Remote control of dialysis machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9948720-B2
Application number	US-201715446084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2017
Priority date	Nov 17, 2011
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

This disclosure relates to remote control of dialysis machines. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine and establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine. The method also includes receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine, authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine, receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, and providing, to the client device, the received information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method performed by a data processor, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine;
establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine;
receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine;
authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine;
receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine;
providing, to the client device, the received information;
receiving, from the client device, first video data obtained by a camera of the client device;
providing, to a display of the dialysis machine, video based on the first video data;
receiving, from the dialysis machine, second video data obtained by a camera of the dialysis machine; and
providing, to a display of the client device, video based on the second video data,
wherein an interface of the client device is configured to present controls for controlling the dialysis machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the client device, instructions for the dialysis machine; and
providing, to the dialysis machine, the received instructions.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
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;
providing, to the second client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine;
receiving, from the second client device, instructions for the second dialysis machine; and
providing, to the second dialysis machine, the received instructions.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising 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 authorizing the client device comprises using an access control list stored on the data processor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the access control 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 control list stored on the data processor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processor is at a remote location from the dialysis machine.

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

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

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device and the data processor are the same device.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine comprises receiving a user login and password from the client device.

13. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving, from a third client device, a request to access the second dialysis machine;
authorizing the third client device to access the second dialysis machine;
providing, to the third client device, the information received from the second dialysis machine;
receiving, from the third client device, instructions for the second dialysis machine; and
providing, to the second dialysis machine, the received instructions.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the instructions received from the second client device for the second dialysis machine have a priority over the instructions received from the third client device for the second dialysis machine.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein, when there is a conflict between the instructions received from the second client device for the second dialysis machine and the instructions received from the third client device for the second dialysis machine, the instructions received from the second client device are executed by the second dialysis machine, and the instructions received from the third client device are not executed by the second dialysis machine.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information provided to the client device comprises voice data.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information provided to the client device comprises one or both of video and audio.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the video and audio comprise information related to connections and components of the dialysis machine.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the client device, a video stream; and
providing, to the display of the dialysis machine, the video stream.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the video stream includes audio.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine comprises data related to a dialysis treatment.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine comprises one or more of time remaining for a dialysis treatment, arterial pressure, venous pressure, transmembrane pressure, data related to ultrafiltration (UF), data related to dialysate, treatment status, and alarm information.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine is presented by the interface of the client device.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the interface presents at least some of the information that is presented on the display of the dialysis machine.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device is a mobile computing device.

26. The method of claim 2 , wherein the instructions for the dialysis machine comprise one or more of initiating a dialysis treatment and pausing a dialysis treatment.

27. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least some of the instructions for the dialysis machine are for setting one or more treatment parameters for a dialysis treatment.

28. The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing, to the client device, a virtual control interface, wherein the instructions for the dialysis machine are received from the client device through the virtual control interface.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein a video stream includes the first video data and the second video data.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the video stream enables a patient receiving treatment from the dialysis machine and a user of the client device to communicate.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the user of the client device is located at a hospital.

32. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video based on the first video data includes instructions for controlling operations of the dialysis machine that are provided by a user of the client device.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video based on the second video data is used by a user of the client device to monitor operations of the dialysis machine.

34. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the client device, first audio data obtained by a microphone of the client device;
providing, to a speaker of the dialysis machine, audio based on the first audio data;
receiving, from the dialysis machine, second audio data obtained by a micro

Assignees

• Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Wang Aiyuan
• Crnkovich Martin Joseph
• Wang Fei
• Lee Sue-Jane
• Yuds David
• Leung Hak Kan
• Tarn Jeffrey

Classifications

• A61M2205/52

  with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient · CPC title

• A61M2205/3584

  using modem, internet or Bluetooth® · CPC title

• A61M2205/3553

  remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office · CPC title

• A61M1/14

  Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators (semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00){; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis} · CPC title

• G16H40/60 Primary

  for the operation of medical equipment or devices · CPC title