Method for establishing a telecommunications network for patient monitoring
First Claim
11. In a wireless network having a plurality of nodes, a method for disseminating information of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- a) associating at least one first type node with the patient for monitoring physical attributes of the patient, said first type node including a detector that detects at least one physical attribute of the patient and a transmitter that transmits the detected physical attribute as patient data out to the network;
b) locating a plurality of second type nodes not directly associated with the patient in the network, each of said second type nodes adapted to receive signals and/or data from said first type node when moved to within broadcast range of said first type node, each of said second type nodes further adapted to receive signals and/or data from other second type nodes and to broadcast signals and/or data out to the network;
c) moving one of said second type nodes to within the broadcast range of said first type node to receive the patient data output from said first type node; and
d) broadcasting from said one second type node the received patient data out to the network so that any other second type node located within broadcast range of said one second type node could receive the patient data output by said first type node.
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Abstract
A wireless network having an architecture that resembles a peer-to-peer network has two types of nodes, a first sender type node and a second receiver/relay type node. The network may be used in a medical instrumentation environment whereby the first type node may be wireless devices that could monitor physical parameters of a patient such as for example wireless oximeters. The second type node are mobile wireless communicators that are adapted to receive the data from the wireless devices if they are within the transmission range of the wireless devices. After an aggregation process involving the received data, each of the node communicators broadcasts or disseminates its most up to date data onto the network. Any other relay communicator node in the network that is within the broadcast range of a broadcasting communicator node would receive the up to date data. This makes it possible for communicators that are out of the transmitting range of a wireless device to be apprized of the condition of the patient being monitored by the wireless device. Each communicator in the network is capable of receiving and displaying data from a plurality of wireless devices.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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11. In a wireless network having a plurality of nodes, a method for disseminating information of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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a) associating at least one first type node with the patient for monitoring physical attributes of the patient, said first type node including a detector that detects at least one physical attribute of the patient and a transmitter that transmits the detected physical attribute as patient data out to the network; b) locating a plurality of second type nodes not directly associated with the patient in the network, each of said second type nodes adapted to receive signals and/or data from said first type node when moved to within broadcast range of said first type node, each of said second type nodes further adapted to receive signals and/or data from other second type nodes and to broadcast signals and/or data out to the network; c) moving one of said second type nodes to within the broadcast range of said first type node to receive the patient data output from said first type node; and d) broadcasting from said one second type node the received patient data out to the network so that any other second type node located within broadcast range of said one second type node could receive the patient data output by said first type node. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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12-1. Method of claim 11, wherein said first type node comprises a portable oximeter worn by or attachable to the patient, and wherein said step (a) comprises the step of:
detecting as said patient attribute the SPO2 of the patient.
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16. In a wireless network having a plurality of nodes, a method for disseminating information of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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a) associating each of multiple first type nodes with a particular patient for monitoring physical attributes of the particular patient, said each first type node including a detector that detects at least one physical attribute of the particular patient and a transmitter that transmits the detected physical attribute as patient data out to the network; b) positioning in the network a plurality of second type nodes not directly associated with any patient; c) configuring each of said second type nodes to receive signals and/or data from said first type nodes when moved to within broadcast range of any of said first type nodes, and to receive signals and/or data from other second type nodes and broadcast signals and/or data out to the network; d) locating one of said second type nodes to within the broadcast range of any said first type node to receive the patient data output from said any first type node; and e) broadcasting thereafter from said one second type node the received patient data out to the network so that any other second type node located within the broadcast range of said one second type node could receive the patient data output by said any first type node. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification