Wireless battery status management for medical devices

• US 7,805,263 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mack, Hanns-Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman; Hal D
• Application Number:
  US11/718,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 702/63, 702/60, 702/61, 702/62, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm

Abstract

In a wireless battery operated medical component (10), a battery life monitor, particularly a voltage monitor (16), takes voltage readings of a battery (12) to assess charge level as the battery (12) drains. The monitored charge level and medical data are transmitted (20) to a receiver (22) associated with a remote host unit (24). The host unit includes historical and typical battery level information and estimates remaining life of the battery (12). Battery life and medical information are displayed on a user interface (42). Typical battery operated medical components include EKG sensors, pulse sensors, blood oxygen sensors, blood measure sensors, brain wave sensors, temperature sensors, perfusion pumps, IV drip controllers, patient identification tags or wrist bands, pacemakers, respirators, x-ray detectors, and an MRI coils.

Claims

1. A medical system, comprising:

a wireless x-ray detector which generates image data according to received x-rays from an x-ray source, the wireless x-ray detector including;

a rechargeable battery which powers the wireless x-ray detector,

a charge level monitor which monitors a charge level of the rechargeable battery and generate corresponding charge level data,

a transmitter which wirelessly transmits signals carrying the image data and the charge level data from the wireless x-ray detector and the charge level monitor, respectively;

a host device connected with a receiver which receives the transmitted signals from the wireless x-ray detector, the host device including;

a data processor which processes the image data received from the wireless x-ray detector, and

a battery status monitor which analyzes the received charge level data and determines an estimated remaining battery life of the wireless x-ray detector therefrom.

2. The medical system as set forth in claim 1, further including:

at least one battery operated functional medical component powered by at least one battery, the at least one battery operated functional component generating functional data and battery charge level data, the at least one battery operated functional medical component including a battery operated EKG sensor, a battery operated pulse sensor, a battery operated blood oxygen sensor, a battery operated blood measure sensor, a battery operated brain wave sensor, a battery operated temperature sensor, a battery operated perfusion pump, a battery operated IV drip controller, a battery operated patient identification tag, a battery operated wrist band, a battery operated respirator, or a battery operated MRI coil; and

the at least one battery operated functional medical component each including a transmitter which transmits the functional data and the functional medical component battery charge level data wirelessly to the host device.

3. The medical system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the host device further includes:

a user interface on which a user can view the estimated remaining battery life and the functional data .

4. The medical system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless x-ray detector further includes:

a voltage charge monitor which monitors an operating voltage of the rechargeable battery.

5. The medical system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter includes a short range radio frequency transmitter.

6. The medical system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the battery status monitor includes a processor which extrapolates a battery life curve based on the received charge level data from the charge level monitor and typical drainage patterns, determines an estimated critical point in time when the rechargeable battery operating voltage will become insufficient to operate the wireless x-ray detector, and reports an estimated battery life according to the estimated critical point.

7. The medical system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the host device further includes:

a historical data memory which stores historical data regarding battery discharge rates; and

wherein the battery status monitor determines discharge rates of the rechargeable battery, and determines the estimated remaining battery life of the rechargeable battery from the determined discharged rates and the historical data.

8. The medical system as set forth in claim 1, further including additional battery powered wireless medical components that communicate with the host device.

9. The medical system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the additional battery powered wireless medical components communicate with additional host devices.