3. A medical device system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the docking unit controller activates a first combination of the light sources corresponding to a first program.

4. A medical device system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the docking unit controller activates a second combination of the light sources, different from the first combination, corresponding to a second program.

5. A medical device system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the portable medical device is a negative pressure unit for use with negative pressure wound therapy, the negative pressure unit including a vacuum pump, and a canister in fluid communication with the vacuum pump for collecting exudates from a wound site, wherein the at least two programs are pump-operating programs for controlling operation of the pump, the negative pressure unit having no operator interface that allows the selected operating program to be deselected or changed.

6. A medical device system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the portable medical device has no operator interface that allows the program selected in the docking unit to be changed or deselected.

7. A docking unit for a portable medical device including a plurality of light sensors in communication with a controller programmed to selectively execute at least two programs for controlling at least one operation of the medical device, the docking unit comprising:

an operator interface for selecting a program from said at least two programs; and

a plurality of distinct light sources for generating light signals corresponding to the program selected at the operator interface, the light signals being detected by the light sensors of the medical device when the medical device is mounted on the docking unit to instruct the controller to execute the selected program.

8. A docking unit as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a docking unit controller configured to control the activation and deactivation of each of the light sources based on the program selected at the operator interface.

9. A docking unit as set forth in claim 8 wherein the docking unit controller activates a first combination of the light sources corresponding to a first program.

10. A medical device system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the docking unit controller activates a second combination of the light sources, different from the first combination, corresponding to a second program.