Device and system for locating and operating a medical device

• US 10,874,796 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micrel Medical Devices S.A.
• Original Assignee: Micrel Medical Devices S.A.
• Inventors: Tsoukalis, Achilleas
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisenfeld, Aryan E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blanchette, Joshua B
• Application Number:
  US14/559,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20150151051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,218 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2, 705 3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A device for locating and operating a medical device having different operational modes is provided. The device comprises a first database, wherein from a plurality of different operational modes for the medical device and from a plurality of different geographical positions of use for operation of the medical device, a predetermined operational mode is assigned to a geographical position of use. A positioning means is adapted to be provided at the medical device and to determine the geographical position of the medical device, and a control means is connected to the positioning means and the database and is adapted to determine, by mapping the determined geographical position of the medical device with the geographical positions of use stored in the first database, the predetermined operational mode which is assigned to the geographical position where the medical device is located, and to set the medical device to said predetermined operational mode.

Claims

1. A system for locating and automatically setting a medical device to different operational modes, comprising:

a medical device comprising (i) an interface configured to receive data and transmit position data at a signal strength to a computer system, wherein the signal strength is indicative of a strength of transmission of the position data from the medical device to the computer system, and (ii) positioning unit configured to determine a geographical position of the medical device, wherein the transmitted position data is data indicative of the determined geographical position; and

the computer system comprising;

a first database that correlates different operational modes of the medical device with, wherein the different locations are different spaces in an area where the medical device may be located;

a second database that correlates the different locations with different geographical positions determined by the positioning unit;

a third database that correlates the signal strength with sub-locations within the different locations, wherein each location of the different locations is subdivided into multiple sub-locations; and

wherein, upon receipt of the position data from the medical device, the computer system, is configured to,

(a) use the second database to assign a current location to the medical device based on the received position data,

(b) use the first database to assign an operational mode to the medical device based on the current location assigned in step (a),

(c) use the third database to assign a sub-location to the medical device based on the signal strength of the received position data, wherein the assigned sub-location is one of multiple regions within the current location assigned in step (a),

(d) identify to a user, the current location assigned in step (a) and the sub-location assigned in step (c), and

(e) set the medical device to the operational mode assigned in step (b).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality different locations comprise operation theatres, intensive care units, wards in a hospital, rooms in a patient'"'"'s home, and stores.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing unit adapted to measure the signal strength.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit is adapted to determine the geographical position of the medical device by triangulation of at least one of WiFi signals, WLAN signals, or cellular network signals.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer system is adapted to mark the geographical position of the medical device on a map.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing computer system is further adapted to determine a route taken by the medical device by recording a plurality of geographical positions of the medical device over a time interval.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the computer system is adapted to record the route on a map.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the medical device further comprises an altimeter and the computer system is further adapted to receive signals from the altimeter and identify a floor in a multi-story building where the medical device is located.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a scanner adapted to scan the medical device in a current location of the medical device.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit is adapted to be in an activated state when the medical device is in a de-activated state.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the medical device further comprises an alarm unit configured to issue an alarm;

and

the computer system comprises a fifth database that correlates the different locations to different alarms, and the computer system is further configured to direct the alarm unit to issue an alarm corresponding to the alarm assigned in the fifth database to the single location assigned to the medical device in step (a).

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a remote control adapted to activate the alarm unit, wherein the alarm unit is configured to change a characteristic of the issued alarm in response to a change of distance between the alarm unit and the remote control.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the medical device further comprises an alarm unit connected to the positioning unit and adapted to issue an alarm in response to the positioning unit determining a change of the determined geographical position of the medical device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system further includes a fourth database that correlates operating data, including at least one of operating protocols and drug libraries, with the different locations, and the computer server is further configured to (f) use the fourth database to assign at least one operating data to the medical device based on the current location assigned in step (a).

15. A system for locating one or more medical devices in a building, comprising:

a medical device, wherein the medical device includes;

(i) a positioning unit configured to determine a geographical position of the medical device in the building;

(ii) an interface unit configured to transmit position data to a computer system, the position data being data indicative of the determined geographical position; and

the computer system configured to;

(a) receive the position data at a signal strength from the medical device;

(b) determine a device-location by correlating the received position data in step (a) with data representative of different physical locations in the building, the determined device-location being one of multiple locations in the building that the medical device may be currently positioned in;

(c) determine a device sub-location by correlating the signal strength of the position data received in step (a) with data representative of signal strengths of transmissions by the medical device from different sub-locations within the device-location determined in step (b), wherein the determined device sub-location is one sub-location of multiple sub-locations, within the determined device-location, that the medical device may be currently positioned in; and

(d) identify, to a user, the determined device-location and device sub-location of the medical device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer system is further configured to assign an operating mode to the medical device based on the device-location determined in step (b), the assigned operating mode being one operating mode of multiple operating modes that the medical device can operate in.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the medical device is a first medical device, the system further including a second medical device, and the computer system is further configured to:

determine a device-location and a device sub-location of the second medical device; and

identify, to the user, the determined device-location and device sub-location of the second medical device.

18. A method of locating one or more medical devices in a building, comprising:

(a) receiving, at a computer system, position data at a signal strength from a medical device, the position data being data indicative of a geographical position of the medical device in the building;

(b) determining a device-location by correlating the received position data in step (a) with data representative of different physical locations in the building, the determined device-location being one location of multiple locations in the building that the medical device may be currently positioned in;

(c) determining a device sub-location by correlating the signal strength of the position data received in step (a) with data representative of signal strengths of transmissions by the medical device from different sub-locations within the device-location determined in step (b), wherein the determined device sub-location is one sub-location of multiple sub-locations, within the determined device-location, that the medical device may be currently positioned in; and

(d) identifying, to a user, the determined device-location and device sub-location of the medical device.

19. The method of claim 18, further including (e) assigning an operating mode to the medical device based on the device-location determined in step (b), the assigned operating mode being one operating mode of multiple operating modes that the medical device can operate in.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the medical device is a first medical device, and the method further includes:

receiving, at the computer system, position data at a signal strength from the second medical device;

determining a device-location and a device sub-location of the second medical device; and

identifying, to the user, the determined device-location and device sub-location of the second medical device.