System and method for a wireless medical communication system

• US 7,294,105 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cheetah Omni LLC
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammed N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astorino; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US10/652,275
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 128903-905, 128/920
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

In one embodiment, a wireless medical communication system includes a plurality of transmitters. Each of the plurality of transmitters is capable of being coupled to at least one of a plurality of patients and operable to communicate over a communication link a substantially unprocessed physiological data signal associated with at least one patient. At least a portion of the communication link comprises a wireless connection. The system further includes at least one medical diagnostic device operable to receive at least two substantially unprocessed physiological data signals communicated from the plurality of transmitters. Each of the at least two substantially unprocessed physiological data signals are associated with different patients.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of transmitters adapted to be coupled to at least one patient at a first location, the plurality of transmitters communicating over a first communication link a plurality of data signals associated with the at least one patient, at least a portion of the first communication link comprising a wireless connection;

a first receiver coupled to the first communication link, the first receiver receiving at least a portion of the plurality of data signals communicated over the first communication link and communicating the portion of the plurality of data signals over a second communication link, wherein the first receiver communicates the portion of the plurality of data signals in a first data format over the second communication link, wherein the first data format comprises a time division multiple-access (TDMA) format and wherein at least a portion of the second communication link comprises an optical fiber;

at least one repeater coupled to the first receiver, the at least one repeater boosting a power level of the portion of the plurality of data signals for communication over the second communication link; and

a central office station coupled to the at least one repeater, the central office station receiving the portion of the plurality of data signals communicated over the second communication link and communicating at least some of the portion of the plurality of data signals received by the central office station in a second data format over a third communication link to one or more receiving devices at a remote location, wherein the remote location is different than the first location and wherein the third communication link comprises a local access network coupled to the central office station at a proximal end of the local access network and coupled to the remote location at a distal end of the local access network; and

one or more diagnostic devices coupled to the central office station, wherein the one or more diagnostic devices comprise a device selected from the group consisting of a heart monitor, an electrocardiogram, a blood pressure device, a temperature measuring device, a chemical composition device, and an electroencephalogram, wherein the second data format of at least a portion of the plurality of data signals communicated over the third communication link comprises a different format than the first data format communicated over the second communication link.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data signals comprise substantially unprocessed physiological data signals and a patient identifier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of transmitters communicates the data signals in the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) band.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data format communicated over the third communication link is communicated over the third communication link is selected from the group consisting of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wave division multiplexing (WDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), packet addressing, spread spectrum, frequency hopping, and Query-Need-To-Know (QNN).

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors coupled to the at least one patient, the plurality of sensors converting at least one physiological parameter associated with the at least one patient to an electronic format.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least some of the plurality of sensors coupling a patient identifier to the electronic format.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the physiological parameter is selected from the group consisting of oxygen saturation in the blood (SpO2), blood pressure, blood sugar, body temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), respiration rate, and heart rate.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the central office station processing at least a portion of at least some of the data signals received from the second communication link.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the central office station comprises a communication device communicating the processed data signals to a bed-side data station in a patient'"'"'s room.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the central office station further comprises at least one computational device monitoring the data signals and to store data in a memory device associated with the central office station.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the data signals are communicated using a carrier frequency selected from the group consisting of a 900 MHz band, a 2.4 GHz band, and a 5.8 GHz band.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one back-up communication channel communicating at least one of the data signals to the at least one diagnostic device in the event that the first communication link fails.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the third communication link is selected from the group consisting of a twisted-pair copper line, an optical fiber, a digital subscriber line, a wireless link, a USB bus, a PCI bus and an Ethernet interface.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote location is selected from the group consisting of a patient'"'"'s home and a hospital room.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one repeater is a signal amplifier.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of data signals are in a packet format with an address and a payload, wherein the address associates each of the plurality data signals to the at least one patient.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of transmitters communicates the data signals using a wireless technology selected from the group consisting of Internet, cellular, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11b, or WiFi technologies.

18. A communication system capable of minimizing interference, comprising:

one or more sensors adapted to be coupled to at least one patient at a first location, the one or more sensors converting at least one physiological parameter associated with the at least one patient to a substantially unprocessed physiological data signal;

at least one transmitter coupled to the one or more sensors, the at least one transmitter communicating over a first communication link the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal, at least a portion of the first communication link comprising a wireless connection, wherein at least a portion of the wireless connection operates in a WMTS band;

at least one repeater coupled to the at least one transmitter, the repeater receiving at least a portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal communicated over the first communication link, boosting a power level of the portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal, communicating the portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal in a first data format over a second communication link; and

a central office station coupled to the at least one repeater, the central office station receiving the portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal communicated over the second communication link and communicating at least some of the portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal received by the central office station in a second data format over a third communication link to one or more receiving devices at a remote location, wherein the remote location is different than the first location and wherein the central office station is coupled to one or more diagnostic devices and wherein the third communication link comprises a local access network coupled to the central office station at a proximal end of the local access network and coupled to the remote location at a distal end of the local access network; and

wherein the second data format of the portion of the data signal communicated over the third communication link comprises a different format than the first data format communicated over the second communication link.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising one or more receivers coupled to the at least one transmitter, the one or more receivers receiving at least a portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one transmitter is adapted to be attached to the at least one patient.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein at least some of the one or more sensors attaching a patient identifier to the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one medical diagnostic device coupled to a receiver, the at least one medical device processing the at least a portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein at least another patient is coupled to the at least one medical diagnostic device, the at least one medical diagnostic device receiving at least two substantially unprocessed physiological data signals communicated from that at least one transmitter, wherein each of the at least two substantially unprocessed physiological signals are associated with different patients.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one medical diagnostic device receiving and processing at least two substantially unprocessed physiological signals using a loop format.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one medical diagnostic device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a heart monitor, an electrocardiogram, a blood pressure device, a temperature device, a chemical composition device, and an electroencephalogram.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising at least one back-up communication channel communicating the substantially unprocessed physiological data signals to the at least one medical diagnostic device in the event that the communication link fails.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the central office station communicating a data signal to a bed-side data station located in a patient room associated with the at least one patient.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the central office station comprises at least one computational device monitoring the substantially unprocessed physiological data signals and to store the data in a memory device associated with the central office station.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein at least another portion of the wireless connection operates in a frequency band that is substantially different than the WMTS band.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the frequency band that is substantially different than the WMTS band is selected from the group consisting of a 900 MHz band, a 2.4 GHz band, and a 5.8 GHz band.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal comprises a patient identifier.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the second data format communicated over the third communication link is communicated over the third communication link is selected from the group consisting of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), wave division multiplexing (WDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), packet addressing, spread spectrum, frequency hopping, and Query-Need-To-Know (QNN).

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the first data format communicated over the second data link is a time division multiple-access (TDMA) format.

34. The system of claim 18, wherein the second communication link is selected from the group consisting of a twisted-pair copper line, an optical fiber, a digital subscriber line, a wireless link, a USB bus, a PCI bus and an Ethernet interface.

35. The system of claim 18, wherein the third communication link is selected from the group consisting of a twisted-pair copper line, an optical fiber, a digital subscriber line, a wireless link, a USB bus, a PCI bus and an Ethernet interface.

36. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote location is selected from the group consisting of a patient'"'"'s home and a hospital room.

37. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one repeater is a signal amplifier.

38. The system of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal is in a packet format with an address and a payload, wherein the address associates the data signals to the at least one patient.

39. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one transmitter communicates the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal using a wireless technology selected from the group consisting of Internet, cellular, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11b, or WiFi technologies.

40. The system of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the second communication link comprises an optical fiber.

41. A wireless medical communication system, comprising:

at least one transmitter adapted to be coupled to at least one patient at a first location, the at least one transmitter communicating over a first communication link a substantially unprocessed physiological data signal associated with the at least one patient, wherein at least a portion of the first communication link comprises a wireless connection;

a first receiver coupled to the first communication link, the first receiver receiving at least a portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal communicated over the first communication link and communicating the portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal in a first data format over a second communication link, wherein at least a portion of the second communication link comprises an optical fiber; and

a central office station coupled to the first receiver, the central office station receiving the portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal communicated over the second communication link, to process at least a portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal, and to communicate at least a portion of processed physiological data signal in a second data format over a third communication link to one or more receiving devices at a remote location, wherein the remote location is different than the first location, wherein at least a part of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal received by the central office comprises a packet format having an address and a payload, wherein the address associates the data signal to the at least one patient and wherein the third communication link comprises a local access network coupled to the central office station at a proximal end of the local access network and coupled to the remote location at a distal end of the local access network; and

wherein the second data format of the portion of the data signal communicated over the third communication link comprises a different format than the first data format communicated over the second communication link.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein at least a portion of the wireless connection operates in a Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) band.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the second data format communicated over the third communication link is communicated over the third communication link is selected from the group consisting of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), wave division multiplexing (WDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), packet addressing, spread spectrum, frequency hopping, and Query-Need-To-Know (QNN).

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the third communication links are selected from the group consisting of a twisted-pair copper line, an optical fiber, a digital subscriber line, a wireless link, a USB bus, a PCI bus and an Ethernet interface.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the remote location is selected from the group consisting of a patient'"'"'s home and a hospital room.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the at least one repeater is a signal amplifier.

47. The system of claim 41, further comprising at least one repeater coupled to the at least one receiver, the at least one repeater boosting a power level of the portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal as the portion of the substantially unprocessed physiological data signal is communicated over the second communication link.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the first data format communicated over the second communication link is a time division multiple access (TDMA) format.

49. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of transmitters, each of the plurality of transmitters adapted to be coupled to at least one patient at a first location, the plurality of transmitters communicating over a first communication link a data signal associated with at least one patient, at least a portion of the first communication link comprising a wireless connection;

a first receiver coupled to the first communication link, the first receiver receiving at least a portion of the data signal and to communicate the portion of the data signal in a first data format over a second communication link;

at least one repeater coupled to the receiver, the at least one repeater boosting a power level of the portion of the data signal for communication over the second communication link; and

a central office station coupled to the at least one repeater, the central office station receiving the portion of the data signal and to communicate at least some of the portion of the data signal in a second data format over a third communication link to a plurality of receiving devices at one or more remote locations, wherein the remote location is different than the first location and wherein the central office station is coupled to one or more data storage devices and one or more display units and wherein the third communication link comprises an optical fiber distribution network that operates to distribute the portion of the data signal to the plurality of receiving devices; and

one or more diagnostic devices coupled to the central office station, wherein the one or more diagnostic devices comprise a device selected from the group consisting of a heart monitor, an electrocardiogram, a blood pressure device, a temperature measuring device, a chemical composition device, and an electroencephalogram, wherein the second data format of the portion of the data signal communicated over the third communication link comprises a different format than the first data format communicated over the second communication link.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the second data format communicated over the third communication link is communicated over the third communication link is selected from the group consisting of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), wave division multiplexing (WDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), packet addressing, spread spectrum, frequency hopping, and Query-Need-To-Know (QNN).

51. The system of claim 49, wherein at least a portion of the wireless connection comprises communication frequency selected from the group consisting of the WMTS band, a 900 MHz band, a 2.4 GHz band, and a 5.8 GHz band.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein at least the second communication link is selected from the group consisting of a twisted-pair copper line, an optical fiber, a digital subscriber line, a wireless link, a USB bus, a PCI bus and an Ethernet interface.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the third communication link comprises a data network, a public switched telephone network, an integrated services digital network, a metropolitan area network, or at least a portion of the Internet.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the at least one repeater is a signal amplifier.

55. The system of claim 49, wherein at least some of the data signals are in a packet format with an address and a payload, wherein the address associates the data signals to the at least one patient.

56. The system of claim 49, wherein the second data format communicated over the second communication link is time-division multiple access (TDMA).