Medical device with electrically isolated communication interface

• US 9,204,794 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lisogurski, Daniel, Schlottau, Friso, Snyder, Jonathan, Khayani, Saba Bakhshi, Lin, Andy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US13/741,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20140199893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 600/323, 600/301, 439/502, 439/909
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00018 using electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0404 with means for selective or partial lung respiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0459 one cuff behind another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0484 at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to medical devices and, more particularly, to medical devices with electrical connectors. In one embodiment, a medical device may include a medical connector having one or more contacts configured to enable communication between the medical device and a medical monitor according to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard. The medical connector may also include an interface region disposed at least partially about the one or more contacts. The interface region may be configured to physically couple to a mating connector of the medical monitor. Additionally, the interface region may include a geometry or a dimension that does not comply with the USB standard.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sensor comprising one or more electrical components configured to collect data relating to a patient, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to a connector via a cable, and wherein the connector is configured to receive the data from the one or more electrical components; and

a dongle configured to enable communication between the sensor and a patient monitor such that the communication complies with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard and comprising;

a receptacle configured to couple to the connector of the sensor;

a plug configured to couple to a mating connector of the patient monitor, wherein the plug comprises a geometry or a dimension that does not comply with the USB standard; and

a cable coupling the receptacle with the plug.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a visualization device disposed on or within an endotracheal tube.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plug prevents the dongle from connecting to a USB port in compliance with the USB standard.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the dongle comprises at least a portion of an insulating shroud disposed about the plug, wherein at least a portion of the plug is conductive and the insulating shroud is formed from an insulating material.

5. A medical system, comprising:

a sensor comprising one or more electrical components configured to collect data relating to a patient, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to a connector via a cable, and wherein the connector comprises one or more contacts configured to receive the data from the one or more electrical components and to enable communication between the sensor and a medical monitor such that the communication complies with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard; and

the medical monitor configured to receive the data collected by the sensor to monitor one or more physiological parameters of the patient; and

wherein the connector comprises an interface region disposed at least partially about the one or more contacts and configured to enable the connector to physically couple to a mating connector of the medical monitor, wherein the interface region comprises a geometry or a dimension that does not comply with the USB standard, and wherein the medical monitor comprises the mating connector having substantially the same geometry and dimensions as the interface region of the connector of the sensor.

6. The medical system of claim 5, wherein the sensor comprises a visualization device disposed on or within an endotracheal tube.

7. The medical system of claim 5, comprising an adaptor, wherein the adaptor comprises:

a receptacle configured to receive the connector of the sensor;

electrical isolation circuitry configured to electrically isolate the patient from an earth ground; and

a plug configured to electrically and physically couple to a port of a computing device.

8. The medical system of claim 7, wherein the plug of the adaptor comprises a geometry and dimensions in compliance with the USB standard, and wherein the port of the computing device comprises a USB port in compliance with the USB standard.

9. The medical system of claim 5, wherein the interface region comprises a first surface and a second surface disposed on opposite sides of the one or more contacts, wherein the first and second surfaces are not parallel and have different respective lengths.

10. The medical system of claim 5, wherein the interface region comprises a height or a width that is larger than a height or a width, respectively, specified by the USB standard.

11. A medical system, comprising:

a sensor comprising one or more electrical components configured to collect data relating to a patient, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to a connector via a cable, and wherein the connector comprises;

one or more contacts configured to receive the data from the one or more electrical components and to enable communication between the sensor and a medical monitor such that the communication complies with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard;

an interface region disposed at least partially about the one or more contacts, wherein the interface region comprises an inner interface region with a first geometry that complies with the USB standard and an outer interface region with a second geometry that does not comply with the USB standard; and

the medical monitor having a mating connector, wherein the mating connector comprises an inner mating region comprising the first geometry and an outer mating region comprising the second geometry.

12. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the outer interface region is formed from an insulating material.

13. The medical system of claim 12, wherein the inner interface region is conductive and the outer interface region extends past the inner interface region.

14. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a visualization device disposed on or within an endotracheal tube.

15. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the outer interface region comprises a height or a width that is larger than a height or a width, respectively, specified by the USB standard.

16. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the outer interface region comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are not parallel and have different respective lengths.

17. The medical system of claim 11, wherein at least one surface of the outer interface region comprises a ridge or a groove.