Interface device and method for a monitoring network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interface device for a monitoring system, comprising:
- a communication interface, the communication interface being adapted to connect the interface device to a communication network to transmit data acquired by the interface device using a plurality of sensors over the communication network; and
a microprocessor and a programmed memory coupled to the microprocessor, the memory being programmed to provide the interface device with a peripheral mode of operation and a stand-alone mode of operation;
wherein, in the peripheral mode of operation, the interface device operates as a peripheral device for a first one of a plurality of monitors, the first monitor configured to receive and process data from sensors that are coupled to the first monitor and a system under test, and configured to execute a monitor program related to data acquired by the interface device from the plurality sensors;
wherein, in the stand-alone mode of operation, the interface device operates as a stand-alone device available to transmit the data from the sensors to multiple ones of the plurality of monitors by way of the communication network.
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Abstract
An interface device receives data from a plurality of sensors and transmits the data over a communication network to one or more of a plurality of monitors. The interface device is capable of operating in both a peripheral mode of operation and a stand-alone mode of operation for the plurality of monitors. In another embodiment, a monitor is connected to a plurality of interface devices by way of a communication network. A separate visible physical communication link or other identification link is used to visually identify which of the interface devices is serving as a peripheral device for the monitor.
93 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An interface device for a monitoring system, comprising:
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a communication interface, the communication interface being adapted to connect the interface device to a communication network to transmit data acquired by the interface device using a plurality of sensors over the communication network; and
a microprocessor and a programmed memory coupled to the microprocessor, the memory being programmed to provide the interface device with a peripheral mode of operation and a stand-alone mode of operation;
wherein, in the peripheral mode of operation, the interface device operates as a peripheral device for a first one of a plurality of monitors, the first monitor configured to receive and process data from sensors that are coupled to the first monitor and a system under test, and configured to execute a monitor program related to data acquired by the interface device from the plurality sensors;
wherein, in the stand-alone mode of operation, the interface device operates as a stand-alone device available to transmit the data from the sensors to multiple ones of the plurality of monitors by way of the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
wherein, in the peripheral mode of operation, (i) the interface device transmits the data acquired by the sensor to the one of the plurality of monitors, (ii) the data is accessible by remaining ones of the plurality of monitors only through the one of the plurality of monitors; - and
wherein, in the stand-alone mode of operation, (i) the data is accessible by remaining ones of the plurality of monitors only through the one of the plurality of monitors, and (ii) the data is displayed by the respective displays of the more than one of the plurality of monitors.
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3. An interface device according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by the interface device is physiological data pertaining to a physiological condition of a human patient.
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4. A monitoring system comprising:
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a communication network;
a sensor, the sensor being capable of acquiring data from a system under test;
an interface device, the interface device being coupled to the sensor to receive the data from the system under test, and the interface device being coupled to the communication network; and
a plurality of monitors, each of the plurality of monitors being coupled to the communication network; and
wherein the interface device has a peripheral mode of operation and a stand-alone mode of operation, the interface device operating as a peripheral device for a selected first one of the plurality of monitors in the peripheral mode of operation, and the interface device operating as a stand-alone device available to transmit the data to each of the plurality of monitors in the stand-alone mode of operation; and
wherein, the first monitor is configured to receive and process data from sensors that are coupled to the first monitor and a system under test, and configured to execute a monitor program related to data acquired by the interface device from the plurality sensors. - View Dependent Claims (5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
wherein, in the peripheral mode of operation, (i) the interface device transmits the data acquired by the sensor to the selected one of the plurality of monitors, (ii) the data is displayed by the selected one of the plurality of monitors, and (iii) the data is accessible by remaining ones of the plurality of monitors only through the selected one of the plurality of monitors; - and
wherein, in the stand-alone mode of operation, the interface device is available to transmit the data individually to each of the plurality of monitors, and the plurality of monitors are each configurable to receive the data acquired by the sensor directly from the interface device by way of the communication network.
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8. A system according to claim 4, wherein the interface device switches from the stand-alone mode of operation to the peripheral mode of operation in response to receiving a request from the selected one of the plurality of monitors to enter the peripheral mode of operation.
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9. A system according to claim 4, wherein the interface device switches from the stand-alone mode of operation to the peripheral mode of operation in response to an operator input received at the selected one of the plurality of monitors.
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10. A system according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring system is a patient monitoring system, wherein the system under test is a human patient, and wherein the data acquired from the human patient is physiological data.
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11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the sensor is one of an electrocardiograph sensor, a pulse oximetry sensor, a blood pressure sensor, and a carbon dioxide sensor, cardiac output sensor, impedance cardiography sensor, electroencephalograph sensor.
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12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the patient monitoring system is located in a healthcare facility.
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13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the interface device stores information identifying at least one of a unit name and a bed number with which the interface device is associated, and wherein the interface device transmits the at least one of the unit name and bed number to the selected one of the plurality of monitors.
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14. A system according to claim 4,
wherein the sensor is one of a first plurality of sensors capable of acquiring data from the system under test, wherein the system further comprises a second plurality of sensors, the second plurality of sensors being capable of acquiring data from the system under test; -
wherein the interface device includes a first plurality of input ports, the first plurality of input ports being coupled to respective ones of the first plurality of sensors to receive data at the interface device from the first plurality of sensors; and
wherein the selected one of the plurality of monitors includes a second plurality of input ports, the second plurality of input ports being coupled to respective ones of the second plurality of sensors to receive data at the selected one of the plurality of monitors from the second plurality of sensors.
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6. A monitoring system comprising:
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a communication network;
a sensor, the sensor being capable of acquiring data from a system under test;
an interface device, the interface device being coupled to the sensor to receive the data from the system under test, and the interface device being coupled to the communication network;
a plurality of monitors, each of the plurality of monitors being coupled to the communication network; and
an identification link, the identification link providing a separate physical connection between the interface device and the selected one of the plurality of monitors to thereby provide a visual indication that the interface device is operating as operating as the peripheral device for the selected one of the plurality of monitors wherein the interface device has a peripheral mode of operation and a stand-alone mode of operation, the interface device operating as a peripheral device for a selected one of the plurality of monitors in the peripheral mode of operation, and the interface device operating as a stand-alone device available to transmit the data to each of the plurality of monitors in the stand-alone mode of operation.
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7. A monitoring system comprising:
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a communication network;
a sensor, the sensor being capable of acquiring data from a system under test;
an interface device, the interface device being coupled to the sensor to receive the data from the system under test, and the interface device being coupled to the communication network; and
a plurality of monitors, each of the plurality of monitors being coupled to the communication network;
wherein the interface device has a peripheral mode of operation and a stand-alone mode of operation, the interface device operating as a peripheral device for a selected one of the plurality of monitors in the peripheral mode of operation, and the interface device operating as a stand-alone device available to transmit the data to each of the plurality of monitors in the stand-alone mode of operation; and
wherein the identification link comprises a dedicated communication link, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of additional interface devices, and wherein the interface device and the selected one of the plurality of monitors communicate by way of the dedicated communication link to verify an identity of the interface device operating as the peripheral device for the selected one of the, plurality of monitors.
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15. A monitoring system comprising:
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a communication network;
a sensor, the sensor being capable of acquiring data from a system under test;
an interface device, the interface device being coupled to the sensor to receive the data from the system under test, and the interface device being coupled to the communication network;
a plurality of monitors, each of the plurality of monitors being coupled to the communication network; and
wherein the sensor is one of a first plurality of sensors capable of acquiring data from the system under test, wherein the system further comprises a second plurality of sensors, the second plurality of sensors being capable of acquiring data from the system under test;
wherein the interface device includes a first plurality of input ports, the first plurality of input ports being coupled to respective ones of the first plurality of sensors to receive data at the interface device from the first plurality of sensors;
wherein the selected one of the plurality of monitors includes a second plurality of input ports, the second plurality of input ports being coupled to respective ones of the second plurality of sensors to receive data at the selected one of the plurality of monitors from the second plurality of sensors; and
wherein, in the peripheral mode of operation, the data acquired by the first plurality of sensors is displayed at the selected one of the plurality of monitors in a manner that is substantially indistinguishable from a manner in which the data acquired by the second plurality of sensors is displayed; and
wherein, in the stand-alone mode of operation, the data acquired by the first plurality of sensors is displayed at the selected one of the plurality of monitors in a manner that is readily distinguishable from a manner in which the data acquired by the second plurality of sensors is displayed.
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16. An interface device for a patient monitoring system, comprising:
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a plurality of input ports, the plurality of input ports being capable of being connected to a respective plurality of sensors to receive data acquired by the sensors from a patient;
a communication interface, the communication interface being adapted to connect the interface device to a communication network to transmit the data from the plurality of sensors over the communication network;
a microprocessor and a programmed memory coupled to the microprocessor, the memory being programmed to provide the interface device with first and second modes of operation, wherein, in the first mode of operation of the interface device, the interface device operates as a peripheral device for a selected first one of a plurality of monitors, such that the interface device transmits the data from the patient to the first monitor, the first monitor configured to receive and process data from sensors that are coupled to the first monitor and a system under test, and configured to execute a monitor program related to data acquired by the interface device from the plurality sensors; and
wherein, in the second mode of operation of the interface device, the interface device is available to transmit the data from the sensors to multiple ones of the plurality of monitors by way of the communication network for utilization by the multiple ones of the plurality of monitors, the utilization by the multiple ones of the plurality of monitors comprising, for each monitor, at least one of (a) displaying the data from the sensors and (b) storing the data from the sensors in an electronic patient chart.
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17. A patient monitoring system for a healthcare facility, the patient monitoring system comprising:
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a communication network;
a first plurality of sensors, the first plurality of sensors being capable of acquiring a first set of data from a human patient, the first set of data pertaining to physiological measurements from the human patient;
a second plurality of sensors, the second plurality of sensors being capable of acquiring a second set of data from the human patient, the second set of data pertaining to additional physiological measurements from the human patient;
a plurality of monitors, the plurality of monitors each being coupled to the communication network and each including a respective display, the plurality of monitors including a first monitor, the first monitor having a first plurality of input ports, the first monitor being coupled to the first plurality of sensors by way of the first plurality of input ports;
an interface device, the interface device being coupled to the communication network, the interface device having a second plurality of input ports, the interface device being coupled to the second plurality of sensors by way of the second plurality of input ports;
wherein, in a first mode of operation, the interface device operates as a peripheral device for the first monitor, such that (i) the interface device transmits the second set of data to the first monitor, (ii) at least some of the second set of data is displayed by the first monitor, and (iii) the second set of data is accessible by remaining ones of the plurality of monitors only through the first monitor; and
wherein, in a second mode of operation, the interface device operates as a stand-alone device, such that (i) the interface device transmits the second set of data by way of the communication network to more than one of the plurality of monitors, and (ii) at least some of the second set of data is displayed by the more than one of the plurality of monitors.
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18. A method of operation for a patient monitoring network, comprising:
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(A) acquiring data from a patient using sensors connected to an interface device;
(B) operating the monitoring network with the interface device in a stand-alone mode operation, including (1) transmitting the data from the interface device to a plurality of monitors, and (2) displaying the data at the plurality of monitors;
(C) changing the mode of operation of the interface device from the stand-alone mode of operation to a peripheral mode of operation; and
(D) operating the monitoring network with the interface device in the peripheral mode operation, including (1) transmitting the data from the interface device to a selected first one of the plurality of monitors, the first monitor configured to receive and process data from sensors that are coupled to the first monitor and a system under test, and configured to execute a monitor program related to data acquired by the interface device from the plurality sensors, and (2) displaying the data at the selected one of the plurality of monitors, wherein, in the peripheral mode of operation, the data acquired by the interface device is available to remaining ones of the plurality of monitors only through the selected one of the plurality of monitors. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
(1) transmitting a request from the selected one of the plurality monitors to the interface device to enter a peripheral mode of operation, and (2) receiving and responding to the request at the interface device. -
21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the interface device is one of a plurality of interface devices, and wherein the method further comprises maintaining a list of the plurality of interface device that are available to operate in the peripheral mode of operation, the list being maintained in memory devices of at least some of the plurality of monitors.
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22. A method of operation for a patient monitoring network, comprising:
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(A) acquiring data from a patient using sensors connected to an interface device, the interface device being one of a plurality of interface devices;
(B) operating the monitoring network with the interface device in a stand-alone mode operation, including (1) transmitting the data from the interface device to a plurality of monitors, and (2) displaying the data at the plurality of monitors;
(C) changing the mode of operation of the interface device from the stand-alone mode of operation to a peripheral mode of operation;
(D) operating the monitoring network with the interface device in the peripheral mode operation, including (1) transmitting the data from the interface device to a selected first one of the plurality of monitors, and (2) displaying the data at the selected one of the plurality of monitors, (E) maintaining a list of the plurality of interface device that are available to operate in the peripheral mode of operation, the list being maintained in memory devices of at least some of the plurality of monitors; and
(F) displaying the list to a human operator, and receiving an operator selection indicating which of the plurality of interface devices is available to serve in the peripheral mode of operation;
wherein, in the peripheral mode of operation, the data acquired by the interface device is available to remaining ones of the plurality of monitors only through the selected one of the plurality of monitors.
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23. A method of operation for a patient monitoring network, comprising:
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(A) acquiring data from a patient using sensors connected to an interface device;
(B) operating the monitoring network with the interface device in a stand-alone mode operation, including (1) transmitting the data from the interface device to a plurality of monitors, and (2) displaying the data at the plurality of monitors;
(C) changing the mode of operation of the interface device from the stand-alone mode of operation to a peripheral mode of operation;
(D) operating the monitoring network with the interface device in the peripheral mode operation, including (1) transmitting the data from the interface device to a selected first one of the plurality of monitors, the interface device and the selected one of the plurality of monitors being connected by a dedicated communication link, and (2) displaying the data at the selected one of the plurality of monitors, and (E) exchanging identification information between the interface device and the selected one of the plurality of monitors over the dedicated communication link;
wherein, in the peripheral mode of operation, the data acquired by the interface device is available to remaining ones of the plurality of monitors only through the selected one of the plurality of monitors.
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24. A monitoring system comprising:
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first means for acquiring a first set of data from a system under test;
second means for acquiring a second set of data from the system under test;
means for displaying the first set of data and the second set of data; and
means for receiving the first set of data and transmitting the first set of data on a communication network, wherein, in a first mode of operation, the means for receiving transmits the first set of data exclusively to the means for displaying and, in a second mode of operation, the means for receiving broadcasts the first set of data on the communication network for reception by a plurality of devices capable of displaying the first set of data.
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25. A monitoring system comprising:
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a communication network;
a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors being capable of acquiring data from a plurality of systems under test;
a monitor, the monitor having a display, and the monitor being coupled to the communication network;
a plurality of interface devices, the plurality of interface devices being coupled to respective ones of the plurality of sensors to receive the data from the systems under test, the plurality of interface devices being coupled to the communication network, and a selected one of the plurality of interface devices operating as a peripheral device for the monitor; and
an identification link, the identification link providing a separate physical connection between the monitor and the selected one of the plurality of interface devices to thereby provide a visual indication which one of the plurality of interface devices is operating as the peripheral device for the monitor. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A monitoring system, comprising:
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a monitor; and
an interface device coupled to the monitor and configured to operate in a first operating mode and a second operating mode;
wherein the monitor handles data acquired by the interface device as if it had been acquired by the monitor if the interface device is in the first operating mode, and handles data acquired by the interface device as if it had been acquired by an independent device if the interface device is in the second operating mode.
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35. A monitoring system, comprising;
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a network;
a monitor coupled to the network; and
an interface device coupled to the network and configured to operate in a first operating mode and a second operating mode;
wherein the system handles data acquired by the interface device as if it had been acquired by the monitor if the interface device is in the first operating mode, and handles data acquired by the interface device as if it had been acquired independently of the monitor if the interface device is in the second operating mode.
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36. A monitoring system, comprising;
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a network;
a monitor coupled to the network; and
an interface device coupled to the network and configured to operate in a first operating mode and a second operating mode;
wherein the system handles the interface device as if it were a portion of the monitor if the interface device is in the first operating mode, and handles data acquired by the interface device as if it is an independent device if the interface device is in the second operating mode.
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Specification