Multi-technology wireless communication network for facility-wide patient monitoring

Abstract

1. A method for providing continuous wireless connectivity for patient monitoring throughout a medical facility, the method comprising the steps of: providing an indoor access point in a room at least partially defined by a shielding wall and an access point outside the room, connecting the indoor access point and the access point; a communication unit of a first source device transmitting information about the patient; the access point outside the room receiving information from the first source device; the indoor access point receiving additional information from the first source device; combining the information from the first source device and the additional information to generate a digital data stream; and an access point communication unit of the access point communication system transmitting the digital data stream to an information system of the medical facility.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for providing continuous wireless connectivity for patient monitoring throughout a medical facility, including RF shielded areas such as magnetic resonance (MR). [Background technology]

[0002] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming more powerful and is increasingly being applied to acutely ill patients. Acutely ill patients drive the need for comprehensive monitoring at all times during the entire time these acutely ill patients are outside of an intensive care unit (ICU). Today's hospital networks accomplish this remote monitoring challenge in most areas throughout the medical facility, but cannot guarantee continuous connectivity for patients who require MRI imaging to support their treatment. For example, it is desirable to be able to remotely monitor sedated patients being transported to a magnetic resonance (MR) room, especially during transfers from outside the magnetic resonance (MR) room to inside the magnetic resonance (MR) room, and from inside the magnetic resonance (MR) room to outside the magnetic resonance (MR) room. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Currently, hospital networks are configured with a break-before-make (BBM) communication protocol to allow a signal path to switch between two different sources. This BBM switching opens or disconnects the original signal path before establishing or connecting a new signal path to avoid any momentary short circuit between the two signal sources. Unfortunately, BBM communication protocols can result in data loss or delayed arrival of data at remote nursing stations due to retransmission of data.

[0004] Additionally, regulations on effective radiated power (EIRP) continue to increase, for example the European Radio Equipment Directive (RED). Some of these new regulations allow more players to use applicable wireless systems simultaneously, but do not allow one or more players to be louder than the others. Thus, systems cannot include radios with enough power to continuously penetrate the shielded walls of a magnetic resonance (MR) room. Furthermore, current systems that can communicate through the shielding of a magnetic resonance (MR) room are restricted in their use because they are not compatible with systems located outside the magnetic resonance (MR) room.

[0005] Thus, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for providing continuous wireless connectivity for patient monitoring throughout a medical facility, including RF shielded areas, such as magnetic resonance. There is also a need in the art for improved communication methods and systems that support multiple technologies, thus providing the flexibility for each user to utilize a wireless communication protocol that is optimized for the user's particular application. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure is generally directed to inventive methods and systems for providing continuous wireless connectivity for patient monitoring throughout a medical facility. Various embodiments and implementations herein are directed to improved systems or methods utilizing multi-technology access points supporting multiple different technologies throughout a medical facility. The medical facility includes a shielded magnet room, such as an MR room. At least one of the multi-technology access points or hubs is located within the shielded magnet room and at least one other multi-technology access point or hub is located outside the shielded magnet room. The multi-technology access points or hubs support, for example, break-before-making (MBB) communication protocols such that patient information is continuously available to a hospital network, including, for example, a remote central station for nurses and other clinical staff. Applicant has recognized and appreciated that access points can be improved to provide enhanced wireless capabilities. Applicant has recognized and appreciated that such enhanced access points may be used to provide continuous wireless communication between very low attenuation environments and environments with high attenuation or shielding, such as MR exam rooms, metal elevators, freezers, etc. The improved systems and methods described herein also support ever-increasing regulatory limits on Effective Effective Radiated Power (EIRP).

[0007] In general, in one aspect, a system is provided for providing continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring a patient throughout a healthcare facility. The system includes a first source device having a communication unit configured to transmit information about the patient, and an access point communication system disposed within the healthcare facility. The access point communication system includes an indoor access point in a room defined at least in part by a shielding wall, the indoor access point having an indoor transceiver configured to receive information about the patient from the first source device. The access point communication system further includes an access point outside the room and connected to the indoor access point, the access point having a transceiver configured to receive additional information about the patient from the first source device. The access point communication system further includes a processor configured to communicate with the transceiver and the indoor transceiver to combine information from the first source device and the additional information to generate a digital data stream. The access point communication system further includes an access point communication unit configured to transmit the digital data stream to an information system of the healthcare facility.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the processor is further configured to maintain a first communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device while establishing a second communication link between the transceiver and the first source device.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the processor is further configured to maintain a first communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device while establishing a second communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the access point is connected to the indoor access point via a router.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first source device, the transceiver and the indoor transceiver are configured to communicate according to a first technology, and the access point and the indoor access point are configured to communicate according to at least a second technology different from the first technology.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the room is a magnet room and the shielding walls comprise an electromagnetic interference shielding material comprising copper or steel.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the transceiver or the indoor transceiver is a software-defined radio.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the communication unit of the access point is configured to transmit the digital data stream to a display of an information system of a medical facility.

[0015] In general, in another aspect, a method is provided for providing continuous wireless connectivity for patient monitoring throughout a healthcare facility, the method including providing an access point communication system within the healthcare facility, the access point communication system having an indoor access point defined at least in part by a screening wall, the access point communication system further including an access point outside the room and connected to the indoor access point, the method further including transmitting information about the patient by a communication unit of a first source device monitoring the patient, receiving information from a first source device monitoring the patient by a transceiver of an access point outside the room, receiving additional information from a first source device monitoring the patient by an indoor transceiver of the indoor access point, combining the information and the additional information by a processor of the access point communication system to generate a digital data stream, and transmitting the digital data stream to an information system of the healthcare facility by an access point communication unit of the access point communication system.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of maintaining, by the processor, a first communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device while establishing a second communication link between the transceiver and the first source device.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of maintaining, by the processor, a first communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device while establishing a second communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the access point is connected to the indoor access point via a router.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of communicating between a first source device, a transceiver and an indoor transceiver according to a first technology, and a step of communicating between the access point and the indoor access point according to at least a second technology different from the first technology.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the transceiver or the indoor transceiver is a software defined radio.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of transmitting, by the access point communication unit, the digital data stream to a display of an information system of the medical facility.

[0022] In various implementations, a processor or controller is associated with one or more storage media (generally referred to herein as "memory", e.g., volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM, floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tapes, etc.). In some implementations, the storage media is encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and / or controllers, perform at least some of the functions described herein. Various storage media can be attached to or transportable within a processor or controller such that one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into the processor or controller to implement various aspects as described herein. The term "program" or "computer program" is used generally herein to refer to any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) used to program one or more processors or controllers.

[0023] It should be understood that all combinations of the above-mentioned concepts and additional concepts described in more detail below (provided that such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are intended to be part of the subject matter of the invention disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of the subject matter claimed at the end of this disclosure should be considered as part of the subject matter of the invention disclosed herein. It should also be understood that the terminology explicitly used in this specification, which may also appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference, has the meaning most consistent with the specific concepts disclosed herein.

[0024] These and other aspects of the various embodiments will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views and the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an access point communication system in a medical facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an access point communication system in a medical facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of an access point communication system in a medical facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of an access point communication system in a medical facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an access point of an access point communication system for transmitting data from a source device to an information system of a medical facility, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for providing continuous wireless connectivity for patient monitoring throughout a healthcare facility using an access point communication system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The present disclosure describes various embodiments of improved systems and methods for providing continuous wireless communication between very low attenuation environments (e.g., the interior of a typical building) and highly attenuating or shielding environments (e.g., MR examination rooms, metal elevators, freezers, etc.). Applicant has recognized and appreciated that enhanced multi-technology wireless access points are used to support make-before-break communication protocols so that patient information is continuously available to a hospital network and a remote central station. The improved systems and methods include providing an access point communication system in a medical facility, the access point communication system including at least one indoor access point in a magnet room defined at least in part by a shielding wall. The access point system further includes at least one access point outside the magnet room, the at least one indoor access point being connected to the at least one access point. The improved systems and methods further include transmitting information about the patient by a communication unit of a first source device monitoring the patient. The improved system and method further includes receiving information from the first source device monitoring the patient by the access point transceivers inside and outside the magnet room and transmitting this information to a medical facility information system. The improved system and method provide the advantages described herein as well as other advantages that should be appreciated.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of an access point communication system 100 in a medical facility is provided. The exemplary medical facility shown in FIG. 1 includes an MRI examination room or magnet room 102 defined at least in part by a shielding wall 104. The shielding wall provides RF shielding by surrounding or enclosing the magnet room with steel or copper sheets, metal foil, plasma, glass with a high metal content (e.g., metal mesh), or other suitable conductive layers such as wire mesh. In an embodiment, the shielding wall is made of an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material, including but not limited to copper or steel. The shielding material can be embedded in the wall or otherwise connected to the wall. The shielding forms a Faraday cage around the room to prevent external signals that are in a spectrum that may interfere with the operation of the scanner 106. The shielding also limits harmful emissions from the scanner 106. The magnet room 102 includes a scanner 106 configured to image a patient P. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, various medical devices 107A, 107B, 107C, 107D, 107E, 107F, 107G, ... 107n are coupled to a patient P to provide monitoring of the patient's physiological parameters, where n is equal to or greater than 1. Although Figure 1 shows a horizontal bore MRI system in which the patient P is placed within the bore of the MRI, it should be understood that the scanner 106 could alternatively be an open MRI, a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device, a single photon emission computed tomography imaging device, and the like.

[0028] The medical facility shown in FIG. 1 includes a control room 108 located outside and adjacent to the magnet room 102. The control room 108 does not include a shielding wall 106 as included in the magnet room 102, except for a wall between the control room 108 and the magnet room 102. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, devices 107A, 107B, 107C, and 107D are intravenous (IV) pumps, device 107E is an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, device 107F is a blood pressure sensor SpO2, device 107G is a patient monitor, and device 107n is a ventilator. However, the present invention should not be limited to the devices shown in FIG. 1. The devices coupled to the patient as used herein can include any sensor, pump, monitor, or device, including, but not limited to, an ECG sensor, an IV pump, a blood pressure sensor, a heart rate monitor, a pulse sensor, a thermometer, a respiration sensor, and an exhaled gas sensor. It should be further understood that these devices do not all have to be medical devices. Some of these devices may include or embody devices that provide a user experience to the patient, such as an augmented reality (AR) device used to calm the patient. It should also be understood that one or more of the devices shown in FIG. 1 may additionally or alternatively be coupled to or incorporated into the scanner 106. Traditionally, many of these devices are attached to the patient by wires, but more and more of these devices are capable of communicating data wirelessly through a gateway that connects to a network of a medical facility and / or transmitting data or information to a data storage device for monitoring, control or evaluation in real time or after storage offline. Wireless sensors are also beneficial because they avoid the use of wires that couple with magnetic field gradients and heat up due to induced eddy currents.

[0029] The system of access points 100 further includes an indoor access point 110 in the magnet room 102 and an access point 112 in the control room 108. Although FIG. 1 shows the access point 112 in the control room 108, it should be understood that the access point 112 may be located somewhere outside the magnet room 102, preferably near the entrance / exit of the magnet room 102. The indoor access point 110 is connected to the access point 112. In an exemplary embodiment, the indoor access point 110 is connected to the access point 112 by a router 114. However, it should be understood that the indoor access point 110 may be connected to the access point 112 by any suitable alternative means. As used herein, the term access point refers to a network entity configured to communicate with source devices and commonly referred to as a base station, node, transmit / receive point (TRP), etc. Each access point is configured to provide communication coverage to a particular geographical area that depends on the application.

[0030] In an embodiment, the indoor access point 110 includes multiple transceivers 116 configured to communicate using different technologies. Different technologies refer to wireless communication technologies such as, for example, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, Wi-Fi technology, Bluetooth technology, technologies used by mobile phone communication systems such as cellular data technology, and proprietary links. In an embodiment, the indoor access point 110 includes a single transceiver 116 configured to communicate using at least one wireless technology. An access point 112 outside the magnet room 102 includes multiple transceivers 118 like the indoor access point 110, configured to communicate using different technologies. In an embodiment, the access point 112 includes a single transceiver 118 configured to communicate using at least one wireless technology that is the same as the wireless technology used for the indoor access point 110. Thus, if the indoor access point 110 includes a transceiver configured to communicate using Bluetooth technology, the access point 112 includes a transceiver configured to communicate using Bluetooth technology. Where indoor access point 110 includes a transceiver configured to communicate using Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi technology, RFID technology, cellular data technology, and a proprietary link, access point 112 includes a transceiver configured to communicate using the same technologies. In an embodiment, indoor access point 110 supports more wireless technologies than access point 112. In other embodiments, access point 112 supports more wireless technologies than indoor access point 110.

[0031] Integrating multiple transceivers provides the flexibility for each wireless device (e.g., 107A-107n) to use a wireless communication protocol optimized for a particular application at its location, for example, whether or not the wireless device is in a magnet room. In an embodiment, at least one transceiver 116 and 118 is a software radio. The term software radio as used herein refers to a wireless communication system in which components traditionally implemented in hardware (e.g., mixers, filters, amplifiers, modulators / demodulators, detectors, etc.) are instead implemented by software. Advantageously, software radio provides more flexibility in the technology being utilized. Currently, conventional access points do not offer a variety of wireless communication protocols. The access points of the present disclosure can offer multiple wireless communication protocols, thereby improving upon conventional access points.

[0032] 2A, 2B, and 2C show schematic diagrams of another access point communication system 200 in a medical facility. The sequence shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C demonstrates an embodiment in which a source device 207 associated with a patient is being transported to an MR room. Of course, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sequence shown. In other embodiments, the source device 207 can start in the MR room and then end up in the ICU, for example after transport. In any of these possible embodiments, the access point communication system described herein facilitates seamless wireless connectivity during transport to and from the MR room. In an embodiment, a single source device 207 can utilize multiple different technologies of the access points 210 and 212 described herein. As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the system 200 includes an indoor access point 210 in a magnet room 202 and an access point 212 in a control room 208 or outside the magnet room 202. The access point 212 can be located on a first side of a window 213 of the magnet room 202, and the indoor access point 210 can be located on a second side of the window 213 opposite the access point 212. Both the access points 210 and 212 can be connected to each other via a cellular network, any other suitable network, or other methods. In an embodiment, the indoor access point 210 includes a transceiver 216 configured to communicate separately or simultaneously using different technologies. Similarly, the access point 212 includes a transceiver 218 configured to communicate separately or simultaneously using different technologies. The transceivers 216 and 218 can communicate with the source device 207.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2A, before bringing source device 207 into doorway 215 of magnet room 202 or within communication range of access point 212, the source device 207 can be connected to one or more transceivers 218 of access point 212. As shown in FIG. 2B, when source device 207 is in doorway 215 or within communication range of both access points 210 and 212, source device 207 can communicate simultaneously with both access points 210 and 212 to support a make-before-break communication protocol, as described further below. In an embodiment, source device 207 can utilize one wireless technology link with access point 212 while utilizing another wireless technology link with access point 210. For example, in an embodiment, a scanning procedure performed by access point 212 can be transferred to access point 210, or vice versa. 2C, when source device 207 is within magnet room 202, at least one connection is established with indoor access point 210 and one or more connections are disconnected with access point 212. In particular, source device 207 may utilize any one or more of the different technologies supported by transceiver 216 of indoor access point 210. In an embodiment, source device 207 may communicate using transceiver 216 of a first technology and then switch to transceiver 216 of a second technology when, for example, the second technology is more efficient and / or requires less battery power at source device 207.

[0034] 2A, 2B, and 2C depict several ways to achieve a soft hand-off procedure enabled by system 200. Additionally, the embodiments show how an access point may communicate with the same source device utilizing different technologies. This approach allows for simultaneous communication with both access points 210 and 212.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the access points 110 and 112 transmitting data from source devices (e.g., devices 107A, 107E, and 107G) to the information system 140 via one or more processors 130. It should be understood that the description of FIG. 3 also applies to the access points 210 and 212 of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C. In an embodiment in which the access points 110 and 112 are configured to receive data streams from multiple source devices, the access points 110 and 112 may include a multiplexer or other suitable alternative configured to combine the individual data streams into a single data stream. In an embodiment, the transceivers 116 and 118 of the access points 110 and 112 receive information only from the communication unit 120 of the source device 107A. In an embodiment, the transceivers 116 and 118 of the access points 110 and 112 receive information only from the communication unit 120 of the source device 107A and the communication unit 122 of the source device 107E. In an embodiment, the transceivers 116 and 118 of the access points 110 and 112 receive information from the communication unit 120 of the source device 107A, the communication unit 122 of the source device 107E, and the communication unit 124 of the source device 107G. In an additional embodiment, the transceivers 116 and 118 of the access points 110 and 112 receive information from additional or alternative communication units of additional or alternative source devices.

[0036] The one or more processors 130 receive data from and provide data to each of the transceivers 116 and 118 for communication with the information system 140. The one or more processors 130 can execute instructions stored in the memory M or any suitable storage device or process data, for example, to perform one or more steps of the methods described herein. The one or more processors 130 are formed from one or more multiple modules. The memory or storage device includes one or more machine-readable storage media, such as a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk storage medium, an optical storage medium, a flash memory device, or a similar storage medium. In various embodiments, the storage device can store instructions for the processor 130 to execute or data on which the processor 130 operates. For example, an operating system for controlling various operations of the system 100 is stored in the memory M. It should be understood that various information described as being stored in the memory M can additionally or alternatively be stored in separate memory devices. The memory and storage devices described herein may be considered to be non-transitory machine-readable media. As used herein, the term "non-transitory" is meant to exclude transitory signals but include all forms of storage devices, including both volatile and non-volatile memory.

[0037] The processor 130 may take any suitable form, including, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, multiple microcontrollers, circuits, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a single processor, or multiple processors. The memory M may take any suitable form, including non-volatile memory and / or RAM. The memory M may include various memories, such as an L1, L2, or L3 cache, or a system memory. As such, the memory M may include a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a flash memory, a ROM, or other suitable storage device. The RAM is used by the processor for temporary storage of data. According to one embodiment, an operating system may include code that, when executed by the processor, controls the operation of one or more components of the access point communication system 100. It will be apparent that in embodiments in which the processor performs one or more of the functions described herein in hardware, in other embodiments, the software described as corresponding to such functions is omitted.

[0038] Although system 100 is generally shown as including one of the described components each, various components may be duplicated in various embodiments. For example, processor 130 may include multiple microprocessors configured to independently execute the methods described herein, or configured to perform steps or subroutines of the methods described herein, such that the multiple processors cooperate to achieve the functionality described herein. Furthermore, when one or more components of system 100 are implemented in a cloud computing system, the various hardware components reside in separate physical systems. For example, processor 130 may include a first processor located in a first server and a second processor located in a second server. Many other variations and configurations are possible.

[0039] The access point communication unit 132 includes one or more devices for enabling communication with other hardware devices. For example, the communication unit 132 may include a network interface card (NIC) configured to communicate according to an Ethernet protocol. Additionally, the communication unit 132 may implement a TCP / IP stack for communicating according to a TCP / IP protocol. Various alternative or additional hardware or configurations of the communication unit 132 are contemplated.

[0040] Moreover, it should be appreciated that in an embodiment, one or more processors 130 may be implemented in either or both of the access points 110 and 112 .

[0041] When a patient is being transported from the ICU to the MR room, the access point communication system 100 is configured to maintain a connection between the one or more source devices 107A-107n and the access point 112 while the one or more source devices 107A-107n are handed over to the indoor access point 110. To do this, the one or more processors 130 are configured to compare one or more signals from the one or more source devices 107A-107n received by the access points 110 and 112. If no signal is received from the indoor access point 110, the one or more processors 130 maintain the connection between the one or more source devices 107A-107n and the access point 112. If a signal from the indoor access point 110 is received by the one or more processors 130, the one or more processors 130 may send a handover request to the access point 110. The access point 110 may send a handover response to the one or more processors 130. The handover response may acknowledge the handover request and / or indicate an ability to complete the handover procedure. After the one or more processors 130 receive the handover response, the one or more processors 130 may initiate a make-before-break procedure. While the source devices 107A-107n continue to exchange information with the access point 112, the source devices 107A-107n may establish a connection with the access point 110. Once a connection with the access point 110 is established, the access point 110 may send information to the one or more processors 130 to indicate that the connection is complete. While the door to the magnet room 102 is open, signals from the one or more source devices 107A-107n may reach both the access points 110 and 112, and data may be transmitted from the source devices 107A-107n to the information system 140. Even when the door to magnet room 102 is closed, connectivity to either or both of access points 110 and 112 continues seamlessly.After closing the door and experiencing a decrease in signal strength and / or interruption to the access point 112, the one or more processors 130 may disconnect the connection between the one or more source devices 107A-107n and the access point 112. In an alternative embodiment, the connection between the one or more source devices 107A-107n and the access point 112 is maintained until the one or more source devices 107A-107n are no longer accessing the indoor access point 110.

[0042] If the connection between one or more source devices 107A-107n and the access point 112 is broken while the patient P is in the magnet room 102, the access point communication system 100 can proceed as follows when the patient is being transported from the MR room to the ICU. It should also be understood that the following can be applied to a scenario in which one or more source devices 107A-107n are coupled with the patient P in the magnet room 102 and start moving out of the MR room. In such a scenario, the access point communication system 100 is configured to maintain a connection between the one or more source devices 107A-107n and the in-room access point 110, while the one or more source devices 107A-107n are handed over to the access point 112 outside the magnet room 102. To do this, the one or more processors 130 are configured to compare one or more signals from the one or more source devices 107A-107n received by the access points 110 and 112. If no signal is received from the access point 112, the one or more processors 130 maintain the connection between the one or more source devices 107A-107n and the indoor access point 110. In an embodiment, the one or more processors 130 continuously or intermittently compare the signal from the source device with the signal received by the access points 110 and 112. In an alternative embodiment, one of the access points is configured to provide an indication to the one or more processors 130 indicating that one of the access points has received and / or detected a signal from the source device. Upon receiving a signal from the access point 112, the one or more processors 130 may send a handover request to the access point 112. The access point 112 may send a handover response to the one or more processors 130. The handover response may indicate an ability to acknowledge the handover request and / or complete the handover procedure. After the one or more processors 130 receive the handover response, the one or more processors 130 may initiate a make-before-break procedure.While the source devices 107A-107n continue to exchange information with the indoor access point 110, the source devices 107A-107n may establish a connection with the access point 112. Once a connection with the access point 112 is established, the access point 112 may send information to the one or more processors 130 to indicate that the connection is complete. While the door to the magnet room 102 is open, signals from the one or more source devices 107A-107n may reach both the access points 110 and 112, and data may be transmitted from the source devices 107A-107n to the information system 140. The connection to either or both of the access points 110 and 112 continues seamlessly. After the patient leaves the magnet room 102 and experiences a decrease and / or interruption in the signal strength to the access point 110, the one or more processors 130 may disconnect the connection between the one or more source devices 107A-107n and the indoor access point 110. Before, during and after the handover procedure, the one or more processors 130 are configured to process the data from the one or more source devices to remove any redundancies or the like.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, a flow chart of a method 400 for providing continuous wireless connectivity for patient monitoring throughout a healthcare facility using an access point communication system is provided. It should be understood that in any method claimed herein that includes two or more steps or actions, the order of the steps or actions of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or actions of the method are recited, unless expressly indicated otherwise. The access point communication system can be any access point communication system described or otherwise contemplated herein (e.g., system 100 or 200). As described in more detail herein, the access point communication system utilizes a break-before communication protocol such that information from source devices 107A-107n and / or 207 is continuously available to information system 140, including a remote central station.

[0044] In step 402 of the method, an access point communication system is provided within the medical facility. Providing the access point communication system includes installing at least one indoor access point (e.g., 110, 210) in a magnet room of the medical facility, where the magnet room is at least partially defined by a shielding wall. Providing the access point communication system further includes installing at least one access point (e.g., 112, 212) outside the magnet room (e.g., within a control room adjacent to the magnet room) and connecting the access points.

[0045] In step 404 of the method, a communication unit (e.g., 120, 122, 124) of a first source device monitoring a patient transmits information about the patient. In step 406 of the method, such transmitted information is received by a transceiver of an access point outside the magnet room. In step 408 of the method, the information transmitted by the communication unit of the first source device is received by a transceiver inside the room. For example, when a patient is being transported from an ICU to an MR room or from an MR room to an ICU, both access points can receive information from the source device.

[0046] In step 410 of the method, one or more processors 130 combine information from the access point transceivers to generate a single digital data stream. In an embodiment, one or more processors 130 process the data to remove any redundancies in the data. In step 412, an access point communication unit (e.g., 132) of an access point communication system transmits the digital data stream to an information system 140, 240 of the medical facility. In an embodiment, an information system 140, 240 retrieves the digital data stream from an access point communication unit of the access point communication system. In an embodiment, the digital data stream is displayed on a display 150, 250 (shown in Figures 1, 2A, 2B and 2C) in any suitable configuration and / or manner. The display 150, 250 can be part of a computer system at a central station for nurses and other clinical staff. The displayed information can be further transmitted to a cell phone, computer, laptop, wearable device and / or any other device configured to allow display of information from the information system of the medical facility.

[0047] All definitions provided and used herein should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0048] The singular terms "a," "an," and "the" as used in the specification and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, should be understood to mean "at least one."

[0049] The term "and / or" as used in the specification and claims should be understood to mean "either or both" of the conjoint elements, i.e., elements that are conjunctive in some cases and disjunctive in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and / or" should be construed in the same manner, i.e., "one or more" of the conjoint elements. Other elements than those specifically identified by the "and / or" clause may optionally be present with or without regard to those specifically identified elements.

[0050] As used in the specification and claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" should be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., including at least one of the elements of the plurality or list, but may include more than one, and optionally including additional items not in the list. Only terms with a specific clear indication, such as "only one of" or "exactly one of," or "comprised of" when used in the claims, refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of the elements of the plurality or list. In general, the term "or" as used herein, when accompanied by exclusive language, such as "either," "one of," "only one of," or "exactly one of," should be interpreted merely as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e., one or the other, but not both).

[0051] As used in the specification and claims, the term "at least one" in reference to a list of one or more elements should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements of the list, but not necessarily including at least one of every element specifically listed in the list of elements, and not excluding any combination of elements in said list of elements. This definition also allows that elements other than the elements specifically identified in the list of elements to which the term "at least one" refers can optionally be present, whether or not they are associated with the specifically identified elements.

[0052] As in the specification, so in the claims, all transitional phrases such as "having," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "including," "holding," and "comprising" are to be understood as open-ended, i.e., meaning inclusive but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

[0053] Although several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those skilled in the art will readily conceive of various other means and / or structures for performing the functions and / or obtaining the results and / or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and / or modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are intended to be exemplary, and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend on the particular application in which the teachings of the present invention are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. Thus, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are presented by way of example only, and that within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, embodiments of the invention other than as specifically described and claimed may be practiced otherwise. The inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, product, material, kit, and / or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles of manufacture, materials, kits, and / or methods is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure, if such features, systems, articles of manufacture, materials, kits, and / or methods are not mutually inconsistent.

Claims

1. In a system for providing continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring patients across an entire medical facility, the system comprises: a first source device configured to obtain information for monitoring the patient and having a communication unit configured to transmit the information, and an access point communication system disposed within the medical facility wherein the access point communication system comprises: an indoor access point in a room at least partially defined by an electromagnetic interference shielding wall and having an indoor transceiver configured to receive the information from the first source device; an access point outside the room and connected to the indoor access point and having a transceiver configured to receive additional information for monitoring the patient from the first source device; a processor configured to communicate with the transceiver and the indoor transceiver and to combine the information from the first source device and the additional information to generate a digital data stream; and an access point communication unit configured to transmit the digital data stream to the information system of the medical facility A system for providing continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring patients across an entire medical facility.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a first communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device while establishing a second communication link between the transceiver and the first source device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a first communication link between the transceiver and the first source device while establishing a second communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device.

4. The access point is connected to the indoor access point via a router, and the system provides continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring patients across the entire medical facility according to claim 1.

5. The first source device, the transceiver, and the indoor transceiver are configured to communicate according to a first technology, and the access point and the indoor access point are configured to communicate according to a second technology that is at least different from the first technology, and the system provides continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring patients across the entire medical facility according to claim 1.

6. The room is a magnetic room, and the electromagnetic interference shielding wall includes an electromagnetic interference shielding material containing copper or steel, and the system provides continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring patients across the entire medical facility according to claim 1.

7. The transceiver or the indoor transceiver is software radio, and the system provides continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring patients across the entire medical facility according to claim 1.

8. The access point communication unit is configured to transmit the digital data stream to a display of the information system of the medical facility, and the system provides continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring patients across the entire medical facility according to claim 1.

9. A method for providing continuous wireless connectivity for monitoring patients across the entire medical facility, the method comprising: Providing an access point communication system within the medical facility, the access point communication system having an indoor access point in a room at least partially defined by an electromagnetic interference shielding wall, the access point communication system being outside the room and further having an access point connected to the indoor access point; Transmitting, by a communication unit of a first source device for monitoring the patient, information for monitoring the patient acquired by the first source device; Receiving, by a transceiver of the access point outside the room, the information from the first source device for monitoring the patient; The step of the indoor transceiver of the indoor access point receiving additional information for monitoring the patient from the first source device that monitors the patient, The step of a processor of the access point communication system combining the information from the first source device and the additional information to generate a digital data stream, and The step of the access point communication unit of the access point communication system transmitting the digital data stream to the information system of the medical facility A method having.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of maintaining a first communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device while the processor establishes a second communication link between the transceiver and the first source device.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of maintaining a first communication link between the transceiver and the first source device while the processor establishes a second communication link between the indoor transceiver and the first source device.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the access point is connected to the indoor access point via a router.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of communicating between the first source device, the transceiver, and the indoor transceiver according to a first technology, and the step of communicating between the access point and the indoor access point according to a second technology that is at least different from the first technology.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the transceiver or the indoor transceiver is software radio.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of the access point communication unit transmitting the digital data stream to a display of the information system of the medical facility.

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