Networked symbiotic edge user infrastructure

• US 9,596,989 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Morris, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US12/713,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,580 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A networked symbiotic assistive user system is presented. The architecture of the system allows devices worn by medical first responders such as medics or EMTs, to connect wirelessly to devices coupled to patients, devices worn by other medical first responders and adapter devices (such as those that may be located in air and/or land evacuation vehicles) that connect to a legacy infrastructure. Using a variety of medical first responder oriented communications protocols and applications, the devices can exchange information with all of the other devices in a manner that assists the medical first responders as well as personnel associated with the legacy infrastructure (e.g., tactical command operations personnel, first aid station personnel, or other medical facilities personnel).

Claims

1. A system for medics to collect information from one or more patients, the system comprising:

one or more sensors coupled to a first patient, wherein the first patient sensors automatically collect patient information for the first patient;

one or more sensors coupled to a second patient, wherein the second patient sensors automatically collect patient information for the second patient;

a first personal area network (PAN) coupled to a first medic;

a second PAN coupled to a second medic, wherein the first and second PANs each include a plurality of components as nodes,

wherein the system is configured to, in response to the first medic approaching the first patient;

automatically establish a connection between the first PAN and the first patient sensors;

automatically transfer, to the first PAN, first patient information collected by the first patient sensors since a previous connection was established between the first PAN and the first patient sensors; and

store the first patient information within the first PAN;

wherein the system is configured to, in response to the first medic moving away from the first patient and approaching the second patient;

automatically drop the connection between the first PAN and the first patient sensors;

automatically establish a connection between the first PAN and the second patient sensors;

automatically transfer, to the first PAN, second patient information collected by the second patient sensor since a previous connection was established between the first PAN and the second patient sensors; and

store the second patient information within the first PAN; and

wherein the system is configured to, in response to the first medic approaching the second medic;

automatically establish a peer network between the first PAN and the second PAN; and

automatically transmit the patient information stored in the first PAN to the second PAN.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a communications adapter configured to establish communications with each of the first and second PANs through a third wireless network; and

wherein the communications adapter is further configured to connect to a legacy infrastructure and provide for flow of information between each of the first and second PANs and the legacy infrastructure.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first PAN components comprises an intelligent associate that is configured to receive information from legacy infrastructure via the communications adapter.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein at least one of the first PAN components comprises an intelligent associate that is configured to receive data mining information from the legacy infrastructure via communication adapter.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more first patient sensors include a device configured to capture physiological information through contact with the first patient and transmit that physiological information to at least one component of the first and second PANs.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the one or more first patient sensors further include a smart tag coupled to the first patient.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein when the first medic approaches the first patient, each first patient sensor and at least one component of the first PAN automatically sense each other and begin information exchanges via a first wireless network based upon communications range capabilities.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a connection is formed between each first patient sensor and at least one component of the first PAN based on the information exchanges.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the information exchanges comprise a mutual negotiation according to communication protocols supported by the system.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein, in response to the first medic moving away from the first patient toward the second patient, at least one component of the first PAN automatically disconnects from each of the first patient sensors based upon the communications range capabilities.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein as the medic moves away from the first patient toward the second patient one or more ad-hoc networks are formed.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first PAN components comprises an arm-worn intelligent associate.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the first PAN components comprises two arm-worn intelligent associates and wherein one arm-worn intelligent associate is configured to interact with at least one first patient sensors and the other arm-worn intelligent associate is configured to interact with other first PAN components.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the first PAN components further include a headset assembly.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the first PAN further includes one or more sensors to monitor the health of the first medic.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first PAN further includes environment sensors.

17. A method for medics to collect information from one or more patients, the method comprising:

coupling one or more sensors to a first patient, wherein the first patient sensors automatically collect patient information for the first patient;

coupling one or more sensors to a second patient, wherein the second patient sensors automatically collect patient information for the second patient;

coupling a first personal area network (PAN) to a first medic;

coupling a second PAN to a second medic, wherein the first and second PANs each include a plurality of components as nodes;

in response to the first medic approaching the first patient;

automatically establishing a connection between the first PAN and the first patient sensors;

automatically transferring, to the first PAN, first patient information collected by the first patient sensors since a previous connection was established between the first PAN and the first patient sensors; and

storing the first patient information within the first PAN;

in response to the first medic moving away from the first patient and approaching the second patient;

automatically dropping the connection between the first PAN and the first patient sensors;

automatically establishing a connection between the first PAN and the second patient sensors;

automatically transferring, to the first PAN, second patient information collected by the second patient sensor since a previous connection was established between the first PAN and the second patient sensors; and

storing the second patient information within the first PAN; and

in response to the first medic approaching the second medic;

automatically establishing a peer network between the first PAN and the second PAN; and

automatically transmitting the patient information stored in the first PAN to the second PAN.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the one or more first patient sensors include a device configured to capture physiological information through contact with the first patient and transmit that physiological information to at least one component of the first and second PANs.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or more first patient sensors further include a smart tag to maintain an electronic patient record for the first patient to whom the smart tag has been coupled, the smart tag being configured to provide and receive information updates for the electronic patient record when the smart tag is in communication with at least one component of the first and second PANs.