Abstract:
The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for marking components, supplies and kits of drug administration devices and other medical systems with quality assurance information. The invention also provides apparatuses and methods for tracking time of use of such components, supplies and kits and various apparatuses and methods for preventing use or reuse of tainted, recalled or unrecognized components, supplies and kits. Quality assurance markers (QAMs) are described which store information regarding the identity and manufacturer of disposable components, supplies and kits. The invention utilizes several QAM modalities, such as, among others, 1-D and 2-D bar codes, 1-D and 2-D symbologies, holograms, written text, radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs), integrated chip smart cards, and EEPROMs.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an oxygen delivery device for regulating the flow of oxygen from an oxygen source to a respiratory cannula located on the face of a patient. A host controller coupled to the oxygen delivery device accepts an input from a medical monitor relating to the blood oxygen saturation percentage of the patient. The host controller then regulates the rate of oxygen supplied to the patient based in part upon the blood oxygen saturation percentage of the patient. A high rate of oxygen is supplied to the patient when the controller detects a blood oxygen saturation level below a predetermined percentage and a low rate of oxygen is supplied when the controller detects a blood oxygen saturation level above a predetermined percentage in an order to minimize wasted oxygen.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to capital equipment units, such as systems for providing medical treatment, that are associated with smart supplies. The smart supplies are tagged with data carriers which may encode such information as a unique ID for the supply or component, the identification of the supply or component, the identification of the source of the supply or component, the status of whether said supply or component has been previously used, the expiration date of the supply or component, and in the case where the supply or component contains drug, the purity levels of the drug and the concentration levels of the drug. The capital equipment units or their users then utilize the information to assure quality of any procedure run with the units, by way of improved pre-use checks, certification of the supplies for use, record keeping, inventory control, and charge capture.
Abstract:
The invention relates to kits of supplies and components for the computer assisted IV drug infusion administration device where those supplies and components may be disposable or re-usable. In one embodiment of the present invention single-patient use disposable components are utilized with a computer assisted IV drug infusion administration device to prevent potential cross-contamination and drug carry-over from a previous infusion to a different patient.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for the delivery of inspired gas, e.g., supplemental O2, to a person combined with gas sampling, including for the purpose of monitoring of the ventilation of the person. In the invention, the delivery of inspired gas and gas sampling are accomplished without the use of a sealed face mask. The apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention comprises an oxygen delivery device, nasal airway pressure sampling devices, optionally an oral airway pressure sampling device and at least one pressure analyzer connected to the sampling devices which determine the phase of the person's respiration cycle and the person's primary airway. The oxygen delivery device is connected to a controller such that it delivers a higher flow of oxygen to the person during the inhalation phase of the person's respiratory cycle. The invention thus increases end tidal oxygen concentrations. The invention further comprises carbon dioxide sampling tubes that continuously sample gas from two nasal sites and the mouth. The nasal sampling tubes are connected to a switching valve that is in turn connected to a capnometer which determines carbon dioxide concentration during exhalation. The oral gas sampling site is connected to a second capnometer.
Abstract:
A medical effector system comprised of a bedside unit and a procedure unit. The bedside unit contains a series of connection points for receiving inputs from a series of patient monitors. The procedure unit contains a patient monitoring and medical effector program, and a drug delivery pump or magnetic flux generator capable of delivering therapeutic energy to a patient. The medical effector system contains the capability to issue and receive a request from a non-sedated patient, issue and receive a request from a sedated patient and then to calculate a time difference. The medical effector program operates the pump or magnetic flux generator based upon at least some of the patient outputs and program inputs including a calculated time difference. A removable umbilical cable connects the two units and allows the output of the patient monitors as well as other information to travel between the two units.
Abstract:
The present invention includes a sedation and analgesia system capable of gathering data from a single monitor associated with a single patient parameter in a manner that diminishes the probability of false positive alarms responses due to data artifact. The invention also includes a monitoring system that is able to detect imminent adverse patient conditions, where such conditions may be detected before an adverse patient condition actually occurs. The invention further includes methods for incorporating trend analysis into a sedation and analgesia system.
Abstract:
A care system and associated methods are provided for alleviating patient pain, anxiety and discomfort associated with medical or surgical procedures, the system comprising: at least one patient health monitor device coupled to a patient and generating a signal reflecting at least one physiological condition of the patient; a drug delivery controller supplying one or more drugs to the patient; a memory device storing a safety data set reflecting parameters of the at least one patient physiological condition; and an electronic controller interconnected between the patient health monitor, the drug delivery controller and the safety data set; wherein said electronic controller manages the application of the drugs in accord with the safety data set. In another aspect of the invention, the care system facilitates a procedural physician's safely and efficaciously providing conscious sedation to a patient by additionally providing a consciousness monitoring system which monitors the consciousness of the patient and generates a value representing the level of patient consciousness. Methods for alleviating patient pain and anxiety in accordance with the invention comprise connecting a drug delivery device to a patient, such device having a drug delivery controller supplying one or more drugs and being coupled to an electronic controller; attaching at least one patient health monitor device to the patient; accessing a memory device which stores a safety data set reflecting parameters of at least one patient physiological condition; and delivering the drugs to the patient in accord with the safety data set. In further aspects of the invention, the consciousness monitoring system is an automated consciousness monitoring system which includes patient query and response devices. Additional embodiments of the system and methods are directed to alleviating patient pain or discomfort while enabling safe patient controlled drug delivery in correlation with the monitoring of patient health conditions.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods for facilitating medical and/or procedures that are performed without “general anesthesia,” which is also described in the specification as the state of patient “unconsciousness” resulting from a drug administered by an anesthetist or anesthesiologist. The methods safely and effectively provide and maintain drug infusions that do not push the patient into unconsciousness and/or general anesthesia. Methods according to certain embodiments of the invention include the use of parameters and/or values that correlate to drug delivery during a procedure, and a patient health monitor to measure and send signals regarding a patient health condition to a processor.
Abstract:
Disclosed are various methods and devices for facilitating medical and/or procedures that are performed without “general anesthesia,” which is also described in the specification as the state of patient “unconsciousness” resulting from a drug administered by an anesthetist or anesthesiologist. The devices safely and effectively provide and maintain drug infusions that do not push the patient into unconsciousness and/or general anesthesia. Devices according to embodiments of the invention include the use of stored parameters and/or values that correlate to drug delivery during a procedure, and a patient health monitor to measure and send signals regarding a patient health condition to a processor or other computational device.