Determination of public resource status

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system comprising a plurality of medical devices (110) and a common resource (120) supplying a flow of medical gas to said medical devices. In particular, the present disclosure discloses a method wherein sensor data indicative of a characteristic of said flow of medical gas is received (S302) from any of said plurality of medical devices, a performance indicator indicative of a performance of said common resource is determined (S304) based on said sensor data, said performance indicator is compared (S306) to a reference indicator, and a status of said common resource is determined (S308) based on a result of said comparison.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the monitoring of public resources in medical settings, and more specifically to methods and systems for determining the status of a central medical gas system. Background Technology

[0002] Healthcare settings typically involve various shared infrastructure resources, such as power supply systems, climate control systems, wireless communication systems, and medical gas supply systems. A centralized medical gas system is an example of such a resource, used in hospitals to deliver medical gases (such as oxygen, medical air, nitrous oxide, and other gases) to wards and operating rooms. A centralized medical gas system delivers gases directly to healthcare service points via a pipeline network, thus replacing individual gas cylinders or storage tanks. This frees up workspace and reduces the risk of strain injuries to healthcare workers from handling heavy gas cylinders.

[0003] The performance of a central medical gas system is crucial for patient safety and effective medical care. Many medical procedures and treatments, such as surgery and respiratory therapy, rely on a continuous and uninterrupted supply of medical gases. Any interruption or insufficiency of the supply can lead to serious health consequences. Therefore, pressure gauges and flow meters can be installed at multiple points along the central medical gas system to monitor pressure and flow and ensure they remain within specified ranges.

[0004] However, improved and alternative technologies are still needed to monitor the performance of public resources such as central medical gas systems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems, this disclosure relates to improved or alternative methods and systems having the features described in the independent claims.

[0006] Therefore, according to a first aspect, a method for determining the status of a public resource (e.g., a central medical gas system) is provided. The method includes: receiving sensor data from any one of a plurality of medical devices in a medical setting, the sensor data indicating the flow characteristics of medical gases supplied from the public resource in the medical setting to any one of the plurality of medical devices; and determining a performance index indicating the performance of the public resource, based at least in part on the sensor data from any one of the plurality of medical devices. The performance index is then compared with the reference index, and the status of the public resource is determined based at least in part on the comparison result between the performance index and the reference index.

[0007] According to a second aspect, a system is provided that includes a public resource (e.g., a central medical gas system) configured to supply a corresponding medical gas flow to any one of the plurality of medical devices in a medical setting. Each of the plurality of medical devices includes a sensor configured to generate sensor data indicating characteristics of the corresponding medical gas flow. Furthermore, the system includes one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform corresponding operations. These operations include, but are not limited to: receiving sensor data; determining, at least in part, a performance metric indicating the performance of the public resource based on the sensor data; comparing the performance metric with a reference metric; and determining, at least in part, the state of the public resource based on the comparison result.

[0008] Hospitals and other medical settings typically include several shared infrastructure resources, such as power supply systems, climate control systems, wireless communication systems, and medical gas supply and emission systems. These shared resources typically provide public services, such as electricity, medical gases, air conditioning, or wireless communication capabilities, to multiple independent nodes (e.g., bedside medical equipment, vents, or radiators). These public services can be provided by a central node and distributed to the independent nodes via a distribution system. This central node can be, for example, a mains grid interface, a backup generator, an air handling unit for air filtration and temperature control, a central hub for a Wi-Fi network, or a central source for medical gas supply. Public services can be distributed from the central node to the independent nodes or end nodes via distribution systems such as power distribution systems, air conditioning duct systems, Wi-Fi network systems, or medical gas pipeline systems.

[0009] Some of these systems may include dedicated sensors for monitoring and regulating resource performance. The outputs of these sensors can be used as feedback to control resource operation and to issue alerts when performance exceeds acceptable limits.

[0010] A central medical gas system is an example of such a shared or public resource, in which medical gases are distributed from a central supply source to locations where medical services are implemented, such as wards and operating rooms. Gases can be distributed via pipelines and outlets to multiple bedside medical devices that provide treatment to patients.

[0011] Each of these medical devices may include sensor functionality to monitor and control device performance and ensure proper patient care. For this purpose, one or more sensors are typically integrated into the medical device. Sensor functionality can be configured to measure the flow rate and pressure of medical gases supplied to the device inlet. Therefore, sensor functionality can be used to ensure proper patient care and to issue alerts when these characteristics of the gas supply exceed acceptable limits.

[0012] The inventors have discovered that this sensor functionality can be used not only to monitor the performance of any individual medical device and the flow characteristics of the medical gases supplied to that device, but also to infer the performance or condition of the central medical gas system itself (e.g., a central gas supply source and / or a distribution system that delivers medical gases from the central gas supply source to the medical devices). Sensor data from medical devices can be aggregated and analyzed to determine the performance or condition of a public resource without the need for sensors specifically designed for public resources (e.g., pressure sensors located at the central supply source of the central medical gas system). In other words, sensor data previously used to monitor the performance of individual medical devices can now be aggregated and additionally used for public resource monitoring.

[0013] The term "healthcare setting" generally refers to a place where healthcare services are provided. This setting can encompass various environments where medical care, diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation is performed. Typical examples of healthcare settings include hospitals, primary care clinics, specialist clinics, emergency rooms, outpatient surgery centers, and long-term care facilities.

[0014] "Public resources" can be understood as systems that provide public services to multiple nodes in a medical setting. In the above context, this public resource is an operational central medical gas system capable of delivering one or more medical gases to multiple bedside medical devices. Therefore, public resources may include a central gas supply source and a distribution system for delivering medical gases from the central gas supply source to the medical devices. The central gas supply source may include a single centralized storage point from which public services are distributed to end nodes, or it may include multiple storage points from which medical gases are supplied to the medical devices. A medical setting may include two or more central medical gas systems operating in parallel, for example, supplying different types of medical gases to bedside medical devices.

[0015] "Characteristic" typically refers to a measurable attribute related to the delivery of public services from public resources to individual nodes. Therefore, a characteristic could refer to the flow rate, pressure, composition, or temperature of medical gases supplied by a central medical gas system. This characteristic is typically indicated by sensor data provided by any of the multiple medical devices and can describe a measurable attribute describing the flow rate of medical gases received by an individual medical device.

[0016] In this disclosure, the term "performance metric" can refer to an indicator that quantifies attributes related to a public resource. Typically, performance metrics relate to the overall capacity of a central medical gas system to provide the required flow rate of medical gas, rather than the inlet flow rate received by individual medical devices. Performance metrics can relate to the total flow rate, pressure, composition, or temperature of medical gas output by the central medical gas system, for example, at a public access point. A core concept of the above is to determine the state of a central medical gas system using sensor data from one or more individual medical devices. By aggregating data from multiple independent nodes, a more comprehensive understanding of the performance of the central medical gas system can be obtained, thereby helping to identify trends, bottlenecks, or anomalies that are not apparent when looking only at data from individual medical devices or the central medical gas system's built-in sensors. Therefore, this sensor data helps to more accurately and reliably infer the state of the central medical gas system. When monitoring additive characteristics such as flow rate, sensor data from any one medical device can be aggregated; while when monitoring characteristics that are typically not additive, sensor data from a single medical device can be used. Examples of such characteristics include the gas pressure delivered to a medical device, which is typically proportional to flow rate and flow resistance.

[0017] It should be understood that the term "performance" can refer to the effectiveness or efficiency of public resources in providing public services, while "performance indicators" are usually indicators that quantify that performance.

[0018] In this disclosure, the term "status" of a public resource generally refers to its condition or performance level. In an operational or normal state, a public resource can deliver public services within acceptable limits. This state can be determined by comparing the performance indicators of the public resource with reference indicators. In a degraded or faulty state, the performance of a public resource may be below normal levels. In this state, medical equipment may be unable to provide the expected treatment. In other examples, medical equipment may still be operational, but there is a risk that it may not function properly. In other words, patient safety may be threatened. Terms such as "degraded," "faulty," "damaged," or "requiring maintenance" may be used to describe this state.

[0019] As mentioned above, the status can be determined by comparing performance metrics with reference metrics. If the performance metrics are outside the acceptable range, the status can be determined as "degraded" or "failed". In some examples, the reference metrics or acceptable range may be based at least in part on historical performance values, thus allowing for the identification of fluctuations and deviations over time.

[0020] In one example, load distribution metrics can be determined based on sensor data. These metrics indicate the load distribution among medical devices and / or how the load changes over time. In other words, the medical gas consumption of any given medical device can be analyzed to detect potential bottlenecks and consumption peaks, and this can help achieve load balancing and more efficient resource utilization.

[0021] In some examples, location data indicating the location of any medical device can be used to determine load distribution metrics. For example, location data may include one or more of the following in a medical setting: beds, rooms, departments, floors, or buildings. By providing location data, it is possible to determine how the load on public resources varies with location within the medical setting. This allows for the determination of medical gas consumption at any bed, room, department, floor, or building, thereby aiding in troubleshooting and the reallocation of medical gas supply within the medical setting.

[0022] In one example, sensor data can be used to determine the total flow rate of medical gas supplied by the public resource. This total flow rate can then be compared to a reference flow rate to determine if a leak is present. For example, the reference flow rate could be the rated flow rate of medical gas output from the public resource, or a measurement from a flow sensor located at the public resource outlet. The difference between the reference flow rate and the total flow rate calculated based on aggregated sensor data from each medical device, along with that reference flow rate, can indicate a leak in the path leading to the medical device. This indication can be used to trigger an alarm or increase the flow rate and / or pressure supplied by the public resource.

[0023] In some examples, sensor data can indicate the local pressure at a medical device, i.e., the pressure of the medical gas flow rate delivered to that device. This local pressure can be compared to a reference pressure to determine the performance or condition of a public resource. For example, if the local pressure is lower than the reference pressure, the public resource can be determined to be in a state of malfunction.

[0024] In another example, the performance metric could be the pressure at the central supply source, also known as the central pressure. The central pressure can be determined based on the local pressure delivered to the medical device, the flow rate at the medical device, and a predetermined flow resistance along the path between the central supply source and the medical device. This flow resistance can be proportional to the driving pressure (i.e., the difference between the central pressure and the local pressure) and inversely proportional to the flow rate.

[0025] It should be understood that, in other aspects of this disclosure, sensor data from the plurality of devices can be used to determine the status of public resources (e.g., power supply systems, wireless communication systems, climate control systems) other than the central medical gas system.

[0026] Therefore, according to a third aspect, a method for determining the state of a public power supply system is provided. The method includes: receiving sensor data from any one of a plurality of medical devices in a medical setting, the sensor data indicating the characteristics of power supplied from a public power supply system in the medical setting to the any one medical device; and determining a performance index indicating the performance of the public power supply system based at least in part on the sensor data from the any one of the plurality of medical devices. The performance index is then compared with the reference index, and the state of the public power supply system is determined based at least in part on the comparison result between the performance index and the reference index.

[0027] The characteristics typically include the voltage level, voltage balance (e.g., between phases in a three-phase system), current level, and frequency of the power supplied to the medical device. The performance of the power supply system may involve its ability to provide sufficient power (e.g., voltage and current), its ability to handle peak loads, and its ability to handle potential load imbalances in the distribution system.

[0028] According to a fourth aspect, a method is provided for determining the state of a communication system (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), or a cellular network). The method includes: receiving sensor data from any one of a plurality of medical devices in a medical setting, the sensor data indicating characteristics of communication services provided by the communication system to the medical devices; and determining a performance metric indicating the performance of the any one of the medical devices, based at least in part on the sensor data from the plurality of medical devices. The performance metric is then compared with the reference metric, and the state of the communication system is determined based at least in part on the comparison result between the performance metric and the reference metric.

[0029] The characteristics of the communication services provided to any of the medical devices typically include the device's communication load, signal strength, and latency experienced by the medical device. This information can be used to determine the performance of the communication system, such as total communication load, throughput, bottlenecks, available bandwidth, and latency.

[0030] According to a fifth aspect, a method is provided for determining the state of a climate control system (e.g., HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)) in a medical setting. The method includes receiving sensor data from any one of a plurality of medical devices in the medical setting, the sensor data indicating the characteristics of the indoor environment in which each medical device is located. Furthermore, the method includes determining a performance index indicative of the performance of the climate control system based at least in part on the sensor data from any one of the plurality of medical devices. The performance index is then compared with a reference index, and the state of the climate control system is determined based at least in part on the comparison result between the performance index and the reference index.

[0031] Indoor environmental characteristics may include temperature, humidity, air pressure, and air quality (e.g., CO2, particulate matter, and pollutant concentrations). The performance of a climate control system may involve its ability to provide the required airflow with target temperature, humidity, or air quality.

[0032] Typically, sensor data and / or determined states provided by any medical device can be used as feedback to control or regulate the operation of a climate control system.

[0033] Each of the second through fifth aspects may generally have the same features and advantages as the first aspect. It should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly stated, this disclosure relates to all possible combinations of features. Attached Figure Description

[0034] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will be better understood through the following exemplary and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of this disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used to denote similar elements and steps.

[0035] Figure 1 Multiple medical devices connected to a central medical gas system are shown according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 2 The illustration shows multiple medical devices that are communicatively connected to a server, according to an embodiment.

[0037] Figures 3a-3c A flowchart illustrating a method for determining the status of a public resource, according to some embodiments, is shown.

[0038] Figure 4 Multiple medical devices connected to a public power supply system are shown according to an embodiment.

[0039] Figure 5 The diagram shows multiple medical devices and a server within a communication network.

[0040] Figure 6 This illustrates multiple medical devices arranged in a localized environment controlled by a climate control system. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Healthcare scenarios typically involve various shared / public infrastructure resources, where public services are distributed from a central node to multiple independent nodes via an allocation system. Examples of such public services include medical gases, electricity, and local area network communications, which can be supplied to nodes including bedside medical devices (e.g., respiratory and oxygenation support equipment). This disclosure relates to a technique for determining the status of public resources using sensor data from independent medical devices. By aggregating sensor data from various nodes, performance information of the public resource can be determined.

[0042] Figure 1 The system 100 in a medical scenario 10 is illustrated as an example, in which multiple medical devices 110 are supplied with public services by public resources 120 through a distribution system 124. In this example, the public service is a flow of medical gases, such as oxygen, medical air, or nitrous oxide supplied by a central medical gas supply source 122 in hospital 10.

[0043] Medical device 110 is typically a bedside device that provides treatment to a patient and can therefore be located at the point of healthcare service delivery. The location of medical device 110 can be described by location data, such as indicating a specific bed, room, department / ward, floor, or building within the healthcare setting. It should be understood that one or more medical devices 110 may share the same location, for example, two or more devices providing treatment to the same patient or located in the same room / on the same floor.

[0044] Figure 1 The medical device 110 shown may be a device for providing or assisting in respiratory support and / or oxygenation support for a patient. For example, it includes a ventilator, a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, and a nebulizer for administering medication to a patient. The plurality of medical devices 110 may be of the same type, or two or more different types. Furthermore, the public resource 120 may be configured to provide the same type of medical gas (e.g., medical air) to any one of the plurality of medical devices 110, or to provide different types of medical gases to one or more medical devices 110.

[0045] The central medical gas system 120 includes a central supply source 122 (also referred to as a storage point or source device). This system includes one or more large-capacity gas storage tanks for one or more medical gases, a medical air compressor, and manifolds connecting multiple gas cylinders to ensure an uninterrupted gas supply. The central supply source 122 may be located in a dedicated area, typically constructed specifically to accommodate the various components of the central supply source 122. Additionally, a distribution system 124 or distribution network may be provided to deliver medical gases from the supply source 122 to various areas of the medical scenario 10 and to individual nodes formed by medical devices 110. The distribution system 124 includes a pipeline network and valves and regulators for controlling pressure and flow.

[0046] In one example, the plurality of medical devices 110 includes one or more ventilators 110, which are medical devices 110 designed to assist or replace spontaneous breathing in patients who are unable to breathe independently. Invasive ventilation involves inserting a tube into the patient's trachea through the mouth, while non-invasive ventilation uses a mask, nasal mask, or nasal cannula covering the mouth and nose to assist breathing without intubation. Ventilators 110 typically require close monitoring to ensure the patient receives an appropriate level of support. For this purpose, sensors and alarm devices may be equipped to monitor states such as inlet pressure and airway pressure, and to alert healthcare personnel when a dangerous condition is detected. Figure 1 In the example shown, medical device 110 includes a sensor device (not shown) configured to generate sensor data indicating the pressure and / or flow rate of medical gas supplied to the medical device 110 from public resource 120. The sensor device may be integrated into the medical device 110 and is operable to measure characteristics such as pressure of the medical gas flow rate at the inlet of the medical device 110.

[0047] Figure 2 Multiple medical devices 110 are illustrated as examples, and the configuration of these multiple medical devices can be... Figure 1 The illustrated device 110 is similar. According to an embodiment, medical device 110 is communicatively connected to a local server 130, which includes an environment running an application that uses sensor data from device 110 to determine the status of public resource 120. Either medical device 110 and local server 130 may be deployed within a local area network 132 of the medical scenario 10. Therefore, medical device 110 communicates with local server 130 via a wired or wireless network connection 134. Local server 130 may include an application runtime environment, including a container management platform (e.g., a native Kubernetes platform). This environment, also referred to as a control center, can form a platform for various applications, providing users with real-time information and assisting in the analysis, reporting, and maintenance of connected devices 110 and public resource 120.

[0048] During operation, as described above Figure 1 Each medical device 110 may receive a corresponding medical gas flow from the central medical gas system 120. One or more characteristics of the medical gas inlet flow (i.e., the medical gas flow received by the medical device 110) may be indicated by sensor data transmitted to a local server 130 via a local area network 132. For example, the characteristics may include flow rate or pressure. The local server 130 may process sensor data from any of the plurality of medical devices 110 to determine performance metrics of the common resource 120. For example, the performance metrics may indicate the total flow rate delivered by the common resource 120, more specifically, the total flow rate of medical gas delivered from the central supply source 122 to the distribution system 124. The total flow rate may be determined as the sum of the medical gas flows delivered to each medical device 110. The total flow rate may then be compared with a reference flow rate, such as a predetermined rated flow rate delivered by the central medical gas system 120, or the flow rate obtained from a sensor located at the outlet of the central supply source 122. In other examples, performance metrics may indicate the pressure delivered from the central supply source 122 to the distribution system 124 (i.e., the central pressure). The difference between the central pressure at the central supply source 122 and the local pressure delivered to the medical device 110 can be termed the driving pressure, i.e., the pressure difference or pressure gradient that drives the medical gas from the central supply source 122 to the device 110. The flow rate through the distribution system 124 can be quantified using Ohm's law of fluid flow, which states that the flow rate is proportional to the pressure gradient divided by the flow resistance along the flow path of the distribution system 124. Where Q represents flow rate, P0 represents pressure from the central supply source, and P i Let P0 be the pressure at the medical device, and R be the flow resistance (which can be obtained from historical measurements or considered a constant). In other words, the central pressure P0 at the central supply source can be estimated as the device pressure P0. i In addition to the voltage drop through the distribution system: The status of the central medical gas system 120 can be determined by comparing the total flow rate and / or central pressure with reference values. If the total flow rate obtained from sensor data is lower than the flow rate at the outlet of the central supply source 122 (obtainable from the sensor at the outlet), it indicates a leak in the path between the central supply source 122 and any medical device 110. If no leak is detected, the pressure drop detected at the medical device indicates a bottleneck in the distribution system or that the total capacity of the public resource is too low, preventing the public resource from delivering gas at a satisfactory flow rate and / or pressure. Similarly, if the total flow rate reaches or exceeds a reference flow rate indicating the maximum flow capacity of the central medical gas system 120, or the central pressure is lower than a reference pressure, it can be determined as an overload condition. Therefore, the sensor data provided by the medical device 110 can be used to determine a series of performance indicators and statuses of the public resource 120, as described below. Figures 3a-3c Provide several examples.

[0049] Figure 3a The above is illustrated as an example. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The method steps described herein are performed on multiple medical devices 110 that receive medical gases from the central medical gas system 120.

[0050] Medical device 110 includes sensor functionality that generates sensor data indicating the flow characteristics of medical gases received from central medical gas system 120. Sensor data from any medical device 110 is received at local server 130 (S302), and the data is processed to determine (S304) performance indicators indicative of the performance of central medical gas system 120. Typically, the performance indicators are compared with reference indicators (S306) to determine the state of central medical gas system 120 (S308).

[0051] Any medical device 110 is configured to provide data containing both personally identifiable information (PII) and non-personally identifiable information. Personally identifiable information can be considered clinical data, typically including patient identification information (e.g., name and ID number) and treatment information such as oxygen concentration, tidal volume, blood flow rate, physiological responses, and other data that can be used alone or in combination with other information to identify an individual. On the other hand, non-personally identifiable information generally refers to information that cannot be used to identify an individual. Examples of such information include device data, such as brand and model, software version, maintenance information, and summary statistics of device usage.

[0052] Access to personally identifiable and non-personally identifiable information from devices other than medical device 110, such as a local server 120, can be of significant value. Such a server may include an application runtime environment where data can be used by various applications to provide users with real-time information and assist in the analysis, reporting, and maintenance of medical device 110 and public resources 120 that supply it with public services. For example, healthcare providers can typically use personally identifiable information to monitor, control, and optimize the healthcare services provided to patients. Non-personally identifiable information can typically be used for service and troubleshooting, remote support, asset management, cost control, etc. From a patent integrity perspective, non-personally identifiable information is generally considered less sensitive and is not subject to the same restrictions as personally identifiable information.

[0053] In some embodiments, sensor data may be treated as non-personally identifiable information data and processed accordingly. Therefore, sensor data may be sent to server 130 on local network 132 (e.g., LAN 132 in a medical setting) or to an external server controlled by an entity different from the controller of medical device 110.

[0054] Sensor data indicates characteristics of the flow rate of medical gas delivered to the corresponding medical device 110. For example, these characteristics may include the flow rate, pressure, temperature, humidity, or composition of the medical gas.

[0055] The pressure and flow rate of medical gases are critical parameters for delivering the correct concentration of oxygen or other medical gases to patients. The pressure and flow rate received by individual medical devices 110 are determined by the total capacity of the central medical gas system 120; therefore, it is necessary to determine the total load (i.e., the total gas consumption of medical devices 110) exerted by medical devices 110 on the central medical gas system 120. For example, the total flow rate provided by the central medical gas system 120 can be obtained by summing the flow rates measured by any medical device 110 (S312) and comparing the total flow rate with a reference flow rate (S314). The reference flow rate can be a predetermined rated flow rate or a flow rate obtained from historical measurements. In the latter case, the current total flow rate can be compared with one or more historical flow rates (S314) to identify drifts and deviations that may indicate a medical gas malfunction or leak. In other examples, the total flow rate can be compared with a reference flow rate indicating the maximum gas delivery capacity of the distribution system 124 to detect potential bottlenecks in the distribution system 124. Such bottlenecks or localized overloads can be addressed by connecting one or more medical devices 110 to other branches or loops of the distribution system 124. In other examples, the pressure of the medical gas delivered to medical device 110 can be used to determine the pressure of the medical gas delivered by central supply source 122. As mentioned above, a pressure drop without leakage indication may indicate a local bottleneck in the distribution system 124 supplying gas to medical device 110.

[0056] In some examples, a leak can be determined by comparing the total amount of gas delivered to any medical device 110 (e.g., by aggregating sensor data from device 110) with the total amount of medical gas delivered to central supply source 122. For example, oxygen can be delivered to central supply source 122 in liquid form. By converting the amount of liquid oxygen to gaseous oxygen (at similar pressure and temperature to that at medical device 110), the total amount of oxygen delivered to device 110 can be compared with the initial available amount of oxygen at central supply source 122. If the total amount of oxygen delivered to medical device 110 is lower than the initial available amount of oxygen at central supply source 122, this indicates a leak somewhere in the path between central supply source 122 and the sensors of medical device 110.

[0057] In some examples, location data indicating the physical location of any medical device 110 can be received at server 130 (S303). For example, the location data may indicate the bed where the medical device 110 is installed, or the room, ward, or floor where the medical device 110 is located. The location data can be used to determine (S305) a load distribution index, which indicates how the load on the central medical gas system 120 varies with location. In other words, the location data can determine the medical gas consumption for a specific bed, room, ward, floor, or building. By understanding the gas consumption at a specific location, measures can be taken to address potential bottlenecks, shortages, leaks, and other problems.

[0058] In some examples, a load distribution index (S310) can be determined to indicate how gas consumption changes over time. This allows for the detection and potential prediction of load peaks. By obtaining information on load changes over time, overload of the central medical gas system 120 can be avoided by temporarily increasing the medical gas supply from the central supply source 122 or temporarily reducing the consumption of one or more medical devices 110.

[0059] In other examples, any medical device 110 is configured to generate sensor data indicating one or more of the following: temperature, humidity, or composition of the medical gas flow delivered to the medical device 110. Each of these characteristics may be added to or replace the aforementioned flow rate and pressure for determining the status of a public resource. Temperature may be used to indicate the ability of the central medical gas system 120 to deliver medical gases within acceptable temperature, humidity, or composition ranges.

[0060] exist Figure 4 In the example shown, any medical device 110 is configured to generate sensor data indicating one or more attributes of the power supplied to that device 110. Power may be provided by a common power supply system 422 (e.g., a mains grid interface or a backup generator), which is connected to the plurality of medical devices 110 via a distribution network 424. The sensor data may indicate the characteristics of the power received by any medical device 110, including one or more of voltage, current, and phase balance. This data may be sent to the above-mentioned combination Figure 2 The server 130 processes data to determine the performance of the public power supply system 422. For example, the performance of the public power supply system 422 can be an indicator of its ability to provide sufficient and qualified power to ensure the normal operation of the plurality of medical devices 110. The state of the public power supply system 422 can be determined by comparing performance indicators with reference indicators. For example, if it is determined that the public power supply system 422 is near its maximum power capacity, it can be decided to connect a backup generator or energy storage device, or disconnect one or more medical devices to switch to backup battery power.

[0061] exist Figure 5In another example shown, medical device 110 may generate sensor data indicating one or more attributes of a communication service (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), or a cellular network). Figure 5 The medical device 110 and server 522 shown are arranged in the same wireless local area network, and the configuration of server 522 can be... Figure 2 The server 130 shown is similar. Sensor data can indicate communication service characteristics, such as the communication load and signal strength of each medical device 110. Sensor data can be processed by any medical device 110 and / or server 130 to determine the performance of the communication system, such as total communication load, throughput, potential bottlenecks between medical device 110 and server 422, and available bandwidth of the communication system.

[0062] exist Figure 6 In another example shown, the plurality of medical devices 110 can generate sensor data that can be used to determine the performance or condition of a climate control system 620 (e.g., an HVAC system 620) controlling the indoor environment in which the devices 110 are located. Thus, one or more medical devices 110 can generate data characterizing the indoor environment of their room or ward. Figure 6 The HVAC system 620 shown may include a central unit 622 (e.g., an air handling unit) in which air is conditioned (heated, cooled, humidified, dehumidified, etc.) and then delivered through a duct network 624 to vents and diffusers 625 at different locations in the medical setting.

[0063] Sensor data can indicate characteristics of the local environment where each medical device 110 is located, such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, and air quality (e.g., CO2, particulate matter, and pollutant concentrations). The performance of the climate control system 620 can involve its ability to provide the required airflow with target temperature, humidity, or air quality to various locations within the medical setting. The server 130 can be configured to process the sensor data to determine performance metrics that indicate the performance of the climate control system 620, compare these metrics with reference metrics, and determine the state of the system 620 based on sensor data from the individual medical devices 110.

[0064] The medical device 110 and / or server 130 disclosed herein typically include one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing first computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the medical device to perform... Figure 3a -c and at least some of the operations described above.

[0065] Typically, medical device 110 and / or server 130 may include circuitry configured (via one or more non-transitory computer-readable media) to implement the functions described herein. Suitable processors for executing instruction programs include, for example, general-purpose and special-purpose microprocessors, and a single processor, multiple processors, or one of the cores of any type of computer. The processor may be supplemented by or integrated with an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Those skilled in the art will understand that the exemplary embodiments described above can be implemented by any suitable software, hardware, firmware configuration, or combination thereof. Exemplary hardware platforms for implementing the exemplary embodiments may include, for example, platforms based on Intel x86 and equipped with a compatible operating system, Windows operating systems, Mac platforms and MAC OS, mobile devices equipped with operating systems such as iOS and Android. In another example, exemplary embodiments of the methods described above may be embodied as a program containing lines of code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, compiled for execution on a processor or microprocessor.

[0066] Furthermore, those skilled in the art, upon studying the accompanying drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, can understand and implement variations of the disclosed embodiments when implementing the claimed invention. Additionally, preferred embodiments and examples of the invention are disclosed in the drawings and specification; although specific terminology is used, it is used in a general and descriptive sense only and not for limiting purposes. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims, wherein the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

Claims

1. A method comprising: Sensor data (S302) is received from any one of a plurality of medical devices in a medical setting (110), the sensor data indicating the flow characteristics of medical gas supplied from public resources (120) of the medical setting to any one of the plurality of medical devices, the sensor data being generated by a sensor integrated in any one of the plurality of medical devices; Based at least in part on sensor data from any of the plurality of medical devices, a performance index indicating the performance of the public resource is determined (S304). Compare the performance metrics with reference metrics (S306); and The status of the public resource is determined at least in part based on the comparison results between the performance indicators and the reference indicators (S308).

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising: The performance metric was determined to be outside the acceptable range; as well as The status of the public resource is determined at least in part based on the performance metrics being outside the acceptable range.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the acceptable range is based at least in part on historical performance metrics.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: Based at least in part on the sensor data, a load distribution index indicating the load on the public resource over time is determined.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Receive location data indicating the location of any one of the plurality of medical devices, wherein the location data indicates at least one of the following in the medical scenario: bed, room, department, floor, and building.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: Based at least in part on the sensor data and the location data, a load distribution index is determined that indicates how the load on the public resource changes with location within the medical scenario.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feature is selected from the following: pressure, flow rate, temperature, and composition.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The characteristic is flow rate; and The performance metric indicates the total flow provided by the public resource.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: The total flow rate of the medical gas is determined, at least in part, based on the sensor data; Compare the total flow rate with the reference flow rate; as well as The presence of a leak is determined at least in part based on the fact that the total flow rate is lower than the reference flow rate.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The feature is the local pressure at one or more of the plurality of medical devices; The method further includes: Compare the local pressure with the reference pressure; and The public resource is determined to be in a faulty state, at least in part, based on the fact that the local pressure is lower than the reference pressure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein: The performance metric is the central pressure at the central supply source (122) of the public resource (120); The method further includes: The central pressure is determined based on the local pressure, the flow rate at the at least one medical device, and the predetermined flow resistance between the central supply source and the at least one medical device.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein any one of the plurality of medical devices is a device for patient respiratory support or oxygenation support.

13. A system (100) comprising: Multiple medical devices (110) configured in a medical setting; A common resource (120) is configured to supply a corresponding medical gas flow to any of the plurality of medical devices. Each of the plurality of medical devices includes a corresponding sensor integrated within the medical device, the sensor being configured to generate sensor data indicating the characteristics of the corresponding medical gas flow; The system also includes: One or more processors; and One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform the following operations: Receive the sensor data (S302); Based at least in part on the sensor data, a performance indicator that indicates the performance of the public resource is determined (S304). Compare the performance metrics with reference metrics (S306); and The status of the public resource is determined at least in part based on the comparison result between the performance metric and the reference metric (S308).

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the public resource includes a central supply source (122) and a distribution system (124), the distribution system being configured to deliver the medical gas from the central supply source to any one of the plurality of medical devices.

15. The system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the sensor is at least one of a pressure sensor and a flow sensor.

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