WO2008031571A1

WO2008031571A1 - Patient monitoring system

Info

Publication number: WO2008031571A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/007924
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hansjörg HALLER
Original assignee: Smiths Medical Deutschland Gmbh
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2007-09-12
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Also published as: DE202006014172U1

Abstract

The patient monitoring system comprises a transmitter unit (1) on the patient end to which at least one measuring transducer (2) on the patient end is connected, and a receiver unit (8), the transmitter unit (1) on the patient end and the receiver unit (8) having respective dedicated power supply means (9; 12, 13). The power supply means of the transmitter unit (1), in the normal operation, being a rechargeable battery (9) that can be inserted in a battery compartment (10) and the power supply means of the receiver unit (8), in the normal operation, being supplied by the mains supply. The aim of the invention is to provide a reliable power supply for continuous operation. For this purpose, a charging station (1) for the battery (9a) of the transmitter unit (1) is fixed to the receiver unit (8) and is supplied by the mains supply, and in addition thereto, an adapter (14) for coupling a charging set (15) for the battery (9) of the transmitter unit (1) is fixed to the transmitter unit (1), said set being supplied by the mains supply, and/or a power supply unit (17) supplied by the mains supply is provided which can be inserted into the battery compartment (10) of the transmitter unit (1) in place of the battery (9).

Description

Patient monitoring device

description

The invention relates to a patient monitoring device according to the preamble f of claim 1.

Such a device is known from DE 10 2004 012 042 Al. This device, primarily in operating theaters and intensive care units to monitor vital

Functions of a patient, such as B. whose blood pressure is used, has a patient-side transmitting unit to which at least one patient-side transducer is connected, and the measurement data generated by the transducer via a radio link to a usually stationary

Receive unit sends. Due to the radio link between the transmitting and receiving unit a complex wiring is avoided, which is not only expensive to connect and to relocate, but also restricts surgeons and hospital staff in their Bewegungsf purity.

To further save electrical lines, the patient-side transmitter unit is powered by its own power supply, which in normal operation is a rechargeable battery that can be used in a battery.

The stationary receiving unit in normal operation, however, is powered from a conventional electrical network. The state of charge of the battery is continuously monitored and signaled either by an audible and / or visual display on the patient-side transmitting unit and / or also transmitted via the radio link to the stationary receiving unit and there acoustically and / or visually displayed. In particular, an alarm signal is output if the state of charge of the battery of the transmitting unit has fallen below a certain charge state value.

In this case, there remains a predetermined period of time, which is set in practice to a few minutes up to 60 minutes to replace the battery of the patient-side transmitting unit.

As a rule, a freshly charged battery should always be available within reach, which is not always the case, especially in the hectic pace of a surgical operation. First, it may happen that a freshly charged battery is present, but not quickly enough findable and on the other hand, that was forgotten to recharge the discharged battery in a previous battery replacement. This can lead to critical conditions since patient-side measured values can not be continuously monitored.

DE 101 54 908 A1 describes a telemedicine system with a physician-side consultation center and at least one patient-side mobile telemedicine device which has its own power supply in the form of a rechargeable accumulator and wirelessly transmits patient data to the stationary consultation center. The recharging of the batteries is done via charging stations or docking stations.

EP 0 891 745 B1 describes an electrically-operated medical device, such as a high-frequency surgical device, which can be actuated via a foot switch located on the floor below the operating table. To avoid electrical wires from the footswitch to the surgery unit, between these two installed a radio link with a digitized high-frequency signal, wherein the foot switch is powered by a rechargeable battery transmitter. Within the transmitter, a reserve accumulator can be provided which automatically takes over the electrical supply when a main battery is discharged. This condition can be signaled by an acoustic alarm indicator.

At the transmitting part and / or at the receiving station, a charger for the accumulators is provided. The charging station is constructed so that the transmission part is used when not in use in a holder at the receiving station and is charged there automatically. Alternatively, a charging station arranged separately from the receiving station can also be provided for the transmitting part, into which the transmitting part is inserted when not in use and held there in order to charge the accumulator or the accumulators.

A charge of the batteries is thus there only during the non-use of the transmitter part. It is therefore expected that during operating pauses the transmitting part is regularly used correctly in the charging station and otherwise relies on said backup battery. Again, it may happen due to carelessness of the staff, that especially in a prolonged operation of the battery or the batteries are discharged, so that the switch is no longer operable with transmitter. For this case, it is provided that a second foot switch is provided with identical trained transmitting part. This means increased equipment costs.

The object of the invention is to improve the patient monitoring device of the type mentioned at the outset so that a safer energy supply of the transmitting unit is ensured with a low expenditure on equipment. This object is achieved by the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The basic idea of the invention lies in the fact that the charging station for the accumulator of the transmitting unit fed from the electrical network is fixedly attached to the receiving unit. This ensures that only one possible place for charging the battery exists, from which a freshly charged battery can always be picked up. Each transmitter unit is associated with two batteries, one of which is "in service", namely in the transmitter unit and the other "in reserve" in the charger. While a battery is being charged, the transmitter unit can thus continue to be operated with the other battery.

In the event that it is forgotten when replacing a discharged battery to use this in the charging station, it is additionally provided that at the transmitting unit an adapter for coupling a fed from the electrical network further charging station for the accumulator of the transmitting unit or one of the electrical Mains-powered power supply unit can be coupled, which takes over the power supply instead of the battery of the transmitting unit. In the latter cases, then for security reasons, the power supply of the transmitting unit is directly or indirectly from the electrical network. For charging not the entire transmitter unit must be used in the charging station but only the battery, which is ensured by the form and / or arrangement of electrical contacts that only special batteries can be used. Further, in the event that no battery is inserted into the charging station on the receiving unit, provided that after a predetermined period of time a message or an alarm is issued to remind to insert a battery. This avoids forgetting to charge an empty battery and thus eliminates the need for a recharged battery. if a fresh battery is needed at the transmitter unit.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment in conjunction with the drawing.

The sole FIGURE 1 shows schematically a patient monitoring device according to the invention.

The patient monitoring device consists of a patient-side transmitter unit 1, to which at least one patient-side transducer 2 is connected, which leads for example via a line 3 to the patient. For example, the conduit 3 may be a pressure sensing conduit inserted into a vein or artery of the patient for invasive blood pressure measurement. It may also be an electrical lead leading to a sensor attached to the patient, not shown, e.g. an electrode for dissipating electrical signals, such. B. an ECG.

The transmitting unit 1 has one or more displays 4, for example in the form of lights or LEDs' to display various operating states and one or more keys 5 for operating functions such. B. switch on / off, transmit a test signal or similar. Furthermore, the transmitting unit has an antenna 6 for transmitting patient-side measured data via a radio link 7 to a stationary receiving unit 8. The radio link preferably operates according to the Bluetooth protocol, wherein bi-directional communication takes place between the patient-side transmitter unit and the stationary receiver unit. In that regard, the transmitting unit 1 is also a receiver and, conversely, the receiving unit 8 is also a transmitter. For example, the receiving unit 8 can query the operational readiness of the transmitting unit 1 or other parameters, whereupon the transmitting unit 1 then transmits a corresponding signal. Nevertheless the terms transmitter unit for the patient-side part and receiver unit for the stationary physician-side part of the patient monitoring device are used below.

The transmitting unit 1 has an autonomous power supply, which is independent of the power supply of the receiving unit 8 and is realized in normal operation by a rechargeable accumulator 9, which can be inserted into a receptacle 10 referred to below as the "battery compartment ^11. This battery compartment 10 and the accumulator 9 (FIG. hereinafter referred to as "battery" are so adapted to each other in terms of shape, dimensions and contact arrangement that only special batteries can be used .. The battery compartment 10 is mounted on or in the housing of the transmitting unit 1 at easily accessible location, so that the battery 9 easily replaced can be.

The basic equipment of the patient monitoring device includes at least two batteries 9 and 9a, one of which is in normal operation in the battery compartment 10 of the transmitting unit 1, while the second battery 9a is charged in a charging station 11. The charging station 11 is located at the receiving unit 8 as an integral part of the same. The receiving unit 8 is powered by an electric cable 12 from a power grid with energy, which is also the charging station 11 is supplied with energy, which is usually done via a power supply unit 13, which may be located in the receiving unit 8 or outside of it as so-called. Plug power supply and the voltage required for the receiving unit 8 and the charging station 11 provides.

The charging station is largely identical in terms of shape, dimensions and arrangement of electrical contacts with the battery compartment 10 and thus also adapted only for receiving appropriate special batteries.

This measure ensures that always a fresh charged battery 9a is ready and that at a unique location, namely at the receiving station 8, so that the probability that a battery is not charged or stored elsewhere, is already substantially reduced. Moreover, since the operating time of a battery at the transmitting station 1 is longer than the charging time of an empty battery at the receiving station 8, is also excluded that both batteries 9 and 9a not ready, ie "empty", are.

As an additional security measure, it is provided that the transmitting station 1 can also be supplied with energy directly or indirectly from the power grid in order to cover even the rare case that, despite the above-described measures, there is no sufficiently charged battery available. For this purpose, alternatively or cumulatively, the following measures have been taken:

a) To the battery compartment 10 of the transmitting unit 1, an adapter 14 is attached, to which an external charger 15 can be connected, via an electrical

Cable 16 can be connected to the power grid. This can be charged via the adapter 14 and the external charger 15 during operation of the transmitting unit 1 located in the battery compartment 10 battery 9, wherein during this charging the battery 9 continues to supply the transmitting unit 1 with energy. In that regard, the transmitting unit 1 is fed indirectly from the power grid during this operating condition.

b) It is a power supply 17 is provided, which is connected via a cable 18 to the power supply network, said power supply 17 in terms of shape, dimensions and contact arrangement corresponds to a battery 9 and thus can be inserted into the battery compartment 10 zt.

Both the power supply 17 and the external charger 15 provide the required voltage (eg DC voltage of 9 volts), so that the charger 15 can also take over the function of a power supply in the event that no battery 9 is present in the battery compartment 10.

In the event that during a normal operation of the transmitting unit 1, a battery 9 must be replaced by a freshly charged battery 9a, of course, the operation of the transmitting unit 1 should not be interrupted. For this purpose, a buffer battery 19 is provided in the transmitting unit 1, which has a relatively small capacity to take over the power supply of the transmitting unit 1 for a few minutes. The backup battery may be, for example, a smaller rechargeable battery, which is electrically connected in parallel to the battery 9 and thus always charged during normal operation. Instead of a backup battery, it is also conceivable to use a capacitor with a larger capacity, which then takes over the power supply for the short transition period.

The receiving unit 8 has, in addition to the already described charging station 11 and the components 12 and 13 for the power supply, an antenna 20 for bidirectional communication with the transmitting unit 1 via the radio link 7. Further, it has a display unit 21, such as e.g. a screen for displaying the received measurement signals, e.g. Time course of the blood pressure of a patient or other information, such. Alarm messages, PIN number etc. Furthermore, it has - as known per se - an alphanumeric or numerical keyboard 22, additional control buttons 23 and additional indicator lights 24 and possibly also an acoustic signal generator 25th

Of course, other peripherals can be connected to the receiving unit 8, such as an external monitor, a printer, external or internal data storage or similar devices. In Fig. 1, the battery compartment 10 and the charging station 11 are shown as laterally attached to the respective housings assemblies. It should be noted that this is purely for illustrative purposes and that the charging station 11 and the battery compartment 10 can of course also be mounted elsewhere, for example, also inside the respective housing. It only has to be ensured that the respective battery 9 or 9a can be replaced quickly and easily.

Finally, it is also provided that the receiving unit 8 can be operated with a battery, which is necessary, for example, for transport purposes, when a patient is moved, for example, from an emergency room to an operating room. In this case, the receiving unit 8 may have its own battery 9b, which is charged by the charger 13 in the case of mains-dependent operation. It can also be provided that in such cases, in which at times no power supply from a network is available, the battery 9a, which is at least partially charged in most cases, the temporary supply of the receiving unit 8 takes over with electrical energy.

Claims

claims

1. patient monitoring device with a patient-side transmitting unit (1), to which at least one patient-side transducer (2) is connected and transmits the measured data via a radio link (7) to a receiving unit (8), wherein the patient-side transmitting unit (1) and the receiving unit (8) each have their own power supply (9, 12, 13), of which the transmitting unit (1) is a rechargeable accumulator (9) usable in a battery compartment (10) during normal operation and that of the receiving unit (8). is fed in normal operation from an electrical network, characterized in that at the receiving unit (8) a powered from the electrical network charging station (11) for the accumulator (9a) of the transmitting unit (1) is fixedly mounted, that in addition to the transmitting unit ( 1) an adapter

(14) for coupling a powered from the electrical network charger (15) for the accumulator

(9) of the transmitting unit (1) is mounted and / or that a supplied from the electrical network power supply unit (17) is provided, which instead of the

Accumulator (9) of the transmitting unit (1) in the battery compartment (10) of the transmitting unit (1) can be inserted.

2. Patient monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery compartment (10) of the transmitting unit (1) and the charging station (11) of the receiving unit (8) are largely identical in terms of shape, dimensions and arrangement of electrical contacts and for the reception of batteries (9, 9a) are adapted.

3. Patient monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy supply unit (17) fed from the electrical network for the energy supply of the transmitting unit (1) is substantially identical in terms of shape, dimensions and arrangement of electrical contacts to the accumulator (9; 9a).

4. Patient monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmitting unit (1) additionally a backup battery

(19), which has a lower charge capacity than the accumulator (9).