Patient data acquisition and control system

• US 6,074,345 A
• Filed: 10/27/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Melker, Richard J., van Oostrom, Johannes H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/179,768
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/341, 128/903, 128/904, 128/920, 604/226, 604/265, 604/403, 210/782, 428/411.1, 428/500, 395/200.3, 702/19, 702/85, 702/105
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

The present invention solves this communication problem by providing a method and apparatus for connecting to and coordinating data communications of various medical devices having different communication protocols. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a way to recognize common parameters and separate out only that part of the communication that is different between and specific to the various monitors and therapeutic devices. The invention efficiently utilizes defined common parameters for protocol types and selectively configures the specific settings when required, automatically.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring of at least one physiologic condition of at least one patient comprising:

(a) means for configuring a protocol of communication between at least one medical device and a data acquisition unit connected to at least one of said devices by identifying specific protocols for each connected device and automatically configuring settings for said common parameters associated with each of said protocols;

(b) means for monitoring a patient'"'"'s physiologic condition through at least one connected medical device to provide data representative of said physiologic condition;

(c) means for communicating said data to said data acquisition unit connected to said device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for storing said data in said data acquisition unit and means for transmitting said parameter to a remote location.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said medical devices is a monitoring device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said medical devices is a therapeutic device.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising means for communicating a command to control said therapeutic device through said data acquisition unit.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said means for communicating initiates the communication at a location remote from said data acquisition unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for automatically configuring said specific parameter settings comprises:

(a) means for polling each connected device,

(b) means for comparing response from said polling step to a list of specific responses for each device; and

(c) means for setting said specific parameter settings for each device based on said comparison.

8. A method for monitoring of at least one physiologic condition of at least one patient comprising the steps of

(a) configuring a protocol of communication between at least one medical device and a data acquisition unit connected to at least one of said devices by identifying specific protocols for each connected device and automatically configuring settings for said common parameters associated with each of said protocols;

(b) monitoring a patient'"'"'s physiologic condition through at least one connected medical device to provide data representative of said physiologic condition;

(c) communicating said data to said data acquisition unit connected to said device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of storing said data in said data acquisition unit and transmitting said parameter to a remote location.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of said medical devices is a monitoring device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of said medical devices is a therapeutic device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of communicating a command to control said therapeutic device through said data acquisition unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said communicating is initiated at a location remote from said data acquisition unit.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said settings are automatically configured for each device by

(a) polling each connected device,

(b) comparing response from said polling step to a list of specific responses for each device,

(c) setting said specific parameter set tings for each device based on said comparison.

15. A method of communicating with various devices comprising identifying specific protocols for each connected device and automatically configuring settings for common parameters associated with each of said protocols, wherein said settings are automatically configured for each device by

(a) polling each connected device,

(b) comparing response from said polling step to a list of specific responses for each device, and

(c) setting said specific parameter settings for each device based upon said comparison.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said protocols comprise hardware and software protocols for communication.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said hardware protocols comprise RS232 type comprising common parameters of baud rate, data bits, stop bits and parity associated therewith.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said software protocols comprise

line printer type comprising common parameters of end of line character and line format, and

packetized data type comprising common parameters of packet format, header, data format, and end of packet information.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said protocols further comprise input/output format for data sets.

38. The computer system of claim 37, further performing the steps of:

(a) if no responses are matched in steps a through c of claim 17, selecting a baud rate out of said list of standard baud rates;

(b) sending a second request string on said port;

(c) if a second response to said second request string is matched, thereby identifying a device, configuring settings for said common parameters associated with said specific protocols of the device which corresponds to said second response, otherwise repeat steps a through c herein for the next baud rate in said list of standard baud rates.

20. A method of communicating with various devices comprising identifying specific protocols for each connected device and automatically configuring settings for common parameters associated with each of said protocols, wherein said settings are automatically configured for each device by

(a) sending a specific request string on a port for a device from a list of devices each having unique request and response strings,

(b) receiving a specific response;

and

(c) if said response to said request string matches, thereby identifying a device, configuring settings for said common parameters associated with said specific protocols for the device on said port, otherwise repeat steps a through c for next device in said list.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a proper baud rate is set for said device prior to sending said request string.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said steps are repeated for each port.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said protocols comprise hardware and software protocols for communication.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said hardware protocols comprise RS232 type comprising common parameters of baud rate, data bits, stop bits and parity associated therewith.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said software protocols comprise

line printer type comprising common parameters of end of line character and line format, and

packetized data type comprising common parameters of packet format, header, data format, and end of packet information.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said protocols further comprise input/output format for data sets.

27. A method of communicating with various devices comprising identifying specific protocols for each connected device and automatically configuring settings for common parameters associated with each of said protocols, wherein said settings are automatically configured for each device by

(a) selecting a baud rate setting out of a list of standard baud rate settings,

(b) sending a first request string on a port, and

(c) if a first response to said first request string is matched, thereby identifying a device, configuring settings for said common parameters associated with said specific protocols for the device which corresponds to said first response, otherwise repeat steps a through c for the next baud rate in said list of standard baud rates.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

(a) if no responses are matched in steps a through c of method 10, selecting a baud rate setting out of said list of standard baud rate settings,

(b) sending a second request string on a port,

(c) if a second response to said second request string is matched, thereby identifying a device, configuring settings for said common parameters associated with said specific protocols for the device which corresponds to said second response, otherwise repeat steps a through c herein for the next baud rate setting in said list of standard baud rates.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said steps are repeated for each port.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said steps are repeated for each port.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said protocols comprise hardware and software protocols for communication.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said hardware protocols comprise RS232 type comprising common parameters of baud rate, data bits, stop bits and parity associated therewith.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said software protocols comprise

line printer type comprising common parameters of end of line character and line format, and

packetized data type comprising common parameters of packet format, header, data format, and end of packet information.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said protocols further comprise input/output format for data sets.

35. A system for communicating with various devices comprising:

a routine for identifying specific protocols for each connected device and automatically configuring settings for said common parameters associated with each of said protocols, wherein said routine performs the following steps;

(a) polling each connected device,

(b) comparing a response from said polling step to a list of specific responses for each device to identify a specific protocol for each connected device, and

(c) configuring settings for said common parameters associated with said specific protocol for each device based on said comparison.

36. A system for communicating with various devices comprising:

a routine for identifying specific protocols for each connected device and automatically configuring settings for said common parameters associated with each of said protocols, wherein said routine performs the following steps;

(a) sending a specific request string for a device in a list of devices on a port, and

(b) if a response to said request string is matched, thereby identifying a device, configuring settings for said common parameters associated with said specific protocols for said device connected to said port, otherwise repeat steps a and b for next device in said list.

37. A system for communicating with various devices comprising:

a routine for identifying specific protocols for each connected device and automatically configuring settings for said common parameters associated with each of said protocols, wherein said routine performs the following steps;

(a) selecting a baud rate setting out of a list of standard baud rate settings;

(b) sending a first request string on a port; and

(c) if a first response to said first request string is matched, thereby identifying a device, configuring settings for said common parameters associated with said specific protocols for the device which corresponds to said first response, otherwise repeat steps a through c for the next baud rate in said list of standard baud rates.