Software update for a medical fluid management device

• US 8,178,040 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Brauer, Helge
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAK, LESLIE R
• Application Number:
  US12/662,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 422 44- 48, 604/5.04, 604/6.09, 604/6.11, 604 65- 67, 210/645, 210/646, 210/781, 210/782, 210/739, 210/741, 210/746, 210/90, 210/102, 210/421, 210/143, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 422/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A medical fluid management apparatus which includes a plurality of processor systems with respectively associated software programs. The fluid management apparatus has a fluid treatment component and/or a fluid source which can be connected to a patient via a fluid line. The processor systems are connected via a data transfer system to a data input apparatus via which an updating of the software programs belonging to the respective processor systems can take place. After actuation of an operating mode switch, a detection system, while taking into account the existing version of the software programs and/or the existing processor systems, determines which software programs have to be loaded via the data input apparatus. The medical fluid management apparatus allows a simple and user-friendly updating of the operating software even with a complex design of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A medical fluid management apparatus comprising:

a) a fluid treatment component and/or a fluid source;

b) a fluid line to transport fluid between a patient and the fluid treatment component and/or the fluid source;

c) at least two processor systems each having its own associated software programs and each having an operating mode in which said processor systems are configured to perform a medical fluid management function within said apparatus, said processor systems line-connected to components of the medical fluid management apparatus to monitor and/or control the fluid treatment and/or fluid transport;

d) a data transfer bus connecting the processor systems;

e) a data input apparatus which is connected to the data transfer bus and via which the software programs belonging to the respective processor systems are updated with externally received software updates;

f) an operating mode switch which is connected to the at least two processor systems and which has a first switch state and a second switch state, said operating mode switch being configured to switch the processor systems into said operating mode in said first switch state and into a software updating mode in said second switch state; and

g) a central detection system which is connected to the operating mode switch and to the data transfer bus, said central detection system, when in the software updating mode, being configured to take into account existing versions of the software programs and/or existing processor systems to determine which of said software updates input via said data input apparatus have to be loaded for which processor systems, and to initiate the loading of these software updates into all the relevant processor systems respectively.

2. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fluid is blood.

3. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the fluid treatment component is a haemodialyser and/or a haemofilter.

4. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the central detection system includes a processor system.

5. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data input apparatus is a reading apparatus for an interchangeable data memory including CDs or DVDs, said interchangeable data memory configured with update software programs available for said medical fluid management apparatus.

6. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data input apparatus is a receiver apparatus or an interface configured to receive externally stored data.

7. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the central detection system includes an apparatus configured to store codes of the existing software programs belonging to the respective processor systems and a configuration thereof, with the codes being version numbers and/or respective version data, said central detection system being configured to compare said codes with update software programs available on said interchangeable data memory to determine whether said update software programs pertain to said processor systems and their particular configuration and, if so, whether said existing software programs are current or need to be updated.

8. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the central detection system includes an apparatus configured to store a code of an existing hardware configuration.

9. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the central detection system includes an apparatus configured to store a code of a preferred language version.

10. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the central detection system is configured to determine which language version of the software programs has to be loaded via the data input apparatus.

11. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein an updating of documentation data belonging to the software programs can take place via the data input apparatus.

12. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the central detection system is configured to determine which language version of the documentation data has to be loaded via the data input apparatus.

13. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display apparatus which is part of a processor system or is directly connected to the data transfer system.

14. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the display apparatus is configured to output information on the loading of said software updates.

15. The medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the display apparatus is configured to display a confirmation query with respect to loading procedures of individual processor systems and wherein the medical fluid management apparatus furthermore includes a confirmation device that is part of a processor system or directly connected to the data transfer bus with which the loading procedures have to be confirmed by a user before loading.

16. The medical fluid management apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor systems are line-connected to said components of the medical fluid management apparatus by said data transfer bus.

17. The fluid management apparatus of claim 1 wherein said operating mode switch is a software switch.

18. A medical fluid management apparatus comprising:

a) a plurality of functional modules within said apparatus that include a fluid treatment component and/or a fluid source;

b) a fluid line to transport fluid between a patient and the fluid treatment component and/or the fluid source;

c) a plurality of processor systems each having its own associated software programs and an operating mode that pertains to operation of one or more of said plurality of functional modules, said processor systems line-connected to one or more of said plurality of functional modules;

d) a data transfer bus connecting the processor systems;

e) a data input apparatus which is connected to the data transfer bus and which is configured to receive software updates for the software programs belonging to the respective processor systems of said medical fluid management apparatus functional modules;

f) an operating mode switch which is connected with the processor systems and which has a first switch state and a second switch state, said operating mode switch being configured to switch the processor systems into said operating mode in said first switch state and into a software updating mode in said second switch state; and

g) a detection system within each processor system and connected with the data transfer bus, said detection system, when in the software updating mode, being configured to compare existing versions of the software programs and/or its existing processor systems with software updates received by said data input apparatus to determine which of said software updates input via said data input apparatus have to be loaded for its processor system, and to initiate the loading of these software updates into its processor system.

19. The modular medical fluid management apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein said apparatus has a modular design with a flexibly adaptable hardware configuration, said detection system being configured to take said hardware configuration into account when comparing existing software program versions with said software updates received by said data input apparatus.

20. The modular medical fluid management apparatus of claim 18 wherein said processor systems are line-connected to said one or more of said plurality of functional modules by said data transfer bus.

21. The fluid management apparatus of claim 18 wherein said operating mode switch is a software switch.

22. The modular medical fluid management apparatus of claim 18 wherein said data input apparatus includes an interchangeable data memory for storing said software updates.

23. A medical fluid management apparatus comprising:

a) a fluid treatment component and/or a fluid source;

b) a fluid line to transport fluid between a patient and the fluid treatment component and/or the fluid source;

c) at least two processor systems each having its own associated software programs and each having an operating mode in which said processor systems are configured to perform a medical fluid management function within said apparatus, said processor systems line-connected to components of the medical fluid management apparatus to monitor and/or control the fluid treatment and/or fluid transport;

d) a data transfer bus connecting the processor systems, wherein said data transfer bus is a CAN bus;

e) a data input apparatus which is connected to the data transfer bus and via which the software programs belonging to the respective processor systems are updated with externally received software updates;

f) an operating mode switch which is connected to the at least two processor systems and which has a first switch state and a second switch state, said operating mode switch being configured to switch the processor systems into said operating mode in said first switch state and into a software updating mode in said second switch state; and

g) a central detection system which is connected to the operating mode switch and to the data transfer bus, said central detection system, when in the software updating mode, being configured to take into account existing versions of the software programs and/or existing processor systems to determine which of said software updates input via said data input apparatus have to he loaded for which processor systems, and to initiate the loading of these software updates into all the relevant processor systems respectively.

24. A medical fluid management apparatus comprising:

a) a plurality of functional modules within said apparatus that include a fluid treatment component and/or a fluid source;

b) a fluid line to transport fluid between a patient and the fluid treatment component and/or the fluid source;

c) a plurality of processor systems each having its own associated software programs and an operating mode that pertains to operation of one or more of said plurality of functional modules, said processor systems line-connected to one or more of said plurality of functional modules;

d) a data transfer bus connecting the processor systems, wherein said data transfer bus is a CAN bus;

e) a data input apparatus which is connected to the data transfer bus and which is configured to receive software updates for the software programs belonging to the respective processor systems of said medical fluid management apparatus functional modules;

f) an operating mode switch which is connected with the processor systems and which has a first switch state and a second switch state, said operating mode switch being configured to switch the processor systems into said operating mode in said first switch state and into a software updating mode in said second switch state; and

g) a detection system within each processor system and connected with the data transfer bus, said detection system, when in the software updating mode, being configured to compare existing versions of the software programs and/or its existing processor systems with software updates received by said data input apparatus to determine which of said software updates input via said data input apparatus have to be loaded for its processor system, and to initiate the loading of these software updates into its processor system.