Resuscitation team mobilization system, device and method

• US 8,538,371 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jade Poh Joseph Chua, Su Kai Oei
• Original Assignee: Jade Poh Joseph Chua, Su Kai Oei
• Inventors: Oei, Su Kai, Chua, Jade Poh Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, NATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/744,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A resuscitation team mobilization system, device and method are disclosed that minimize the delays frequently associated with responding to a resuscitation emergency. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises a control station [50]; a to plurality of responder mobilization devices [30]; and a plurality of responder communication devices [70]. In one preferred embodiment, the responder mobilization device [30] comprises a communications unit [32]; a video camera [48] coupled to the communications unit [32]; and a mobilization activation means [34] coupled to the communications unit [32]. During a resuscitation event, the user actuates the mobilization activation means [34]. In response to the actuation of the mobilization activation means [34], the communications unit [32] contacts the control station [50] to mobilize the resuscitation team. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of detecting a mobilization activation event within the responder mobilization device [30]; and the step of contacting a control station [50] in response to the mobilization activation event.

Claims

1. A system for mobilizing a resuscitation team, said system comprising:

a control station;

a plurality of responder mobilization devices capable of establishing bi-directional communications links with said control station, each responder mobilization device is securely attached on to a mobile resuscitation trolley, each responder mobilization device comprising a communications unit; and

a mobilization activation means coupled to said communications unit; and

a plurality of responder communication devices capable of establishing bi-directional communications links with said control station,

wherein said mobilization activation means is actuable by a user to activate the mobilization of said resuscitation team,

wherein said communications unit, in response to the actuation of said mobilization activation means, contacts a control station to mobilize said resuscitation team,

wherein each responder communication device is carried by a resuscitation team member,

wherein said control station mobilizes said resuscitation team by communicating mobilization notification messages to said plurality of responder communication devices,

wherein said control station comprises a computer system, said computer system is operable by a human operator, said computer system comprising;

a control unit, said control unit comprising a processor, and a memory coupled to said processor, said memory for storing data and programs;

a input device coupled to said control unit;

a user interface coupled to said control unit; and

a communications interface coupled to said control unit,

wherein said communications interface is capable of establishing communication links with said plurality of responder mobilization devices and said plurality of responder communication devices, and

wherein said computer system is capable of receiving, interpreting, validating, and storing all the messages received from, and for generating messages for transmission to, said plurality of responder communication devices and plurality of responder mobilization devices.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications unit of said responder mobilization device comprises:

a control unit, said control unit comprising a processor, and a memory coupled to said processor, said memory for storing data, selected messages and programs;

a transceiver coupled to said control unit;

a speaker means coupled to control unit;

a microphone means coupled to said control unit;

a display means coupled to said control unit; and

an input means coupled to said control unit.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said responder mobilization device further comprises:

a video camera coupled to said communications unit.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said responder mobilization device contacts said control station by establishing a bi-directional communications link with said control station, said bi-directional communications link is capable of communicating audio, video and data signals.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said responder mobilization device contacts said control station by establishing a bi-directional communications link with said control station, and by transmitting a selected message to said control station, and wherein said selected message is processed and interpreted by said control station to provide information regarding the parking location of the resuscitation trolley.

6. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said mobilization activation means comprises one of a button switch and a pull-cord switch.

7. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said responder mobilization device further comprises:

an attendance checking means coupled to said communications unit, said attendance checking means for reading the unique identifier tag carried by each member of said resuscitation team, wherein said attendance checking means after reading said unique identifier tag, sends said tag'"'"'s unique identifier information to said communications unit for transmission to said control station.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said attendance checking means is a tag reader, said tag reader comprising one of a bar code reader and a radio-frequency identification device reader.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said responder communication device is wearable by a member of said resuscitation team.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said responder communication devices are portable information devices comprising cellular phones, a two-way pagers and wireless personal digital assistants.

22. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications unit comprises:

a control unit, said control unit comprising a processor, a memory means coupled to said processor, programs stored on said memory, and data;

a transceiver coupled to said control unit, said transceiver having a unique code, said transceiver capable of establishing a bi-directional communications link with said control station.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein actuation of said mobilization activation means by a user activates said device and causes said control unit to generate a mobilization activation message and to send said message to said transceiver, said mobilization activation message comprising said unique code, wherein said transceiver transmits said mobilization activation message to said control station, and wherein said control station upon receipt of said mobilization activation message, processes and interprets said mobilization activation message, and mobilizes said resuscitation team.

24. The system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said responder mobilization device further comprises a mobilization cancellation means coupled to said control unit,

wherein said mobilization cancellation means is operable to generate a mobilization cancellation message, said mobilization cancellation message indicating cancellation of the mobilization activation, wherein said transceiver transmits said mobilization cancellation message to said control station, and wherein said control station upon receipt of said mobilization cancellation message, processes and interprets said mobilization cancellation message, and notifies said resuscitation team of the cancellation of the mobilization.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said responder mobilization device further comprises:

an attendance checking means coupled to said control unit, said attendance checking means for reading a unique identifier tag carried by each resuscitation team member, wherein said attendance checking means after reading said unique identifier tag, sends said tag'"'"'s unique identifier information to said transceiver for transmission to said control station.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said attendance checking means is a tag reader, said tag reader comprising one of a bar code reader and a radio-frequency identification device reader.

27. The system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said mobilization activation means is a switch.

28. The system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said mobilization activation means is an acceleratometer.

29. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said programs comprises software for generating a mobilization notification messages.

30. The system as claimed in claim 29, wherein said software programs further comprises:

software for processing and interpreting the unique identifier information from each unique identifier tag;

software for determining and recording the response times for each resuscitation team member;

software for identifying which member of the resuscitation team has not responded; and

software for determining the need to mobilize an alternate resuscitation member.

11. A responder mobilization device for mobilizing a resuscitation team, said device comprising:

a communications unit;

a video camera coupled to said communication unit;

and a mobilization activation means coupled to said communications unit, wherein

said mobilization activation means is actuable by a user to initiate the mobilization of said resuscitation team,

wherein said communications unit, in response to the actuation of said mobilization activation means, contacts a control station to mobilize said resuscitation team, and

wherein said communications unit comprises;

a control unit, said control unit comprising a processor, and a memory coupled to said processor, said memory for storing data, selected messages and programs;

a transceiver coupled to said control unit;

a speaker means coupled to control unit;

a microphone means coupled to said control unit;

a display means coupled to said control unit; and

an input means coupled to said control unit.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said device contacts said control station by establishing a bi-directional communications link with said control station, said bi-directional communications link is capable of communicating audio, video and data signals.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said device contacts said control station by establishing a bi-directional communications link with said control station, and by transmitting a selected message to said control station, and wherein said selected message is processed and interpreted by said control station to provide information regarding the parking location of the resuscitation trolley.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said mobilization activation means comprises one of a button switch and a pull-cord switch.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein said responder mobilization device further comprises:

an attendance checking means coupled to said communications unit, said attendance checking means functions for reading the unique identifier tag carried by each resuscitation team member, and wherein said attendance checking means after reading said unique identifier tag, sends the unique identifier information to said communications unit for transmission to said control station.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said attendance checking means is a tag reader, said tag reader comprising one of a bar code reader and a radio-frequency identification device reader.

31. The device of claim 11, wherein said communications unit comprises:

a control unit, said control unit comprising a processor, a memory means coupled to said processor, programs stored on said memory, and data; and

a transceiver coupled to said control unit, said transceiver having a unique code.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein said mobilization activation means when actuated by a user activates said device and causes the transceiver to establish a bi-directional communications link with a control station, wherein said mobilization activation means when actuated further causes said control unit to generate a mobilization activation message, and to send said message to said transceiver, said mobilization activation message comprising the unique code information, wherein said transceiver transmits said mobilization activation message to said control station, and wherein said control station receives, processes and interprets said mobilization activation message and mobilizes said resuscitation team.

33. The device of claim 32, further comprising:

an input means coupled to said control unit, said input means for entering data; and

a display means coupled to said control unit, said display means for displaying data and messages.

34. The device of claim 33, further comprising:

an mobilization cancellation means coupled to said control unit, said mobilization cancellation means operable to generate a mobilization cancellation message, said mobilization cancellation message indicating cancellation of the mobilization activation,

wherein said transceiver transmits said mobilization cancellation message to said control station, and wherein said control station upon receipt of said mobilization cancellation message, processes and interprets said mobilization cancellation message, and notifies said resuscitation team of the cancellation of the mobilization.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein said device further comprises:

an attendance checking means coupled to said control unit, said attendance checking means for reading a unique identifier tag carried by each resuscitation team member, wherein said attendance checking means after reading said unique identifier tag, sends said tag'"'"'s unique identifier information to said control unit, and said control unit sends said unique identifier information to said transceiver for transmission to said control station, and wherein said control station processes and interprets said unique identifier information to determine the attendance status of each member of the team.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein said attendance checking means is a tag reader, said tag reader comprising one of a bar code reader and a radio-frequency identification device reader.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein said mobilization cancellation means is a switch.

38. The device of claim 35, further comprising:

a speaker means coupled to said control unit; and

a microphone means coupled to said control unit.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein said bi-directional communications link is capable of video, audio and data transmission.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein said device establishes said bi-directional communications link with said control station through a communications network, said communications network having a wireless segment and a hardwired segment.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein said display means is an LCD display screen.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein said mobilization activation means is an accelerometer, said accelerometer for detecting rapid acceleration of the medical resuscitation trolley, said accelerometer generates a mobilization activation message when a rapid acceleration is recorded by said accelerometer.

43. The device of claim 41, wherein said mobilization activation means is a switch.

17. A method for mobilizing a resuscitation team using a mobile resuscitation trolley mounted responder mobilization device, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting an mobilization activation event within said responder mobilization device; and

contacting a control station in response to said mobilization activation event, said control station having a computer system operable by said human operator, wherein the step of detecting a mobilization activation event includes detecting the actuation of the mobilization activation means of said responder mobilization device, and wherein said step of contacting said control station comprises the step of;

establishing a bi-directional communications link between said responder mobilization device and said control station, said bi-directional communications link is capable of communicating audio, video and data signals.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of contacting said control station further comprises the step of:

transmitting a selected message from said responder mobilization device to said control station.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving and processing said selected message at said control station;

displaying said selected message in a convenient format for use by said human operator at said control station; and

initiating a contact sequence by which the resuscitation team members are mobilized.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

reading the unique identifier tag carried by each resuscitation team member; and

transmitting unique identifier information to said control station.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

processing the unique identifier information at said control station;

identifying the resuscitation team members who have responded within an allowed time period;

determining the resuscitation team members who have not responded within an allowed response time period; and

generating and transmitting mobilization notification messages from said control station to an alternate resuscitation team member'"'"'s responder communication device.

44. The method of claim 17, in which contacting said control station includes establishing a communications link with said control station, and generating and sending the mobilization activation message to said control station.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said mobilization activation message comprises:

the transceiver'"'"'s unique code information.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

receiving and processing said mobilization activation message at said control station to provide information regarding the parking location of the resuscitation trolley; and

notifying the resuscitation team members.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said step of notifying comprises the step of initiating a contact sequence by which said resuscitation team members are mobilized.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said step of notifying further comprises the step of generating and transmitting mobilization notification messages from said control station to said plurality of responder communication devices.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

reading the unique identifier tag carried by each resuscitation team member; and

transmitting said tag'"'"'s unique identifier information to said control station.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising the steps of:

processing said tag'"'"'s unique identifier information at said control station;

identifying resuscitation team members who have not responded within an allowed time period; and

generating and transmitting mobilization notification messages from said control station to said alternate resuscitation team member'"'"'s responder communication device.