INFORMATIVE ACCESSORIES

• US 20070265877A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Acker, Jaron, Rice, Caeli, Pinkert, John, Klaus, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0883 Circuit type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1035 the anaesthetic agent concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture

Abstract

An optimized system for providing medical support to a patient is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of modular components that may be assembled to create a connection between a support machine and the patient wherein at least one of the modular components comprises an information tag for the storage of data and at least one of the modular components comprises an information sensor for the reading and transmission of the data. Once read and transmitted by the sensor, the data may be used to optimize the operation of the support machine.

Claims

1. An automatic configuration device for a mechanical breathing system including a system controller, a modular component, and a patient connection means, the automatic configuration device comprising:

an information means associated with the modular component for storing data associated with the modular component; and

an information sensor,

wherein the data is detected from the information means by the information sensor, transmitted to the system controller, and the system controller modifies an associated algorithm in response to the data.

2. The automatic configuration device of claim 1 wherein the system controller modifies a user parameter in response to the data.

3. The automatic configuration device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of modular components, wherein each of the plurality of modular components comprises an associated information means, and the plurality of modular components form a fluid path between the mechanical breathing system and a patient.

4. The automatic configuration device of claim 3 wherein the information means is an RFID device.

5. The automatic configuration device of claim 4 wherein the information means is integral with the associated modular component.

6. The automatic configuration device of claim 4 wherein the information means is removably attached to the associated modular component.

7. The automatic configuration device of claim 3 wherein the identification means is a bar code label.

8. The automatic configuration device of claim 3 wherein the modular component is a disposable modular component.

9. The automatic configuration device of claim 8 wherein the data detected from the information means is data indicative of billing information associated with the modular component.

10. The automatic configuration device of claim 3 further comprising a centralized data storage means wherein the data associated with the modular component is a reference to data stored on the centralized data storage means.

11. The automatic configuration device of claim 10 wherein the centralized data storage means is accessible by a plurality of devices at a plurality of locations within a hospital.

12. A modular component for use with a mechanical breathing system for providing respiratory support to a patient, the modular component comprising:

an information tag disposed at a first end of the modular component and including data for the optimization of the mechanical breathing system; and

an information sensor disposed at a second end of the modular component,

wherein the data from the information tag is detected by a second information sensor located separate from the modular component; and

wherein the information sensor detects data for the optimization of the mechanical breathing system from a second information tag located separate from the modular component.

13. The modular component of claim 12 wherein the modular component is a breathing circuit.

14. The modular component of claim 12 wherein the modular component is a gas sampling component.

15. The modular component of claim 12 wherein the data for the optimization of the mechanical breathing system is data that is associated with the component.

16. The modular component of claim 12 wherein the data for the optimization of the mechanical breathing system is data that is associated with the patient.

17. The modular component of claim 12 wherein the modular component is connected to a second modular component and wherein the data for the optimization of the mechanical breathing system is data that is indicative of the connection between the modular component and the second modular component.

18. An optimized system for providing support for a patient, the system comprising:

a ventilator comprising an inspiration means, an expiration means, and a controller;

a plurality of modular components, the plurality of modular components comprising;

a breathing circuit including an inspiratory limb connected to the inspiration means, an expiratory limb connected to the expiration means, and a patient end;

a gas sampling module connected to the patient end of the breathing circuit; and

a patient connection means connected to the gas sampling module and the patient,

a plurality of information tags, each tag comprising data for modifying an algorithm in the controller; and

at least one tag sensor to detect the data from at least one associated information tag and to transmit this data to the controller,

wherein an information tag is associated with each of the modular components, and the data for modifying an algorithm in the controller is specific to the associated modular component.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the data for modifying an algorithm in the controller is data to configure the controller for use with the associated modular component.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein an information tag further comprises data that is associated with the patient receiving ventilation support.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the data associated with the patient further comprises identification data for the patient that may be used to reference data stored on a central data storage means for the patient.

22. The system of claim 18 further comprising a patient connection, the patient connection comprising an information tag comprising data associated with the detection of the proper connection of the modular components.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the information tags further comprise RFID tags.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the data for modifying the algorithm in the controller is alarm parameters utilized by the controller for the modular components.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein the ventilator includes a display coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is operable to visually display the configuration of the modular components on the display.