Instructional medical treatment system

• US 20070239139A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Bluesky Medical Group Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Weston, Richard, Bybordi, Farhad
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

The present invention discloses an appliance for administering medical treatment to a person, as well as methods of using the appliance. In various embodiments, the appliance may be comprised of a medical device, an electronic processor, an electronic display (such as a liquid crystal display (LCD)), an audio output device (such as a piezoelectric speaker/microphone), electronic controls for controlling the operation of the electronic processor, and an electronic input receptacle (such as a DVD drive or USB port) adapted to receive and electronically access an electronic storage device (such as a DVD or flash memory device). The electronic processor or electronic storage device or both have information related to use and operation of the medical device digitally stored therein, so that the user of the appliance has ready access to instructional materials. Thus, the appliance includes an internal system for instructing the user in the use of the medical device.

Claims

1. An appliance for administering medical treatment to a person, the appliance comprising:

(a) a medical device, wherein the medical device is adapted to provide medical treatment to the person;

(b) an electronic processor, wherein the electronic processor is positioned on or within the medical device, and the electronic processor is adapted so that video content relating to use and operation of the medical device is digitally stored within the electronic processor; and

(c) display means for visually displaying the video content digitally stored within the electronic processor, wherein the display means are positioned on a surface of the medical device, and the display means are electronically connected to the electronic processor, so that the user of the appliance has access to video information regarding use and operation of the medical device.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the display means are comprised of a liquid crystal display.

3. The appliance of claim 2, further comprising electronic control means for electronically controlling the operation of the electronic processor, wherein the liquid crystal display is comprised of a touch-screen liquid crystal display that is adapted to comprise the electronic control means.

4. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising audio output means for audibly broadcasting audio content relating to use and operation of the medical device, wherein the audio output means are positioned on or within the medical device, the audio output means are electronically connected to the electronic processor, and the audio content is digitally stored within the electronic processor.

5. The appliance of claim 4, wherein the audio output means are comprised of a piezoelectric device.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the medical device is comprised of a vacuum pump that produces suction for use in medical treatment of the person.

7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is further comprised of electronic input means adapted to receive and electronically access at least one electronic storage device, wherein the electronic input means are positioned on or within the medical device, the electronic input means are electronically connected to the electronic processor, video content relating to use and operation of the medical device is digitally stored within the at least one electronic storage device, and the display means is adapted to display the video content digitally stored within the at least one electronic storage device.

8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the appliance further comprises audio output means for audibly broadcasting audio content relating to use and operation of the medical device, wherein the audio output means are positioned on or within the medical device, the audio output means are electronically connected to the electronic processor, and the audio content is digitally stored within the at least one electronic storage device.

9. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the electronic input means are comprised of a DVD drive and the at least one electronic storage device is comprised of a DVD.

10. The appliance of claim 7, further comprising the at least one electronic storage device.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the electronic processor is adapted to receive information from the medical device related to the operation of the medical device;

(b) the information related to operation of the medical device is in a digital form that can be processed by the electronic processor; and

(c) the display means is adapted to display the information related to operation of the medical device.

12. An appliance for administering medical treatment to a person, the appliance comprising:

(a) a medical device, wherein the medical device is adapted to provide medical treatment to the person;

(b) an electronic processor, wherein the electronic processor is positioned on or within the medical device;

(c) an electronic display positioned on a surface of the medical device, wherein the electronic display is electronically connected to the electronic processor;

(d) electronic control means for controlling the operation of the electronic processor, wherein the electronic control means are electronically connected to the electronic processor; and

(e) at least one electronic input receptacle adapted to receive and electronically access at least one electronic storage device, wherein the at least one electronic input receptacle is positioned on or within the medical device, the at least one electronic input receptacle is electronically connected to the electronic processor, and video content relating to use and operation of the medical device is digitally stored within the at least one electronic storage device.

13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the electronic display is comprised of a liquid crystal display.

14. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the electronic display and electronic control means are comprised of a touch-screen liquid crystal display.

15. The appliance of claim 12, further comprising audio output means adapted to audibly broadcast audio content relating to use and operation of the medical device, wherein the audio output means are positioned on or within the medical device, the audio output means are electronically connected to the electronic processor, and the audio content is digitally stored within the at least one electronic storage device.

16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the audio output means are comprised of a piezoelectric device.

17. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the medical device is comprised of a vacuum pump that produces suction for use in medical treatment of the person.

18. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the electronic processor is adapted so that video content relating to use and operation of the medical device is digitally stored within the electronic processor.

19. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the electronic processor is adapted so that audio content relating to use and operation of the medical device is digitally stored within the electronic processor.

20. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the at least one electronic input receptacle is comprised of a DVD drive and the at least one electronic storage device is comprised of a DVD.

21. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the at least one electronic input receptacle is comprised of an USB port and the at least one electronic storage device is comprised of a flash storage device.

22. The appliance of claim 12, further comprising the at least one electronic storage device.

23. A method of instructing a user of an appliance how to use and operate the appliance for purposes of providing medical treatment to a person, the method comprising the following actions:

(a) the user gaining physical access to the appliance, wherein the appliance is comprised of;

(i) a medical device, wherein the medical device is adapted to provide medical treatment to the person;

(ii) an electronic processor, wherein the electronic processor is positioned on or within the medical device, and the electronic processor is adapted so that video content relating to use and operation of the medical device is digitally stored within the electronic processor;

(iii) an electronic display positioned on a surface of the medical device, wherein the electronic display is electronically connected to the electronic processor, and the electronic display is capable of displaying the video content so that the user of the appliance has access to video information regarding use and operation of the medical device; and

(iv) electronic control means for controlling the operation of the electronic processor, wherein the electronic control means is electronically connected to the electronic processor;

(b) the user activating the electronic processor by manipulating the electronic control means, so that the video content is displayed on the electronic display; and

(c) the user visually observing the video content displayed on the electronic display, so that the user has access to information regarding the use and operation of the medical device.

24. The appliance of claim 23, wherein the medical device is a vacuum pump used to provide suction for purposes of the medical treatment, and the medical treatment comprises negative pressure wound therapy.

25. The appliance of claim 23, further comprising the action of the user using the medical device to provide medical treatment to the person.

26. A method of instructing a user of an appliance how to use and operate the appliance for purposes of providing medical treatment to a person, the method comprising the following actions:

(a) the user gaining physical access to the appliance, wherein the appliance is comprised of;

(i) a medical device, wherein the medical device is adapted to provide medical treatment to the person;

(ii) an electronic processor, wherein the electronic processor is positioned on or within the medical device;

(iii) an electronic display positioned on a surface of the medical device, wherein the electronic display is electronically connected to the electronic processor;

(iv) electronic control means for controlling the operation of the electronic processor, wherein the electronic control means are electronically connected to the electronic processor; and

(v) electronic input means adapted to receive and electronically access an electronic storage device, wherein the electronic input means are positioned on or within the medical device, the electronic input means are electronically connected to the electronic processor, and audio content or video content or both relating to use and operation of the medical device are digitally stored within the electronic storage device;

(b) the user operably connecting the electronic storage device to the electronic input means;

(c) the user activating the electronic processor by manipulating the electronic control means, so that the electronic processor reads the audio content or the video content or both digitally stored within the electronic storage device and displays the video content on the electronic display; and

(d) the user visually observing the video content displayed on the electronic display, so that the user has access to information regarding the use and operation of the medical device.

27. The appliance of claim 26, wherein the medical device is a vacuum pump used to provide suction for purposes of the medical treatment, and the medical treatment comprises negative pressure wound therapy.

28. The appliance of claim 26, further comprising the action of the user using the medical device to provide medical treatment to the person.