US20050133027A1 - Modular medical care system - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular medical care system, housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, includes a plurality of different modules including: (a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient; and (b) a patient treatment module for delivering treatment to the patient. A processor processes signals derived from the plurality of different modules. A communication interface provides bidirectional communication between the processor and the plurality of different modules via a network.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a modular medical care system, and in particular to a modular healthcare processing and display system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Hospitals routinely monitor physiological parameters of patients from first entry until final release. Originally, this was performed by one or more patient monitoring devices, such as a heart rate monitor, an EKG monitor, an SpO₂monitor, and so forth. These physiological parameters were separately detected by separate pieces of equipment, possibly manufactured by respectively different manufacturers. The monitoring equipment included the connections to the patient necessary to measure the physiological parameter and a display device of the type necessary to display the physiological parameter in an appropriate manner. A healthcare worker, such as a nurse, visited the patient's location and looked at each separate system to accumulate the patient's vital signs.
• Current systems have integrated measurement of some of the physiological parameters (e.g. EKG, SpO₂, etc.) into a single patient monitoring device. Such a device includes the patient connections necessary to measure the physiological parameters measurable by the device and a display device which can display the measured physiological parameters in an appropriate manner. Such patient monitors may be considered to be partitioned into two sections. A first, operational, section controls the reception of signals from the electrodes connected to the patient and performs the signal processing necessary to calculate the desired physiological parameters. A second, control, status and communication, section interacts with a user to receive control information and with the operational section to receive the physiological parameters, and displays status information and the values of the physiological parameters in an appropriate manner. Either or both of these sections may include a computer or processor to control the operation of that section. This approach has an economic advantage since the control, status and communication section is shared among the parameter monitoring functions.
• Such patient monitors may also be connected to a central hospital computer system via a hospital network. In this manner, data representing patient physiological parameters may be transferred to the central hospital computer system for temporary or permanent storage in a storage device. Data received from the patient monitors may also be monitored by a person, such as a nurse, at the central location. The stored data may be retrieved and analyzed by other healthcare workers via the hospital network. Patient monitors in such a networked system include a terminal which is capable of being connected to and communicating with the hospital network. In such a patient monitor, the control, status and communication section controls, not only the display of the physiological parameters, but also the connection to the hospital network and the exchange of the physiological parameters with other systems, such as other patient monitors and/or the central computer storage device, via the hospital network.
• Such patient monitoring modules may also be portable. That is, they may operate while being transported with a patient who is being moved from one location to another in the hospital, for example, between a patient room and a therapy or operating room. A portable patient monitor consists of a base unit, and a portable unit which may be docked and undocked from the base unit. Base units may be placed at appropriate locations in the hospital. They are permanently connected to the hospital network and receive power from the power mains. The portable unit includes the necessary patient connections, connections for docking with base units, and a display screen. The portable unit also includes a processor which controls the operation of the portable unit The portable unit further includes a battery and an internal memory device.
• While the portable unit of the patient monitor is docked, the batteries are recharged, and data representing physiological parameters are transmitted to the central hospital computer through the base unit via the hospital network. While the portable unit of the patient monitor is undocked, it runs on battery power. During transportation, the patient monitor continues to receive and display physiological parameters, and stores a record of those parameters in the internal memory device. If a base unit is available at the destination, the portable unit may be docked there. Communications is reestablished with the hospital central computer, and battery recharging commenced. At this time, data representing the previously stored parameters is retrieved from the internal memory device and transmitted to the storage device in the central hospital computer via the hospital network.
• In such a patient monitor, the control, status and communication section controls, not only display of the physiological parameters, and communication of those parameters to the hospital network via the docking unit, but also detection of docking and undocking, control of power (either from the base unit when docked or the internal battery when undocked), storage of physiological parameter data in internal memory when the patient monitor is undocked, and transmission of stored physiological parameter data when the patient monitor is redocked.
• Patient monitors have also been adapted to be used to transmit information to the hospital network from other modules. These modules may be patient monitoring modules measuring physiological parameters which are not measured by the patient monitor, or patient treatment modules reporting the status of treatments being provided to the patient. Such patient monitors include input terminals, or wireless input ports, to which these other monitoring modules are connected. Information from these modules is passed through the patient monitor to the hospital network through the base unit.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of ahospital100 operating in the manner described above. InFIG. 1, four rooms in a hospital are illustrated: anoperating room102, an intensive care unit (ICU)room104, anemergency room106 and anothercritical care room108. Theoperating room102, the ICUroom104 and theemergency room106 include a patient monitor device as described above. Each patient monitor includes a connection to a criticalcare area network110, either directly from the patient monitor or through a base unit (not shown). Each patient monitor also includes patient connections to electrodes attachable to the patient, not shown to simplify the figure. The patient monitors also receive data from other devices and forward that data to the critical care area network. In theoperating room102, an anesthesia device and fluid management device are coupled to the criticalcare area network110 through the patient monitor; in the ICU room a ventilator device and fluid management device are coupled to the criticalcare area network110 through the patient monitor; and in the emergency room106 a ventilator device is coupled to the criticalcare area network110 through the patient monitor. In the other critical care room108 a ventilator device is coupled directly to the criticalcare area network110, either directly or through its own base unit.
• A patient monitor is passive in the sense that it monitors physiological parameters of the patient to which it is attached. However, other medical devices are active in the sense that their operation affects the patient in some manner. For example, the anesthesia device controls the administration of anesthesia to a patient, e.g. during an operation; the fluid management device controls the administration of fluids (blood, saline, and/or medication) to a patient; the ventilator device assists or controls breathing of a patient, e.g. during an operation, and so forth. The active devices also include a computer or processor which controls the operation of the device. These devices also may be connected to a hospital network through a base unit. This allows a central location to not only monitor but also to control the active device. As with the patient monitoring device, an active device, such as a fluid monitoring device, may be portable in the sense that a control module, including a processor, may be undocked from a fixed unit. This control module continues to operate the device, at the last received control settings, e.g. while a patient is transported from one location to another. When at the new location, the control module may be docked in a fixed unit at the new location and control by a central computer resumed.
• The modules illustrated inFIG. 1 operate independently of each other, and each includes its own computer or processor controlling the module. This requires the presence of a base unit for each separate module. In an operating room, where many such modules may be in use concurrently, this requires space, and power. Further, each device may be docked only in a base unit for that type of device. That is, a patient monitor device may be docked only in a patient monitor base unit, a fluid monitoring device may be docked only in a fluid monitoring device base unit, and so forth.
• Furthermore, each module has its own user interface which may be different from those of other modules. This complicates the job of a healthcare provider by requiring training in the operation of the different modules. It also requires that, in order to provide a desired therapy, different modules from different manufactures be assembled around the patient, hooked up to the patient, control parameters set and continued operation monitored, with the difficulty, described above, related to different user interfaces of the different modules. Separate instructions on how to operate the different modules in the proper order with the proper settings, often depending on readings from other modules, must be provided to the healthcare provider to enable the desired therapy to be provided to the patient.
• A medical care system which will alleviate the problems described above is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In accordance with principles of the present invention, a modular medical care system, housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, includes a plurality of different modules including: (a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient; and (b) a patient treatment module for delivering treatment to the patient. A processor processes signals derived from the plurality of different modules. A communication interface provides bidirectional communication between the processor and the plurality of different modules via a network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
• In the drawing:
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art hospital system for monitoring patients and providing treatment to patients; and
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hospital system for monitoring patients and providing treatment to patients according to principles of the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram illustrating the interconnections of the central processor and the patient monitoring and treatment modules;
• FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of a central unit illustrated inFIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between different components of the software controlling the central unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of ahospital system200 for monitoring and providing treatment to patients. InFIG. 2, the same four rooms are illustrated as are illustrated inFIG. 1, and those rooms contain the same medical equipment. Theoperating room202 includes apatient monitoring module210 for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors (not shown) suitable for attachment to a patient. Theoperating room202 also includes patient treatment modules: a fluid infusion (IV pump) control andmanagement module212 and ananesthesia module214. These modules (210,212 and214) are coupled to acentral processor220 via a patient area network (PAN)216. Thecentral processor220 is coupled to adisplay generator222 which is coupled to adisplay device223. Thedisplay generator222 is also optionally coupled to aslave display device224, as illustrated in phantom. TheICU room204 includes a monitor module, a fluid management patient treatment module and a ventilator module, coupled to a central processor via a PAN. Theemergency room206 includes a monitor module and a ventilator patient treatment module coupled to a central processor via a PAN. The othercritical care room208 includes a ventilator patient treatment module coupled to the central computer via aPAN216.
• In operation, thePAN216 may be implemented in any manner allowing a plurality of modules to intercommunicate. For example, thePAN216 may be implemented as an Ethernet network, either wired or wireless (WLAN). If implemented as a wireless network, it may be implemented according to available standards, such as: (a) a WLAN 802.11b compatible standard, (b) 802.11a compatible standard, (c) 802.11g compatible standard, (d) Bluetooth 802.15 compatible standard, and/or (e) GSM/GPRS compatible standard communication network.
• Thepatient monitoring module210 corresponds to the operational portion of a prior art patient monitor described above. It receives signals from the electrodes and sensors attached to the patient, performs the signal processing required to calculate the physiological parameters, and provides that information to thecentral processor220 via thePAN216. Similarly, the patient treatment modules, i.e. thefluid management module212 and theanesthesia module214, correspond to the operational portion of the prior art treatment modules described above. Thepatient treatment modules212,214 receive operational data from thecentral processor220 via thePAN216 and in response perform their treatment functions, e.g. monitoring fluids administered to the patient and supplying anesthesia to the patient, respectively. Concurrently, thepatient treatment modules212,214 send status data to thecentral processor220 via thePAN216. Thecentral processor220 processes the signals received from thepatient monitoring module210 and thepatient treatment modules212 and214.
• Thecentral processor220 interacts with the user to receive patient identifier information and treatment instructions and parameters. Thecentral processor220 configures thepatient treatment modules212,214 by sending patient identifier information, the treatment instructions and parameters to thepatient treatment modules212 and214 via thePAN216.
• The patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214 may include a processor for receiving the configuration parameters from thecentral processor220, for controlling the operation of themodule210,212,214 and for sending status and patient physiological parameter information to thecentral processor220 via thePAN216. The configuration parameters may include patient identifier information, set-up parameters, and/or data representing executable instructions for execution by the processor in themodule210,212,214 in processing data to be provided to thecentral processor220. Themodules210,212,214, in turn, use the received configuration parameters, and executable instructions in supporting their operation, e.g. for processing data to be provided to thecentral processor220.
• As described above, there may be more than onecentral processor220 in remote locations in the hospital. If amodule210,212,214 is disconnected from onecentral processor220, then the patient identifier information, the set-up parameters and/or the executable instructions previously sent to it are used to control the operation of thatmodule210,212,214 while it is disconnected. If thedisconnected module210,212,214 is reconnected to acentral processor220, possibly in a different location than thecentral processor220 from which it is disconnected, then the reconnectedmodule210,212,214 sends data representing the patient identifier information, the operational characteristics of the module, and any patient physiological parameter data gathered while disconnected to thecentral processor220 to which it is connected.
• Thecentral processor220 also receives signals representing physiological parameters from thepatient monitoring module210 and possibly from thepatient treatment modules212,214. These parameters may be relatively standard physiological parameter, such as EKG, heart rate, SpO₂, etc. Thecentral processor220 may also initiate generation of a new parameter based on signals derived using thepatient monitoring module210 and/or thepatient treatment modules212,214. For example, the new parameter may be associated with (a) gas exchange, (b) skin color, (c) haemodynamics, (d) pain and/or (e) electro-physiology.
• Thecentral processor220 conditions thedisplay generator222 to generate signals representing an image for displaying these physiological parameters in an appropriate manner, e.g. a waveform, a status phrase or a number. Thedisplay generator222 is coupled to thedisplay device223 which displays this image. Thedisplay generator222 may optionally send appropriate image representative signals to theslave display device224. Theslave display device224 may have a larger, higher resolution screen, or may simply be a display device at a location remote from the location of the central processor. The image generated by thedisplay device223, under the control of thecentral processor220 anddisplay generator222, may also integrate the display of patient identification, treatment instructions and parameters and status from thepatient treatment modules212,214 in an appropriate manner. In this manner, information from users as well aspatient monitoring modules210 andpatient treatment modules212,214 may be integrated into one or more composite images displayed ondisplay devices223 and224, for example.
• Thecentral processor220 may also communicate with the central processors of corresponding processing device and display systems in other locations in the hospital, such as those in theICU room204, theemergency room206 and the othercritical care room208 via the criticalcare area network205. Thecentral processor220 may optionally communicate with a central hospital location via ahospital network230, illustrated in phantom inFIG. 2. In this manner, patient physiological parameters and treatment instructions, parameters and status may be transmitted to a central location and stored in acentral storage device232, also illustrated in phantom.
• FIG. 2 illustrates apatient monitoring module210, and patient treatment modules forfluid management212,anesthesia control214, and ventilation control. However, one skilled in the art will understand that there are other monitoring and treatment devices which may include patient treatment modules for control and communication, such as: (a) an incubator, (b) a defibrillator, (c) a warming module, (d) a diagnostic imaging module, (e) a photo-therapy module, (f) a fluid input support module, (g) a fluid output support module, (h) a heart—lung support module, (i) a blood gas monitor, (j) a controllable implanted therapy module, (k) a controllable surgical table and weighing scale, and so forth. Modules for command and communication related to these and other patient treatment devices may be used as illustrated inFIG. 2.
• FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram illustrating the system illustrated inFIG. 2. InFIG. 3, those elements which are the same as illustrated inFIG. 2 are designated by the same reference number and are not discussed in detail below.FIG. 3 illustrates the system as it would be implemented in one of therooms202,204,206 or208 ofFIG. 2. InFIG. 3, thecentral processor220 and thedisplay generator222 are comprised within acentral unit300. Thecentral unit300 is a housing containing the circuitry and connectors necessary to interconnect thecentral processor220 and thedisplay generator222 with: the patient monitoring andpatient treatment modules210,212,214,250 and260; thedisplay devices224,320 and330; and themulti-patient LAN205 andhospital LAN230.
• Thecentral processor220 is coupled to a communications andpower hub235. The communications andpower hub235 comprises the patient area network (PAN)216 and also aset240 of module connectors coupled to the PAN216: e.g. apatient monitor connector241, aventilator connector243, a fluidmanagement hub connector245, an anesthesiadelivery system connector247 and a fluid (IV pump)management connector249. Theconnectors240 permit theindividual modules210,212,214,250,260 to be plugged into and removed from thecentral unit300 as required. In one embodiment, a user may activate a single mechanical release mechanism to remove amodule210,212,214,250,260 from thecentral unit300 or reattach a module to thecentral unit300. Theconnectors240 pass data signals between themodules210,212,214,250,260 and thecentral processor220 via thePAN216.
• The communications andpower hub235 further comprises apower bus234 for distributing power to thecentral unit300. Thepower bus234 is further coupled to thePAN216 for receiving commands from and returning status to thecentral processor220. Thepower bus234 is also coupled to the connectors240 (not shown to simplify the figure) to distribute power to the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260. In this manner, thecentral processor220 may manage the power-on and power-off status of the patient monitoring andtreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 in accordance with a set of predetermined rules maintained in thecentral processor220.
• As described above, at least some of the attachedmodules210,212,214,250,260 include circuitry, e.g. batteries, which permit them to continue to operate when disconnected from thecentral unit300. When docked, thecentral processor220 conditions thesemodules210,212,214,250,260 to transition from operating on battery power to operating on the power supplied by thepower bus234 and recharge their batteries. The internal power supply circuitry of thesemodules210,212,214,250,260 may also supply power supply status information, e.g. current battery capacity, to thecentral processor220 through theconnectors240 andPAN216. Thecentral processor220 may condition thedisplay generator222 to generate signals representing an image showing the battery charging condition of the patient monitoring andtreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 plugged into thecentral unit300. This image may be displayed on thedisplay devices321,331 and/or225 in themain control panel320,slave control panel330 and/orremote display device224, respectively.
• As described above, thePAN216 may be implemented as a wireless network. In such an embodiment, thecentral processor220 may include a wireless communication interface to thePAN216. Such an interface enables bidirectional communication with the patient monitoring andtreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 when they are disconnected from thecentral unit300. This communications link enables thecentral processor300 to maintain control of the patient monitoring andtreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 while they are disconnected from the central unit.
• Individual patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 are coupled to corresponding ones of theconnectors240. For example, apatient monitor module210 may be plugged into themonitor connector241, aventilator module250 may be plugged into theventilator connector243, and so forth. Thecentral unit300 may includeconnectors241,243,245,247,249 which are specific to the type of patient monitoring or treatment module,210,212,214,250,260, expected to be plugged in. Alternatively, themodules210,212,214,250,260 may be fabricated with the same type of connector and theconnectors240 may be the same type of matching connectors. In the former embodiment, a particular type of patient monitoring ortreatment module210,212,214,250,260 may be plugged into aconnector241,243,245,247,248 corresponding to that type of module. In the latter embodiment, any patient monitoring ortreatment module210,212,214,250,260 may be interchangeably plugged into any of theconnectors241,243,245,247,248.
• As described above, thepatient monitor module210, plugged into themonitor connector241, connects to a plurality of electrodes and sensors which may be placed on a patient. Amonitoring pod211 is used to connect the patient-connected electrodes to thepatient monitor module210. Similarly aventilator module250 may be plugged into theventilator connector243. Theventilator module250, in turn, is coupled to ablower254 and ahumidifier252. Afluid management hub260 is plugged into the fluidmanagement hub connector245. Two fluid (IV pump)management modules264 and266 are plugged into the fluid management hub267. Each fluid (IV pump) management module,264,266, is connected to an IV pump (not shown). An anesthesia delivery module is plugged into ananesthesia delivery connector247. Theanesthesia delivery module214 is connected to a anesthesia delivery device (not shown). Anindividual IV pump212 is coupled to anIV pump connector249. Similar to the otherIV pump modules264 and266, the fluid (IV pump)management module212 is connected to an IV pump (not shown).
• Thecentral processor220 is also coupled to the criticalcare area LAN205, which, as illustrated inFIG. 2, is coupled to othercentral units300 in processing device and display systems in other rooms. Thecentral processor220 may also be optionally coupled to ahospital LAN230. Thecritical care LAN205 requires real time bandwidth quality-of-service while thehospital LAN230 requires standard office bandwidth quality-of-service. As described above, if connected to ahospital LAN230, thecentral processor220 may exchange data with acentral storage device232, or any other desired device (not shown) at a remote location in the hospital. Data may be sent from patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 to thecentral storage device232 through theconnectors240 to thecentral processor220 via thePAN216 and from there to thecentral storage device232 via thehospital LAN230. In addition, control data may be sent in the other direction from the central location to a patient monitoring ortreatment module210,212,214,250,260.
• It is further possible that acentral processor220 in acentral unit300 in a processing device and display system in onetreatment room202,204,206,208 may communicate with a secondcentral processor220 in acentral unit300 in a processing device and display system in adifferent treatment room202,204,206,208 (FIG. 2) via the criticalcare area LAN205 or thehospital LAN230. In this manner, thecentral processor220 in one treatment room may control the operation of the secondcentral processor220 in the second treatment room; may display patient related data received from the secondcentral unit300 in the different treatment room; and/or may send (a) a patient identifier identifying a particular patient and/or (b) medical information related to the particular patient to the secondcentral processor220 in thecentral unit300 in thesecond treatment room202,204,206,208, which receives this information.
• It is also possible for thecentral processor220 to receive data from one or more of the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260, process that data and send control data to one or more of thepatient treatment modules212,214,250,260 in response to the received data, in a manner to be described in more detail below.
• Thedisplay generator222 is coupled to amain control panel320. Themain control panel320 includes adisplay device321, akeyboard322 and a pointing device in the form of amouse324. Other input/output devices (not shown) may be fabricated on themain control panel320, such as: buttons, switches, dials, or touch screens; lights, LCDs, or LEDs; buzzers, bells or other sound making devices, etc. These input/output devices receive signals from and supply signals to thecentral processor220, either through thedisplay generator222, or through separate signal paths, not shown to simplify the figure. Themain control panel320 may be fabricated as a part of thecentral unit300, or may be fabricated as a separate unit. Thedisplay generator222 is optionally coupled to aslave control panel330, which substantially duplicates the functionality of themain control panel320, but is located remote from thecentral unit300. Thedisplay generator222 is also optionally coupled to aslave display device224. Theslave display device224 includes adisplay device225, but does not include any of the other input/output devices included in themain control panel320 andslave control panel330.
• In operation, thecentral unit300 andmain control panel320 provide control and display functions for the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 which are plugged into thecommon unit300. A user may manipulate the input devices coupled to themain control panel320, orslave control panel330 if available, e.g. thekeyboard322,mouse324 or other input devices described above. The resulting signals are received by thecentral processor220. In response, thecentral processor220 sends control signals via thePAN216 to the patient monitoring ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 which are currently plugged into thecentral unit300.
• Concurrently, thecentral processor220 receives data signals from the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260, as described above, and conditions thedisplay generator222 to produce a signal representing an image for displaying the data from the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260, in an appropriate manner. For example, if apatient monitor210 having the capability of performing an EKG on a patient is plugged into thecentral unit300, EKG lead data from the patient monitor210 is supplied to thecentral processor220 through themonitor connector241 via thePAN216. Thecentral processor220, in turn, conditions thedisplay generator222 to produce signals representing an image of the EKG lead signal waveforms. These image representative signals are supplied to thedisplay device321 in themain control panel320, which displays the image of the waveforms of the EKG lead signals. An image representing the heart rate of the patient, derived from the EKG lead signals, may also be similarly displayed in numeric form. Images representing other physiological parameters measured by the patient monitor210, e.g. blood pressure, temperature, SpO₂, etc. may also be displayed, in an appropriate form, on thedisplay device321 of themain control panel320 in a similar manner. The image data may also be displayed on thedisplay device331 of theslave control panel330 and on thedisplay device225 of theslave display224, if they are available.
• In a similar manner, images representing data received from the patient treatment modules,212,214,250,260, may be displayed on thedisplay devices321,331,225 in an appropriate form. Such data may represent, for example, present settings for the respective treatment modules, such as specified drip rates for IV pumps attached tofluid management modules212,264,266. This data may be represented by images of appropriate form. Such data may also represent physiological parameters which may be measured by thepatient treatment devices212,214,250,260. For example, respiration loops may be displayed in graphical form based on data received from theventilator module250, or drip rates for attached IV pumps may be displayed in numerical form based on data received from thefluid management hub260.
• A user may select which physiological parameters to display on thedisplay device321 and may arrange the location on thedisplay device321 of the images displaying the selected physiological parameters. In addition, the user may select different physiological parameters to display on thedisplay device321 in themain control panel320 than on thedisplay device331 in theslave control panel330 and/or on thedisplay device225 in theslave display224. Further, theslave display device224 may have adisplay device225 which is larger and/or higher resolution than those in themain control panel320 and theslave control panel330, so that the images may be more easily seen, and/or may be displayed at an increased resolution.
• Thecentral processor220 may also receive data from thepower bus234 via thePAN216 representing the state of the power supplies in the patient monitoring andtreatment modules210,212,214,250,260. Thecentral processor220 may, for example, condition thedisplay generator222 to generate a signal representing an image representing the current charge condition of the respective batteries in the patient monitoring andtreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 plugged into thecentral unit300, either separately or in composite, based on data received from thepower bus234. Further, the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 may provide data to thecentral processor220 indicating an error condition in the module. Thecentral processor220 may condition thedisplay generator222 to generate a signal representing an image showing the user the error condition of that module.
• Thecentral processor220 may also produce signals for controlling the operation of the other output devices on the main andslave control panel320,330, described above. For example, thecentral processor220 may analyze the physiological parameters derived from signals received from the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 to determine if any limits have been exceeded. This may entail separately calculating and verifying each physiological parameter response determined from a patient monitoring and/or treatment module, and comparing it to a predetermined parameter range to determine if it exceeds a limit, or analyzing more than one physiological parameter to determine if a function of those physiological parameters exceeds a limit. If a limit has been exceeded, then thecentral processor220 may condition the output devices on the main andslave control panel320,330 to provide an alarm. For example, thecentral processor220 may generate a signal which activates a light, a buzzer, a bell and/or other such device on themain control panel320, and/or theslave control panel330, if available, to produce a visible or an audible alarm. Thecentral computer220 may also send a signal over the criticalcare area LAN205 and/or thehospital LAN230 indicating that a limit has been exceeded. A similar alarm may be generated at the remote location in response to the receipt of this signal.
• FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of acentral unit300 illustrated inFIG. 3. InFIG. 4, those elements which are the same as those illustrated inFIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numbers and are not described in detail below. InFIG. 4, thecentral unit300 is implemented on a computer system similar to typical personal computers. In such systems, a central processing unit (CPU)402 controls the operation of the remainder of the system. The other elements illustrated in thecentral unit300 are coupled to theCPU402, though the connections are not shown to simplify the figure.
• InFIG. 4, apower supply450 provides power to thecentral unit300. Thepower supply450 may be coupled to the power mains. Thepower supply450 may also include batteries to provide power to thecentral unit300. The batteries may operate in an emergency backup mode, in which if a power failure occurs at the power mains the battery is switched to supply power to the central unit. Alternatively, batteries may provide main power to the central unit, and the power mains used to maintain the battery at full charge, or to recharge the battery after a power failure. One skilled in the art will understand that other arrangements for supplying power to thecentral unit300 are possible.
• Afirst Ethernet adapter404 couples theCPU402 to the patient area network (PAN)216, which in turn is interconnected with patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260. Asecond Ethernet adapter406 couples theCPU402 to the criticalcare area LAN205. Athird Ethernet adapter432 couples theCPU402 to thehospital LAN230 which in turn is interconnected with thecentral storage device232.
• Thedisplay generator222 couples theCPU402 to thedisplay devices321,331 and225 in themain control panel320, theslave control panel330 and theslave display224, respectively. A set of panel I/O ports410 couple theCPU402 to the panel I/O devices, described above, on themain control panel320 and theslave control panel330. As previously described, such I/O devices may include rotary switches, touch panels, pushbutton keys, lights, and so forth.
• Awatchdog circuit430 checks the proper operation of theCPU402 and produces a signal indicating a fault condition if theCPU402 is not operating properly. Thewatchdog circuit430 may check for proper operation of theCPU402 using any of a variety of methods. For example, thewatchdog circuit430 may send a challenge signal at regular intervals to theCPU402. If theCPU402 is operating properly, it receives and recognizes the challenge signal, and provides a reply signal back to thewatchdog circuit430. If thewatchdog circuit430 does not receive the reply signal back from theCPU402 within a specified time of issuing the challenge signal, then it detects a fault in theCPU402, and produces the fault condition signal. Thewatchdog circuit430 may also attempt to restart operation, i.e. reboot of theCPU402, upon detecting a fault in the operation of theCPU402.
• The remainder of the elements illustrated in thecentral unit300 are typically included in personal computers. A keyboard/mouse interface408, typically using a PS/2 or USB standard, couples thekeyboard332 andmouse324 to theCPU402. Asound card412 responds to instructions from theCPU402 to generate sound representative signals, which may be coupled to speakers (not shown) to reproduce sound. A read-write memory unit (RAM)414 provides local storage for programs controlling theCPU402 and for data used and/or created by theCPU402. Aserial port416 exchanges serial binary data signals with external peripherals e.g. using the RS232 standard. AUSB port418 similarly exchanges serial binary data signals with external peripherals using the USB standard. A DVD/CD player420 allows theCPU402 to access data on DVDs and/or CDs. It is also possible to write data onto DVDs and/or CDs. Anexpansion card port422 allows the CPU to exchange data with portable devices, such as a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card, Compact Flash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), and so forth. A real time clock (RTC)424 with its associatedbattery425, maintains and provides current time and date to theCPU402. An integrated drive electronics (IDE)bus426, into which conforming cards may be plugged, allow such cards to exchange information with theCPU402. Similarly, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, into which conforming cards may be plugged, allow such cards to exchange information with theCPU402. Cards plugged into either theIDE bus426 or thePCI bus428 may be coupled to peripheral devices, both internal and external to thecentral unit300, and permit theCPU402 to exchange data with the peripheral devices.
• In operation, theCPU402 interacts with the peripheral devices connected to it under control of software. Because thecentral unit300 is designed and implemented similarly to a typical personal computer, it may be controlled using software typically executed on a personal computer, augmented by executable applications for performing specialized tasks related to monitoring and providing treatment to patients.
• FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship and interaction among different components of thecentral unit300, including both the hardware platform504 (as illustrated inFIG. 3 andFIG. 4) and a systemexecutable application500. As described above, an executable application is any set of executable instructions which may be used, e.g. to control the operation of a programmable processor. It may include software, firmware and hardware, as appropriate, and one skilled in the art will understand how to partition the executable application into software, firmware and hardware, and the design criteria and tradeoffs involved. Because, as described above, the components illustrated inFIG. 5 are implemented on a hardware system based on available PC systems, the executable application described inFIG. 5 is implemented in software, and will be termedsystem software500 below.
• Each element inFIG. 5 is represented by a rectangle. In general, elements, and the functions they provide, at lower levels ofFIG. 5 may be accessed by elements at higher levels. At the bottom ofFIG. 5 is thehardware platform504. Thehardware platform504 provides the hardware functions, described in more detail above, such as: providing control signals to, and receiving status and patient physiological parameter information from, patient monitoring and/ortreatment devices210,212,214,250,260; exchanging data over the criticalcare area LAN205 andhospital LAN230; providing image representative signals to displaydevices222,225,321,331 (FIG. 3), exchanging signals with panel I/O devices410 (FIG. 4), and so forth. Thehardware platform504 is not part of thesystem software500 illustrated by the remainder ofFIG. 5.
• Thesystem software500 illustrated inFIG. 5 includes asoftware framework502 providing particular functions. Thesoftware framework502 provides the software infrastructure for support of point of care based medical modules, such as themodules210,212,214,250,260 (FIG. 2,FIG. 3,FIG. 4). As used herein, the point of care (POC) is the area, in the vicinity of the patient, in which medical treatment is provided to a patient. The software illustrated inFIG. 5 may be embodied in PC based products. Table1 (below), describes in detail the functions provided by the respective software components illustrated inFIG. 5.
• Thesoftware framework502 includes a hardwaredependent operating system506, which inFIG. 5 is an embedded windows operating system (OS)506. For example, an embedded version of Windows XP (by Microsoft Corp)OS506 may be included in thesoftware framework502. TheOS506 interacts with thehardware504, which may be different from product to product, or may change or be updated over time. TheOS506 also provides a set of application program interfaces (APIs) which are sets of common software interfaces which may be used by the remainder of the software and which remain unchanged despite differences in thehardware504. The remainder of the software illustrated inFIG. 5 is related to providing the functions required by the modules which may be controlled by thecentral unit300.
• Thesoftware framework502 further includes a set of common platform components508 (see Table 1 (below)). These components provide monitoring and executive functions for thecentral unit300. Specifically, a watchdog function, a resource monitor, and a monitor for critical components are provided by the common platform components508. In addition, the common platform components508 provide security, lifetime management, diagnostics, real time infrastructure and event management, safety and availability management, and user set up configuration support for thecentral unit300.
• Thesoftware framework502 also provides common communications component510 (see Table 1 (below)). More specifically, the common communications component provides access to thePAN216, the criticalcare area network205 and any other networks to which thecentral unit300 may be coupled, such as the hospital network230 (FIG. 3). Thecommon communications component510 also provides peripheral support, e.g. communications with any other auxiliary device via the serial port,416, theUSB port418, theexpansion card port422 and/or any other device which may be coupled to thecentral unit300, for example, via boards mounted in theIDE bus426 orPCI bus428.
• Thesoftware framework502 also provides a common human interface component512 (see Table 1 (below)). The commonhuman interface component512 provides functions for displaying graphical user interfaces (GUIs) ondisplay devices225,321,331 (FIG. 3,FIG. 4) and for coordinating the user inputs received from the input devices, such askeyboard322 andmouse324, with the displayed GUI. This enables a user to control the configuration and operation of the system and to receive status and data representing patient physiological parameters from the system. These functions also provide parameter signal group support, deployment support, and user help.
• These functions also include those GUI functions which are specific to a patient monitoring and treatment module, for example, support for the display of waveforms, such as EKG waveforms or respirator loops, maintenance of trends, and generation of reports. These GUI functions also include the ability for a user to arrange on the screen of the display device the images representing the physiological parameters of the patient. That is, to be able to move those images around on the screen, to resize them, to remove an image displaying a physiological parameter and/or to insert an image displaying a different physiological parameter. The commonhuman interface512 further supports maintenance of patient data and status, and the database containing these and/or other data items. The commonhuman interface512 component further provides alarm support and processing, including providing functions for generating an audible and/or visible alarm at the central unit300 (FIG. 3,FIG. 4), and for transmitting alarm information to other locations, via thePAN216, the criticalcare area network205 and/or thehospital network230. The commonhuman interface component512 also provides more standard GUI support for other software applications (described in more detail below), which may not be related directly to medical support.
• The remainder of the components in the system software areapplication programs520. An application program is software which uses functions provided by thesoftware framework502, described above, to support clinical domains and/or to provide clinical functions at the point of care. As used herein, a clinical domain is an area of a patient monitoring and/or treatment process. For example, patient monitoring is a clinical domain; patient ventilation is another clinical domain; anesthesia and fluid administration are others, and so forth. Thesystem software500 includes several types ofapplication programs520.
• Theapplication programs520 include a set of common point of care (POC) applications522 (CPOC) which are common to the clinical domains (see Table1 (below)). The functions provided by theCPOC522 are application-related but generic and not specific to any particular domain. That is, thecentral processor402 in thecentral unit300 executes at least a portion of the common code in theCPOC application522 to support the operation of two or more of the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260.
• For example, theCPOC application522 may provide a home screen from which other functions may be selected and configured. Functions for configuring and controlling thecentral unit300 itself may be selected from the home screen, including: software option handling; application selection and configuration; remote control, both wired and wireless, from e.g. slave control units (FIG. 4:330) or other central units via the criticalcare area network205 and/or the hospital area network230 (FIG. 2); battery management; and so forth. In addition, functions related to patients may be selected from the home screen, including patient category, configuration, context, setup and demographic entry, editing, and transfer. TheCPOC application522 may also provide functions related to monitoring and/or treating patients, including: real-time processing of measurements, waveform display; alarm behavior, display and control; measurement setup and priority, events, trends, strip recordings; loop display; flow meter display; alarm limits and history, and so forth.
• One skilled in the art will recognize that point of care (POC) patient monitoring and/or treatment modules, e.g.210,212,214,250,260 (FIG. 3 andFIG. 4), are typically associated with a specific clinical domain. That is, themonitoring module210 is associated with the patient monitoring domain; theanesthesia module214 is associated with the anesthesia domain, and so forth. Specific POC applications (SPOC), of which three523,524,526 are shown to simplify the figure, respectively correspond to POC modules for specific domain areas. Therespective SPOC applications523,524,526 interact with associated ones of themodules210,212,214,250,260. For example, inFIG. 5,SPOC523 may be associated with one type of POC module,e.g. anesthesia module214;SPOC524 may be associated with a different type of POC module, e.g.fluid management module212; andSPOC526 may be associated with another POC module, e.g.patient monitoring module210.
• Typically,SPOC applications523,524,526 have a presentation function e.g.523A, a control and management function e.g.523B, a data server function e.g.523C, and a pluggable front-end (FE) module interface function e.g.523D. As used herein, the term pluggable front end module refers to a medical monitoring and/or treatment module, such asmodules210,212,214,250,260 (FIG. 2,FIG. 3 andFIG. 4), which may be connected to and disconnected from thecentral unit300 during operation. The FE module interface function e.g.523D, bidirectionally communicates with patient monitoring andtreatment modules210,212,214,250,260. These communications include control and status information and physiological parameter representative data. The data server function e.g.523C makes the control status and physiological data available to other applications. The presentation function e.g.523A makes the control, status and physiological data available to be displayed on thedisplay devices225,321,331 (FIG. 3). The control and management function e.g.523B controls the operation of the SPOC and the FE module.
• More specifically, theSPOC application526, which is associated with apatient monitoring module210, provides the specific functions required to control and interact with themonitoring module210. As described in more detail in Table1 (below), the monitoringSPOC526 provides module management, control and report functions, such as: monitor setup; export protocol management; nurse call; and setting display modes, including bedside and surgical display modes. Themonitoring SPOC526 also provides physiological parameter monitoring functions, such as: EEG, SpO₂,respiratory mechanics, invasive and non-invasive blood pressure, body temperature, transcutaneous blood gases, and so forth.
• TheSPOC application523, which is associated with theanesthesia module214, provides the specific functions required to interact with theanesthesia module214. As described in more detail in Table 1 (below), theanesthesia SPOC523 provides module management, control and report functions such as: warm up; carrier gas selection, and so forth. Theanesthesia SPOC523 also provides anesthesia control and monitoring functions, such as anesthetic gas control, including N₂O, Xenon, etc.; consumption monitoring, and anesthetic gases supply, and so forth.
• TheSPOC application524, which is associated with thefluid management module212, provides the specific functions required to interact with thefluid management module212. As described in more detail in Table 1 (below), thefluid management SPOC524 provides functions supporting different fluid managements modes, including: total controlled infusion (TCI), total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), and patient controlled analgesia (PCA). As described above, other medical monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260, corresponding to other medical domains, are associated with SPOC applications which control and manage them. Details for these SPOCs are described in detail in Table 1 (below).
• Theapplication programs520 further include cross domain POC applications (CDPOC), one of which528 is shown inFIG. 5 to simplify the figure. CDPOC applications provide advanced integrated clinical information. This information may be derived from cooperative operation of two or moreselected SPOC applications523,524,526 controlling associated medical monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 in respectively different clinical domains such as monitoring, ventilation, anesthesia and/or fluid management. CDPOC applications coordinate the operation of the selected medical monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260, and integrate data received from them, as described in more detail below. One skilled in the art will understand that other CDPOC applications may be included in theapplication programs520 which coordinate different SPOC applications; that more than two SPOC applications may be coordinated by a CDPOC application, and that an SPOC application may be associated with more than one CDPOC application.
• Referring specifically toFIG. 5, theCDPOC application528 coordinates the operation of thefluid management SPOC524 and themonitoring SPOC526. Thefluid management SPOC524 controls the operation of a fluidmanagement treatment module212 which may be administering a medication to affect a particular patient physiological parameter, such as blood pressure. Themonitoring SPOC526 controls the operation of thepatient monitoring module210 to monitor the patient blood pressure, among other things. TheCDPOC application528 monitors the patient blood pressure, as reported by the monitoringSPOC application526 and controls the fluidmanagement SPOC application524 to continually adjust the administration of the blood pressure medication to maintain the patient blood pressure within limits specified by the physician.
• Theapplication programs520 may further includeimaging applications530, as described in more detail in Table 1 (below). These applications condition the various display devices,225,321,331 (FIG. 3) to display designated images in2D and3D modes. Theseimaging applications530 further provide user control of panning and zooming, and for3D images setting a point of view. Theimaging applications520 may also be used to produce: a virtual film sheet for e.g. x-rays, CAT scans, or any other group of related images; a patient scanner; a viewer for DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) images retrieved via a query/retrieve operation, and so forth.
• Theapplication programs520 may further include information technology (IT)applications532, as described in more detail in Table 1 (below). Such applications may include e.g. a chart assistant program, a remote viewing program, and other programs for exchanging and analyzing information. Otherthird party applications534 may also be included in theapplication programs520. As used herein,third party applications534 may provide clinical functions which may provide a benefit at the point of care, and may be developed outside and independently of the architecture developed for thecentral unit300 to interact with the medical monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260. For example, medical image and report distribution, appointment scheduling, client records management, copayment tracking and billing, medical charting, insurance submission and billing, scheduling, and so forth are functions which may be provided by thirdparty application programs534.
• A Semantical Product Application (SPA)536 provides coordination for theapplication programs520 included in the system software. TheSPA536 covers the target domain or domains of the system, as configured with selected medical monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260. TheSPA536 uses, deploys and combinesother application programs520. More specifically, theSPA536 includesSPOC523,524,526 configuration;CPOC522 configuration; andCDPOC528 configuration functions, and so forth. TheSPA536 also provides version management for the system.
• Thecentral units300 in the respective critical areas and/or the hospital employ substantially the same type ofCPU402 and are implemented to support the operation of the different types of patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260. In addition, thecentral processor220 in the respectivecentral units300 in the critical care area and/or the hospital employ substantially thesame system software500, described above, supporting the operation of the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260.
• The hardware and software architecture described above and illustrated inFIG. 2,FIG. 3,FIG. 4 andFIG. 5 allows implementers to develop different products which address a desired medical domain or domains. As used herein, a product addresses the desired domains using the hardware and software architecture to provide a well defined set of applications for the target domains. That is a fabricator may produce a monitoring product by including a monitoring SPOC (e.g.526) and a patient monitoring module (e.g.210). Alternatively, further capability may be included, such as including a ventilation SPOC (not shown) and a ventilation patient treatment module (also not shown), a fluid management SPOC (e.g.524) and a fluid management patient treatment module (e.g.212), and an anesthesia SPOC (e.g.523) and an anesthesia patient treatment module (e.g.214). A CDPOC (e.g.528) application may be added to coordinate the operation of two or more SPOC applications.
• More specifically, a fabricator may implement a product such as a transportable breathing support equipment system. Such a device is illustrated inFIG. 2 inroom208. This system includes a central unit300 (FIG. 3) (not shown) which incorporates acentral processor208B anddocking connectors240. Aventilator module208A is coupled to thecentral processor208B and adisplay device208C via aPAN208D. Theventilator module208A controls a ventilator device (not shown) The ventilator device regulates the flow of breathable gas from a source (not shown) to the lungs of the patient. Theventilator module208A includes at least one battery which powers themodule208A and the ventilator device itself during transportation. Thedocking connectors240 allow other modules, such as apatient monitoring module210, ananesthesia module214 and/or afluid management module212, to be connected to the breathing support equipment system if desired. The system software500 (FIG. 5) detects the presence of these modules and automatically loads the SPOC applications required to control the newly added modules,210,212,214,250,260. The transportable breathing support equipment system may comprise a manually pushed, or power driven cart or trolley conveying the equipment.
• Other products such as an emergency room product as illustrated in room206 (FIG. 2) and including a patient monitoring and ventilator module, or an ICU room product as illustrated inroom204 with a patient monitoring, ventilator and fluid management module, both with capabilities of adding further modules as required, may be implemented in a similar manner.
• As described above, aCDPOC application528 can advantageously coordinate the operation of two ormore SPOC applications523,524,526, which in turn control the operation of associated patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260. This coordination enables the central processor220 (FIG. 2) to support monitoring operation of apatient treatment module212,214,250,260 by (a) deriving data, based on combinations of parameters derived from thepatient monitoring module210 and apatient treatment modules212,214,250,260, for presentation to a user, and/or (b) prompting a user with suggestedpatient treatment module212,214,250,260 configuration settings.
• Thecentral processor220 may also verify the safety of the treatment by receiving data from the patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 and using said received data to determine whether settings of the treatment delivery devices attached to thepatient treatment modules212,214,250,260 are compatible with the desired treatment to be delivered to a patient. That is, thecentral processor220 may verify the safety of a desired treatment by comparing patient physiological parameters received following initiation of delivery of a treatment, or following a change in the treatment induced by a corresponding change in the settings of apatient treatment module212,214,250,260, with predetermined physiological parameter value response ranges. In response to a determination that the settings of apatient treatment module212,214,250,260 are incompatible with a desired treatment thecentral processor220 may (a) automatically alter the settings and/or (b) initiate generation of an alert message to a user warning of the incompatibility.
• This coordination among different patient monitoring and/ortreatment modules210,212,214,250,260 allows patient medical tests to be performed, and physiological parameters to be determined, by such a system, without requiring the use of more expensive, or more invasive testing methods. A single configured system as illustrated inFIG. 4 andFIG. 5, for example, advantageously automatically performs multiple different tests as described as follows. The tests in some instances may involve manual interaction. One skilled in the art will understand which patient monitoring and/or treatment modules to include in the system, how to coordinate the operation of these modules, and how to analyze the data from those modules to perform the desired medical tests.
• A general form of such patient medical tests involves providing a predetermined physiological stimulus to a patient, monitoring the patient physiological parameters after the stimulus, and verifying an acceptable response. For example, the physiological stimulus may be (a) a medication, (b) a gas administered to said patient, (c) an electrical stimulus, (d) a physical or mechanical stimulus, (e) an application of heat or cold, (f) an acoustic stimulus, (g) a light stimulus and/or (h) a radiation stimulus. The patient physiological parameters monitored may be (a) BP, (b) HR, (c) RR, (d) SpO₂, (e) O₂, (f) CO₂, (g) NBP, (h) EEG and/or (i) blood gas parameters.
• In the system described above, the central processor220 (FIG. 4) may initiate a stimulus by conditioning apatient treatment module212,250,260 to temporarily change its operational setting, and using thepatient monitoring module210 to monitor subsequent physiological parameters to verify an acceptable response.
• A more specific example of a medical test is a respiratory systolic variation test (RSVT), which may be performed by such a system. This test determines the blood filling conditions in the left atrium. It enables a physician to manage fluid input and output of a patient, and lung recruitment efforts (hypovolemea is often the reason for a patient not tolerating pressure-controlled inverse ratio ventilation (PCIRV)). The result of this test is a patient physiological parameter which may be displayed on thedisplay devices225,321,331 (FIG. 3). Use of the system described above to provide the RSVT test is more accurate and less invasive than the use of a single use PA catheter, which at the present time costs around $100.
• A Gedeon non-invasive cardiac output test (NICO) may also be performed by the system described above. This test estimates output of the left ventricle and effective gas exchange area of the lungs (i.e. the effective lung volume (ELV). It enables a physician to titrate the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) for optimal CO and ELV after initiating mechanical ventilation. As used herein, the term “titrate” refers to the adjustment of a patient treatment parameter (such as the PEEP pressure) such that a desired patient physiological parameter is achieved (that is, optimal CO and ELV). The titration may be performed manually by the physician in response to the results of the test, or may be performed automatically under the control of a CDPOC (not shown) programmed to perform the test and titrate the PEEP parameter. The results of this test may be displayed on thedisplay devices225,321,331 (FIG. 3). This test also aids a physician in starting or monitoring inotropic (i.e. cardiac output enhancing) drug therapy. Use of the system described above to perform the NICO test is less invasive than the conventional method and more accurate than other NICO methods.
• A lung mechanics calculation test (LMC) may also be performed by the system described above. This test permits the modeling of a patient respiratory system in terms of elastic and resistive forces. More specifically, this test may determine inflection points in the respiratory cycle, i.e. points of alveolar collapse (atelectasis) during expiration and hyperinflation during inspiration. This test may also calculate physiological dead space, i.e. air which is inhaled by the body in breathing, but which does not partake in gas exchange. The results of the former test may be numerical or a graphic display, and the results of the latter test may be a numerical display, either or both of which may be displayed on thedisplay devices225,321,331 (FIG. 3). The physician may use the results of this test to titrate the settings after initiating mechanical ventilation, or a CDPOC may be programmed to titrate the settings automatically. The LMC test has been tested and widely published. It is considered state-of-the-art at this time for lung mechanics. The NICO test requirements, described above, may be combined with this test.
• A stress index test (SI) may also be performed by the system described above. This test quantifies the stress on the lungs induced by mechanical ventilation. More specifically this test detects and measures the effect of cyclic stretch, i.e. recruitment of alveola at the extreme end of inspiration and collapse at the extreme end of expiration. The results of this test may be numeric or graphical and may be displayed on thedisplay devices225,321,331 (FIG. 3). A physician may use the results of this test to titrate ventilator settings, such as PEEP and tidal volume (VT) to reduce stress on the lungs during ventilation, or a CDPOC may be programmed to titrate the settings automatically. The results of this test may also be used to predict the probability of success of a lung recruitment attempt. Ventilator settings made according to the Si test have been proven to reduce inflammatory markers in lung tissue.
• An automatic lung parameter estimator test (ALPE) may also be performed by the system described above. This test assists a physician in quantifying the amount of pulmonary shunt and the distribution of pulmonary circulation (e.g. ventilation-perfusion ratio (V/Q) scatter). This test may also detect and quantify cardiac congestion, i.e. congestive heart failure (CHF). The results of this test may be numeric or graphical and may be displayed on thedisplay devices225,321,331 (FIG. 3). A physician may use the results of this test to determine the use of diuretics and inotropic drugs to manage CHF. This test provides a comprehensive model of hemodynamic status and blood gasses non-invasively. This may be useful to a physician in the detection and management of CHF, which is a widespread disease, especially prevalent among respiratory patients.
• Diaphragm electromyographically (EMG) controlled ventilation may also be advantageously performed by the system described above. In this ventilation mode the electrical signal related to the diaphragm muscle contraction is detected using electrodes on an oesphageal catheter. Because contraction of the diaphragm muscles occurs when a patient begins to take a breath, the EMG signal may be used to trigger the ventilator to begin a respiration cycle. Thus, this ventilation mode permits the patient's brain to advantageously control respiratory support. This mode may be selected by a user selection via the interaction of the GUI and user input devices such as thekeyboard322 andmouse324, or by panel I/O devices on themain control panel320 and/or slave control panel330 (FIG. 3,FIG. 4). Using EMG signals to trigger respiration permits ventilation to be more closely matched to the patient. This enables support of spontaneous breathing for a wider range of patients. This, in turn, makes mask ventilation more feasible, reducing complications associated with intubation, such as nosocomial pneumonia. These electrical signals may also provide ECG signals to measure the posterior of the heart and potentially detect atrial arrhythmias. The results of an ECG using EMG signals may be displayed on thedisplay devices225,321,331 in graphical form. An alarm may also be sent if an arrhythmia is detected. Detection of cardiac ischemia and atrial arrhythmias permits earlier intervention.
• The system described above may also be used to perform electrical impedance tomography (EIT). EIT may provide continuous, breath-to-breath, and beat-to-beat anatomical images of respiratory and cardiac dynamics and distribution, respectively. More specifically, the physician may see and quantify areas of atelectasis and hyperinflation in the lungs and/or may see and quantify the output of the right ventricle and the deposition of blood in the lungs with each heartbeat. Electrodes for providing current and sensing voltage are applied to the patient and appropriate signals are applied to them to sense the conductivity of the respective portions of the body. From these readings, an anatomical image, or real-time series of images, may be synthesized. The display generator222 (FIG. 4) generates signals representing these patient anatomical images. In order to maintain the display of these images in real time, the interface between theprocessor402 and thedisplay generator222 provides substantially real time bidirectional communications. These images may be displayed on thedisplay devices321 and331 on themain control panel320 andslave control panel330, respectively. These images may also be supplied to thelarger display device225 on theslave display panel224. The physician may optimize ventilation parameters to address V/Q mismatch in which lung compartments are either ventilated but not perfused, or perfused but not ventilated. Early intervention, available from EIT images, may prevent cascade of lung injury leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis. Use of EIT also has the possibility to reduce the number of CT and X-ray images required, and the intra-hospital transport required for them.
• Referring again toFIG. 5, the embeddedoperating system506 is configured to monitor the input/output ports, which may include the serial port,416, theUSB port418, theexpansion card port422, theEthernet ports404,406, and/or the panel I/O ports410 to detect when a hardware device is newly connected to the system. When newly connected hardware is detected, at least the portion of the software required by thesystem software500 to interact with this new hardware is retrieved from a mass memory, installed in theRAM414 and made available to theoperating system506 and the rest of thesystem software500. This operation is sometimes called “plug-and-play”. The mass storage device may be local to thecentral unit300, or may be remotely located (i.e. at a central location in the hospital) in which case it is retrieved via an Ethernet connection. When theSPOC application523,524,526 is retrieved and loaded intoRAM414, the newly connectedmodule210,212,214,250,260 is coupled to it. The newly connected patient monitoring and/ortreatment module210,212,214,250,260 then is controlled by thecentral unit300 and begins functioning.
• As described above, a patient monitoring and/ortreatment module210,212,214,250,260 is sometimes removed from acentral unit300 in one location and reconnected to acentral unit300 at a different location (FIG. 3,FIG. 4). When, a patient monitoring and/ortreatment module210,212,214,250,260 is reconnected to acentral unit300, theoperating system506 advantageously detects its presence and identifies theSPOC523,524,526 required to control it. If the requiredSPOC523,524,526 is already loaded, then it is coupled to the newly connectedmodule210,212,214,250,260. If the requiredSPOC523,524,526 is not already loaded, it is retrieved from a mass storage device, as described above.
• A system described above integrates passive patient monitoring modules210 (FIG. 3) andactive treatment modules212,214,250,260 (infusion pumps, ventilators, anesthesiology equipment, incubators etc.) with acentral unit300 and associatedsystem software500 which receives physiological parameter data and operational status information from and supplies control information to both types of modules. Thesoftware500 permits modules to be disconnected from, and reconnected to thecentral unit300. Thesoftware500 also permits interoperation of two or more of the modules cooperatively. The system reduces human error, improves speed of automatic adaptation of treatment, and of adapting treatment where human intervention is involved. In addition, the system improves the speed and accuracy of generating alerts, which may be crucial in a critical care unit such as an operating room. The system also saves space and cost, combines and groups alarms, provides consolidated documentation, facilitates module transportation and facilitates user operation. It reduces the problems presented to a healthcare worker in having to control multiple independent pieces of equipment. Because the modules may bidirectionally communicate with each other, tasks of supplying monitoring parameters to therapeutic modules, previously done manually, are advantageously accomplished automatically reducing human error. The critical care system may employ rules and programmed instruction governing addition of modules to the system. The integrated critical care system advantageously also provides a consistent user interface in both look and feel for the patient monitoring and therapeutic and life sustaining modules. This facilitates user friendly operation and reduces training required to educate a healthcare worker to operate the system compared to individual modules.

  TABLE 1
  SW Component	Functions
  SW Framework	Waveform support
  	Parameters Signal Group Support
  	Alarm Support
  	Event Support
  	Reporting Support
  	Trend Support
  	GUI Components
  	Deployment Support
  	Diagnostics
  	Peripheral Support
  	Help
  	Screen Layout Support
  	Safety and Availability
  	Hospital Network and Interface and Support
  	Critical Care Network Interface and Support
  	Patient Area Network Support
  	Security
  	User/Setups Configuration Support
  	Patient Data/State Support
  	Lifetime Management
  	Database
  	Real-time Infrastructure
  	Communication Mechanisms
  	IT and Third Party App Support
  	Etc
  CPOC	Real-time Waveforms
  	Real-time Measurements
  	Real-time Alarm Behavior, Display and
  	Control
  	Home-screen
  	Alarm Limits
  	Trends
  	Events
  	Alarm History
  	Remote/Bed to Bed View
  	Calculations
  	Strip Recordings
  	Real-time Loops
  	Real-time Flow Meters
  	Demographics
  	Patient Transfer
  	Network Transfer
  	Remote Control
  	Monitor/Patient State Handling
  	SW Option Handling
  	Patient Context
  	User Context
  	Vital View
  	Module/Patient Configuration/Setups
  	Patient Category
  	Full Disclosure
  	Application Selection and Configuration Tools
  	Flight Recorder
  	Wireless Control
  	Remote Keypad Handling
  	Battery Management
  	Measurement Setup and Priority
  	Message Management
  	Print Screen
  	Taskcards
  	Localization
  	Etc
  Ventilation Management	PO1
  and Gas Monitoring	IntrPEEP
  SPOC	Sigh
  	Suction
  	Nebulize
  	IMV (as example for a breathing mode)
  	Recruitment
  	Lung functions
  	Smart Care
  	NIV
  	Monitor Respiratory System
  	Insp/Exsp Hold
  	NIF
  	RSB
  	RC
  	CO2 Monitoring (including VCO and VDS)
  	Leakage Compensation
  	Nurse Call
  	ILV
  	HF
  	Airway Temperature
  	Flow and airway pressure monitoring
  	Oxygen
  	Localization
  	Etc
  Monitor SPOC	ST Measuring Points
  	OCRG
  	EEG Power Spectra
  	Cardiac Output
  	Wedge
  	Monitor Reports
  	Respiratory Mechanics
  	Surgical Display
  	MIB Management
  	ECG Control
  	Invasive Pressure Control
  	SPO2 Control
  	Respiration Control
  	Body Temperature Control
  	NIBP Control
  	EEG Control
  	Transcutaneous Blood Gas Control
  	End Tidal CO2 Control
  	Arrhythmia Control
  	ECG Lead Management
  	Fractional Inspired O2 Control
  	MultiGas Control
  	Export Protocol Management
  	OR Mode
  	Monitor Setup
  	Nurse Call
  	Auto Dual View
  	Auto Source Switching
  	Localization
  	Etc
  Anesthesia Gas Mixing	Air, oxygen, and N2O control
  SPOC	Carrier gas selection
  	ORC
  	(Xenon)
  	Fresh gas flow
  	Low and minimal flow
  	Monitors gas supply
  	Consumption monitoring incl. Prices
  	Agas control
  	Warm-up
  	Agas monitoring
  	Plug and play of a-gases
  	Inspiratory control
  	Expiratory control
  	MAK monitor
  	Quantitative anesthesia
  	Localization
  	Etc
  Fluid SPOC	TCI
  	TIVA
  	PCA
  	Localization
  	Etc
  CDPOC's	Anesthesia
  	No agas without gas flow
  	Acone
  	Open Lung Tool
  	Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT)
  	Respiratory Systolic Variation Test (RSVT)
  	NICO
  	Lung Mechanics Calculation (LMC)
  	Automatic Lung Parameter Estimator
  	(ALPE)
  	Advanced Cardiopulmonary Integration
  	Screens
  	BiPAP
  	SMART Alarms
  	SmartCare
  	Localization
  	Etc
  Other Applications	IT
  	ChartAssist
  	Remote View
  	MegaCare
  	BU-IT
  	Localization
  	Etc
  	Imaging
  	2D
  	3D
  	Virtual Film Sheet
  	Patient Browser
  	Dicom Query/Retrieve
  	Localization
  	Etc
  	Third Party
  	MagicWeb
  	Cypress
  	Localization
  	Etc.

Claims (29)

1. A modular medical care system housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, comprising:

a plurality of different modules including:

(a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient; and

(b) a patient treatment module for delivering treatment to the patient;

a processor for processing signals derived from said plurality of different modules; and

a communication interface providing bidirectional communication between said processor and said plurality of different modules via a network.

2. A modular medical system housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, comprising:

a plurality of different modules including at least two of,

(a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient,

(b) a module supporting delivery of anesthesia to a patient,

(c) a module supporting ventilation of a patient and

(d) a module supporting infusion pump control;

a processor for processing signals derived from said plurality of different modules; and

a communication interface providing bidirectional communication between said processor and said plurality of different modules via a network.

3. The system ofclaim 1 including a display generator for initiating generation of data representing at least one composite user interface image including information derived from said plurality of different modules.

4. The system ofclaim 2 wherein said display generator initiates generation of data representing at least one composite user interface image for display on a first reproduction device and a second different reproduction device.

5. The system ofclaim 3 wherein said display generator initiates generation of data representing different first and second user interface images for display on said first reproduction device and second different reproduction device respectively.

6. The system ofclaim 4 wherein said second user interface representative data represents larger image than said the image for said first reproduction device.

7. The system ofclaim 1 wherein individual modules of said plurality of different modules may be at least one of, (a) plugged into said modular medical system housing and (b) removed from said modular medical system housing, whilst said plurality of different modules are powered on.

8. The system ofclaim 1 including a display generator for adaptively generating data representing a composite user interface image including information derived from modules of said plurality of different modules plugged into said housing in response to information identifying said plurality of different modules plugged into said housing.

9. The system ofclaim 7 wherein said display generator adaptively generates data representing a composite user interface image removing information derived from a particular module removed from said housing in response to information identifying said particular module is removed from said housing.

10. The system ofclaim 1 wherein individual modules of said plurality of different modules may be interchangeably plugged into different docking locations of said housing.

11. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said processor derives an alert signal for communication to a user based on signals derived from said plurality of different modules.

12. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said system manages power on and power down of said plurality of different modules based on predetermined rules.

13. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said system manages re-charging of batteries of said plurality of different modules and initiates generation of data representing an image for display to a user showing battery charging condition of said plurality of different modules.

14. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said system manages at least one of, (a) re-charging of batteries of said plurality of different modules and initiates generation of data representing an image for display to a user showing battery charging condition of said plurality of different modules, (b) transition from battery power to housing power upon docking of a module with said housing and (c) generation of data representing an image for display to a user showing error conditions of said plurality of different modules.

15. The system ofclaim 1 including:

a display generator for generating data representing a patient anatomical image and wherein

said communication interface provides substantial real time bidirectional communication between said processor and display generator.

16. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said communication interface supports communication using wireless technologies including at least one of, (a) WLAN 802.11b standard compatible communication, (b) 802.11a standard compatible communication, (c) 802.11g standard compatible communication, (d) Bluetooth 802.15 standard compatible communication, and (e) GSM/GPRS standard compatible communication.

17. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said communication interface supports wireless communication between said second module and said processor for processing signals derived from said plurality of different modules enabling at least one of, (a) bidirectional communication with said second module when undocked and remote from said housing and (b) control of said second module by said processor when undocked and remote from said housing.

18. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said processor manages access to features of one of said plurality of different modules based on predetermined user authorization information.

19. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said processor prioritizes alert signals associated with corresponding individual modules of said plurality of different modules.

20. The system ofclaim 1 including a display generator for generating data representing at least one display image presenting alert signals associated with corresponding individual modules of all of said plurality of different modules.

21. The system ofclaim 1 wherein individual modules of said plurality of different modules are removable from said modular medical system housing in response to user activation of a single mechanical release mechanism disconnecting physical connection of both signals and power passing between an individual module and said modular medical system housing.

22. The system ofclaim 1 including a display generator for generating data representing at least one display image prompting a user with tasks to be performed using said plurality of different modules in delivering a particular therapy to a patient.

23. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said plurality of different modules includes one or more of, (a) an incubator, (b) a defibrillator, (c) a warming device, (d) a diagnostic imaging device, (e) a photo-therapy device, (f) a fluid input support device, (g) a fluid output support device, (h) a heart—lung support device, (i) a blood gas monitor, (j) a controllable implanted therapy device, (k) a controllable surgical table and weighing scale.

24. A modular medical system housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, comprising:

a plurality of different modules including,

a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient and a second module supporting at least one of,

(a) delivery of anesthesia to a patient,

(b) ventilation of a patient and

(c) infusion pump control;

a processor for processing signals derived from said plurality of different modules; and

a communication interface providing bidirectional communication between said processor and said plurality of different modules and with a network.

25. A modular medical system housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, comprising:

a plurality of different modules including,

a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient and a second module supporting at least one of,

(a) delivery of anesthesia to a patient,

(b) ventilation of a patient and

(c) infusion pump control;

a processor for processing signals derived from said patient monitoring module to configure said second module; and

a communication interface providing bidirectional communication between said processor and said plurality of different modules and with a network.

26. A modular medical system incorporating a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, comprising:

a housing for adaptively accommodating one or more of a plurality of different modules including,

(a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient,

(b) a module supporting delivery of anesthesia to a patient,

(c) a module supporting ventilation of a patient and

(d) a module supporting infusion pump control;

a processor for processing signals derived from said plurality of different modules; and

a communication interface providing bidirectional communication between said processor and said plurality of different modules and with a network.

27. A transportable breathing support equipment system, comprising:

a device for providing a flow of breathable gas;

a ventilator using said flow of breathable gas to support patient breathing during transportation;

at least one battery for supplying power to said device and said ventilator during transportation; and

a docking port for connecting said breathing support equipment system to a plurality of different modules including at least one of,

(a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient, and a second module supporting,

(b) a module supporting delivery of anesthesia to a patient, and

(c) a module supporting infusion pump control.

28. The system ofclaim 26 including

a processor for processing signals derived from said patient monitoring module, and

a communication interface providing bidirectional communication between said processor and said plurality of different modules and with a network.

29. A method for use by a modular medical system housing a plurality of different modules providing different functions used in delivering healthcare to a patient, comprising the activities of:

providing power to a plurality of different modules including at least two of,

(a) a patient monitoring module for acquiring and processing signals derived from sensors suitable for attachment to a patient,

(b) a module supporting delivery of anesthesia to a patient,

(c) a module supporting ventilation of a patient and

(d) a module supporting infusion pump control;

processing signals derived from said plurality of different modules; and

bidirectionally communicating between said processor and said plurality of different modules and with a network.

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