Medical device with camera for imaging disposable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11488381-B2
Application number	US-202117383176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2021
Priority date	May 15, 2014
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A method of recording a state of an apheresis machine or a dialysis machine having a disposable component disposed thereon. The disposable component has tubing and a blood component bag. The disposable component is configured to be installed on the apheresis device or dialysis machine by a human operator. The method includes acquiring with a camera an image of a forward-facing external surface portion of the apheresis machine or dialysis machine and the tubing and the blood component bag of the disposable component. The image is acquired automatically without requiring user input. The method includes recording medical device information for the apheresis machine or dialysis machine comprising the image. The method includes generating a message comprising the image and transmitting the message comprising the image to a remote computer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of recording a state of an apheresis machine or a dialysis machine having a disposable component disposed thereon, the disposable component comprising tubing and a blood component bag, wherein the disposable component is configured to be installed on the apheresis device or dialysis machine by a human operator, comprising:
acquiring with a camera an image of a forward-facing external surface portion of the apheresis machine or dialysis machine and the tubing and the blood component bag of the disposable component, wherein the image is acquired automatically without requiring user input;
recording medical device information for the apheresis machine or dialysis machine comprising the image;
generating a message comprising the image; and
transmitting the message comprising the image to a remote computer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message further comprises an indication of a failure, wherein the message is transmitted to a manufacturer of the component.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing contact information for the manufacturer to the human operator via a user interface of the apheresis device or dialysis machine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apheresis machine or dialysis machine has imaging hardware installed for the camera.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image is acquired automatically in response to an error condition.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medical device information comprises a make, model or type of medical device.

7. A method of recording a state of a medical device having a programmed processing circuit and a disposable component disposed on an external surface of a medical device housing, wherein the disposable component is configured to be installed on the external surface by a human operator and removable therefrom for disposal, comprising:
operating the medical device to provide a medical procedure using the disposable component;
detecting an error condition on the medical device using the processing circuit, wherein the processing circuit, in response to the detection of the error condition, acquires an image from a camera coupled to the medical device, the image representing portions of the disposable component comprising a plurality of lines and portions of the external housing of the medical device; and
storing the image in a memory of the medical device, wherein the memory is accessible for later retrieval of the image.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
retrieving the image from the memory; and
diagnosing a cause of the error condition.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the error condition results in the processing circuit stopping the medical procedure.

10. The method of claim 7 , the processing circuit detecting error conditions of a first type and error conditions of a second type, wherein the processing circuit acquires the image when error conditions of the first type are detected and does not acquire the image when error conditions of the second type are detected.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
retrieving the image from the memory at a remote computer;
aggregating data from a plurality of machines at different facilities; and
determining a common error condition among the plurality of machines based on the data.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting the image stored in the memory over a network to a remote computing device without requiring input from a human operator.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting the image stored in the memory over a network to a remote computing device in response to input from a human operator.

14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving a request for the image over a network at the processing circuit from a remote computer and, in response, transmitting the image over the network to the remote computer.

15. The method of claim 7 , further comprising using the camera and processing circuit to detect improper installation of the disposable component using image processing and providing an audible and/or visual alert to a user interface of the medical device in response to detection of improper installation of the disposable component.

16. A medical device, comprising:
a medical device housing having an external surface;
a disposable component disposed on the external surface of the medical device housing, wherein the disposable component is configured to be installed on the external surface by a human operator and removable therefrom for disposal;
a camera coupled to the medical device in a position to image a plurality of tubes of the disposable component and the external surface; and
a programmed processing circuit configured to:
operate the medical device to provide a medical procedure using the disposable component, wherein the medical procedure is an apheresis procedure or a dialysis procedure,
acquire an image from the camera; and
store the image in a memory of the medical device, wherein the memory is accessible for later retrieval of the image.

17. The medical device of claim 16 , wherein the programmed processing circuit is further configured to:
detect an error condition of the medical device; and
acquire the image from the camera in response to the detection of the error condition, wherein the programmed processing circuit is further configured to store a state of the medical device.

18. The medical device of claim 17 , further comprising a network interface circuit configured to transmit the stored image and state over a network to a remote computer, whereby a cause of the error condition can be identified.

19. The medical device of claim 18 , wherein the stored image and state are transmitted to a service technician's computer via a network for diagnosing a cause of the error condition.

20. The medical device of claim 19 , further comprising a user interface device coupled to the programmed processing circuit, wherein the programmed processing circuit is configured to transmit the stored image and state in response to a user input provided via the user interface device.

Assignees

• Fenwal Inc

Inventors

• Roxas James Darren
• Case Brian
• Krause Kevin
• Min Kyungyoon
• Moskal Witold
• Cork William

Classifications

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G02B27/0172

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• G16H40/40 Primary

  for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades · CPC title

• A61B1/0004

  for electronic operation · CPC title

• G10L2015/223

  Execution procedure of a spoken command · CPC title