System and method for controlling a data transmission to and/or from a plurality of medical devices

System and method for controlling data transfer in and/or out of multiple medical devicesTechnical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling data transfer into and/or transfer out of a plurality of medical devices according to the preceding claims 1 and 9.

Background technique

[0002] In clinics and hospitals, networks often used for data transmission are available. In order to make data communication available, the network has multiple medical devices on the one hand, and servers or server equipment on the other. The task of this type of network is to transmit data in near real time. This type of network is suitable for data that is generated at the medical equipment that is often connected to patients occupying hospital beds and needs to be sent to the central server device for monitoring, evaluation and display. It is also suitable for data that is sent from the central server device to various medical treatments. Device data. The aforementioned data transmission needs to be performed in near real-time in a trouble-free manner, which is often impossible, just as all medical devices are connected to a common network, which often results in network overload.

[0003] In addition, this type of overload can cause interruptions in data transmission, and failure-free data transmission cannot be achieved in this way. This usually leads to the provision of a large amount of intermediate storage in the medical device, so that when a network failure or overload occurs, data currently generated in the medical device or received in advance can be temporarily stored.

[0004] As long as a repaired data transmission connection to the server device is established, for example, after reducing the overload of the network, it becomes possible to read out the intermediate storage again.

Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, the goal of the present invention is to make the system and method for controlling data transfer into and/or out of multiple medical devices available, and provide trouble-free data between the medical device on the one hand and the server device on the other hand. Continuous transmission, there is no data loss during near-real-time data transmission and when network overload occurs.

[0006] The aforementioned objective is achieved by a system according to the features of claim 1 and a method according to the features of claim 9.

[0007] A necessary aspect of the present invention lies in the fact that in a system for controlling data transfer into and/or out of multiple medical devices, the multiple medical devices are subdivided into individual medical devices each having at least one medical device. Each group of medical equipment on the first data transmission level is directly connected to the communication equipment placed in the second data transmission level through the first network, used for data transmission, storage and control, and is also provided for multiple aforementioned communications In the third data transmission, the device is designed to exchange data through a shared central server device placed in the third data transmission level for data storage, control and transmission. This type of device may be a second network that directly connects the communication device to the server device. Alternatively or in addition, this type of device can constitute an external storage medium, such as a USB memory stick or a memory card that can be used for data transfer.

[0008] The use of this type of system for controlling data transfer advantageously makes possible the following: due to the multi-level arrangement of the individual system components involved in the data transfer, not only the network data overload is minimized, and therefore the network overload involved is avoided. Load, and ensure trouble-free data transmission between the medical equipment on the one hand and the server equipment on the other. This is because, since the individual medical devices divided into groups are respectively connected to a communication device, the communication device is separately designed to be able to communicate with and store the medical device, which is preferably an insulin pump, in an independent form, such as the independence of a server device. Data, so as to form a direct connection between the respective communication equipment on the one hand and the medical equipment on the other as the first

A dedicated connection to a network.

[0009] The result is that when using, for example, a CAN type network, data or repetitions of data packets that are not in accordance with the time or quantity can occur between the medical device and the server device placed in the center, because the communication device and the server device A dedicated direct line between medical devices reduces or almost eliminates the delay time and data loss in data transmission. Therefore, it not only avoids the repeated cycles that are often required for successful data transmission by ensuring that a network that provides multiple medical devices at the same time, but also avoids updating the terminal during the update of the software of the medical device.

[0010] In addition, due to the direct line between the communication device and the medical device, trouble-free data transmission can be performed from the medical device to the communication device or from the communication device to the medical device. This can be related to the device-specific and patient-specific data of the patient connected to the medical device such as an insulin pump, and it can also be related to the drug-specific data that will be transmitted from the server device to the medical device.

[0011] In view of this, the central server device has an application server unit and a memory unit, and the application server unit is connected to the application running unit of the fourth data transmission stage through the third network. In this way, multiple application operating units are placed at the high-level data transmission level of the aforementioned communication structure established in a hierarchical or multi-level form. Therefore, free communication between multiple devices, units and medical devices is formed at all levels of the communication structure. And can operate and function relatively independently to continue to maintain communication with the next low-level or next high-level neighboring equipment/unit/medical equipment. This makes it possible to reduce the susceptibility to communication failures, such as when wireless LAN (WLAN) is used by the server of medical equipment directly connected to the entire clinic through this type of network.

[0012] To this end, each communication device has at least a first memory unit and a first control unit in order to store temporary data sent and received from the medical devices in the group, especially the device-specific data of the patient connected to the medical device And patient-specific data, and deliver the aforementioned data to the memory server unit in a packaged form.

[0013] Similarly, the first memory unit and the first control unit of each communication device are suitable for storing temporary data sent and received from the memory server unit or the application server unit, especially data specific to medicines, and transmitting the foregoing Data to the medical device selected according to requirements or when necessary. This makes it possible for data to be sent from the communication device to the medical device, and from the medical device to the communication device, so that all data can be temporarily stored in each communication device, and can be used without the help of a server device. Can choose to be directly read or written to the communication device. Therefore, a substantially independent first network between a group of medical devices on the one hand and at least one communication device on the other hand is possible.

[0014] Likewise, a second network established between a plurality of communication devices of this type on the one hand and a server device on the other hand should be considered as a network system independent of other networks. In this regard, the data transmission from the server device to the separate communication device can be carried out through the second network first, which is necessary, for example, in order to transfer the available medication data to the separate communication device in a new form through the server device and then to the medical device, And the aforementioned data can be temporarily stored in a separate communication device, so as to be continuously transmitted to the medical device when necessary and in the proper operating state of the aforementioned medical device. This can happen, for example, if a medical device designed in the form of an insulin pump does not deliver any medication in the form of insulin to the patient.

[0015] In addition, the third network between the server device and the application execution unit that may be arranged at a certain distance from the server device is regarded as an independent operation. The aforementioned independent third network can connect the application execution unit to the application server unit through, for example, a web interface or a web browser, and thus allows the operation, control, upload, and readout of data stored in the server device.

[0016] The data stored on the server device and the data preferably stored in the memory server unit can also be displayed visually. The display may be running on the server device and one or more applications placed at a certain distance from the server device.

Unit proceed.

[0017] The method according to the present invention is used to control the data transfer into and/or out of multiple medical devices, which is characterized in that each group of medical devices in the first data transmission stage transmits data out or into the device through the first network. The communication device at the second data transmission level stores the aforementioned data at the receiver's location or at the transmission location and optionally uses the aforementioned data to control the apparatus or equipment respectively. The aforementioned data can be device-specific configuration data, device-specific medical data, device-specific software programs, device-specific state collection and evaluation information, and device-specific treatment collection and evaluation information.

[0018] Devices that operate at the first data transmission level and also operate almost independently of power supply and then operate in an independent manner are therefore controlled by the communication device through configuration files and instructions and in turn transmit operation, status, and medical data to the communication device.

[0019] The communication device is also designed to operate almost independently of the network in the second data transfer stage, especially in the form of being independent of the server device, occasionally receiving configuration files and instructions from the server device for transmission to the respective Medical equipment for communication equipment.

[0020] The operation, status, and medical data of all connected medical devices are also received and temporarily stored so as to be packaged or collectively transferred to the server device of the third data transmission stage.

[0021] In addition, the transmission of this type of control data is used by the central server device of the third data transmission stage to better control the behavior of the communication device with respect to time and function.

[0022] The server device placed in the third data transmission level is better placed in the center of the clinic and controlled by the application running unit of the fourth data transmission level. This type of control can cause device-specific configuration data and instructions to be transferred to the communication device of the selected second data transfer stage. The operation, status, and medical data of all connected communication devices of the second data transfer stage are also temporarily stored in the third data transfer stage, for example, in a server device.

[0023] The application running unit placed in the fourth data transmission level generates configuration files and instructions in an automatic form or with the help of clinic staff. In addition, the application execution unit selects the communication unit to be activated and defines the function and time-related behavior of the communication device by making available data or information required in the server device according to the third data transfer stage.

[0024] The application operation unit can also evaluate, centralize and clarify the operation, status, and medical data temporarily stored in the server device through a suitable form.

[0025] The application server unit runs, controls, and manages the application running unit according to the read and write data.

[0026] In the method according to the present invention, the data transmitted by the medical devices in the group received in the at least one first memory unit by the first control unit, in particular the device-specific data of the patient connected to the medical device The patient-specific data is temporarily stored and packaged in each communication device, and transferred to the memory server unit.

[0027] Data, especially drug-specific data, is also received and temporarily stored by the memory server unit or application server unit through the first memory unit and the first control unit, so as to be transmitted to the selected medical device upon request or when necessary . This can happen, for example, when the medical device is in an operating state suitable for updating data. The communication device then transmits and updates the data in the medical device in an independent form. For this reason, the data of all medical devices are continuously read from the communication device and temporarily stored inside the communication device.

[0028] Once the aforementioned temporary storage data indicates that a suitable operating mode of the medical device appears, and the operating status data of the medical device also belongs to the aforementioned temporary storage data, the database of the medical device is updated through the communication device. The update must never occur during the operating state of the current treatment being performed by the medical device.

[0029] Preferably, the appearance of new data, like the new configuration, is visually displayed in the medical device.

[0030] The first network is preferably of the CAN type, and the second and third networks are of the WLAN and/or LAN type.

[0031] Advantageous embodiments are further detailed below.

Description of the drawings

[0032] In the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the advantages and advantageous features are obvious.

[0033] In the drawings,

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system constructed in multiple stages according to the present invention; and

[0035] FIGS. 2a and 2b are flowcharts of possible applications of an embodiment of the multi-level system and method of the present invention.

Detailed ways

[0036] A schematic diagram of the basic design of the system of the present invention for implementing the method of the present invention for controlling data transmission of multiple medical devices is shown in FIG. 1.

[0037] The system allows the control and configuration of multiple medical devices, the data transmission will not fail, the connected network will not be overloaded, and it also allows the collection of advanced data sent by medical devices and collected for evaluation and monitoring purposes. Hexian

Zj\ ο

[0038] There are four levels of data transmission levels 1 to 4, in the first data transmission level 1, multiple medical devices 5, such as insulin pumps, are subdivided into different groups 5a.

[0039] A group 5a of medical equipment is allocated one by one to the communication device 6 having the first storage unit 6a and the first control unit 6b. Distribution is carried out via a dedicated network based on Controller Area Network (CAN) according to reference number 7. In this way, there is a dedicated controller area network (CAN) connection 7 between the communication device and each medical device assigned to the communication device.

[0040] A plurality of communication devices 6 are sequentially connected to the server device 8 placed in the center through the second network 9. The server device

8 may be subdivided into memory server unit SS and application server unit AS ο

[0041] The server device 8 can be sequentially connected via the third network 11 from the third data transfer stage 3 to the application running unit 10a.10b.10co which is placed in the fourth data transfer stage 4 and allows different applications A, B, and C.

[0042] In this way, the multi-level design of the system for facilitating data transfer according to the present invention allows trouble-free data transfer via the available network that is not susceptible to overload.

[0043] The possible implementation of the method of the present invention is illustrated with flowcharts in FIGS. 2a and 2b, and the system of the present invention is necessary for this embodiment.

[0044] First, a newly updated medical database is established through one of the application running units. Follow step 21 to build.

[0045] Then, according to step 22, the medical database is stored through the transmission of the corresponding control signal from the application execution unit to the server device 8.

[0046] According to step 23, all communication devices 6 receive a notification that a new medical database in the server device is available. Then, request a new medical database by request or by sending data when necessary, and perform the medical database transmission from the server to all communication devices according to step 24. After the third network is used for transmission from the application execution unit to the memory device, the transmission is performed through the second network.

[0047] The communication device continuously receives data of the current state or the state of each medical database from the medical device connected to it, and these data are temporarily stored in the respective medical device.

[0048] Once the verification according to step 25 is completed, an inquiry is performed. In step 26, an inquiry signal is sent from the communication device to the respective medical device or by verifying the current data stored in the communication device and the current data of the respective device. ,turn off

Whether the data in the new medical database is consistent with the data in the pre-existing medical database in the respective medical device. If they are consistent, follow step 27 without updating the medical database.

[0049] If the data in the medical database is inconsistent, then in a further step 28, an inquiry is made as to whether the above-mentioned medical device is displayed as an operating state that allows updating the database, or whether it is in a treatment method at this time. If the operating status of the medical device that is allowed to be updated appears, then follow step 29 to update the database of the medical device through data transmission from the communication device to the medical database of the medical device. Then the part 31 is stimulated, according to which the current operating state is sent from the medical device to the communication device.

[0050] If the operating status does not allow the update at this time, according to step 30, a notification about the availability of the update is sent from the communication device to the medical device. In response to this, according to step 31, the medical device sends the current operating status to the communication device, and the communication device sends the current operating status to the server according to step 32 in the current operating status, and the server stores the current operating status according to step 33 to update the information in the central database. The operating status of all equipment.

[0051] The communication device continuously detects the operating status of the medical device (step 28), and immediately and independently updates the operating status of the medical device when the update is allowed.

[0052] In accordance with arrow 34, repeated inquiries about the operating state are carried out through the communication device until it is confirmed that the operating state of the medical device in accordance with step 28 allows the update of the medical device to be possible.

[0053] Therefore, during the transmission of the operation and status information of the medical device to the server device, there are two levels of data transmission, namely, the transmission from the first data transmission level to the second data transmission level and the transmission from the second data transmission level to the second data transmission level. Transmission of the third data transmission level.

[0054] Because the first network dedicated to medical devices is combined with the communication device, it is possible that current queries regarding possible changes in the operating status and the operating and status data of individual medical devices have a high transmission quality and a low degree of failure. These operating and status data are temporarily stored in the communication device, and are prepared for later transfer to the server device via the second network in a packaged form.

[0055] In this case, the communication device records which data is sent when it is sent to the server device through the first network, and therefore can limit the data transmission to the server device to the data that has just arrived or received recently.

[0056] If the second network fails, all data for a pre-definable period of time is temporarily stored in the communication device, and is completely transmitted to the server device when the second network becomes available again.

[0057] According to another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible that the data is also directly sent from the communication device to other third systems without going through the server device. For this purpose, protocol adaptation can also be performed within the communication device.

[0058] Because of the reduction of the data that is not transferred in advance from each communication device 6 to the server device, it is possible to eliminate the overload of the second network 9. Similarly, since each medical device 5 stores all its own protocols and data, the data loss and delay time in the first network 9 are eliminated due to the direct connection between each communication device 6 and each medical device 5. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to store data in the communication device 6 in the event of a power supply failure.

[0059] All the features disclosed in the application documents that are novel with respect to the prior art, alone or in combination, are required to be essential to the present invention.

[0060] List of Reference Signs

[0061] 1,2,3,4 data transfer level

[0062] 5, 5a medical equipment

[0063] 6 Communication equipment

[0064] 6a Memory Unit

<td>[0065]</td><td>6b control unit</td>

<td>[0066]</td><td>7 first network</td>

<td>[0067]</td><td>8 Central server equipment</td>

<td>[0068]</td><td>9 second network</td>

<td>[0069]</td><td>10a-10c application operating unit</td>

<td>[0070]</td><td>11 Third Network</td>

<td>[0071]</td><td>21-34 Method steps</td>

<td>[0072]</td><td>AS Application Server Unit</td>

<td>[0073]</td><td>SS memory unit</td>