System and method for communicating over a network with a medical device
Inventors
Chan, Johnny Yat Ming • Chamblee, Brent
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8060576-B2
Publication Date
2011-11-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device is provided for connecting a medical apparatus to a network. The device collects data from the medical apparatus and performs a variety of processing functions, such as trending, protocol translation, generating reports, etc. related to the collected data. The device then transmits the collected data over a network to interested parties. In some implementations, the device can transmit the collected data as an email message.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to communicating with a client system over a network using email messages that include a command or a request for medical data. A network device receives an email message from the client system using a first protocol, formats the command or request so that it can be communicated to a medical apparatus using a second protocol, and transmits the command or request to the physically connected medical apparatus.
After the physically connected medical apparatus has processed the command, or after medical data are received from the medical apparatus, the network device generates a response email message comprising the received response or the received medical data and generates a report related to the received response. The network device also generates an applet for displaying the received medical data, and transmits the response email message and the report, or the email message and the applet, to the client system over the network.
The invention further allows elements or functions to be executed out of order, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. The invention specifies three layers of ASCII based security based measures, where the first layer relates to cryptographic hash functions such as MD5, the second level relates to data blocking and stuffing, and the third level relates to private-key stream ciphering.
Claims Coverage
The partial set includes three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00006, and clm-00010). Each claim defines computer-implemented communication between a client system and a medically connected apparatus via email, with protocol formatting, response generation, and a three-layer ASCII based security approach; the claims differ in whether they focus on commands/responses with reports, on medical data with an applet and email, or on a dedicated network-connecting device with request forwarding and data storage for future analysis.
Email command receiving and protocol formatting for a physically connected medical apparatus
Receiving, by a network device and from the client system over the network using a first protocol, an email message comprising a command; formatting the received email message so that the command can be communicated to a medical apparatus using a second protocol; transmitting the command to the medical apparatus, wherein the network device is physically connected to the medical apparatus; receiving a response from the physically connected medical apparatus after processing the command.
Email response and report generation for client delivery
Generating a response email message comprising the received response; generating a report related to the received response; transmitting the response email message and the report to the client system over the network.
Out-of-order execution with three-layer ASCII based security measures
Elements or functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved; three layers of ASCII based security based measures may be used including a first layer relating to cryptographic hash functions such as MD5, a second level relating to data blocking and stuffing, and a third level relating to private-key stream ciphering.
Medical data reception and combined email plus applet delivery
Receiving, by a network device, medical data from a medical apparatus, wherein the medical apparatus is physically connected to the network device; generating an applet for displaying the received medical data; generating an email message comprising the received medical data; sending the email message and the applet to the client system over the network.
Network-connecting device with email request forwarding, protocol retrieval, storage for analysis, and applet generation
A device for connecting a medical apparatus to a network comprising a first port for physically connecting to the medical apparatus, a second port for connecting to the network, and a data storage system for storing medical data received from the physically connected medical apparatus; the device computer system configured to receive an email message including a request for medical data associated with the physically connected medical apparatus, transmit the request to the physically connected medical apparatus, receive medical data from the physically connected medical apparatus using a first protocol, store the received medical data for future analysis, format the received medical data for transmission using a second protocol, and generate an applet for displaying the received medical data.
Across the independent claims, the main inventive coverage is an email-based interface to a physically connected medical apparatus using first and second protocol formatting for command/request and medical data handling, generation of an applet and/or report for client delivery, allowance for out-of-order execution, and a specified three-layer ASCII based security approach using MD5, data blocking and stuffing, and private-key stream ciphering.
Stated Advantages
Complies with HIPAA (as stated in the provided description chunk).
Enables external communication with a medical device located inside a firewall by using email-based requests/responses (as stated in the provided description chunk).
Documented Applications
Communication with a healthcare provider system to deliver medical data, reports, charts, and applets via an email server (as described in the provided description chunk).
Use with a ventilator including analysis such as trending analysis, data mining/data modeling, and medical recommendations/diagnosis service (as described in the provided description chunk).
Generation and delivery of reports/charts/web pages/images (as described in the provided description chunk).
Delivery of patient chart report information to an external charting system using mapping tables and charting software such as Clinivision MPC Software (as described in the provided description chunk).
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