Invented by John Arrizza, Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc
The Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc invention works as follows
A method for establishing a connection between a medical device that is a first and another medical device using a short range wireless technology protocol. The first medical devices receives connection information about the second device via the short range wireless technology protocol.Background for Remote Monitoring and Control of Treatment Parameters on a Medical Device During a Medical Treatment
Renal failure or dysfunction, and in particular end-stage kidney disease, can cause the body to lose its ability to excrete harmful metabolites and remove water, as well as maintain an acid-base equilibrium and regulate electrolyte and minerals concentrations within physiological limits. The toxic uremic waste products, such as urea and creatinine, can accumulate in tissues, resulting in death for a patient if the kidney’s filtration function is not replaced.
Dialysis is used to replace the kidneys by removing waste products and excess water. In one type of dialysis treatment?hemodialysis?toxins are filtered from a patient’s blood externally in a hemodialysis machine. Dialyzers separate a large amount of dialysis solution externally supplied from a patient’s blood by a semipermeable membrane. The semi-permeable dialysis membrane allows wastes and toxins to be dialyzed out of blood.
Dialysis solutions and dialysates are typically composed of sodium chloride with other electrolytes such as potassium chloride or calcium chloride. They also contain a buffer, such a bicarbonate, or an acetate to create a physiological pH and an acid, which can be glucose or another osmotic substance.
In one aspect of a method, it includes the establishment of a wireless link between a medical device. The first medical device receives, via a protocol of short-range wireless technologies, the connection information relating to the second device in order to establish the wireless connection. The first medical device establishes a wireless link with the second device using the connection information.
Implementations can include any or all of the following features.
In some implementations the wireless connection may be established by using a different communication protocol than the protocol for short-range wireless technologies. The connection information specifies the information used by a communication protocol other that the short-range technology protocol.
In some implementations, a connection device may also receive, via the protocol of short-range wireless technologies, connection information relating to the second device. The method includes also providing the first medical devices with the connection information for the second device via the short-range technology protocol.
In some implementations the connection device can be a wand.
In some implementations the device used for connection is a mobile phone.
In some implementations, this method includes the second medical device receiving connection information from the first device via the short-range wireless technology protocol.
In some implementations, a method may also include sending, from the medical device 1, a request for establishing a wireless link with the second device.
In some implementations, a first and second medical devices are placed at a distance sufficient to allow them to communicate using the short-range wireless protocol.
In some implementations, a first medical instrument receives connection information from a second medical instrument as a result the first and second medical instruments making physical contact.
In some implementations, one or both of the first two medical devices include an accelerometer that is configured to detect physical contact.
In some implementations, a short-range wireless communication protocol is Near Field Communication (NFC). Each of the first and second medical devices includes a component that can communicate via NFC.
In some cases, the component may include an inductor.
In some implementations the wireless identifier is included in the connection information for the second medical device.
In some cases, the wireless identification is unique to each device.
In some implementations, a first medical device may be electrically isolated from a second medical device.
In some cases, the first device is a dialysis unit.
In some cases, the second device is an accessory that can be used to interact with dialysis machines.