Method for delivering a fluid to a patient

• US 8,645,154 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Eggers, Philip N., Schlotterbeck, David L., Vanderveen, Timothy W., Coffman, Damon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BURGESS, JOSEPH D
• Application Number:
  US11/317,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20060143051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,965 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3, 600/300
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• 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 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database. The selected protocol includes default parameters for delivering the drug, and the label optionally includes instructions for deviating from the default protocol.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a drug or fluid to a patient, comprising:

obtaining patient-specific information from a database in a hospital network, the patient-specific information including patient location information;

transferring the patient-specific information to a patient care device using an input device in communication with said patient care device, said patient care device comprising a microprocessor and a memory storing a plurality of configuration databases for configuring the care device to provide care to a patient;

activating, using the microprocessor, a configuration database from the plurality of configuration databases in response to said patient-specific information including the patient location information, the activated configuration database including a plurality of protocols;

selecting, using the microprocessor, a protocol from said plurality of protocols, said protocol including at least one parameter for programming the care device to deliver a drug or fluid to the patient;

programming, using the microprocessor, said device to deliver the drug or fluid to the patient in accordance with the selected protocol; and

delivering the drug or fluid to the patient in accordance with the selected protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said patient care device comprises:

an interface unit including the memory and a processor, said interface unit in communication with the input device; and

a functional unit removably connected to said interface unit and communicating therewith, said functional unit including a pump for delivering the drug or fluid to the patient.