Modular medical care system

• US 8,312,877 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Elaz, Joseph, Kelly, Clifford Mark, Scholz, Wolfgang, Cavallaro, Samuel, Krüger, Thomas, Landowski, Christoph, Doering, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrup, Clinton T
• Application Number:
  US11/961,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20080110460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/203.12, 128/202.27
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A modular medical care system, housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, includes a plurality of different modules including: (a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient; and (b) a patient treatment module for delivering treatment to the patient. A processor processes signals derived from the plurality of different modules. A communication interface provides bidirectional communication between the processor and the plurality of different modules via a network.

Claims

1. A transportable breathing support equipment system, comprising:

a device for providing a flow of breathable gas;

a ventilator operatively coupled to the device and using said flow of breathable gas to support patient breathing during transportation;

at least one battery for supplying power to said device and said ventilator during transportation; and

a central unit comprising a plurality of docking connectors for connecting the central unit with the ventilator and for connecting the central unit with at least one of a plurality of different modules selected from a group consisting of;

a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient,

a module supporting delivery of anesthesia to a patient, and

a module supporting infusion pump control;

wherein the at least one of a plurality of different modules are interchangeably connectable between the plurality of docking connectors.

2. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a central processor in the central unit; and

a ventilator module for controlling the ventilator,

wherein the ventilator module is coupled to the central processor.

3. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 2, wherein the ventilator module is coupled to the central processor by a network.

4. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 2, wherein the central processor is connected to the at least one of a plurality of different modules by a network.

5. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 2, further comprising:

a display device coupled to the central processor.

6. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 5, wherein the display device displays data received from the at least one of a plurality of different modules.

7. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 6, wherein the data received from the at least one of a plurality of different modules includes at least one of, settings of the at least one of a plurality of different modules, data representative of a respiration loop, and data representative of a fluid drip rate.

8. A transportable breathing support equipment system, comprising:

a ventilator device configured to regulate a flow of breathable gas from a source of breathable gas to a patient;

a ventilator module operably coupled with the ventilator device, the ventilator module being configured to control operation of the ventilator device;

at least one battery configured to supply power to said ventilator device and to said ventilator module during transportation; and

a central unit comprising a plurality of docking connectors for connecting the central unit with the ventilator module and for connecting the central unit with at least one of a plurality of different modules selected from a group consisting of;

a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient,

a module supporting delivery of anesthesia to a patient, and

a module supporting infusion pump control;

wherein the at least one of a plurality of different modules are interchangeably connectable between the plurality of docking connectors.

9. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 8, further comprising a central processor in the central unit, said ventilator module being coupled to the central processor.

10. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 9, wherein the ventilator module is coupled to the central processor by a network.

11. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 9, wherein the central processor is connected to the at least one of a plurality of different modules by a network.

12. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 9, further comprising a display device coupled to the central processor.

13. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 12, wherein the display device displays data received from the at least one of a plurality of different modules.

14. The transportable breathing support equipment system of claim 13, wherein the data received from the at least one of a plurality of different modules includes at least one of, settings of the at least one of a plurality of different modules, data representative of a respiration loop, and data representative of a fluid drip rate.