Method and device for updating medical apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10939818-B2
Application number	US-201414479846-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2014
Priority date	Apr 18, 2007
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and the device for updating a ventilation device that has a memory for an operating program. The memory is at least partially designed as a variable memory and is connected with an input device for a current operating program. The memory and the input device are connected to control devices, which have testing means for evaluating at least one code. At least one function of the apparatus is released only when the code agrees with a reference value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device comprises a control unit comprising (i) an internal or external input device for data input or reception, (ii) a memory device Which comprises one or more memories and is at least indirectly connected with said input device, data or computing and/or counting algorithms being stored in the one or more memories of the memory device and testing elements automatically comparing input or received data in the form of one or more codes with the data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device, (iii) a control device which, based on a comparison result provided by the testing elements automatically causes the ventilation device to at least temporarily be able to perform one or more functions associated with the one or more codes only if the one or more codes are in agreement with the data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device, and causes performance of the one or more functions associated with the one or more codes to be disabled by the control device or other elements if the one or more codes are not in agreement with the data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device, (iv) one or more interfaces for adaptable accessory devices, (v) one or more interfaces or modems for transmitting recorded data to a physician and/or for transmitting other types of recorded data to maintenance/customer service personnel, and (vi) one or more interfaces for adapting one or more sensors for determining one or more bodily parameters, which can be displayed in a display of a housing of the ventilation device, one or more areas of the display being reserved for displaying the one or more bodily parameters and being activated only when a corresponding sensor has been adapted, and wherein the device further comprises hardware components which cannot work without input of a correct code and in this respect are disabled for all functions and wherein without input of a correct code the device or parts thereof are prevented from being supplied with electric power or power supply is limited in a defined way with respect to time and power.

2. The ventilation device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilation device further comprises a permanent memory which comprises instructions that are executed after receipt or input of an update, whereupon a rewritable memory unit is searched for updated software and/or firmware, which is then loaded and executed.

3. The ventilation device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilation device is a stationary ventilation device.

4. The ventilation device of claim 3 , wherein the ventilation device further comprises a humidifier.

5. The ventilation device of claim 1 , wherein the adaptable accessory devices comprise a pulse oximeter.

6. The ventilation device of claim 1 , wherein the adaptable accessory devices comprise storage media.

7. A method for updating software or firmware in the electronic ventilation device of claim 1 that comprises a rewritable memory unit for storing an updated and/or a previous version of the software or firmware, wherein the method comprises:
(a) providing the software or firmware for updating by an updating device;
(b) communication of the ventilation device with the updating device;
(c) when communication has been established, transmission of the update from the updating device to the ventilation device;
(d) writing the update into the rewritable memory unit;
(e) verification of the update as a valid version and identification of the previous version as invalid; and
(f) execution of the updated software or firmware.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ventilation device comprises a microcontroller with a memory unit.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the microcontroller is driven via a data link as follows:
(i) transmission of a signal to the microcontroller to effect a reset of the microcontroller;
(ii) providing a flash program with new firmware for writing the new firmware onto the microcontroller;
(iii) writing a program entry point in a defined location of the microcontroller, which is read out first for the first time after completion of the reset.

10. The ventilation device of claim 1 , wherein without input of a correct code, one or more sensors that detect one or more characteristic data are at least temporarily disabled.

11. The ventilation device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more characteristic data comprise one or more specific wavelengths.

12. The ventilation device of claim 1 , wherein repeated input of one or more false codes results in a temporarily limited or unlimited disabling of acceptance of any additional codes.

13. The ventilation device of claim 12 , wherein an input of a code is re-enabled only by input of another code.

14. The ventilation device of claim 1 , wherein repeated input of a not correct update results in a temporarily limited or unlimited disabling of acceptance of any additional update.

15. The ventilation device of claim 14 , wherein input of an update is re-enabled only by input of a correct code.

16. An electronic ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device comprises a control unit comprising (i) an internal or external input device for data and/or computer program input or reception, (ii) a memory device which comprises one or more memories and is at least indirectly connected to said input device, data or computing and/or counting algorithms being stored in the one or more memories of the memory device and testing elements automatically comparing input or received data and/or computer programs in the form of an update with the data stored in the one or more memories of the memory device, (iii) a control device which, based on a comparison result determined by the testing elements, automatically causes the ventilation device to permanently or temporarily apply the input or received data and/or programs or data and/or programs computed therefrom to one or more hardware functions which are associated with the update only if the update is correct, and causes performance of one or more hardware functions associated with the update to be disabled by the control device or other elements if the update is not correct, (iv) one or more interfaces for adaptable accessory devices, (v) one or more interfaces or modems for transmitting recorded data to a physician and/or for transmitting other types of recorded data to maintenance/customer service personnel, and (vi) one or more interfaces for adapting one or more sensors for determining one or more bodily parameters, which can be displayed in a display of a housing of the ventilation device, one or more areas of the display being reserved for displaying the one or more bodily parameters and being activated only when a corresponding sensor has been adapted, and wherein the device further comprises hardware components which cannot work without input of a correct update and in this respect are disabled for all functions and wherein without input of a correct update the device or parts thereof are prevented from being supplied with electric power or power supply is limited in a defined way with respect to time and power.

17. The ventilation device of claim 16 , wherein the ventilation device further comprises a permanent memory which comprises instructions that are executed after receipt or input of the update, whereupon a rewritable memory unit is searched for updated software and/or firmware, which is then loaded and executed.

18. The ventilation device of claim 16 , wherein the ventilation device is a stationary ventilation devi

Assignees

• Schoeller Bernd
• Marx Thomas
• Loewenstein Medical Tech Sa

Inventors

• Schoeller Bernd
• Marx Thomas

Classifications

• A61N1/3925

  Monitoring; Protecting · CPC title

• A61M16/022

  Control means therefor · CPC title

• A61M2016/0027

  pressure meter · CPC title

• A61M16/0858

  Pressure sampling ports · CPC title

• A61M16/024

  including calculation means, e.g. using a processor · CPC title