Arrangement comprising medical treatment units and peripheral devices as well as a peripheral device and treatment unit for use in such an arrangement

Abstract

An assembly includes at least two medical treatment units, each of which can be allocated to a patient and at least two peripheral devices, each of which can be allocated to a patient. The peripheral devices and the treatment units have means for allocating a peripheral device to a treatment unit and means for verifying the allocation of a peripheral device to a patient. To allocate a peripheral device to a treatment unit, the peripheral device is placed by operators in a receiving unit belonging to the treatment unit. Said receiving unit is preferably designed as a charging station for the battery of the peripheral device. In the event of a successful allocation of peripheral device and patient, confirmed by the receipt of physiological data of the patient, the operators verify the correct allocation of a peripheral device to the patient and must confirm the correct allocation by confirmation means. The peripheral device is only released if the operator has confirmed the correct allocation, preferably within a predefined time period.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising: at least two medical treatment units; and at least two peripheral devices, wherein a first medical treatment unit of the at least two medical treatment units and a first peripheral device of the at least two peripheral devices are configured to be allocated to a patient, and the first peripheral device comprises a first connector, the first peripheral device and the first treatment unit together including a system of at least one of tubes or lines configured for connecting the patient to the first treatment unit to thereby allocate the first medical treatment unit to the patient, an accommodation unit fixed to the first medical treatment unit, configured to receive the first peripheral device, and comprising a second connector configured to connect with the first connector, a data transmission system comprising a transmitter in the first peripheral device and a receiver in the first medical treatment unit, and being configured such that, when the first peripheral device is received in the accommodation unit the transmitter sends address information to the receiver and the first medical treatment unit identifies the first peripheral device as being allocated to the first medical treatment unit, a detector for detecting when the first peripheral device is removed from the accommodation unit, a physiological sensor for detecting patient-specific data of the patient, wherein the first peripheral device comprises the physiological sensor and the data transmission system is configured to transmit a status signal to both the first peripheral device and the first medical treatment unit, indicating that the first peripheral device has been allocated to the patient, an acknowledgement switch or button configured to, upon activation, acknowledge that the first peripheral device and the first medical treatment unit have been allocated to the same patient, a display comprising a prompt that prompts an operator to activate the acknowledgement switch or button once the receiver receives the status signal, and a processor configured to release the peripheral device such that the transmitter sends the patient-specific data to the receiver only on condition that the correct allocation of the peripheral device to the patient has been acknowledged.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission system comprises a radio transmitter/receiver in the first peripheral device and a radio transmitter/receiver in the first medical treatment unit.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the first peripheral device is accommodated in the accommodation unit.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the first peripheral device is received in and contacts the accommodation unit through mechanical contact makers.

5. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the accommodation unit includes a charging unit, the first peripheral device comprises a power supply including a battery, and the charging unit is configured to charge the battery of the power supply of the first peripheral device.

6. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the accommodation unit and the detector are configured to cooperate with the first peripheral device in such a way that, after detection of the first peripheral device, the first peripheral device sends a media access control address, for identification, to the first medical treatment unit and the first medical treatment unit receives the media access control address for identification of the first peripheral device.

7. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter/receiver in the first peripheral device is configured to wirelessly transmit signals and the transmitter/receiver in the first medical treatment unit is configured to wirelessly receive signals.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a radio transmitter/receiver and the transmitter comprises a radio transmitter/receiver.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to cooperate with a timer configured to measure a time after removal of the first peripheral device from the accommodation unit in such a way that, when patient-specific data are received, it is concluded that there is a successful allocation of the first peripheral device to the patient only when the first peripheral device has been acknowledged by activation of the acknowledgement switch or button within a preset time interval.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the display is configured to display a remaining time in the preset time interval within which an acknowledgement by activation of the acknowledgement switch or button, to indicate allocation of the first peripheral device to the patient, has to take place.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm emitter configured to emit an optical and/or acoustic signal, said alarm emitter being designed in such a way that the optical and/or acoustic signal is emitted if, within a preset time interval after removal of the first peripheral device from the accommodation unit, the first peripheral device has not been successfully allocated to the treatment unit.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the acknowledgement switch or button comprises a pushbutton or an inductive switch.

13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first medical treatment unit is a blood treatment apparatus comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit.

14. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first peripheral device includes at least one sensor for measuring a patient's blood pressure, pulse, or both.

15. An alarm system comprising: a medical treatment unit configured to administer medical treatment to a patient connected to the medical treatment unit via a system of at least one of tubes or lines, the medical treatment unit comprising a radio transmitter/receiver and an accommodation unit, the accommodation unit comprising a power supply and a first electrical connection; and a peripheral device configured to be connected to the patient and comprising a sensor configured to generate a patient signal corresponding to a physiological aspect of the patient, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a blood pressure sensor and a pulse sensor, the peripheral device further comprising a second radio transmitter/receiver, a battery, and a second electrical connection and being configured to be received in the accommodation unit such that an electrical connection is made between the first and second electrical connections and the battery is charged by the power supply, wherein the medical treatment unit and the peripheral device together include a connection sensor configured to detect a coupling of the peripheral device with the accommodation unit, the connection sensor comprising electrical contacts and configured to generate a status signal when the coupling is detected, the connection sensor being operatively connected to the second radio transmitter/receiver of the peripheral device and configured to prompt the second radio transmitter/receiver of the peripheral device to send an address for the identification of the peripheral device to the radio transmitter/receiver of the medical treatment unit thereby enabling the medical treatment unit to identify the peripheral device, an acknowledgement switch or button configured to send an acknowledgement signal to the medical treatment unit upon activation of the acknowledgement switch or button, a processing module configured to check an allocation of the peripheral device to the patient by evaluating the patient signal corresponding to the physiological aspect of the patient, and to (1) generate an alarm signal if, based on the evaluation of the patient signal, the peripheral device is determined not to be allocated to the patient, or (2) prompt an operator to activate the acknowledgment switch or button if, based on the evaluation of the patient signal, the peripheral device is determined to be allocated to the patient, a processing module configured to transmit patient-specific data, sensed by the sensor, via the second radio transmitter/receiver, from the peripheral device to the radio transmitter/receiver of the medical treatment unit for use in a treatment program only on condition that the correct allocation of the peripheral device to the patient has been acknowledged by activation of the acknowledgment switch or button within a preset time interval, and an alarm emitter configured to emit an optical and/or acoustic alarm when an alarm signal generated by the processing module configured to check, is received.

16. The alarm system according to claim 15, wherein the processing modules are components of a microprocessor.

17. A method, comprising: connecting a treatment unit to a patient via a system of at least one of tubes or lines for connection of the patient to the treatment unit, the treatment unit comprising a radio transmitter/receiver and an accommodation unit, the accommodation unit comprising a power supply and a first electrical connection, allocating a peripheral device to the treatment unit and the patient, the peripheral device configured being connected to the patient and comprising a sensor configured to generate a patient signal corresponding to a physiological aspect of the patient, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a blood pressure sensor and a pulse sensor, the peripheral device further comprising a second radio transmitter/receiver, a battery, and a second electrical connection and being configured to be received in the accommodation unit such that an electrical connection is made between the first and second electrical connections and the battery is charged by the power supply, the allocating comprising detecting a coupling of the peripheral device to the accommodation unit with a connection sensor comprising electrical contacts and configured to generate a status signal when the coupling is detected, the connection sensor being operatively connected to the second radio transmitter/receiver of the peripheral device and configured to prompt the second radio transmitter/receiver of the peripheral device to send an address for the identification of the peripheral device to the radio transmitter/receiver of the treatment unit thereby enabling the treatment unit to identify the peripheral device, checking, via the microprocessor, the allocation of the peripheral device to the patient by evaluating a signal corresponding to a physiological aspect of the patient, and either (1) generating an alarm signal if, based on the evaluation of the patient signal, the peripheral device is determined not to be allocated to the patient, or (2) prompting an operator to activate an acknowledgment switch or button if, based on the evaluation of the patient signal, the peripheral device is determined to be allocated to the patient, activating an acknowledgement switch or button configured to send an acknowledgement signal to the treatment unit upon activation of the acknowledgement switch or button, to acknowledge that the peripheral device and the treatment unit have been allocated to the same patient, and transmitting patient-specific data, sensed by the sensor, with the second radio transmitter/receiver, from the peripheral device to the radio transmitter/receiver of the treatment unit, for use in a treatment program only on condition that the correct allocation of the peripheral device and the patient has been acknowledged by activation of the acknowledgement switch or button within a preset time interval.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the allocation of the peripheral device to the treatment unit, the checking of the allocation of the peripheral device to the patient, and the releasing of the peripheral device are all performed by processing modules.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a correct allocation between two peripheral devices and treatment units to the respective patient.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of FIG. 1, wherein the peripheral devices allocated to the respective treatment unit have been allocated to the wrong patient.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the main components of a medical treatment unit and a peripheral device in a schematic representation.

(4) FIGS. 4A and 4B show a flow diagram, which describes the sequence of the allocation of the peripheral device and the treatment unit as well as the patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows two medical treatment units 1, 1, for example, extracorporeal blood treatment apparatuses with an extracorporeal blood circuit. A patient 2, 2 is connected to each treatment unit 1, 1. In the case of an extracorporeal blood treatment, patient 2, 2 is connected to blood treatment apparatus 1, 1 via a venous and arterial tube line 3, 4; 3, 4. A fixed allocation between the patient and the treatment unit is thus made. Moreover, a peripheral unit or device 5, 5, for example a blood pressure monitor, is allocated in each case to the two patients 2, 2.

(6) Peripheral devices 5, 5 monitor the patient's bodily function, for example the blood pressure or pulse, and transmit the physiological data to the respective treatment unit, to which the patient is connected.

(7) FIG. 1 shows the correct allocation of the peripheral device and patient on the one hand and the peripheral device and treatment unit on the other hand, while FIG. 2 shows an incorrect allocation of the peripheral device and patient and, respectively, the peripheral device and treatment unit. In the case of an incorrect allocation, treatment unit 1 receives the data of peripheral device 5 of patient 2, who is not connected to treatment unit 1, but rather to treatment unit 1.

(8) The arrangement according to example embodiments of the invention comprises at least two medical treatment units and peripheral devices. The individual components of a treatment unit and a peripheral device as well as the individual steps for the allocation of the treatment unit, the peripheral device and the patient are described below by reference to FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B.

(9) Peripheral device 5, for example a blood pressure monitor, has various sensors 6 shown solely schematically for monitoring the patient, for example sensors for measuring the blood pressure or pulse. For bi-directional communication with respective treatment unit 1, peripheral device 5 has means 7 for sending and receiving signals, in particular a radio transmitter/receiver 7. The data transmission may, however, also take place solely directionally from the peripheral device to the treatment unit. Rechargeable battery 8 (accumulator) serves as the power supply of the peripheral device.

(10) Furthermore, peripheral device 5 has means 19, with which the operative can acknowledge that the patient to whom the peripheral device has been allocated is the patient to whom the treatment unit has been allocated to which the peripheral device has been allocated. This means is preferably means for manual input, in particular a pushbutton 19.

(11) Treatment unit 1, for example a blood treatment apparatus with an extracorporeal blood circuit, has various components 9, represented only schematically, for the treatment of patient 2, for example a dialyser, pumps etc. Patient 2 is fixedly connected to blood treatment apparatus 1, for example via a venous and arterial blood line 3,4. A fixed allocation between patient and treatment unit is thus produced.

(12) For the communication with respective peripheral device 5, treatment unit 1 has means 10 for sending and receiving signals, in particular a radio transmitter/receiver 10 for a bi-directional data transmission. The data transmission between peripheral device 5 and treatment unit 1 thus takes place by radio, whereby the transmitter and receiver, as well as the interfaces required for this, are generally known to the person skilled in the art.

(13) Treatment unit 1, moreover, has an optical and/or acoustic alarm emitter 12 and a display unit 13.

(14) An accommodation unit 14 is fixedly allocated to each treatment unit 1, so that the operative can immediately detect that accommodation unit 14 belongs to blood treatment unit 1. Accommodation unit 14 is designed as a charging station. It comprises means 15 for the power supply, in particular a power pack, with which battery 8 of the peripheral device can be charged when the peripheral device is inserted into the accommodation unit. The electrical connection between power pack 15 and battery 8 can take place via suitable plug-in connections 11 or an inductive coupling.

(15) Peripheral device 5 and/or accommodation unit 14 have means 16 for detecting whether peripheral device is inserted into the accommodation unit. This means may, for example, be electrical contact makers, which are provided either on the peripheral device or the accommodation unit or on both devices.

(16) The function of the treatment units and peripheral devices is described in detail below by reference to FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B.

(17) It is assumed that the patients are connected to treatment units 1, for example extracorporeal blood treatment apparatuses, via venous and arterial blood lines 3, 4, so that in each case a fixed allocation of patient and treatment unit is produced, which can immediately be seen by the operative. The operative now has the task of connecting the peripheral device belonging to the treatment unit to the respective patients.

(18) Respective peripheral device 5 is first inserted into accommodation unit 14, which is allocated to respective treatment unit 1. The operative has thus allocated the peripheral device to be treatment unit.

(19) Means 16 detects that the peripheral device is located in accommodation unit 14. This is signalled by means 16 with a status signal. While peripheral device 5 is located in accommodation unit 14, an electrical connection is produced between power pack 15 and battery 8, so that the battery is charged.

(20) Treatment unit 1 continuously inquires whether the status signal, indicating that the peripheral device is located in the accommodation unit, has been generated. If this is the case, radio transmitter/receiver 7 of peripheral device 5 sends an address for the identification of the peripheral device, for example an MAC address, to treatment unit 1, which receives the MAC address via radio transmitter/receiver 10. Treatment unit 1 has thus identified peripheral device 5.

(21) For the identification of the peripheral devices by the exchange of MAC addresses, use is preferably made of transmission/reception means with a relatively short range in the case of a wireless transmission of the signals. If the range of the transmission/reception means is not greater than the distance between the peripheral device and the treatment unit with the respective accommodation unit, it can be ensured that the peripheral device communicates solely with its own charging shell. For this purpose, the transmission means can also limit the range themselves. It is, however, also possible to provide separate transmission/reception means for the transmission of the patient-specific signals on the one hand and the MAC addresses for the identification of the peripheral device on the other hand. For example, transmission/reception means for inductive data transmission can also be used for the identification, said means being part of an inductive battery charging device provided in the charging shell.

(22) After identification of the peripheral device, the operative must allocate the identified peripheral device 5 to the patient, who is connected to treatment unit 1 which has identified the peripheral device. For this purpose, the operative must take the peripheral device out of the accommodation unit.

(23) Constant monitoring is carried out to check whether the peripheral device is still located in the accommodation unit. When the operative takes the peripheral device out of the accommodation unit, this is immediately detected by means 16, which generates a status signal indicating that the operative has removed the peripheral device from the accommodation unit. This status signal is sent to the treatment unit, which receives the status signal. With the reception of the status signal for the removal of the peripheral device from the accommodation unit, the treatment unit starts up means (timer) 18 for measuring the time that has passed after the removal of the peripheral device.

(24) The operative must now connect the peripheral device to the patient within a preset time interval. The remaining time in the preset time interval is displayed to the operative on a display unit 13 of treatment unit 1.

(25) When the operative has fitted the peripheral device to the patient and has activated the peripheral device, sensors 6 of the peripheral device receive the physiological measured values, such as the patient's blood pressure and pulse. The signals received from sensors 6 are evaluated by means 20 for checking the allocation of a peripheral device to a patient. This event is signaled by means 20 of peripheral device 5 to treatment unit 1 by the fact that the peripheral device sends to the treatment unit a status signal for the successful allocation of the peripheral device to the patient.

(26) The treatment unit continuously checks whether the status signal for the successful allocation of the peripheral device and patient is received during the preset time interval. If the preset time interval has lapsed before reception of the status signal for the successful allocation of the peripheral device and patient, the treatment unit emits with alarm emitter 12 an optical and/or acoustic alarm signal, with which the operative is prompted to place the peripheral device back into the accommodation unit. At the same time, or alternatively, a corresponding display can also take place on display unit 13. The routine described above then begins afresh.

(27) If, however, the status signal for the successful allocation of the peripheral device and patient is received, there appears on display unit 13 (display) of the treatment unit an indication which prompts the operative to press an acknowledge button 19. The treatment unit waits until button 19 is pressed.

(28) The operative must now check whether patient 2, to whom peripheral device 5 is connected, is the patient to whom treatment unit 1 is connected to which the peripheral device has been allocated by accommodation unit 14. If this is the case, the operative presses acknowledge button 19, which is provided on the peripheral device. A signal for the acknowledgement by the operative is then sent to the treatment unit, which receives the status signal.

(29) It is, however, also possible for the acknowledge button to be located on the treatment unit. It is then not necessary to send the status signal for the acknowledgement of the allocation of the peripheral device and patient to the treatment unit.

(30) Treatment unit 1 now checks whether the operative has acknowledged the correct allocation of the peripheral device and patient by pressing button 19 within the preset time interval.

(31) Treatment unit 1 has means 17, with which the peripheral device is released. Only in the case where acknowledge button 19 has been pressed within the preset time interval do means 17 release the peripheral device, so that the patient-specific data are transmitted from the peripheral device to the treatment unit with radio transmitter/receiver 7, 10. Means 17 must also release the treatment. The treatment program can now be started.

(32) The means described above can form separate modules, but in practice the means are a component of a microprocessor, which is generally provided anyway in the treatment units and peripheral devices.

(33) In the embodiment described by reference to the figures, individual means are allocated in each case to the blood treatment units and individual means are allocated in each case to the peripheral devices. The means which are allocated to the blood treatment units, however, may also be allocated to the peripheral devices. For example, the means for the acknowledgement of the allocation of the patient and treatment unit may be provided not on the peripheral device, but on the treatment unit. The means for emitting an acoustic and/or optical alarm can also be provided on the peripheral device instead of on the treatment unit.

(34) Even though the figures show an arrangement of peripheral devices and treatment units, it can be seen from the description that the peripheral devices and the treatment units are independent devices which have the described modules.