Remote control of dialysis machines

• US 9,178,891 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Wang, Aiyuan, Crnkovich, Martin Joseph, Wang, Fei, Lee, Sue-Jane, Yuds, David, Leung, Hak Kan, Tarn, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US14/288,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20140289812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1601 Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

This disclosure relates to remote control of dialysis machines. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine and establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine. The method also includes receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine, authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine, receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, and providing, to the client device, the received information.

Claims

1. A method performed by a data processor, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine;

establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine;

establishing a proxy for the dialysis machine;

receiving a designation of a level of access among a plurality of levels of access to the dialysis machine granted to the data processor;

receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine;

authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine based on an identity of one or both of the client device and a user of the client device;

receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine; and

providing, from the proxy, to the client device, the received information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the client device, instructions for the dialysis machine; and

providing, to the dialysis machine, the received instructions.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a connection from a second dialysis machine;

establishing a proxy for the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from a second client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;

authorizing the second client device to access the second dialysis machine based on an identity of one or both of the second client device and a user of the second client device;

receiving, from the second dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the second dialysis machine;

providing, to the second client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from the second client device, instructions for the second dialysis machine; and

providing, to the second dialysis machine, the received instructions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the proxy is a proxy port for communication with the dialysis machine.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the client device and the second client device are the same device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing the client device comprises using an access control list stored on the data processor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the access control list is configured to allow updating of a set of client devices that are authorized to access the dialysis machine by updating, at the data processor, the access control list stored on the data processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data processor is at a remote location from the dialysis machine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data processor is at a clinic.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the dialysis machine is at a home of a patient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device and the data processor are the same device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine comprises receiving a user login and password from the client device.

13. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, from a third client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;

authorizing the third client device to access the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from the second dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the second dialysis machine;

providing, to the third client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine

receiving, from the third client device, instructions for the second dialysis machine; and

providing, to the second dialysis machine, the received instructions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the instructions received from the second client device for the second dialysis machine have a priority over the instructions received from the third client device for the second dialysis machine.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, when there is a conflict between the instructions received from the second client device for the second dialysis machine and the instructions received from the third client device for the second dialysis machine, the instructions received from the second client device are executed by the second dialysis machine, and the instructions received from the third client device are not executed by the second dialysis machine.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the level of access comprises authority to monitor the dialysis machine.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the level of access comprises authority to control and monitor the dialysis machine.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the proxy is a proxy server.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the received instructions are relayed through the proxy.

20. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

creating a virtual control interface for the dialysis machine; and

providing, from the proxy, to the client device, the virtual control interface, wherein the instructions for the dialysis machine are received from the client device through the virtual control interface.

21. A method performed on a data processor of a dialysis machine, the method comprising:

sending a request, to a server, to establish a network connection with the server;

receiving an access request from the server, the access request requesting access to the dialysis machine by the server;

providing a response to the access request;

establishing a proxy for the dialysis machine;

receiving a designation of a level of access among a plurality of levels of access to the dialysis machine granted to the server;

authorizing a client device to access the dialysis machine based on an identity of one or both of the client device and a user of the client device;

providing data to the server comprising information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, wherein the information is provided from the proxy to the client device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving instructions from the server; and

executing the received instructions.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the dialysis machine is at a remote location from the server.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the proxy is a proxy port for communication with the dialysis machine.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the proxy is a proxy server.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the instructions are relayed through the proxy.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein

a virtual control interface is created for the dialysis machine,

the virtual control interface is provided, from the proxy, to the client device, and

the instructions are received from the client device through the virtual control interface.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the level of access comprises authority to monitor the dialysis machine.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the level of access comprises authority to control and monitor the dialysis machine.

30. A system comprising:

a server;

a dialysis machine configured to connect to the server through a network, wherein a proxy is established for the dialysis machine; and

a client device configured to connect to the server through the network,

wherein the server is configured to

receive a designation of a level of access among a plurality of levels of access to the dialysis machine granted to the server,

authorize the client device to access the dialysis machine based on an identity of one or both of the client device and a user of the client device, and

provide a connection for transfer of data between the dialysis machine and the client device through the proxy.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the server is configured for:

receiving a request for a network connection from the dialysis machine;

establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine;

receiving, from the client device, a request to access the dialysis machine;

receiving a designation of a level of access among a plurality of levels of access to the dialysis machine granted to the client device;

receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine; and

providing, from the proxy, to the client device, the received information.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the server is further configured for:

receiving, from the client device, instructions for the dialysis machine; and

providing, to the dialysis machine, the received instructions.

33. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a second dialysis machine; and

a second server,

wherein the server is further configured for;

receiving a connection from the second dialysis machine;

establishing a proxy for the second dialysis machine;

receiving, from a second client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;

authorizing the second client device to access the second dialysis machine based on an identity of one or both of the second client device and a user of the second client device;

receiving, from the second dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the second dialysis machine; and

providing, to the second client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the proxy is a proxy port for communication with the dialysis machine.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the client device and the second client device are the same device.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein authorizing the client device comprises using an access control list maintained on the server, and the access control list is configured to allow updating of a set of client devices that are authorized to access the dialysis machine by updating, at the server, the access control list.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the server is at a remote location from the dialysis machine.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the server is at a clinic.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the dialysis machine is at a home of a patient.

40. The system of claim 30, wherein the proxy is a proxy server.

41. The system of claim 32, wherein the received instructions are relayed through the proxy.

42. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

creating a virtual control interface for the dialysis machine; and

providing, from the proxy, to the client device, the virtual control interface,

wherein the instructions are received from the client device through the virtual control interface.

43. The system of claim 30, wherein the level of access comprises authority to monitor the dialysis machine.

44. The system of claim 30, wherein the level of access comprises authority to control and monitor the dialysis machine.