OXIMETER WITH LOCATION AWARENESS

• US 20090171166A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Amundson, Scott, Li, Li, Hinton, Corydon A.
• Application Number:
  US12/340,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6889 Rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

According to embodiments, systems and methods are provided for determining the location of a medical device. A system may include a plurality of wireless communication devices configured to receive signals from a medical device and a location server configured to receive information from the plurality of wireless communication devices and determine the location of the device within a specified range. A method of operation may include receiving a plurality of signals corresponding to a medical device from a plurality of wireless communication devices and determining the location of the medical device from the plurality of signals. A sensor and monitor configured to transmit location information to one or more wireless communication devices are also provided.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a sensor capable of monitoring a physiological parameter, wherein the sensor is further capable of transmitting location information to one or more wireless communication devices.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an active transmitting device.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the active transmitting device comprises an active radio frequency identifier.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is capable of transmitting via a wireless communication protocol.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a pulse oximetry sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, a blood glucose sensor, blood pressure sensor, and/or a temperature sensor.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is capable of sending registration information to one or more wireless communication devices.

7. A medical device, comprising,

a patient monitor configured to monitor a physiological parameter, wherein the monitor is configured to transmit location information to one or more wireless communication devices.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the monitor comprises an active transmitting device.

9. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the monitor'"'"'s active transmitting device comprises an active radio frequency identifier.

10. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the monitor is configured to actively transmit via a wireless communication protocol.

11. The medical device claim 7, wherein the monitor comprises a pulse oximetry monitor, an electrocardiogram monitor, a blood glucose monitor, a blood pressure monitor, a temperature monitor, or a multi-parameter monitor, or a combination thereof.

12. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the monitor is configured to send registration information.

13. A method of operation, comprising:

receiving a plurality of signals corresponding to a medical device from a plurality of wireless communication devices; and

determining the general location of the medical device from the plurality of signals.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the location of the medical device comprises triangulating the location of the medical device from at least three wireless communication devices.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising storing the location of the medical device.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising comparing the location of the medical device to a list of locations.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising providing a notification and/or an alert based at least in part on the location of the medical device.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising registering the medical device.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising proving the stored locations of the medical device.

20. The method of claim 13, comprising switching between a first plurality of wireless communication devices and a second plurality of wireless communication devices based at least in part on signals received from a monitoring device and/or third plurality of wireless communication devices.