IP Library Granted Patent US 7,706,896
Granted Patent B2
US 7,706,896 · App. 11/540,385 · Granted Apr 27, 2010

User interface and identification in a medical device system and method

Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,706,896
App. No.
11/540,385
Granted
Apr 27, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

There are provided systems and methods for user interface and identification in a medical device. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method for accessing a medical device, the method comprising detecting an identification tag, reading identification information from the identification tag, determining if a person corresponding to the identification information has been approved to access the medical device, and if the person has been approved, granting access to the medical device.

Claims (24)

1. A method for accessing a pulse oximeter, the method comprising:

reading identification information from an identification tag;

electronically determining if a person corresponding to the identification information has been approved to access the pulse oximeter; and

if the person has been approved, granting access to the pulse oximeter, wherein granting access comprises permitting the person to execute a first command of the pulse oximeter, but denying the person to execute a second command of the pulse oximeter if the person is not a doctor.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1 , comprising determining a permission level associated with the person.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein granting the access comprises granting access at the determined permission level.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the reading comprises detecting a radio frequency signal.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the reading comprises detecting a wireless communication protocol signal.

6. The method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the reading comprises detecting the identification tag with a door sensor.

7. The method, as set forth in claim 1 , comprising determining whether the identification tag corresponds to a caregiver or corresponds to a patient.

8. The method, as set forth in claim 7 , comprising reading patient data from the identification tag if the identification tag corresponds to a patient.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein granting access comprises permitting the caregiver to adjust patient-specific settings of the pulse oximeter if the caregiver is a doctor.

10. A medical device comprising:

a reader configured to read identification information from an identification tag;

a recognition system configured to determine if a person corresponding to the identification information has been approved to access the medical device;

an access control system configured to grant access to the medical device if the person has been approved to access the medical device, wherein granting access comprises permitting the person to execute a first command of the medical monitoring device, but denying the person to execute a second command of the medical monitoring device if the person is not a doctor; and

a pulse oximetry sensor configured to monitor a physiological characteristic.

11. The medical device, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the reader comprises a door sensor.

12. The medical device, as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the door sensor is configured to be mounted in a doorway of a hospital room.

13. The medical device, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the reader comprises a proximity sensor.

14. The medical device, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the reader is configured to read the identification information over a wireless communication protocol signal.

15. The medical device, as set forth in claim 10 comprising the identification tag.

16. The medical device, as set forth in claim 10 wherein the access control system is configured to grant access to the medical device based on a permission level associated with the identification information.

17. The medical device, as set forth in claim 10 , comprising a sensor configured to detect the identification tag.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2012
From: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT LLC
To: COVIDIEN LP
Reel/Frame 029379/0532 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 16, 2010
From: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT INC
To: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT LLC
Reel/Frame 024001/0547 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2006
From: MUSIC, DOUG; EGHBAL, DARIUS; VARGAS, STEVE
To: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 018712/0221 →
Continuity (1)
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