Device and method for authorizing the operation of a medical apparatus using a portable identification device carried by an operator

• US 9,314,207 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Marterstock, Stefan Konrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorowar, Golam
• Application Number:
  US14/092,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20140148104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• 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 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• 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 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

Treatment system for a patient, preferably for performing a dialysis treatment, including a medical apparatus, preferably a dialysis apparatus, having a communication device which is configured to emit a wireless interrogation signal and receive a wireless identification signal, and an identification device which can be carried by an operator to identify the operator. The identification device is preferably embodied as a watch and is configured to send a wireless identification signal to the medical apparatus to confirm the identity of the operator and that the operator is authorized to operate the medical apparatus to which the signal has been sent.

Claims

1. A treatment system for a patient for performing a dialysis treatment comprising:

a dialysis apparatus having a communication device which is configured to emit a wireless interrogation signal and receive a wireless identification signal; and

an identification device that can be carried by an operator, said identification device configured to send a wireless identification signal to the dialysis apparatus, to emit an identification signal at least one of periodically and after reception of an interrogation signal from the communication device of the dialysis apparatus, and to receive and display information sent by the communication device, wherein the communication device is configured to verify whether the identification signal belongs to a member of the maintenance staff and, when the identification signal is an identification signal of a member of the maintenance staff and when a need for maintenance of the dialysis apparatus has been determined, to send at least one of a suitable alarm and suitable information to the identification device of the maintenance staff member regarding the need for maintenance, said maintenance staff member, in response to said at least one of an alarm and information, then acting to do at least one of determine what maintenance of the dialysis apparatus is required, and perform the required maintenance.

2. The treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device of the dialysis apparatus and the identification device are configured to communicate with each other via a common wireless radio standard.

3. The treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device of the dialysis apparatus and the identification device are configured to communicate with each other via an infra-red signal.

4. The treatment system according to claim 1, wherein a log database is provided and the dialysis apparatus is configured to enter operating accesses and the identities of the operators who effect the operating accesses into the log database.

5. The treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the identification device is formed as a watch, a pager, a mobile phone, or a portable computer.

6. The treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the identification device is formed as a tablet PC.

7. A method for identifying an operator of a medical apparatus for a treatment system, the medical apparatus having a communication device which is configured to emit a wireless interrogation signal and receive a wireless identification signal and an identification device that can be carried by an operator, said method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly emitting an interrogation signal by the communication device of the medical apparatus to at least one identification device carried by an operator, the identification device identifying the operator;

sending a wireless identification signal from the identification device to the medical apparatus in response to receipt of the interrogation signal;

receiving, in the communication device of the medical apparatus, the wireless identification signal sent by the identification device in response to the interrogation signal received from the medical apparatus;

identifying, by the medical apparatus, the operator based on the wireless identification signal received from the identification device and verifying whether the identification signal belongs to a member of the maintenance staff; and

when the identification signal is an identification signal of a member of the maintenance staff and when a need for maintenance of the medical apparatus has been determined, said communication device sending at least one of an alarm and information to the identification device of said maintenance staff member on which said information is displayed; and

said maintenance staff member, in response to said at least one of an alarm and information, then acting to do at least one of determine what maintenance of the medical apparatus is required, and perform the required maintenance.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the identification device is formed as a watch, a pager, a mobile phone, or a portable computer.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the identification device is formed as a tablet PC.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the identification device is formed as a watch.

11. A dialysis apparatus for use in a dialysis treatment system comprising:

a communication device associated with said dialysis apparatus and configured to emit a wireless interrogation signal and receive a wireless identification signal; and

said dialysis treatment system including an identification device that can be carried by an operator, said identification device configured to send a wireless identification signal to the communication device of the dialysis apparatus, to emit an identification signal at least one of periodically and after reception of an interrogation signal from the communication device of the dialysis apparatus, and to receive and display information sent by the communication device of the dialysis apparatus, wherein the communication device is configured to verify whether the identification signal belongs to a member of the maintenance staff and, when the identification signal is an identification signal of a member of the maintenance staff and when a need for maintenance of the dialysis apparatus has been determined, to send at least one of a suitable alarm and suitable information to the identification device on which this information is displayed, said maintenance staff member, in response to said at least one of an alarm and information, then acting to do at least one of determine what maintenance of the dialysis apparatus is required, and perform the required maintenance.

12. The dialysis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the communication device of the dialysis apparatus and the identification device are configured to communicate with each other via a common wireless radio standard.

13. The dialysis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the communication device of the dialysis apparatus and the identification device are configured to communicate with each other via an infra-red signal.

14. The dialysis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a log database is provided and the dialysis apparatus is configured to enter operating accesses and the identities of the operators who effect the operating accesses into the log database.

15. The dialysis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the identification device is formed as a watch, a pager, a mobile phone, or a portable computer.

16. The dialysis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the identification device is formed as a tablet PC.