System and method for communicating with a dialysis machine through a network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173008-B2
Application number	US-201414218542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2014
Priority date	Jan 29, 2002
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A system is disclosed having a server, a dialysis machine configured to connect to the server through a network and client device configured to connect to the server through the network. In one embodiment, the server is configured to maintain an access list to determine whether the client device is authorized to connect to the dialysis machine. The server is further configured to provide a connection for transfer of data between the dialysis machine and the client device. Various methods of accessing the network using the system components are further disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method performed by a data processor of a server that is communicatively coupled to a dialysis machine via an unsecure network, the method comprising:
receiving, in the data processor via the unsecure network, a request electronically for a first secure data connection from the dialysis machine, the request including a copy of a first digital certificate stored on a memory of the dialysis machine, the first digital certificate indicative that the dialysis machine is certified to connect to the data processor;
responsive to authenticating the first digital certificate, establishing the first secure data connection over the unsecure network with the dialysis machine;
receiving electronically, in the data processor via the unsecure network from a client device, a request to access information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, the request including a copy of a second digital certificate stored on a memory of the client device, the second digital certificate indicative that the client device is certified to connect to the data processor;
responsive to authenticating the second digital certificate, authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine by (i) specifying an identifier of the dialysis machine, (ii) using the identifier to associate the client device with the dialysis machine on an access list, and (iii) establishing a second secure data connection over the unsecure network with the client device;
receiving, from the dialysis machine via the first secured data connection, the information pertaining to the operation of the dialysis machine;
determining, using the access list, that the client device is to receive the information pertaining to the operation of the dialysis machine;
transmitting, to the client device via the second secured data connection, the received information;
receiving, from the client device via the second secured data connection, instructions for the dialysis machine; and
transmitting, to the dialysis machine via the first secured data connection, the received instructions to cause the dialysis machine to at least one of (i) program a prescription, (ii) change a prescription, (iii) initiate operation according to a prescription, (iv) silence an alarm or alert, (v) provide additional information, or (vi) stop an ongoing treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 , which further includes providing, to the client device, a list of selectable actions related to the at least one of (i) to (vi) for the dialysis machine, and providing, to the dialysis machine, the received instructions responsive to a selection from the list via the client device.

3. The method of claim 1 , which further includes
receiving a connection from a second dialysis machine;
receiving, from a second client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;
authorizing the second client device to access the second dialysis machine;
receiving, from the second dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the second dialysis machine; and
providing, to the second client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine.

4. The method of claim 3 , which includes assigning a proxy port for communication with each dialysis machine.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the client device and the second client device are the same device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access list is stored on a memory accessible by the data processor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the access list is configured to allow updating of a set of client devices that are authorized to access the dialysis machine by updating, at the data processor, the access list stored on the data processor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processor is located remotely from the dialysis machine.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the data processor is located at a clinic.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the dialysis machine is located at a home of a patient.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device is a personal digital assistant.

12. A method performed on a data processor of a dialysis machine, the method comprising:
sending a request to a server to establish a secure data connection over an unsecure network with the server, the request including a copy of a digital certificate stored on a memory of the dialysis machine, the digital certificate indicative that the dialysis machine is certified to connect to the server;
receiving an access request from the server, the access request requesting access to the dialysis machine by the server through the secure data connection;
providing a response to the access request;
providing data to the server through the secure data connection comprising information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine; and
receiving instructions from the server through the secure data connection, the received instructions causing the dialysis machine to at least one of (i) program a prescription, (ii) change a prescription, (iii) initiate operation according to a prescription, (iv) silence an alarm or alert, (v) provide additional information, or (vi) stop an ongoing treatment.

13. The method of claim 12 , which further includes executing the received instructions.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dialysis machine is located remotely from the server.

15. A system comprising:
a server;
a dialysis machine configured to connect to the server through an unsecure network;
a client device configured to connect to the server through the unsecure network; and
wherein the server is configured to maintain an access list to determine whether the client device is authorized to connect to the dialysis machine, and
the server is configured to provide a connection for transfer of data between the dialysis machine and the client device by
authenticating a first digital certificate received from the dialysis machine, the first digital certificate indicative that the dialysis machine is certified to connect to the server,
establishing a first secure data connection over the unsecure network with the dialysis machine after authenticating the first digital certificate,
authenticating a second digital certificate received from the client device, the second digital certificate indicative that the client device is certified to connect to the server,
establishing a second secure data connection over the unsecure network with the client device after authenticating the second digital certificate,
authorizing the client device to the transfer of data with the dialysis machine by using the access list to verify an identifier for the dialysis machine received from the client device,
receiving an instruction for the dialysis machine from the client device over the second secure data connection; and
transmitting the received instruction to the dialysis machine over the first secure data connection to cause the dialysis machine to at least one of (i) program a prescription, (ii) change a prescription, (iii) initiate operation according to a prescription, (iv) silence an alarm or alert, (v) provide additional information, or (vi) stop an ongoing treatment.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured to receive a request for the first secure network connection from the dialysis machine;
receive, from the client device, a request to access the dialysis machine including the identifier of the dialysis machine;
receive, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine; and
provide, to the client device, the received i

Assignees

• Baxter Int

Inventors

• Simpson Thomas L C
• Letellier Laura M
• Martucci James P
• Wilkes Gordon J

Classifications

• A61M2005/14208

  with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program · CPC title

• A61M2205/3561

  local, e.g. within room or hospital · CPC title

• G16H40/63

  for local operation · CPC title

• A61M2205/33

  Controlling, regulating or measuring · CPC title

• A61M5/142

  Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps · CPC title