EXTERNAL MEDICAL DEVICE REACTING TO WARNING FROM OTHER MEDICAL DEVICE ABOUT IMPENDING INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION OF TREATMENT
In one embodiment, an external second medical device is capable of being attached to a patient. The second medical device includes an operation module that is capable of operating at different capacities, such as at a first capacity and a second capacity. The second medical device also includes a receiver for receiving a warning about an impending administration of a first treatment to the patient, by a first medical device that does not know about the second medical device being attached to the patient. In response to receiving the warning, the second medical device undertakes a defensive action, whereby the operation of the operation module is capable of being performed at the second capacity. This way, the first treatment, when administered, will impact the second medical device less or not at all.
1 . An external second medical device for attaching to a patient, comprising:
an operation module for performing an operation at a first capacity on the patient while attached to the patient, the operation being one of monitoring a physiological parameter of the patient and administering a second treatment to the patient; and
a receiver for receiving a warning about an impending administration of a first treatment to the patient, the first treatment by a first medical device distinct from the second medical device, the second medical device having no other knowledge of the first medical device, and
in which a defensive action is taken responsive to receiving the warning, the defensive action such that the operation module can no longer perform the operation at the first capacity, and
in which then the defensive action is canceled so that the operation module can again perform the operation at the first capacity.
2 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
the second device is one of an external defibrillator, a CPR chest compression device, a device that can inject drugs intravenously in a rescue scene, an ultrasound machine, a device for cooling the patient, an X-Ray machine, and an MRI machine.
3 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
the warning is received through the body of the patient.
4 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
the warning is received as a sound wave.
5 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
the warning is received as a magnetic wave.
6 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
the warning is received as an electromagnetic wave.
7 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
the defensive action is such that the operation cannot be performed at all after the defensive action is taken and before the defensive action is canceled.
8 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
the defensive action is such that the operation can only be performed at a second capacity lesser than the first capacity after the defensive action is taken and before the defensive action is canceled.
9 . The second device of claim 8 , in which
the operation is indeed performed in the second capacity after the defensive action is taken and before the defensive action is canceled.
10 . The second device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface for communicating to a user of the second medical device that the warning was received.
11 . The second device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory for storing a record about the received warning.
12 . The second device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting an acknowledgement in response to the received warning.
13 . The second device of claim 12 , in which
a confirmation is received in response to the transmitted acknowledgement.
14 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
an all-clear is further received, and
the defensive action is canceled responsive to the received all-clear.
15 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
from the warning, an identifying code of the first medical device is decoded and stored in a memory.
16 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
from the warning, an identifying code of the patient is decoded and stored in a memory.
17 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
from the warning, a nature of the first treatment is decoded, and the defensive action is neither taken nor canceled in response to the warning if it is determined prospectively that an effectiveness of repeating the performance of the operation on the patient at the first capacity would not be affected by the first treatment.
18 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
from the warning, an intended timing of the impending administration of the first treatment is decoded, and
the defensive action is taken in accordance with the decoded timing.
19 . The second device of claim 18 , in which
the timing includes one of an end timing and a duration of the impending administration of the first treatment, and
the defensive action is canceled in accordance with the decoded timing.
20 . The second device of claim 18 , in which
the timing is communicated as a countdown.
21 . The second device of claim 18 , in which
the warning includes pulses, and
an aspect of the timing is communicated as a distance between successive edges of the pulses.
22 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
the operation module includes a second treatment module for administering the second treatment, and
the defensive action is such that the second treatment module cannot administer the second treatment before the defensive action is canceled.
23 . The second device of claim 1 , in which
a self-checking function is initiated after the defensive action is canceled.
24 . A controller for controlling an external second medical device, comprising: a processor and a storage medium coupled with the processor, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, result in the second medical device:
performing on a patient an operation at a first capacity, the operation being one of monitoring a physiological parameter of the patient and administering a second treatment to the patient;
then receiving, while attached to the patient, a warning about an impending administration of a first treatment to the patient, the first treatment by a first medical device distinct from the second medical device, the second medical device having no prior knowledge of the first medical device;
taking a defensive action responsive to receiving the warning, the defensive action such that the operation can no longer be performed at the first capacity; and
then canceling the defensive action so that the operation can be performed again at the first capacity.
25 . The controller of claim 24 , in which
the defensive action is such that the operation cannot be performed at all after the defensive action is taken and before the defensive action is canceled.
26 . The controller of claim 24 , in which
the defensive action is such that the operation can only be performed at a second capacity lesser than the first capacity after the defensive action is taken and before the defensive action is canceled.
27 . The controller of claim 26 , in which
the operation is indeed performed in the second capacity after the defensive action is taken and before the defensive action is canceled.
28 . A method for an external second medical device, comprising:
performing on a patient an operation at a first capacity, the operation being one of monitoring a physiological parameter of the patient and administering a second treatment to the patient;
then receiving, while attached to the patient, a warning about an impending administration of a first treatment to the patient, the first treatment by a first medical device distinct from the second medical device, the second medical device having no prior knowledge of the first medical device;
taking a defensive action responsive to receiving the warning, the defensive action such that the operation can no longer be performed at the first capacity; and
then canceling the defensive action so that the operation can be performed again at the first capacity.