System, method and apparatus for sensing and communicating status information from a portable medical device

• US 6,727,814 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Physio-Control Manufacturing Corp.
• Inventors: Bertagnole, Shawn R., Tamura, Paul S., Nova, Richard C., Saltzstein, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/963,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531, 340/539, 340/573.1, 340/679, 340/3.43, 340/815.45, 340/815.47, 340/525, 340/539.12, 340/539.11, 340/539.17, 340/539.24, 706/924, 600/300, 600/509, 359/110, 359/143, 359/144, 128/903, 128/904, 250/200, 250/491, 250/227.11, 250/227.14
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/924 Medical

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for obtaining status information from a portable medical device and communicating said status information to a remote system or user. In one embodiment, the system comprises a sensing device that comprises an optical receiver for receiving status information from at least one status indicator of the portable medical device. The optical receiver is positioned in sufficient proximity to the status indicator to allow optical communication between the optical receiver and the status indicator. A circuit couplable to the optical receiver communicates the status information represented by the status indicator to the remote system or user. In another embodiment, the sensing device comprises a microphone to receive audible status signals from the portable medical device. In yet another embodiment, the sensing device is mounted to a housing, which allows sensing device to sense the status information of an enclosed portable medical device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating status information of a portable medical device to a remote recipient, the apparatus comprising:

a sensing device having a receiver for detecting a state change in a status indicator of the portable medical device, wherein the receiver is configured on the sensing device such that when the sensing device is positioned over the portable medical device the receiver is aligned to detect the state change in the status indicator of the portable medical device; and

a circuit coupled to the receiver for communicating an electronic signal indicative of the detected state change of the status indicator to the remote recipient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver is an optical receiver configured to detect optical signals produced by the status indicator of the portable medical device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a light source for illuminating the status indicator, wherein the light source is configured to allow the optical receiver to detect a changed state of the status indicator.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical receiver and circuit are coupled to a housing that encloses the portable medical device.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical receiver and circuit are couplable to the portable medical device.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical receiver comprises a light-sensitive device configured for detecting the presence of a light source generated by the status indicator.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical receiver comprises a light-sensitive device configured for detecting the presence of a light source of a predetermined wavelength generated by the status indicator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured for detecting audible signals produced by at least one status indicator of the portable medical device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the circuit is configured to distinguish a particular status signal based on the duration of the audible signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the circuit is configured to distinguish a particular status signal based on the tone of the audible signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the circuit is configured to distinguish a particular status signal based on the volume of the audible signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the circuit is configured to determine a particular status signal based on a duration of time between repetitious audible signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit and receiver are configured to determine movement of the portable medical device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to electronically communicate with a plurality of lights, wherein the plurality of lights are each activated or deactivated in response to a state change of at least one corresponding status indicator.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to electronically communicate with at least one light, wherein the light is activated or deactivated in response to a state change of at least one status indicator.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to electronically communicate with a speaker system, wherein the speaker system is configured to produce an audible tone when the circuit receives a corresponding signal indicating a state change of one corresponding status indicator.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of receivers, each receiver corresponding to a different one of a plurality of status indicators of the portable medical device, and wherein at least two of the receivers arc positioned such that when the apparatus is positioned over the portable medical device, the at least two receivers are aligned to receive status information from the corresponding status indicators.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a distance between the at least two receivers matches a distance between each of the corresponding status indicators.

19. A method for communicating status of a portable medical device to a remote recipient, wherein the method comprises:

positioning a sensing device over the portable medical device such that a receiver of the sensing device is aligned with a visual display of the portable medical device;

detecting with the receiver at least one state change in the visual display of the portable medical device, wherein the state change indicates the status of the portable medical device;

generating an electronic signal indicative of the status of the portable medical device; and

communicating the electronic signal to the remote recipient.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating a visual alarm signal at the remote recipient in response to receiving the communicated electronic signal.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating an audible alarm signal at the remote recipient in response to receiving the communicated electronic signal.

22. A system for communicating a status indicator signal from a portable medical device to a remote system, wherein the system comprises:

means for detecting at least one state change of one status indicator configured in the portable medical device, wherein the state change is indicative of a determined status of the portable medical device, and further wherein the means for detecting is configured such that when the means for detecting is positioned over the portable medical device, the means for detecting is aligned to detect the at least one state change;

means for generating an electronic signal indicative of the determined status of the portable medical device; and

means for communicating the electronic signal to the remote system.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising, means for generating a visual signal at the remote system in response to receiving the communicated electronic signal.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising, means for generating an audible alarm signal at the remote system in response to receiving the communicated electronic signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the status indicator comprises a liquid crystal display configured to communicate an operational state of the portable medical device.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the status indicator comprises an electronic light source configured to communicate an operational state of the portable medical device.

27. An apparatus for storing a portable medical device having at least one status indicator, the apparatus comprising:

a housing sized to receive the portable medical device;

a sensing device mounted in the housing, wherein the sensing device comprises;

at least one receiver positioned on the sensing means such that when the sensing means is positioned over the portable medical device the receiver is aligned to detect a state change in a status indicator of the portable medical device; and

a circuit coupled to the receiver for communicating status information from at least one status indicator of the portable medical device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the portable medical device comprises a plurality of status indicators, wherein the sensing device comprises a plurality of receivers, each receiver corresponding to a different one of the plurality of status indicators, and wherein at least one of the receivers are positioned on the sensing device such that when the sensing device is positioned over the portable medical device, the at least one receiver is aligned to receive status information from the corresponding one of die plurality of status indicators.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the receiver is an optical receiver configured to detect optical signals produced by the status indicator of the portable medical device.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the sensing device further comprises a light source for illuminating at least one status indicator of the portable medical device, wherein the illumination of the status indicator allows at least one optical receiver to determine a status from the status indicator.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the receiver is configured for detecting audible signals produced by at least one stains indicator of the portable medical device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the circuit is configured to distinguish a particular status signal based on the duration of the audible signal.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the circuit is configured to distinguish a particular status signal based on the tone of the audible signal.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the circuit is configured to distinguish a particular status signal based on the volume of the audible signal.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the circuit is configured to determine a particular status signal based on a duration of time between repetitious audible signals.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the circuit is configured to electronically communicate with a plurality of lights, wherein the plurality of lights are each activated or deactivated in response to a state change of one corresponding status indicator.

37. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the circuit is configured to electronically communicate with a plurality of lights, wherein the plurality of lights are each activated or deactivated in response to a state change of one corresponding status indicator.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the circuit is configured to electronically communicate with at least one light, wherein the light is activated or deactivated in response to a state change of one corresponding status indicator.

39. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the circuit is configured to electronically communicate with a sound device, wherein the sound device is configured to produce an audible tone when the circuit receives a corresponding signal indicating a state change of one corresponding status indicator.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the sound device is a piezo electric device.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the sound device is a speaker system.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the sound device is a mechanical buzzer.