Medical Device Interface Customization Systems And Methods

• US 20110071368A1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Baker, Clark R. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to customization of user interfaces for medical devices. According to certain embodiments, patient monitors may include a device body designed to interface with interchangeable and removable faceplates. The faceplates may include input devices for controlling the patient monitor. Further, the properties of the input devices, such as the size, shape, labels, type, and location, may vary between faceplates. Further, in certain embodiments, the faceplates may include a memory for storing preferences associated with the user interface.

Claims

1. A patient monitor, comprising:

a device body comprising one or more medical device interfaces suitable for connection to a sensor or to a therapy device;

a display capable of displaying;

patient physiological data based on input received from the sensor or the therapy device; and

one or more user selectable interface options;

an electrical communication interface disposed in the device body; and

a faceplate capable of being coupled to the device body through the electrical communication interface and comprising selectable inputs for selecting the one or more user selectable interface options.

2. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the device body comprises a physical attachment mechanism capable of securing the faceplate to the device body and detaching the interchangeable faceplate from the device body.

3. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the patient physiological data comprises a plethysmographic waveform, an oxygen saturation, a pulse rate, or combinations thereof.

4. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the one or more user selectable interface options comprise alarm limits, an alarm volume, or display formats for the patient physiological data, or combinations thereof.

5. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the electrical communication interface comprises one or more control interfaces for receiving input signals from the selectable inputs disposed on the faceplate.

6. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the electrical communication interface comprises a memory interface for reading data from a memory disposed in the faceplate.

7. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the selectable inputs comprise buttons, or knobs, or combinations thereof.

8. A patient monitoring system, comprising:

a device body comprising a medical device interface for receiving input related to patient physiological data;

a display capable of displaying the patient physiological data and displaying a user interface for controlling operation of the patient monitoring system; and

one or more faceplates each capable of being coupled to the device body and each comprising a memory for storing user interface data.

9. The patient monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the display comprises a touch screen, and wherein the display varies the location of user selectable inputs on the touch screen based on the user interface data received from the one or more faceplates.

10. The patient monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the one or more faceplates each comprise a window that surrounds the display upon attachment to the device body.

11. The patient monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the user interface data comprises a unique identifier for at least one of the interchangeable faceplates, and wherein the device body comprises a memory capable of storing user interface preferences associated with the unique identifier.

12. The patient monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the user interface data comprises user interface preferences specifying alarm limits, display scales for the patient physiological data, or display locations for the patient physiological data, or combinations thereof.

13. The patient monitoring system of claim 8, comprising two or more interchangeable faceplates each comprising selectable inputs for manipulating the user interface, and wherein the selectable inputs differ in at least one of size, type, or location between the two or more interchangeable faceplates.

14. The patient monitoring system of claim 8, comprising a processor capable of varying at least portions of the user interface based on which faceplate of the one or more faceplates is attached to the device body.

15. The patient monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the device body comprises a first mechanical attachment mechanism and the one or more faceplates each comprise a second mechanical attachment mechanism capable of mating with the first mechanical attachment mechanism to secure the one or more faceplates to the device body.

16. The patient monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the device body comprises a first electrical communication interface and the one or more faceplates each comprise a second electrical communication interface capable of connection with the first electrical port to allow electrical communications between the one or more faceplates and the device body.

17. A removable faceplate for a patient monitor, comprising:

user selectable input structures suitable for controlling operation of a patient monitor; and

an electrical communication interface suitable for allowing at least electrical communications between the user selectable input structures and a complementary electrical communication interface of the patient monitor.

18. The removable faceplate of claim 17, wherein the removable faceplate is capable of mounting to a front surface of the patient monitor to allow access to a display of the patient monitor.

19. The removable faceplate of claim 17, comprising a window capable of surrounding a display of the patient monitor and wherein the user selectable input structures are capable of aligning with menu options displayed on the display of the patient monitor.

20. The removable faceplate of claim 17, comprising a memory capable of storing data related to operation of the medical device.