System for intelligent medical device network

• US 8,639,524 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neal Solomon
• Original Assignee: Neal Solomon
• Inventors: Solomon, Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Phongsvirajati, Sind
• Assistant Examiner(s): GO, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US12/462,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 600/300
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 5/00 ICT specially adapted for modelling or simulations in systems biology, e.g. gene-regulatory networks, protein interaction networks or metabolic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/00 ICT programming tools or database systems specially adapted for bioinformatics
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/20 Heterogeneous data integration
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

The system organizes a network of intelligent medical devices (iMDs) for diagnostic and therapeutic functions. The iMD network uses distributed computing functionality to share logic and memory operations. The system uses wires and tubes to connect (a) iMDs between each other, (b) iMDs and sensor probes and (c) internal iMDs and external devices, including computers. The ability to network the iMDs expands the functionality between the iMDs. The iMDs share specialized functions, and multitask, to solve complex medical problems.

Claims

1. A system for organizing modular medical devices in a network, comprising:

a plurality of medical devices configured in a network, including a central medical device and at least one satellite medical device;

wherein the central medical device comprises modules including at least one diagnostic module, at least one analytical module, and at least one therapeutic module,

wherein the at least one satellite medical device also includes at least one diagnostic, analytical or therapeutic module,

a set of electrical interconnects configured to connect the central medical device, the modules and the at least one satellite medical devices;

a set of fluid interconnects configured to facilitate the transfer of biological or chemical fluids between the central medical device, the modules and the at least one satellite medical devices;

wherein the central medical device controls the at least one satellite medical devices in the network utilizing a system on a chip (SoC),

wherein the at least one diagnostic module includes a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) apparatus,

wherein the at least one diagnostic module receives cell, gene, protein or RNA samples utilizing the LOC apparatus, extracts data from the samples and forwards the extracted sample data to the at least one analytical module,

wherein the at least one analytical module is configured to identify a pathology and build a remedial model based on the extracted sample data, and

wherein the at least one satellite medical device forwards the extracted sample data, the identified pathology and the remedial model to the central medical device.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the functions of the at least one analytical module are carried out jointly between the central medical device and the at least one satellite medical device.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein the received samples are forwarded to the at least one diagnostic module of the central medical device or to the at least one diagnostic module of the at least one satellite medical device.

4. The system of claim 1,

wherein the functions of the at least one analytical module are performed by the central medical device.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein at least two pathologies are identified by at least two analytical modules of the central medical device and the at least one satellite medical device simultaneously.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the at least one therapeutic module obtains refills of chemicals and biologicals from the at least one satellite medical device via the set of fluid interconnects.

7. A system for organizing modular medical devices in a network, comprising:

a plurality of medical devices configured in a network, including a central medical device and at least one satellite medical device;

at least one external computer,

wherein the central medical device comprises modules including at least one diagnostic module and at least one therapeutic module,

wherein the at least one satellite medical device also includes at least one diagnostic or therapeutic module,

wherein the at least one external computer includes at least one analytical module;

a set of electrical interconnects configured to connect the central medical device, the modules and the at least one satellite medical device;

a set of radio frequency transceivers configured to wirelessly transmit and receive data between the central medical device, the modules, the at least one satellite medical device and the at least one external computer;

a set of fluid interconnects configured to facilitate the transfer of biological or chemical fluids between the central medical device, the modules and the at least one satellite medical device,

wherein the at least one central medical device is configured to control the at least one satellite medical device in the network utilizing a system on a chip (SoC),

wherein the at least one diagnostic module includes a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) apparatus,

wherein the at least one diagnostic module receives cell, gene, protein or RNA samples utilizing the LOC apparatus, extracts data from the samples and forwards the extracted sample data to the at least one analytical module stored in the external computer,

wherein the at least one analytical module identifies a pathology and builds a remedial model based on the extracted data and forwards the remedial model to the at least one therapeutic module, and

wherein the at least one therapeutic module combines chemicals and biologicals based on the remedial model and administers the combination to a patient.

8. The system of claim 7,

wherein the at least one diagnostic module transmits received samples to at least one other diagnostic module via the set of fluid interconnects.

9. The system of claim 7,

wherein the extracted sample data are transmitted from at least two diagnostic modules to the at least one external computer.

10. The system of claim 7,

wherein the at least one therapeutic module transmits chemical or biological fluids to at least one other therapeutic module via the set of fluid interconnects.

11. The system of claim 7,

wherein at least two diagnostic modules receive samples simultaneously.

12. The system of claim 7,

wherein at least one therapeutic module obtains refills of chemicals and biologicals from the at least one satellite medical device via the set of fluid interconnects.

13. A system for organizing modular medical devices in a network, comprising:

a plurality of medical devices configured in a network, including a central medical device and at least one satellite medical device,

wherein the central medical device comprises modules including at least one diagnostic module, at least one analytical module and at least one therapeutic module,

wherein the at least one satellite medical device also includes at least one diagnostic, analytical or therapeutic module,

wherein the central medical device, the modules and the at least one satellite medical device are connected via a set of electrical interconnects or a set of radio frequency transceivers;

a set of fluid interconnects configured to facilitate the transfer of biological or chemical fluids between the central medical device, the modules and the at least one satellite medical device,

wherein the at least one central medical device is configured to control the at least one satellite medical devices in the network utilizing a system on a chip (SoC),

wherein the at least one diagnostic module includes a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) apparatus,

wherein the at least one diagnostic module receives cell, gene, protein or RNA samples utilizing the LOC apparatus, extracts data from the samples and forwards the extracted sample data to the at least one analytical module,

wherein the at least one analytical module identifies a pathology and builds a remedial model based on the extracted sample data and forwards the remedial model to the at least one therapeutic module, and

wherein the at least one therapeutic module in the medical device network combines chemicals and biologicals based on the remedial model and administers the combination to a patient.

14. The system of claim 13,

wherein at least two LOC apparatuses receive samples and extract sample data.

15. The system of claim 13,

wherein the extracted sample data are transmitted between at least two diagnostic modules wirelessly via the set of radio frequency transceivers.

16. The system of claim 13,

wherein the at least one therapeutic module transmits chemical or biological fluids to at least one other therapeutic module via the set of fluid interconnects.

17. The system of claim 13,

wherein at least two diagnostic modules in the medical device network receive samples simultaneously.

18. The system of claim 13,

wherein at least one therapeutic module obtains refills of chemicals and biologicals from the at least one satellite medical device via the set of fluid interconnects.

19. The system of claim 13,

wherein the at least one diagnostic module transmits received samples to at least one other diagnostic module via the set of fluid interconnects.