Method and device for remote monitoring and control of medical fluid management devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12260958-B2
Application number	US-202318523209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2023
Priority date	Jul 15, 2011
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of medical fluid management devices, in particular dialysis machines. The object of the invention is to design methods and devices, such that the monitoring and control of medical fluid management devices from a remote site are possible. To do so, the screen content of the output device of a fluid management device is transmitted at least partially to an output device of a remote control unit. The screen content optionally has user interfaces, which can be selected on the remote control device and lead to changes in the control of the transmitting medical fluid management device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving, by a first remote device, one or more images of at least parts of a screen content presented on a display of a medical device, the at least parts of the screen content including setting indicators representing one or more settings of the medical device;
transmitting, from the first remote device to the medical device, a confirmation message comprising a timestamp associated with reception of the one or more images of the screen content provided by the medical device;
determining, by the medical device, whether there was a problem in receiving the one or more images at the first remote device, wherein the determining includes checking, by the medical device, the timestamp associated with the reception of the one or more images;
in response to determining that there was a problem, providing an error message or an alarm signal by the medical device;
displaying on a user interface of the first remote device (i) the one or more images of the screen content of the medical device, and (ii) a treatment state of the medical device;
transmitting, by the first remote device, first data to the medical device, the first data being generated to influence controlling of the medical device, wherein the first data comprises a first command signal for altering at least one of the setting indicators of the medical device, and the first command signal has a first priority;
receiving, by the medical device, second data from a second device, the second data being generated to influence the medical device, the second data comprising a second command signal that has a second priority; and
performing, by the medical device, operations based on the first command signal and the second command signal, and according to the first priority and the second priority.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the medical device is further configured to:
determine that the first priority is higher than the second priority, and in response, perform the operations in accordance with the first command signal as preferred to the second command signal.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first priority is assigned based on a qualification of an operator of the first remote device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first remote device comprises a computing device and a display.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first remote device comprises a smartphone or a tablet computer.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first remote device communicates with the medical device through a short-range wireless technology protocol that comprises one or more of wireless local area network communications or infrared communications.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the medical device comprises a dialysis machine.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the settings comprise a dialysis fluid flow rate.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first data that influences the medical device comprises command signals for ceasing a dialysis treatment.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first command signal includes data for altering a dialysis fluid flow rate of the medical device.

11. A medical system comprising:
a medical device comprising a display;
a first remote device comprising a user interface; and
a second device,
wherein the first remote device is configured to:
receive one or more images of at least parts of a screen content presented on the display of the medical device, the at least parts of the screen content including setting indicators representing one or more settings of the medical device,
transmit, to the medical device, a confirmation message comprising a timestamp associated with reception of the one or more images of the screen content provided by the medical device;
display on the user interface of the first remote device (i) the one or more images of the screen content of the medical device, and (ii) a treatment state of the medical device, and
transmit first data to the medical device, the first data being generated to influence controlling of the medical device, wherein the first data comprises a first command signal for altering at least one of the setting indicators of the medical device, and the first command signal has a first priority, and

wherein the medical device is configured to:
determine whether there was a problem in receiving the one or more images at the first remote device, wherein the determining includes checking, by the medical device, the timestamp associated with the reception of the one or more images;
in response to determining that there was a problem, provide an error message or an alarm signal;
receive first data from the first remote device,
receive second data from the second device, the second data being generated to influence the medical device, and comprising a second command signal that has a second priority, and
perform operations based on the first command signal and the second command signal, and according to the first priority and the second priority.

12. The medical system of claim 11 , wherein the medical device is further configured to:
determine that the first priority is higher than the second priority, and in response, perform the operations in accordance with the first command signal as preferred to the second command signal.

13. The medical system of claim 11 , wherein the first priority is assigned based on a qualification of an operator of the first remote device.

14. The medical system of claim 11 , wherein the first remote device comprises a computing device and a display.

15. The medical system of claim 11 , wherein the first remote device comprises a smartphone or a tablet computer.

16. The medical system of claim 11 , wherein the first remote device communicates with the medical device through a short-range wireless technology protocol that comprises one or more of wireless local area network communications or infrared communications.

17. The medical system of claim 11 , wherein the settings comprise a dialysis fluid flow rate.

18. The medical system of claim 11 , wherein the first data that influences the medical device comprises command signals for ceasing a dialysis treatment.

19. The medical system of claim 11 , wherein the first command signal includes data for altering a dialysis fluid flow rate of the medical device.

Assignees

• Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland Gmbh

Inventors

• Brand Georg
• Hauck Daniel
• Kloeffel Peter
• Stahl Thomas

Classifications

• H04L65/80

  Responding to QoS · CPC title

• H04L1/0026

  Transmission of channel quality indication · CPC title

• G16H20/40

  relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture · CPC title

• G16H40/67 Primary

  for remote operation · CPC title