Body area network pairing improvements for clinical workflows

• US 9,386,924 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Baker, Steven D., Lathrop, Braxton L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US14/593,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20150190053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0204 of power management
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method for establishing a connection between a first electronic computing device and a second electronic computing device includes moving the second electronic computing device so that it is proximal to the first electronic computing device. When the first electronic computing device detects the proximity of the first electronic computing device relative to the second electronic computing device, a radio on the first electronic device is set to a connectable and discoverable state. A wireless connection is automatically established between the first electronic computing device and the second electronic computing device. Data is transmitted between the first electronic computing device and the second electronic computing device.

Claims

1. A proximity detector comprising:

a housing;

a magnet detector positioned within the housing; and

a radio device,

wherein the magnet detector is configured to sense a presence of a magnet within a physiological sensor device when the magnet is within a certain proximity of the magnet detector;

wherein the radio device is configured to establish a wireless connection to the physiological sensor device after the proximity detector is actuated upon sensing the magnet at a predetermined threshold

wherein the magnet detector includes a first coil;

wherein the physiological sensor device includes a second coil; and

wherein the magnet detector senses the presence of the magnet by pulsing a current in the first coil and detecting a second current pulse in the second coil.

2. The proximity detector of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board,

wherein the magnet detector is connected to the printed circuit board;

and

wherein a second magnet is mounted on an external surface of the housing.

3. The proximity detector of claim 1, wherein the radio device includes a radio capable of providing ranging information;

a trigger that actuates when a range between the radio and a second radio in the physiological sensor device reaches a predetermined range threshold.

4. The proximity detector of claim 1, wherein the magnet detector is one of a reed relay, a reed switch, a Hall effect sensor, a Hall effect switch, a giant magnetoresistance sensor or a giant magnetoresistance switch.

5. A method for connecting a first computing device to a second computing device, comprising:

detecting, using a proximity detector positioned within the first computing device, the proximity of the first computing device relative to the second computing device;

upon detection, automatically setting a radio on the first computing device to a connectable and discoverable state;

establishing communication between the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein the second computing device is a physiological sensor device;

receiving a verification about the physiological sensor device, wherein the verification includes a confirmation that the physiological sensor device corresponds to a patient;

if the physiological sensor device is verified, receiving a connection mode for a connection between the first computing device and the second computing device; and

connecting the first computing device to the second computing device applying the connection mode.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

if the verification is not received within a predetermined time period, declining to connect the first computing device to the second computing device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the connection mode is selected from:

loose pairing, tight pairing, and locked.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving an identification of the patient, and wherein the first computing device is a medical device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein loose pairing provides a first class of alarm response.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein loose pairing is used for spot monitoring;

and

wherein the first computing device does not issue an equipment alert if the connection between the first computing device and the second computing device is lost.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein tight pairing is used for continuous monitoring of patient physiological data;

and further comprising;

generating a connection alert when the connection between the first computing device and the second computing device is broken; and

generating a parameter alert when a parameter received from the physiological sensor device is above or below a predetermined threshold.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein locked pairing includes enabling the physiological sensor device to connect only to a designated first computing device;

and further comprising;

generating an alert when a connection attempt is made between the physiological sensor device and a non-designated first computing device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a reset request; and

after receiving the reset request, enabling the physiological sensor device to connect to any first computing device without restriction.

14. A method for connecting to a physiological sensor device, comprising:

with a proximity detector, sensing a presence of a magnet within the physiological sensor device when the magnet is within a certain proximity of the proximity detector;

after sensing the presence of the magnet, communicating with a radio on the physiological sensor device;

receiving a verification about the physiological sensor device, wherein the verification includes a confirmation that the physiological sensor device corresponds to a patient;

receiving an identification of a patient to be associated with the physiological sensor device; and

when the physiological sensor device is verified, connecting to the physiological sensor device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a connection mode for a connection to the physiological sensor device and applying the connection mode.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein sensing includes:

pulsing a current in a first coil in a magnet detector; and

detecting a second current pulse in a second coil, the second coil being located on the physiological sensor device.

17. The method of claim 15,

wherein the connection mode is selected from:

loose pairing, tight pairing, and locked;

wherein loose pairing provides a first class of alarm response, the first class of alarm response including not issuing an equipment alert if the connection to the physiological sensor device is lost; and

wherein tight pairing is used for continuous monitoring of patient physiological data; and

further comprising;

generating a connection alert when the connection to the physiological sensor device is broken; and

generating a parameter alert when a parameter received from the physiological sensor device is above or below a predetermined threshold; and

wherein locked pairing includes enabling the physiological sensor device to connect only to a designated first computing device; and

further comprising;

generating a misuse alert when a connection attempt is made between the physiological sensor device and a non-designated first computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a reset request; and

after receiving the reset request, enabling the physiological sensor device to connect to any first computing device without restriction.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

if the verification is not received within a predetermined time period, declining to connect to the physiological sensor device.