Extensibility for manipulation of medical data

• US 9,641,589 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Irwin, John H., Magee, Marshall W., Pingel, Mark E., Arnold, Gary L., Gamble, David D., Rynkiewicz, David E., Hoch, Michael D., Robinson, James M., Bobowski, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUOC H
• Application Number:
  US14/051,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20140040429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 709217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A method for extending a functionality of a computing device programmed to obtain physiological measurements from a patient includes: registering, at the computing device, a plug-in module, the plug-in module providing additional functionality for the computing device; using the plug-in module to communicate with a medical device; commanding the medical device to obtain physiological information from a patient; receiving data associated with the physiological information from the medical device; and transferring the data to a central repository.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoding instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:

registering, at a computing device, a vitals plug-in module, the vitals plug-in module providing additional functionality for the computing device, wherein registering the vitals plug-in module is performed without upgrading or reprogramming the computing device;

using the vitals plug-in module to communicate with a medical device to facilitate vitals measurement acquisition of physiological information from a patient, wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a pulse oximeter, an electrocardiography device and a spirometer;

using the vitals plug-in module to command the medical device to obtain the physiological information from the patient;

receiving data associated with the physiological information from the medical device at the computing device; and

displaying the data associated with the physiological information at the computing device.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, encoding instructions that, when executed by a processor, further cause the processor to perform the step of operating within a workflow, the workflow being defined by the vitals plug-in module.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, encoding instructions that, when executed by a processor, further cause the processor to perform the step of displaying a user interface, the user interface being provided by the vitals plug-in module.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, encoding instructions that, when executed by a processor, further cause the processor to perform the steps of authenticating with a central repository and transferring the data to the central repository.

5. A method for extending a functionality of a computing device programmed to obtain physiological measurements from a patient, the method comprising:

registering, at the computing device, a vitals plug-in module, the vitals plug-in module providing additional functionality for the computing device;

displaying a user interface, the user interface being provided by the vitals plug-in module, the user interface being configured to facilitate acquiring data;

operating within a monitoring workflow, the workflow being provided by the vitals plug-in module, wherein the monitoring workflow obtains a series of measurements of one or more physiological parameters of the patient;

using the vitals plug-in module to communicate with a medical device to facilitate vitals measurement acquisition of physiological information from a patient, wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a pulse oximeter, an electrocardiography device and a spirometer;

using the vitals plug-in module to command the medical device to obtain the physiological information directly from the patient;

receiving data associated with the physiological information from the medical device at the computing device;

displaying a user interface, the user interface being provided by the vitals plug-in module, the user interface being configured to facilitate reviewing data;

displaying a report, the report incorporating the data, the report being generated from a report template defined by the vitals plug-in module; and

transferring the data to a central repository.