MEDICAL DEVICES WITH PROXIMITY DETECTION

• US 20120003933A1
• Filed: 09/06/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Baker, Steven D., Lathrop, Braxton L., Nagasubramanian, Soundharya
• Granted Patent: US 8,907,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/02 Hybrid access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 : Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 : Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/38 : triggered by timers

Abstract

A wireless medical device is disclosed. The wireless medical device comprises a processor, a memory, a sensor for detecting a physiological signal, a radio and a proximity detector to measure a distance of the wireless medical device relative to a second wireless medical device. The proximity detector includes a ranging functionality. A wireless communication channel is created when a distance between the wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is within a first predetermined threshold. The distance is greater than zero.

Claims

1. A wireless medical device, the wireless medical device comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a sensor for detecting a physiological signal;

a radio; and

a proximity detector to measure a distance of the wireless medical device relative to a second wireless medical device, the proximity detector including a ranging functionality,

wherein a wireless communication channel is created when a distance between the wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is within a first predetermined threshold, the distance being greater than zero.

2. The wireless medical device of claim 1, wherein the ranging functionality is implemented using ultra-wide band technology.

3. The wireless medical device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores a patient context, the patient context providing an identifier for the patient, the patient context being obtained from the second wireless medical device.

4. The wireless medical device of claim 3, wherein the patient context is obtained from the second wireless medical device when the distance between the wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is within the first predetermined threshold.

5. The wireless medical device of claim 3, wherein the patient context is obtained from the second wireless medical device upon the detection of physiological signals by the wireless medical device while within the first predetermined threshold.

6. The wireless medical device of claim 3, wherein the wireless medical device transfers physiological data to a patient monitor, the patient context being transferred along with the physiological data.

7. The wireless medical device of claim 3, wherein the patient context is removed from the wireless medical device based on conditions determined by a clinical workflow definition for the wireless medical device.

8. The wireless medical device of claim 3, wherein the patient context is removed from the wireless medical device when a distance between the wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is greater than a second predetermined threshold for at least a predetermined time interval.

9. The wireless medical device of claim 3, wherein the patient context is removed from the wireless medical device when a time since a physiological measurement has been made at the wireless medical device is greater than a predetermined time interval.

10. The wireless medical device of claim 1, the wireless medical device further comprising a medical device identifier, the medical device identifier providing a patient context for the patient.

11. The wireless medical device of claim 1, wherein the wireless medical device is powered on when the distance between the wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is within a pre-determined threshold.

12. The wireless medical device of claim 1, wherein the wireless medical device creates or breaks a connection based on conditions determined by a clinical workflow definition for the wireless medical device.

13. The wireless medical device of claim 1, wherein the ranging functionality is used to respond to queries.

14. The wireless medical device of claim 1, wherein the wireless medical device changes state based upon a detection of motion of the wireless medical device.

15. A method for authenticating a connection between two wireless medical devices, the method comprising:

moving a first wireless medical device to the proximity of a second wireless medical device;

using a first proximity detector on the first wireless medical device to determine a distance between the first wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device; and

allowing authentication of a connection between the first wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device when a distance between the first wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is within a first predetermined threshold, the distance being greater than zero.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the distance between the first wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is obtained using an ultra-wideband ranging capability of the first wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

when the connection is authenticated, obtaining patient context information from the second wireless medical device and storing the patient context information on the first wireless medical device

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the patient context information is removed from the first wireless medical device when the distance between the first wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is greater than a second predetermined threshold and when a time that the distance is greater than the second predetermined threshold is greater is more than a predetermined time interval.

19. A system for transmitting physiological data from a first wireless medical device, the system comprising the first wireless medical device and a patient monitor device, the first wireless medical device comprising:

a first processor;

a first memory that stores a patient context, the patient context providing an identifier for the patient; and

a first radio, the first radio comprising a first ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver that determines a first distance between the first wireless medical device and the patient monitor device, the first radio using the first distance as part of an authentication process,

the patient monitor device comprising;

a second processor;

a second memory that stores the patient context; and

a second radio, the second radio comprising a second UWB transceiver,

wherein the first wireless medical device joins a personal area network with the patient monitor device when the first distance between the first wireless medical device and the patient monitor device is within a first predetermined threshold, the first distance being greater than zero, wherein the first wireless medical device obtains the patient context from the patient monitor device, the patient context being obtained from the patient monitor device when the first distance between the first wireless medical device and the patient monitor device is within the first predetermined threshold for at least a first predetermined interval of time, and wherein the first wireless medical device transfers physiological data to the patient monitor, the physiological data being transferred along with the patient context, and wherein the patient context is removed from the first wireless medical device when the first wireless medical device is part of a spot workflow and when a second distance between the first wireless medical device and the patient monitor device is greater than a second predetermined threshold for at least a second predetermined interval of time.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the patient monitor presents a confirmation request prior to storing the patient context when the range to multiple patient monitors is within a pre-determined threshold.