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

ES 2 671 908 T3

DESCRIPTION

Data transmission control system and procedure to and / or from a plurality of medical devices

The invention relates to a system and method for controlling a data transmission to and / or from a plurality of medical devices.

In clinics and hospitals, networks are frequently available for data transmission, which are provided with the aim of providing data communication with a plurality of medical devices, on the one hand, and with a server or server device, on the one hand. other side. Networks of this type are intended to carry out or carry out data transmissions in near real time. This applies both to the data that is generated in medical devices that are frequently connected with patients who occupy a hospital bed and which have to be sent to the central server device for the purpose of monitoring, evaluating and visualizing the data, as well as the data that will be sent centrally from the server device to the different medical devices. Such data transmission has to be performed in near real time and in a fault-free mode, which is not frequently possible since all medical devices access a common network and, as a result, network overload frequently occurs. Furthermore, such an overload can lead to the interruption of the data transmission and thus the error-free transfer of the data cannot be performed. This often results in large buffers being provided in medical devices so that, in the event of a network failure or overload, data that is momentarily generated in the medical device or that has previously been received is buffered.

Reading this buffer is possible only if a fixed data transmission connection has been established with the server device, for example after reducing a network overhead.

Documents US 2009/238087 A1, US 2006/031378 A1, WO 2006/067271 A1 and EP 1 515 496 A2 are known in the current state of the art.

Consequently, the aim of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for controlling a data transmission to and / or from a plurality of medical devices, which ensure a continuous transmission without failures of data between medical devices, by on the one hand, and a server device, on the other hand, without an almost real-time transmission of data causing data loss and overloading a network.

This objective is achieved by the system by the features of claim 1 and by the method by the features of claim 6.

An essential aspect of the invention is that in a system for controlling a data transmission to and / or from a plurality of medical devices, the plurality of medical devices being subdivided into individual groups, each with at least one medical device, each group of medical devices being connected on a first hierarchical data transmission level directly by means of a respective first network with a communication device arranged on a second hierarchical data transmission level for data transmission, storage and control and is have provided means configured so that for storage, control and data transmission a plurality of said communication devices in a third data transmission exchange data with a shared central server device arranged on a third hierarchical data transmission level. Such means can be a second network that connects the communication device directly with the server device. Alternatively or additionally, such means can be external memory elements, for example, pen drives or memory cards, which can be used for data transfer.

By means of a system of this type for the control of a data transmission it is possible, advantageously, that taking into account the multistage arrangement of the individual components of the system involved in the data transmission, not only is the overhead of the network minimized with data and, in this way, the overload of the networks involved is avoided, but also ensures a transmission without data failures between the medical devices, on the one hand, and the server device, on the other hand. It is that by connecting the individual medical devices, subdivided into groups, each one with a communication device that, moreover, is configured to be self-sufficient, that is, independently of the server device, can communicate, and can also storing data, with medical devices that are, preferably, infusion pumps, a direct connection between a communication device is established as the exclusive connection of the first network, on the one hand, and a medical device, on the other hand.

This has a result that when a network of the CAN type is used, for example, overlapping cannot occur in terms of time and in terms of quantity of data or data packets between medical devices and a central server device, since the exclusive direct line between the communication device and one of the medical devices reduces and almost excludes latency times and data loss during data transmission. As a result, not just repeat loops, which frequently need to be performed for successful transmission

ES 2 671 908 T3 of the data by means of a network that has to supply at the same time a plurality of medical devices, but also prevents the abort of updates when updating the software of medical devices.

Furthermore, due to such a direct line between the communication device and the medical devices, a faultless data transmission can occur from the medical device to the communication device or vice versa. This can refer to device-specific data and patient-specific data of patients connected to medical devices, such as insulin pumps, as well as drug-specific data, which must be sent from the server device to the devices. doctors.

For this purpose, the central server device has an application server unit and a memory unit, the application server unit being connected by means of a third network with application operating units on a fourth hierarchical data transmission level. Therefore, a plurality of application operation units is arranged in a further hierarchical level of data transmission of this communication structure constructed in a cascade or multistage form, from which a plurality of devices results, Units and medical devices communicating with each other loosely on different levels of this communication structure that function and act relatively autonomously to continue to maintain communication with the adjacent medical devices / units / apparatus of the next lower or higher level. This allows a reduction in the propensity for communication failures, such as those that can occur frequently, for example in the use of the wireless LAN (WLAN) with a server that through such a network is connected directly with medical devices of the whole clinic.

Each communication device is equipped for this purpose with at least a first memory unit and a first control unit, to buffer data originating from and received from the medical devices of the group, in particular data specific to equipment and related to patients, and transmit them by packets to the memory server unit.

In the same way, the first memory unit and the first control unit of each communication device are suitable for buffering the data that arrives and is received from the memory server unit or the application server unit, in particular the data specific to medicines, and retransmit them according to the demand or requirement to the selected medical devices. This allows data to be sent both from the communication device to the medical devices and from the medical devices to the communication device, all data being able to be buffered within each communication device and, given the In this case, they can also be read directly from this communication device or written to it, without the help of a server device. As a result, a first, almost independent network is possible between a group of medical devices, on the one hand, and at least one communication device, on the other hand.

Likewise, the second network that is structured between a plurality of communication devices of this type, on the one hand, and the server device, must be understood as a network system independent of other networks. In this sense, a transmission of data from the server device to the different communication devices that are necessary for, for example, transmitting the data through the server device to the different communication devices, and thus to the medical devices. drugs available in a new form, it can be produced, first, by means of the second network and within the different communication devices said data will be buffered and then, in case of need and appropriate operating state of the medical devices, be transmitted to them. This can happen, for example, when the medical device configured as an insulin pump does not currently administer the drug in the form of insulin to the patient.

Also the third network between the server device and the application operating units, which can be arranged remote from the server device, can be self-sufficient. This third independent network can connect the application operation units with the application server unit, for example by means of a network interface or a web browser, and thus enable operation, control, load and a reading the data stored in the server device. The data stored in the server device and that are primarily stored in the memory server unit, can also be represented visually, it being possible that this presentation is made both in the server device and in one or more application operating units that are used. They are arranged at a distance from the server device. A method according to the invention for controlling the transmission of data to and / or from the plurality of medical devices stands out in that each group of medical devices transmits, in each case by means of a first network, on a first hierarchical transmission level of data from / to a communication device arranged on a second hierarchical data transmission level and stores them at the place of reception or at the place of transmission and, if necessary, It uses them to control the device or device. These data may relate to device-specific configuration data, device-specific drug data, device-specific software programs, as well as the collection and evaluation of device-specific therapy information.

Devices operating at the first hierarchical level of data transmission, which otherwise work almost independently of the network and thus operate in an autarkic manner, are therefore controlled by the

ES 2 671 908 T3 communication devices by means of configuration and command files and otherwise transmit operating, status and medical data to the communication device.

The communication devices on the second hierarchical level of data transmission are likewise almost independent of the network and, in particular, configured to work autonomously with respect to the server device and eventually receive configuration files and commands from the server device to automatically relay them to the server device. the medical devices connected to the respective communication device. Likewise, in another way, operation, status and medical data of all connected medical devices are received and buffered, so that they are later transmitted by packets or concentrated to the server device on the third hierarchical level of data transmission. . Furthermore, the temporal and functional behavior of the communication devices is preferably controlled by means of the central server device on the third hierarchical level of data transmission by transmitting such control data.

Preferably, the server device arranged in the third hierarchical data transmission level is arranged centrally within the clinic and is controlled by the application operating units in the fourth hierarchical data transmission level. Such control can induce device-specific configuration data and commands to be relayed to selected communication devices from the second hierarchical data transmission level. Likewise, in another way, operation, status and medical data of all connected medical devices are received and buffered, so that they are later transmitted by packets or concentrated to the server device on the third hierarchical level of data transmission. .

The application operating units arranged in the fourth hierarchical level of data transmission generate the configuration files and commands in an automated way or with the help of clinical personnel. Furthermore, they make a selection of the communication units to be connected and define the functional and temporal behavior of the communication devices, providing the necessary data for this or the information in the server device according to the third hierarchical level of data transmission. The application operating units can also appropriately evaluate, concentrate and represent the operating, status and medical data that is buffered on the server device. The application server unit is operated, controlled and regulated regarding data writing and reading by the application operating units.

Also in the method according to the invention, the data received in each communication device in at least a first memory unit and by means of a first control unit coming from medical devices of the group, in particular device-specific data and referring to patients who are in connection with the medical devices are buffered, packaged and transmitted to the memory server unit.

Likewise, by means of the first memory unit and the first control unit, the data, in particular the drug-specific data, are received by the memory server unit or the application server unit and put in a buffer to be transmitted upon request or if necessary to selected medical devices. This can happen, for example, when the medical device is in a state suitable for updating data. The communication device then automatically performs the transmission and updating of data in the medical device. For this purpose, data from all medical devices is continuously read from the communication device and is buffered within the communication device. As soon as these buffered data, to which the operating status data of the medical devices also belong, indicate that a suitable operating mode of the medical device exists, an update of a database of the device is carried out by the communication device. doctor. This should not be done in an operating state in which an ongoing therapy is produced by the medical device.

Preferably, the existence of new data, as well as new configuration data, is indicated visually within the medical apparatus. Preferably, the first network is of the CAN type and the second and third networks are of the WLAN and / or LaN type.

Other advantageous embodiments appear from the subclaims.

The advantages and utilities must be extracted from the following description with the drawing. In this case, they show:

Figure 1, in a schematic illustration, the multistage system according to the invention; and Figures 2a and 2b, a flow chart in an embodiment of a possible application of the multistage system and method according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of the basic design of the system according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention for controlling a data transmission from a plurality of medical devices. This system makes it possible to control and configure a plurality of medical devices without data transmission failures and without overloading the associated networks, as well as data collection and visualization 4

Additional ES 2 671 908 T3 that are transmitted by medical devices and collected centrally for evaluation and monitoring purposes.

There are in total four hierarchical data transmission levels n 1-4, with a plurality of medical devices 5, for example insulin pumps, being arranged in the first hierarchical data transmission level 1, divided into different groups 5a. A group 5a of medical devices is assigned in each case to a communication device 6 with a first memory unit 6a and a first control unit 6b. This is done by means of an exclusive network on the basis of CAN according to reference number 7. There is therefore a unique CAN 7 connection between the communication device and, assigned to it, each medical device. The plurality of devices 6 are in turn connected by means of a second network 9 with a server device 8 placed in a central position, the server device 8 being able to be subdivided into a memory server unit SS and an application server unit.

In turn, the server device 8 can be connected by a third network 11 from the third hierarchical data transmission level 3 to application operation units 10a, 10b, 10c arranged on the fourth hierarchical data transmission level 4, the which allow different applications A, B, C.

This multistage configuration of this type of the system according to the invention for facilitating data transmission makes it possible through the available networks to transmit data without failures and not susceptible to overloads.

Figures 2a and 2b show in a flow chart an embodiment with a possible implementation of the method according to the invention, for which the system according to the invention is necessary. First, a new updated drug database is implemented through one of the application operating units. This occurs according to step 21.

Subsequently, by means of the sending of a respective control signal from the application operating unit to the server device 8, according to step 22, a storage of the drug database takes place.

According to step 23, all communication devices 6 receive notification that a new drug database is available on the server device. Subsequently, by request or by transmitting data for the new drug database, according to step 24, a transfer of the drug databases from the server to all communication devices occurs in the event of a request. This is done by means of the second network once the third network has been used in the transmission from the application operating units to the memory device. The communication devices continuously receive data from the medical devices connected thereto regarding the current status or situation of the respective drug database, which is currently stored in the respective medical devices.

As soon as this verification has been carried out in accordance with step 25, in step 26 it is carried out by sending an interrogation signal from the communication device to the respective medical device or by verifying the data on whether the data of the new drug database are identical to the previously existing data of the drug database in the respective medical device. If this is the case, according to stage 27 the updating of the drug database is not carried out.

If the data in the drug database do not match, a query is made in a subsequent step 28 as to whether the medical device in question has adopted an operating state that allows updating the database or whether it She is currently in a therapy process. If there is an operating state of the medical device that allows an update, according to step 29, an update of the database of the medical device is carried out by means of the transmission by the communication device of the medical device of the data of the database of medicines. This is followed by an activation of section 31, according to which the current operating status of the medical device is transmitted to the communication device.

If at the moment the operating state does not allow an update, according to step 30 a notification regarding the available update is sent from the communication device to the medical device. In response, the medical device sends, according to step 31, the current operating state to the communication device which, in turn according to step 32, sends it in the current operating state to the server which, according to step 33, stores the current operating state, to update a central database regarding the operating states of all appliances.

The communication device constantly monitors the operating status of the medical devices (step 28) and automatically executes an update as soon as the operating status of a medical device allows an update. Therefore, according to arrow 34, by means of the communication device a repetitive query of the operating state is produced until it has been established that, according to step 28, the operating state of the medical device allows an update of the medical device to be possible.

Consequently, in the transfer of operating and status information from medical devices to server devices, two stages of data transfer have to be traversed, specifically handover 5

ES 2 671 908 T3 from the first hierarchical data transmission level to the second hierarchical data transmission level and the handover from the second hierarchical data transmission level to the third hierarchical data transmission level.

Thanks to the first network with the communication device used exclusively by a medical device, it is possible, with a high transfer quality and a low degree of failures, a continuous query of the operating status and an eventual change of operating data and device status respective doctor. Within the communication device, said operation and status data are buffered and then processed to be transmitted packetized to the server device via the second network.

In this case, the communication device protocolizes which data and when it is sent to the server device by means of the second network and, in this way, it is able to limit the data transmission to the server device to the newly arrived or received data.

Should a failure of the second network occur, all data for specifiable periods is buffered within the communication devices and is transmitted in full to the server device when the second network is available again.

According to a further development of the invention it is possible that data is also sent from the communication device directly to other third systems, without this being done by means of the server device. For this purpose, protocol adaptations can also be produced within the communication device.

Due to the reduction of the data to be transferred from each communication device 6 to the server device to those data that have not yet been transferred, an overload of the second network 9 can be excluded. Likewise, due to the direct connection between each communication device 6 and each medical device 5, data loss and latency times within the first network 7 are impossible, since each medical device 5 has its complete protocol stored, including data . For this reason, in the event of network failures, data storage within the communication devices 6 is no longer necessary.

List of references

1, 2, 3, 4 hierarchical level of data transmission

5, 5a medical apparatus communication device

6th memory unit

6b control unit first network central server unit second network

10a - 10c third network application operation unit

- 34 process stages

AS application server unit

SS memory drive