AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALARM SYNCHRONIZATION OF MEDICAL DEVICE

Abstract

A system includes a server containing a clock and a plurality of medical devices communicating with the server via a network. Each medical device includes at least one alarm mechanism and an internal clock. A first medical device among the plurality of medical devices is configured to receive clock synchronization data from the server, update its internal clock based on this synchronization data, provide a first alarm signal at a predetermined interval, and provide a subsequent alarm signal of the same type at a predetermined interval. Additionally, the second interval coincides with the time at which the alarm signal of the first type is provided by a second medical device within the plurality of medical devices.

Description

AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALARM SYNCHRONIZATION OF MEDICAL DEVICE Related requests This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 014,997 filed on April 24, 2020, entitled AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALARM SYNCHRONIZATION OF MEDICAL DEVICE, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background The present invention relates to medical devices, such as infusion pumps, for administering medication to a patient. Generally speaking, medical patients sometimes require the precise delivery of continuous medication or medication at predetermined periodic intervals. Medical pumps have been developed to provide controlled drug infusion, where the drug can be administered at a precise rate that maintains the drug concentration within a therapeutic range and out of an unnecessary or potentially toxic range. Essentially, medical pumps provide appropriate drug administration to the patient at a controllable rate, without requiring frequent attention. Medical pumps can facilitate the administration of intravenous therapy to patients both inside and outside of a clinical setting. Outside of a clinical setting, physicians have found that in many cases patients can return to a substantially normal life, provided they receive regular or continuous intravenous medication. Types of therapies requiring this type of administration include antibiotic therapy, chemotherapy, pain management therapy, nutritional therapy, and several others known to experts in the field. In many cases, patients receive multiple therapies daily. Certain medical conditions require the infusion of drugs in solution for relatively short periods, such as 30 minutes to two hours.These and other conditions have combined to promote the development of increasingly lightweight, portable, or ambulatory infusion pumps that can be used by a patient and are capable of delivering a continuous supply of medication at a desired rate, or that provide multiple doses of medication at programmed intervals. Infusion pump configurations include elastomeric pumps, which squeeze the solution from flexible containers, such as balloons, into the IV tubing for administration to the patient. Alternatively, spring-driven pumps pressurize the solution containers or reservoirs. Certain pump designs use cartridges containing flexible compartments that are squeezed by pressure rollers to discharge the solutions. Infusion pumps that use syringes are also known, where a drive mechanism moves a syringe plunger to administer fluid to a patient.Typically, these infusion pumps include a housing adapted to receive a syringe assembly, a drive mechanism adapted to move the syringe plunger, a pump control unit that has a variety of operating controls, and a power supply to power the pump, which includes the drive mechanism and controls. Several medical devices, such as infusion pumps, may be located in the same area (e.g., the same hospital room and associated with a single patient), and in some cases, multiple infusion pumps may be arranged on a single rack. Each of these medical devices may provide audible and visual alerts and alarms. Depending on the sound, pitch, location, priority, and frequency of occurrence (e.g., how often the alarm sounds), the alerts and alarms may be difficult to distinguish from one another. Furthermore, the alerts may be difficult to hear completely due to interference from other sources (e.g., other lights and sounds), especially interference from the alerts of other medical devices. There are multiple needs to enhance the hospital environment by reducing constant alarm noise (for example, to reduce stress for patients and other visitors) while also minimizing interference between different alerts. Specifically, there is a need to synchronize alarms of the same type so that they are more easily distinguishable for a user and to reduce the constant noise of alarms of the same type occurring at different frequencies. There is also a need to provide alarms of a different type or from a different location out of sync so that a user can more easily discern the alarm type or location. Brief description of the invention The present invention provides medical device systems and methods with synchronized audible and visual alerts / alarms. The alerts / alarms can be provided synchronized or out of sync with alerts / alarms from other medical devices, depending on the type of alarm and the location of the medical device. The aspects of the subject matter described herein may be useful alone or in combination with one or more other aspects described herein. In a first aspect, which may be used with any other aspect described herein, a system includes a server containing a clock and a plurality of medical devices in network communication with the server. Each medical device includes at least one alarm mechanism and an internal clock. A first medical device of the plurality of medical devices is configured to receive clock synchronization data from the server, update the internal clock of the first medical device based on the clock synchronization data, provide a first alarm signal at a first time, and provide a subsequent alarm signal of the first type at a second time. The second time occurs at a predetermined interval from the first time.Additionally, the second time is the same time in which the alarm signal of the first type is provided by a second medical device from the plurality of medical devices. In a second aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the medical device is an infusion pump. In a third aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, a third medical device from the plurality of medical devices is configured to receive clock synchronization data from the server, update the internal clock of the third medical device based on the peer Ln / zznz / E / YiAi clock synchronization data, provide a second-type alarm signal at a third time, and provide a subsequent second-type alarm signal at a fourth time. The fourth time occurs at a predetermined interval such that the subsequent second-type alarm signal is out of sync with the first-type alarm signal of the first medical device and the second medical device. In a fourth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, clock synchronization data is provided via the Network Time Protocol (NTP). In a fifth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the alarm signal is one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a tactile alarm. In a sixth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the audible alarm is provided by a loudspeaker. In a seventh aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the visual alarm is provided by an LCD screen. In an eighth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the visual alarm is provided by an LED. In a ninth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, an infusion pump includes an internal clock, a display device configured to provide visual content, a speaker configured to provide audible content, and a processor communicating with the display and speaker. The processor is configured to receive clock synchronization data from a server and another medical device, update the internal clock based on the clock synchronization data, provide an alarm signal at a first time from at least one of the display device and the speaker, and provide a subsequent alarm signal at a second time. Furthermore, the second time occurs at a predetermined interval from the first time. The second time is the same time at which the alarm signal is provided by another infusion pump. In a tenth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, clock synchronization data is provided via the Network Time Protocol (NTP). In an eleventh aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the processor provides the alarm signal through the display device. In a twelfth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the processor provides the alarm signal through the speaker. In a thirteenth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the processor is further configured to provide a second-type alarm signal at a third time, and to provide a subsequent second-type alarm signal at a fourth time. The fourth time occurs at a predetermined interval such that the subsequent second-type alarm signal is out of sync with the first-type alarm signal. In a fourteenth aspect, which may be used with any other aspect described herein, a method includes receiving, by a medical device, clock synchronization data from a peer reference source Ln / zznz / E / YiAi. The method also includes updating, by the medical device, an internal clock based on the clock synchronization data. Furthermore, the method includes providing, by the medical device, an alarm signal of a first type at a first time. The medical device also provides a subsequent alarm signal of the first type at a second time. The second time occurs at a predetermined interval from the first time, and the second time is the same time at which the alarm signal is provided by another medical device from the plurality of medical devices. In a fifteenth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the method further includes receiving, by a second medical device, the clock synchronization data from the server. In addition, the second medical device updates its internal clock based on the clock synchronization data and provides a second type of alarm signal at a third time. Furthermore, the second medical device provides a subsequent second type of alarm signal at a fourth time. The fourth time occurs at a predetermined interval such that the subsequent second type of alarm signal is out of sync with the first type of alarm signal. In a sixteenth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, clock synchronization data is provided via the Network Time Protocol (NTP). In a fifteenth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the alarm signal is one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a tactile alarm. In an eighteenth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the audible alarm is provided by a loudspeaker. In a nineteenth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the visual alarm is provided by an LCD screen. In a twentieth aspect, which can be used with any other aspect described herein, the visual alarm is provided by an LED. Therefore, a primary object of the invention is to provide synchronized audible alarms between several medical devices. Another object of the invention is to provide synchronized visual alarms between several medical devices. Yet another object of the invention is to enhance the hospital environment by reducing constant alarm noise while also minimizing interference between different alarms. Another object of the present invention is to reduce stress to the patient and / or other visitors. Another object of the invention is to provide higher confidence in alarm accuracy. The additional features and advantages of the visual and audible alarm synchronization devices for the disclosed medical devices, systems, and methods are described and will be evident from the following Detailed Description and figures. The features and advantages described herein are not exhaustive, and in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to a person skilled in the art from the figures and description. Furthermore, any particular modality need not possess all the advantages listed herein. It should also be noted that the language used in the specification has been selected primarily for readability and instruction, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a schematic view of a medical device (MD) system according to an example modality of this disclosure. Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of an example process for synchronizing alarms according to an example modality of this disclosure. Figure 3 illustrates a schematic view of a hospital environment, according to an example modality of this disclosure. Detailed description of the example modalities The following disclosure relates to the synchronization of audible and visual alarms for medical devices, such as infusion pumps, used to administer fluids (e.g., medications or nutrients) to a patient in predetermined amounts. The techniques disclosed herein synchronize alarms (e.g., audible and visual alarms and alerts) for devices in close proximity to one another. Alternatively, the alarms and alerts may be deliberately out of synchronization, for example, to assist clinicians in locating the source of an alarm or to more easily distinguish between different types of alarms / alerts. Synchronization may include synchronizing (e.g., synchronized or out of synchronized) audible alarms / alerts as well as visual alarms / alerts, such as visible light indicators. An alarm or alert includes any mechanism by which a signal can be generated and transmitted to a user. Alarms may include audible alarms (e.g., a sound from a speaker, buzzer, or other sound-producing device), visual alarms (e.g., an alarm message on a display such as an LCD screen, LED, image, etc.), tactile alarms (e.g., a vibration), and / or other mechanisms. Similarly, alerts may include audible alerts (e.g., a sound from a speaker, buzzer, or other sound-producing device), visual alerts (e.g., an alert message on a display such as an LCD screen, LED, image, etc.), tactile alerts (e.g., a vibration), and / or other mechanisms. Alarms and alerts can be generated using a single mechanism or by using multiple mechanisms simultaneously, concurrently, or sequentially.In one example, alarms and alerts can be generated using similar redundant mechanisms (e.g., two different audio alarms) or complementary mechanisms (e.g., an audio alert and a touch alert). Figure 1 illustrates a medical device system. In the illustrated example, multiple medical devices, such as infusion pumps, communicate with a server. Hereafter, medical devices may be referred to collectively as medical devices. The server may include a medical device manager to manage one or more devices. PCPP Ln / Zznz / E / YIAI medical devices 110 connected via a network. The server 120 may also include a clock 140 that serves as a master clock for the network. Each medical device 110 may include its own internal clock 150A-C and may produce audible content 160A-C (e.g., audible alerts and alarms), as well as visual content 170A-C (e.g., visual alerts and alarms). The 110A-C medical devices can communicate with each other wirelessly or via a wired connection. Communication between the 110A-C medical devices, as well as communication between the 110 medical devices and the 120 server, can include Ethernet, wireless Ethernet, a local area network (LAN), wireless LANs, the Internet, wireless Internet, radio communications, infrared, fiber optics, and telephone communication. For example, communication between the 110 medical devices and / or the 120 server can be wireless or wired. Each Medical Device 110 may include a serial port or other I / O port connected to another device via a non-wireless transmission medium such as twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, or similar. For example, multiple Medical Devices, such as infusion pumps, may be connected to a rack or hub that links multiple Medical Devices 110 to a serial communication link, which in turn connects wirelessly to a network (e.g., Server 120). Additionally, each Medical Device 110 may include wireless communication interfaces for communication with other Medical Devices 110 and / or Server 120. Both the 110 medical devices and the 120 server are configured to send and receive data (e.g., time data or alarm / alert data) to each other. For example, a 110A medical device can send alarm / alert data to another 110B medical device such that both 110A and 110B medical devices produce the same alarms and / or alerts. Additionally, alarm / alert data can be provided to the 120 server, which can then distribute that data to multiple 110 medical devices on the network. For instance, alarm and status monitoring data from medical devices can be transmitted to the 120 server on a regular basis. An electronic medical record (EMR) system (if implemented) can be aware of which 110 medical devices are associated with (e.g., used for) a specific patient. For example, the EMR can be aware of whether a 110 medical device is registered with other devices for the same patient.Based on EMR knowledge, the synchronization logic for the medical device can be determined, for example, whether to synchronize alarms for devices or prevent alarm synchronization. Each medical device 110, such as an infusion pump, can communicate with the server 120 to synchronize its internal clock 150A-C, hereafter referred to as internal clock 150, with the server 120's clock 140. Coordination and synchronization of audible and visual alarms / alerts can be achieved by having each medical device 110 use the same time reference. For example, the local clock or internal clock 150 of each medical device 110 connected to a network can be precisely configured to match the time of other internal clocks 150 and the network clock 140. Synchronization is usually provided by synchronizing a local internal clock 150 of each peer relevant medical device 110 within a communications network (e.g., connected to server 120) to a reference time (e.g., clock time 140 of server 120).The server's clock 140 can be set to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The local or internal clock 150 of each medical device 110 can be synchronized to clock 140 using one of several known techniques, protocols, and / or systems such as Network Time Protocol (NTP) or Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP). For example, each medical device 110 (e.g., an infusion pump) can use NTP, which synchronizes the internal clock of each pump 150 to network time (e.g., clock time 140). As discussed earlier, this time adjustment is achieved through NTP, which is commonly implemented in modern network systems and is designed to perform this exact task very precisely. Medical devices 110 can communicate directly with either an NTP server or a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) server, either of which can provide a time reference. It should be noted that other synchronization techniques can be used. For example, instead of the 120 server, other reference systems can provide a reference time source. For instance, medical devices 110 that are in close proximity and communicating with each other can be synchronized. For example, medical device 110A can serve as a reference device, and the internal clocks 150B-C of medical devices 110B-C can be synchronized with the internal lock 150A of medical device 110A. In other examples, time and date references from other reference systems or sources can be used to synchronize the 110 medical devices. Reference systems or sources may include a radio transmitter, a satellite (e.g., a GPS satellite system), a cell phone tower, or another signal broadcasting source. These reference systems or sources can broadcast a reference signal, which can be received by multiple medical devices (e.g., 110A-C medical devices) or by the 120 server. With a GPS satellite system, each 110 pump can receive a GPS clock signal, which may be an average of several satellite atomic clocks. The use of a cell phone time signal (e.g., from one or more cell phone towers, base stations, or satellites) may include a code division multiple access (CDMA) clock.Similarly, the Medical Device 110 can synchronize its time with cubes or other computers on the network. For example, a Medical Device 110 can connect to the cube or computer using a wired connection or a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth. Time and date synchronization or transmission can be achieved by transmitting high-frequency light pulses, which can be emitted from airborne light sources. For example, "LiFi," a mobile wireless technology that uses light instead of radio frequencies to transmit data, can be used. LiFi employs direct modulation similar to that of infrared communication devices. Airborne light sources, such as LED bulbs, have high intensities and are capable of transmitting information at high data rates. LiFi can also be used to track medical devices. For example, each airborne light source can be associated with an identifier (e.g., an identification number), and each medical device can have a light receiver configured to decode the identifier. In other examples, synchronization can be implemented by using a microphone and sound processing within a Medical Device I110 to analyze the environment for similar tones above a certain threshold. If a Medical Device I110 detects a similar alarm within its vicinity, it can synchronize its alarm (for example, an alarm of the same type) with the detected alarm. By synchronizing alarms of the same type, Medical Device I110s can enhance the sound or visual quality of the alarm while also reducing the overall alarm duration, thus minimizing interference with other alarms / alerts. Additionally, alarm synchronization can create a more harmonious environment that is less disruptive for both clinicians and patients.If the Medical Device 110 detects a different type of alarm sounding at the same time as its own, the Medical Device 110 can adjust its alarm frequency so that it is out of sync with alarms of that different type from other medical devices. Adjusting the alarm frequency includes adjusting how often the alarm sounds. For example, alarms that sound more frequently will have a shorter period (e.g., a frequency of 4 times per minute and a period of 15 seconds). Providing out-of-sync alarms can advantageously improve the detectability of different alarms by a patient or clinician. For example, Medical Device 110 devices that use a common backplane (e.g., multiple infusion pumps in a rack) can use local pump-to-pump communication (“CAN”) buses to trigger alarm tones.The pumps in the rack can use the wired CAN network to perform timing synchronizations and communicate with each other regarding alarm synchronizations. Synchronizing an internal clock 150 with the server clock 140 or with another external reference system or source allows each medical device 110 to have an internally stored reference time that matches other medical devices 110 on the network. This reference time can be periodically updated using the server 120 or another reference source. By updating and maintaining the internal time of each medical device 110, each device can provide coordinated alarm and alert signals according to a specified synchronization schedule. Furthermore, the periodic synchronization of internal clocks 150 with the server clock 120 or via another external reference advantageously maintains accurate time and date information even in the event of a power outage. In the event of a power interruption or failure (e.g., battery replacement or battery depletion) or when a new medical device 110 is introduced into the network, the medical devices 110 and the server 120 can communicate to precisely update the internal reference time and date. After the 150 watches are synchronized, the 110 medical devices can be set for synchronous alarms / alerts or asynchronous alarms / alerts with other nearby 110 medical devices. peer Ln / zznz / E / YiAi In one example, a 110A medical device can be set to synchronous mode with another 110B medical device. Additionally, the 110A medical device can be set to asynchronous mode with another 110C medical device on the network. In other examples, specific alerts or alarms can be set to synchronous mode, while other alerts / alarms are set to asynchronous mode with other 110 medical devices on the network. In asynchronous mode, alert or alarm signals can be transmitted at arbitrary or coordinated intervals, such that the alerts / alarms are out of sync at a predetermined interval or frequency. As discussed earlier, the alert / alarm frequency describes how often the alert / alarm sounds. For example, it can be advantageous to have different types of alarms occur out of sync to reduce interference, allowing a clinician to more easily detect or distinguish one alarm from another occurring in the same vicinity (e.g., in the same room). Furthermore, out-of-sync alarms can help pinpoint the location of the same type of alarm (e.g., different infusion pumps with the same alarm type but in different hospital rooms). In synchronous mode, alert or alarm signals are transmitted according to a specified synchronization schedule.Providing alarms of the same type in a synchronized manner advantageously amplifies the alarm tone from the visual presence of the alarm. When alarms of the same type are synchronized, the tone is advantageously amplified due to synchronization (e.g., constructive interference). When alarms of different types are provided out of synchronization, those alarms are easier to distinguish from one another. Furthermore, when alarms are synchronized, they can sound more harmoniously and improve the overall sound environment, for example, by sounding similar alarms simultaneously, without constantly disturbing patients with the same alarm from multiple pumps that are presented out of synchronization. Additionally, synchronizing alarms of the same type and intentionally setting alarms of different types out of synchronization advantageously improves the ability to pinpoint the location of the alarm from a greater distance. For example, different hospital rooms may have different alarm intervals. Typically, when an alarm event occurs on a Medical Device 110, the device can sound an alarm tone immediately, alerting clinicians promptly. After the first or second alarm tone, and while the alarm status is still active, the Medical Device 110 will sound the alarm at predefined (pre-programmed) time intervals for the duration of that alarm type. For example, a low battery alarm might sound every 15 or 45 seconds per minute, and a full infusion alarm might sound every 0, 20, and 40 seconds per minute. Alternatively, the alarm tone can be programmed to sound at an alternate time interval if one of the aforementioned scenarios occurs. Instead of sounding alarms at predefined (pre-programmed) time intervals, 110 medical devices can sound or display alarms / alerts in response to a signal received from the 120 server. For example, the server might transmit a start signal, similar to a heartbeat, to each 110 medical device on the network, indicating when each device should provide an alarm or alert. In these implementations, the signal is received and processed by the individual 110 medical devices (Ln / zznz / E / YiAi peers) at approximately the same time, and the alarm / alert content is provided in a synchronized manner as a result. Additional methods for determining the time interval (e.g., period) or frequency at which alarms should sound may include contacting an electronic medical record (EMR) system (if implemented) to determine if the 110 medical device is registered with other devices for the same patient. Registered 110 medical devices for the same patient can be synchronized to optimize the alerts and alarms provided by those devices. For example, some devices or certain types of alarms / alerts for those devices can be configured to be synchronized, while other devices or alarm types can be configured to be out of sync. Additionally, location services can be used to determine the proximity of a 110 medical device to other devices.Based on device proximity, some devices can synchronize if they are in the same room, while others can become out of sync with devices in different rooms. In some models, each 110 medical device may have a different synchronization schedule. For example, some 110 medical devices may request synchronization at a predetermined first interval, while others request synchronization at a predetermined second interval. The synchronization interval may depend on the type of 110 medical device, its location, and other factors. Synchronization can occur when an alarm or alert is triggered, or at a predetermined interval such as every hour, every day, every two days, every five days, and so on. Device timing can be periodically synchronized via NTP to compensate for any drift. For example, the amount of drift between 110 medical devices can be limited to a threshold amount. This threshold drift amount can be set to a value lower than the alarm / alert period. For instance, drift can be limited to 5 percent of the alarm / alert signal period (e.g., if an alarm is triggered every 10 seconds, a 0.5-second difference between 110 medical devices might be acceptable or negligible). Other threshold drift amounts can be used to further reduce the amount of drift between 110 devices before requiring subsequent synchronization. In one example, synchronized alarms can also be set to a higher or lower priority level. For instance, if a patient is connected to multiple infusion pumps (e.g., five infusion pumps) and a downstream occlusion alarm is triggered on each pump, there is a high probability that the pumps have indeed detected a downstream occlusion. These downstream occlusion alarms can be synchronized and set to a high-priority alarm based on the high level of confidence in the alarm. Conversely, if only one of the five infusion pumps has a downstream occlusion alarm triggered, the confidence in the accuracy of that alarm may be lower, and the alarm may sound at a lower priority than the high priority.In another example, other forms of alerts / alarms can be implemented, such as a spoken audible alert in addition to the alarm tones when trust is high. An example of an audible alert could be: "Please check your IV line to ensure peer Ln / zznz / E / YiAi is not pinched." Alerts / alarms can have different priority levels, such as low, medium, and high. Certain types of alarms may have a predetermined priority level. For example, a low battery alert might initially be set to medium priority, while an infusion pump rack with multiple occlusion alarms down might be set to high priority. The priority level can also determine how quickly one alarm synchronizes with another of the same type. For example, low-priority alarms might wait several alarm cycles before synchronizing. In contrast, high-priority alarms might synchronize immediately to improve their detectability. Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of Example Method 200 for synchronizing audible and visual alarms for medical devices, according to an example in this disclosure. Although Example Method 200 is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in Figure 2, it should be appreciated that many other methods can be used to perform the steps associated with Method 200. For example, the order of some of the blocks can be changed, certain blocks can be combined with other blocks, blocks can be repeated, and some of the described blocks are optional. Method 200 can be implemented by processing logic that may comprise hardware (circuitry, dedicated logic, etc.), software, or a combination of both. In the illustrated example, method 200 includes receiving clock synchronization data (block 210). For example, a medical device 110 might receive clock synchronization data from a server 120. In other examples, the clock synchronization data might be provided from another source, such as another medical device 110 or from another removal source (e.g., computer, GPS, cellular network, etc.). Method 200 also includes updating an internal clock based on the clock synchronization data (block 220). For example, the medical device 110 might update its internal clock 150 based on the clock synchronization data. Method 200 then includes providing a first-type alarm signal at a first time (block 230). Alarms can differ in type based on alarm priority (e.g., a high-priority alarm is a different type than a low-priority alarm), the reason for the alarm (e.g., an occlusion alarm is a different type than a low-battery alarm), the device that sounds the alarm (e.g., two different models of medical devices that sound an occlusion alarm can be considered alarms of different types), and so on. For example, an alarm event may occur, and medical device 110 may sound an alarm tone or provide a flashing alarm signal immediately. Method 200 also includes providing a subsequent first-type alarm signal at a second time (block 240).After initially providing the alarm signal, subsequent alarm signals can be provided at a predetermined interval. For example, the second alarm signal might synchronize with alarms of the same type (e.g., alarms from other devices). Alternatively, the second alarm signal might desynchronize with alarms of different types from other peer Ln / zznz / E / YiAi devices, ensuring that the alarm does not negatively interfere with the other alarm types. Figure 3 illustrates a schematic view of a hospital environment, according to an example modality of this disclosure. In one example, a patient in room 310A may be connected to several medical devices (MDs) (e.g., MD 320, MD 322A, and MD 324). If an alert / alarm begins to sound on the MD 320 and subsequently another type of alarm begins to sound on the MD 322A, the respective alerts / alarms may be intentionally configured so that the MD 320 alert / alarm is out of sync with the MD 322A alert / alarm, which can advantageously aid in the detection of each of the different types of alarms. A patient in room 310B can be connected to three medical devices (e.g., MD 330A-C), such as infusion pumps. When an alarm is triggered on MD 330A, to improve alarm detectability, the same alarm can sound on MD 330B and / or MD 330C in sync with MD 330A. Additionally, if the same type of alarm is triggered on more than one of the 330A-C medical devices, the alarm can also be upgraded to a higher priority, resulting in a louder and more frequent sound. Around the same time, another patient in room 310E can be similarly connected to three medical devices (e.g., MD 330D-F), such as a set of infusion pumps arranged in a rack. These infusion pumps (e.g., MD 330D-F) can be the same type of infusion pumps (e.g., MD 330A-C) as those in room 310B. If the same type of alarm is triggered on one of the medical devices (e.g., MD 330E) in room 310E as the alarm triggered in room 310B, the alarms can be offset so that they sound out of sync. For example, the alarm in room 310B can be set off every second 0° and 30° in a minute, while the alarm in room 310E is set off every second 15° and 45° in a minute, which advantageously allows a doctor to quickly distinguish and locate from which room the alarm is sounding. The different types of alerts / alarms of the 320, 322A-D, 324, 330A-F and 340 medical devices of the 310A-F rooms can be synchronized so that the alerts / alarms are synchronized or out of sync to enhance the hospital environment by reducing constant alarm noise while also minimizing interference between different alarms, reducing stress to the patient and / or other visitors, indicating higher confidence in alarm accuracy, improving alarm identification and detectability, improving alarm location detectability, etc. The many features and advantages of this disclosure are evident from the written description, and the appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such features and advantages. Furthermore, since those skilled in the art may readily make numerous modifications and changes, this disclosure is not limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described. Therefore, the described embodiments should be considered illustrative and not restrictive, and the disclosure should not be limited to the details provided herein, but should be defined by the following claims and their full scope of equivalents, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable now or in the future.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system comprising: a server including a clock; and a plurality of medical devices in network communication with the server, wherein each of the plurality of medical devices includes an infusion pump having at least one alarm mechanism and an internal clock, and wherein a first medical device is configured to: receive clock synchronization data from the server, update the internal clock of the first medical device based on the clock synchronization data, provide a first type alarm signal at a first time, and provide a subsequent first type alarm signal at a second time, wherein the second time occurs at a predetermined interval from the first time, and wherein the second time is the same time at which the first type alarm signal is provided by a second medical device of the plurality of medical devices.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a third medical device of the plurality of medical devices is configured to: receive clock synchronization data from the server, update the internal clock of the third medical device based on the clock synchronization data, provide a second-type alarm signal at a third time, and provide a subsequent second-type alarm signal at a fourth time, wherein the fourth time occurs at a predetermined interval such that the subsequent second-type alarm signal is out of sync with the first-type alarm signal of the first medical device and the second medical device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein clock synchronization data is provided via the Network Time Protocol (NTP).

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm signal is one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a tactile alarm.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the audible alarm is provided by a loudspeaker.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the visual alarm is provided by an LCD screen.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the visual alarm is provided by an LED.

8. An infusion pump comprising: an internal clock; a display device configured to provide visual content; a speaker configured to provide audible content; and a processor in communication with the display and speaker, the processor configured to: receive clock synchronization data from one of a server and another medical device, update the internal clock based on the clock synchronization data, provide an alarm signal at a first time from at least one of the display device and the speaker, and provide a subsequent alarm signal at a second time, wherein the second time occurs at a predetermined interval from the first time, and wherein the second time is the same time at which the alarm signal is provided by another infusion pump.

9. The infusion pump according to claim 8, wherein clock synchronization data is provided via the Network Time Protocol (NTP).

10. The infusion pump according to claim 8, wherein the processor provides the alarm signal by means of the display device.

11. The infusion pump according to claim 8, wherein the processor provides the alarm signal via the speaker.

12. The infusion pump according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to: provide a second-type alarm signal at a third time, and provide a subsequent second-type alarm signal at a fourth time, wherein the fourth time occurs at a predetermined interval such that the subsequent second-type alarm signal is out of sync with the first-type alarm signal.

13. A method comprising: receiving, by a medical device including an infusion pump, clock synchronization data from a reference source; updating, by the medical device, an internal clock based on the clock synchronization data; providing, by the medical device, an alarm signal of a first type at a first time; and providing, by the medical device, a subsequent alarm signal of the first type at a second time, wherein the second time occurs at a predetermined interval from the first time, and wherein the second time is the same time at which the alarm signal is provided by another medical device of a plurality of medical devices.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: receiving, by a second medical device, clock synchronization data from the server; updating, by the second medical device, an internal clock of the second medical device based on the clock synchronization data; providing, by the second medical device, a second type of alarm signal at a third time; and providing, by the second medical device, a subsequent second type of alarm signal at a fourth time, wherein the fourth time occurs at a predetermined interval such that the subsequent second type of alarm signal is out of sync with the first type of alarm signal.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein clock synchronization data is provided via the Network Time Protocol (NTP).

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the alarm signal is one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a tactile alarm.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the audible alarm is provided by a loudspeaker.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the visual alarm is provided by an LCD screen.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the visual alarm is provided by an LED.

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