Systems and methods for enabling wireless functionality in electronic devices

• US 8,571,491 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Heitmeier, Rolf, Viehmann, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US13/357,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20130189933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.1, 455/127.1, 320/108, 340/5.61
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Modules, systems, and methods for enabling wireless functionality in electronic devices are disclosed. A module comprises a housing, a plurality of module terminals, a wireless transmitter, a first electronic component, and a power source. The housing is sized to be removably inserted in a power source receptacle of the electronic device. The plurality of module terminals contact a corresponding plurality of device terminals of the electronic device. The first electronic component is operable to receive outbound device data from the electronic device via the module terminal and transmit the outbound device data using the wireless transmitter. The power source is operable to provide power to the electronic device. The method comprises inserting a module in the power source receptacle of the electronic device, receiving outbound device data from the electronic device, and transmitting the outbound device data using the wireless transmitter.

Claims

1. A module for enabling wireless functionality in an electronic device, the module comprising:

a housing sized to be removably inserted in a power source receptacle of the electronic device;

a plurality of module terminals supported by the housing to contact a corresponding plurality of device terminals of the electronic device when the housing is received within the power source receptacle;

a wireless transmitter supported by the housing;

a first electronic component accommodated within the housing and associated with the wireless transmitter, the first electronic component in communication with a first of the plurality of module terminals and operable to receive outbound device data from the electronic device via the first module terminal and transmit the outbound device data using the wireless transmitter; and

a power source accommodated within the housing, the power source in communication with a second of the plurality of module terminals and operable to provide power to the electronic device when the housing is received within the power source receptacle.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the power source further provides power to the first electronic component.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein

the wireless transmitter comprises a wireless transceiver;

and

the first electronic component is operable to receive inbound device data using the wireless transceiver and transmit the inbound device data to the electronic device via the first module terminal.

4. The module of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter is a wireless local area network transceiver.

5. The module of claim 1, further comprising:

a second electronic component associated with the power source, the second electronic component in communication with the first module terminal and operable to receive power source data from the electronic device via the first module terminal and control the operation of the power source based on the power source data.

6. The module of claim 5, wherein the first and second electronic components are operable to receive the device data and the power source data in serial communications from the electronic device via the first module terminal.

7. The module of claim 6, wherein the second electronic component is programmed to determine whether data received from the electronic device is the power source data or the outbound device data.

8. A system for wirelessly communicating data comprising:

the module of claim 1; and

the electronic device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic device comprises an infusion device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein

the outbound device data received by the first electronic component from the infusion device represents infusion parameters for at least one patient of the infusion device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein

the first electronic component is operable to receive inbound device data using the wireless transceiver and transmit the inbound device data to the infusion device via the first module terminal, the received inbound device data representing an infusion parameter library for the infusion device.

12. A method for enabling wireless functionality in an electronic device, the method comprising:

inserting a module in a power source receptacle of the electronic device such that a plurality of module terminals of the module contact a corresponding plurality of device terminals of the electronic device;

providing power to the electronic device with a power source of the module via a second of the plurality of module terminals;

receiving outbound device data from the electronic device with a first electronic component of the module via a first of the plurality of module terminals; and

transmitting the outbound device data using a wireless transmitter of the module.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of

providing power to the first electronic component with the power source.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of

receiving inbound device data using a wireless receiver of the module;

and

transmitting the inbound device data to the electronic device with the first electronic component via the first module terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting and receiving steps respectively comprise transmitting the outbound device data to and receiving the inbound device data from a remotely located device within a wireless local area network.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of

receiving power source data from the electronic device with a second electronic component of the module via the first module terminal;

and

controlling the operation of the power source with the second electronic component based on the power source data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the steps of receiving the outbound device data and the power source data with the first and second electronic devices, respectively, comprise receiving the data in serial communications from the electronic device via the first module terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

determining whether data received from the electronic device is the power source data or the outbound device data.