Protocol converter for wireless patient monitoring

• US 8,312,174 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Espina Perez, Javier, Falck, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hua
• Application Number:
  US12/522,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring 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 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless device for medical data transmission that comprises a wireless interface, a processor, and a medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to an item of medical equipment. The processor is arranged to communicate with the medical equipment interface and the wireless interface, and is also 5 arranged to perform a protocol adaptation. The protocol adaptation takes place from a protocol of incoming data received at the medical equipment interface to a protocol of data to be transmitted through the wireless interface, or vice versa. The protocol adaptation comprises individual or combined filtering, gathering, partitioning, prioritizing, or discarding the incoming data. The processor is further arranged to read a configuration file containing an 10 adaptation specification that pertains to the protocol adaptation; and to perform the protocol adaptation in compliance with the adaptation specification. The invention also relates to a method for setting up the wireless device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for wireless medical data transmission between first and second items of medical equipment which are configured to communicate with each other non-wirelessly with a first communication protocol, the system comprising:

a first wireless device including;

a first medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to the first item of medical equipment;

a first wireless interface;

one or more first processors programmed to perform a protocol adaptation from at least one of;

the first communications protocol of incoming data received at the first medical equipment interface to a second communications protocol of data to be wirelessly transmitted by said first wireless interface, and,

the second communications protocol of incoming data received at the first wireless interface and the first communications protocol of data to be transmitted through the first medical equipment interface to the first item of medical equipment; and

,

a second wireless device including;

a second medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to the second item of medical equipment;

a second wireless interface which wirelessly communications with the first wireless interface using the second communications protocol;

one or more second processors programmed to perform a protocol adaptation from at least one of;

the second communication protocol of incoming data received at the second wireless interface and the first communication protocol of data to be transmitted through the second medical equipment interface,

the first communication protocol of incoming data received at the second medical equipment interface to the second communication protocol of data to be transmitted through said second wireless interface, and,

said protocol adaptations comprising individual or combined filtering, gathering, partitioning, prioritizing, or discarding said incoming data;

wherein said first wireless device and said second wireless device communicate through their respective wireless interfaces;

wherein the first and second wireless devices further include;

first and second parameter memories configured to store a configuration file containing an adaptation specification pertaining to the protocol adaptation;

wherein said one or more first and second processors are further programmed to;

in a configuration state, receive the configuration file via one of the medical equipment interface and the wireless interface and load the configuration file in the parameter memory;

read the configuration file containing the adaptation specification that pertains to said protocol adaptation; and

perform said protocol adaptation in compliance with said adaptation specification;

wherein said configuration file describes said protocol adaptation by defining at least one mapping between a data pattern at said medical equipment interfaces and a data pattern at said wireless interfaces, said mapping comprising a transformation rule defining a transformation from said data pattern at said medical equipment interfaces to said data at said wireless interfaces or vice versa.

2. Wireless communication system for wireless medical data transmission between first and second items of medical equipment which are configured to communicate with each other non-wirelessly with a first communication protocol, the system comprising:

a first wireless device including;

a first medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to the first item of medical equipment;

a first wireless interface;

one or more first processors programmed to perform a protocol adaptation from at least one of;

the first communications protocol of incoming data received at the first medical equipment interface to a second communications protocol of data to be wirelessly transmitted by said first wireless interface, and,

the second communications protocol of incoming data received at the first wireless interface and the first communications protocol of data to be transmitted through the first medical equipment interface to the first item of medical equipment; and

,

a second wireless device including;

a second medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to the second item of medical equipment;

a second wireless interface which wirelessly communications with the first wireless interface using the second communications protocol;

one or more second processors programmed to perform a protocol adaptation from at least one of;

the second communication protocol of incoming data received at the second wireless interface and the first communication protocol of data to be transmitted through the second medical equipment interface,

the first communication protocol of incoming data received at the second medical equipment interface to the second communication protocol of data to be transmitted through said second wireless interface, and,

said protocol adaptations comprising individual or combined filtering, gathering, partitioning, prioritizing, or discarding said incoming data;

wherein said first wireless device and said second wireless device communicate through their respective wireless interfaces

wherein the first and second wireless devices further include;

first and second parameter memories configured to store a configuration file containing an adaptation specification pertaining to the protocol adaptation;

wherein said one or more first and second processors are further programmed to;

in a configuration state, receive the configuration file via one of the medical equipment interface and the wireless interface and load the configuration file in the parameter memory;

read the configuration file containing the adaptation specification that pertains to said protocol adaptation; and

perform said protocol adaptation in compliance with said adaptation specification;

wherein said one or more first processors are further programmed to;

analyze data frames of the incoming data received on the first medical equipment interface for sections that indicate a possible data reduction to reduce bandwidth; and

reduce bandwidth by;

delaying transmission of low priority data,

determining high priority data and expediting transmission of the high priority data,

dropping irrelevant and redundant data,

combining similar data,

compressing data, and

transmitting a difference or variation with respect to a preceding value of the received data.

3. A wireless communication system for wireless medical data transmission between first and second items of medical equipment which are configured to communicate with each other non-wirelessly with a first communication protocol, the system comprising:

a first wireless device including;

a first medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to the first item of medical equipment;

a first wireless interface;

one or more first processors programmed to perform a protocol adaptation from at least one of;

the first communications protocol of incoming data received at the first medical equipment interface to a second communications protocol of data to be wirelessly transmitted by said first wireless interface, and,

the second communications protocol of incoming data received at the first wireless interface and the first communications protocol of data to be transmitted through the first medical equipment interface to the first item of medical equipment; and

,

a second wireless device including;

a second medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to the second item of medical equipment;

a second wireless interface which wirelessly communications with the first wireless interface using the second communications protocol;

one or more second processors programmed to perform a protocol adaptation from at least one of;

the second communication protocol of incoming data received at the second wireless interface and the first communication protocol of data to be transmitted through the second medical equipment interface,

the first communication protocol of incoming data received at the second medical equipment interface to the second communication protocol of data to be transmitted through said second wireless interface, and,

said protocol adaptations comprising individual or combined filtering, gathering, partitioning, prioritizing, or discarding said incoming data

wherein said first wireless device and said second wireless device communicate through their respective wireless interfaces;

wherein the one or more first and second processors are further programmed to;

run a generic operating program on said first and second wireless devices;

cause said generic program to read a configuration file from the first and/or second item of medical equipment;

analyze a content of said configuration file;

store said content in first and second memories of the first and second wireless devices, said memory being arranged to be consulted during a definition of said protocol adaptation;

wherein said configuration file describes said protocol adaptation by defining at least one mapping between a data pattern at said medical equipment interfaces and a data pattern at said wireless interfaces, said mapping comprising a transformation rule defining a transformation from said data pattern at said medical equipment interfaces to said data at said wireless interfaces or vice versa.

4. A wireless communication system for wireless medical data transmission between first and second items of medical equipment which are configured to communicate with each other non-wirelessly with a first communication protocol, the system comprising:

a first wireless device including;

a first medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to the first item of medical equipment;

a first wireless interface;

one or more first processors programmed to perform a protocol adaptation from at least one of;

the first communications protocol of incoming data received at the first medical equipment interface to a second communications protocol of data to be wirelessly transmitted by said first wireless interface, and,

the second communications protocol of incoming data received at the first wireless interface and the first communications protocol of data to be transmitted through the first medical equipment interface to the first item of medical equipment; and

,

a second wireless device including;

a second medical equipment interface arranged to provide connection to the second item of medical equipment;

a second wireless interface which wirelessly communications with the first wireless interface using the second communications protocol;

one or more second processors programmed to perform a protocol adaptation from at least one of;

the second communication protocol of incoming data received at the second wireless interface and the first communication protocol of data to be transmitted through the second medical equipment interface,

the first communication protocol of incoming data received at the second medical equipment interface to the second communication protocol of data to be transmitted through said second wireless interface, and,

said protocol adaptations comprising individual or combined filtering, gathering, partitioning, prioritizing, or discarding said incoming data;

wherein said first wireless device and said second wireless device communicate through their respective wireless interfaces;

wherein the first item of medical equipment generates data frames in a first medical equipment format;

wherein the one or more first processors are further programmed to;

receive a configuration file which specifies a protocol for analyzing and reconfiguring first medical equipment format data frames received from the first item of medical equipment into a shortened format for wireless transmission;

store the configuration file protocol in a first wireless device memory,

receive the first medical equipment format data frames from the first medical equipment interface,

analyze and reconfigure the first received medical equipment format data frames in accordance with the configuration file protocol stored in the first wireless device memory into the shortened format data frames, and

control the first wireless interface to wirelessly transmit the shortened format data frames;

wherein the second wireless device includes a second memory, the one or more second processors being programmed to;

receive the configuration file which specifies the protocol for analyzing and reconfiguring the shortened format data frames received from the second wireless interface into a second item of medical equipment format;

store the configuration file protocol in the second memory,

receive the shortened format data frames from the second wireless interface,

analyze and reconfigure the received shortened format data frames in accordance with the configuration file protocol into the second item of medical equipment format, and

control the second medical device interface to send the second item of medical equipment format data frames to the second item of medical equipment via the second medical device interface; and

wherein the one or more first processors are further programmed to;

analyze data frames of the incoming data for sections that indicate a possible data reduction to reduce bandwidth; and

reduce bandwidth by;

delaying transmission of low priority data,

determining high priority data and expediting transmission of the high priority data,

dropping irrelevant and redundant data,

combining similar data,

compressing data, and

transmitting a difference or variation with respect to a preceding value of the received data.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 4 wherein the second processor is further programmed to:

refill the shortened format data frames to reproduce the first item of medical equipment data frames;

split the combined similar data into different channels;

decompress the compressed data;

restore the preceding values by accumulating the differences or variations.