Nursing station systems, devices, and methods
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/US2026/017066
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-02-28
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-03
Smart Images

Figure US2026017066_03092026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001) NURSING STATION SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 764,906 entitled “Nursing Station Systems, Devices, and Methods” filed February 28, 2025, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.Field
[0002] The present invention relates to devices, systems, and methods used in medical settings and, in particular, systems, devices, and methods for nursing stations.Background
[0003] It may be desirable to provide new or improved features to efficiently deploy nursing or paramedical resources in a local or distributed environment to ultimately improve patient safety.Brief Description of the Drawings
[0004] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a nursing station environment in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0005] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example of a nursing station system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example of a nursing station system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0007] FIGS. 4A and 4B shows a block diagram of an example of a mission control nursing station system with centralized and decentralized nursing stations in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 5 shows an example of a point-of-care nursing system with wearables, sensors, and augmented / mixed reality devices in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 6 shows another example of a point-of-care nursing system with wearables, sensors, and augmented / mixed reality devices in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.6BA2207.DOCX 1Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)
[0010] FIG. 7 shows an example of a paramedicine system with nursing station features in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 8 shows an example of a fully remote nursing system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 9 shows an example of a nurse station system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an example of a nursing station system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 11 shows additional or alternative features an example of a nursing station system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.Summary of the Invention
[0015] In accordance with one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a nursing station system, comprising: a primary computing device, comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the primary computing device to: maintain, in one or more databases, data associated with one or more patients; and a plurality of access devices in communication with the primary computing device, wherein each of the plurality of access devices may be configured to receive, transmit, or edit the data associated with one or more patients.
[0016] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, at least one of the plurality of access devices may be positioned in at least one of a patient treatment room, an emergency room, a nursing station remote from the patient treatment room, or a telehealth location remote from the patient treatment room.
[0017] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, at least one of the plurality of access devices may be positioned in at least one of a patient residence, a surgical suite, an intensive care unit, or a mobile paramedicine location.
[0018] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the data associated with one or more patients may include at least one of patient medical records, medication data, nutritional data, laboratory data, or vital signs.
[0019] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the data associated with one or more patients may include at least one of patient transport status, patient location data, clinician data, treatment schedule, treatment guidelines, or regulatory guidelines.6BA2207.DOCX 2Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)
[0020] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the system may comprise one or more medical devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more medical devices may be configured to monitor, detect, diagnose, or treat a medical parameter.
[0021] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the one or more medical devices may include at least one of a heart rate monitor, and oxygen level monitor, an echocardiogram monitor, a blood pressure monitor, an intravenous fluid delivery device, or a medical imaging device.
[0022] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the system may comprise one or more augmented reality devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more augmented reality devices may be configured to project at least a portion of the data associated with one or more patients into a field of view.
[0023] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the one or more augmented reality devices may be configured to be wearable, and the field of view may be a field of view of a wearer of the one or more augmented reality devices.
[0024] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the one or more augmented reality devices may be configured to record a video, capture an image, record an audible sound, or capture a voice command.
[0025] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the plurality of access devices may communicate with the primary computing device across a wireless network.
[0026] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the plurality of access devices may be configured to provide verbal communication with the primary computing device.
[0027] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the primary computing device may be configured to generate an alert based at least in part on the data associated with one or more patients, and transmit the alert to one or more of the plurality of access devices.
[0028] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the primary computing device may be configured to visually display the data associated with one or more patients.
[0029] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the plurality of access devices may be configured to visually display the data associated with one or more patients.
[0030] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the system may comprise one or more robotic devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more robotic devices are configured to transport medical supplies.6BA2207.DOCX 3Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)
[0031] Further examples of the present disclosure will now be described in the following numbered clauses.
[0032] Clause 1: A nursing station system, comprising: a primary computing device, comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the primary computing device to: maintain, in one or more databases, data associated with one or more patients; and a plurality of access devices in communication with the primary computing device, wherein each of the plurality of access devices is configured to receive, transmit, or edit the data associated with one or more patients.
[0033] Clause 2: The nursing station system of clause 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of access devices is positioned in at least one of a patient treatment room, an emergency room, a nursing station remote from the patient treatment room, or a telehealth location remote from the patient treatment room.
[0034] Clause 3: The nursing station system of clause 1 or clause 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of access devices is positioned in at least one of a patient residence, a surgical suite, an intensive care unit, or a mobile paramedicine location.
[0035] Clause 4: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-3, wherein the data associated with one or more patients includes at least one of patient medical records, medication data, nutritional data, laboratory data, or vital signs.
[0036] Clause 5: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-4, wherein the data associated with one or more patients includes at least one of patient transport status, patient location data, clinician data, treatment schedule, treatment guidelines, or regulatory guidelines.
[0037] Clause 6: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-5, further comprising one or more medical devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more medical devices are configured to monitor, detect, diagnose, or treat a medical parameter.
[0038] Clause 7: The nursing station system of clause 6, wherein the one or more medical devices include at least one of a heart rate monitor, and oxygen level monitor, an echocardiogram monitor, a blood pressure monitor, an intravenous fluid delivery device, or a medical imaging device.
[0039] Clause 8: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-7, further comprising one or more augmented reality devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more augmented reality devices6BA2207.DOCX 4Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)are configured to project at least a portion of the data associated with one or more patients into a field of view.
[0040] Clause 9: The nursing station system of clause 8, wherein the one or more augmented reality devices are configured to be wearable, and wherein the field of view is a field of view of a wearer of the one or more augmented reality devices.
[0041] Clause 10: The nursing station system of clause 8 or clause 9, wherein the one or more augmented reality devices are configured to record a video, capture an image, record an audible sound, or capture a voice command.
[0042] Clause 11: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-10, wherein the plurality of access devices communicate with the primary computing device across a wireless network.
[0043] Clause 12: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-11, wherein the plurality of access devices are configured to provide verbal communication with the primary computing device.
[0044] Clause 13: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-12, wherein the primary computing device is configured to generate an alert based at least in part on the data associated with one or more patients, and transmit the alert to one or more of the plurality of access devices.
[0045] Clause 14: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-13, wherein the primary computing device is configured to visually display the data associated with one or more patients.
[0046] Clause 15: The nursing station system of any of clauses 1-14, wherein the plurality of access devices are configured to visually display the data associated with one or more patients.
[0047] Clause 16: The nursing station system of any of clauses l-15,_further comprising one or more robotic devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more robotic devices are configured to transport medical supplies.Detailed Description
[0048] The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.6BA2207.DOCX 5Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)
[0049] For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the concept as it is oriented in the drawing figures. As used herein, the distal end of a component or of a device is to be understood as meaning the end furthest from the user’s hand, and the proximal end is to be understood as meaning the end closest to the user’s hand. However, it is to be understood that the concept may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the concept. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.
[0050] The word “comprising” and “comprises”, and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. In the present specification, “comprises” means “includes” and “comprising” means “including.”
[0051] As used herein, “at least one of’ is synonymous with “one or more of.” For example, the phrase “at least one of A, B, or C” means any one of A, B, or C, or any combination of any two or more of A, B, or C. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” includes A alone; or B alone; or C alone; or A and B; or A and C; or B and C; or all of A, B, and C.
[0052] The term “at least” is synonymous with “greater than or equal to.” The terms “first”, “second”, and the like are not intended to refer to any particular order or chronology, but refer to different conditions, properties, or elements. As used herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0053] It is noted that aspects of the invention described with respect to one embodiment, may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination. These and other objects and / or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below. Further features, advantages and details of the present invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments that follow, such description being merely illustrative of the present invention.
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a nursing station environment. Nursing stations may be implemented to provide one or more of: patient services, ancillary services, compliance maintenance, or general hospital operation administration. Patient management may include, for example, managing alarm / alert fatigue, disparate monitoring technology / screens, and / or patient-nurse ratios. Ancillary services may include, for example, 6BA2207.DOCX 6Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)service involving multi-modal medication delivery, nutrition / dietary aspects, supply chain aspects, and / or laboratory aspects. Compliance maintenance may include, for example, HIPAA compliance, documentation / charting, and / or policy adherence. Hospital operations may include, for example, ADT movement / transitions of care, staff support and communication, and / or interdisciplinary care team visibility. Within these areas, the systems, methods, and features disclosed herein may address and improve one or more shortcomings associated with the boxes of FIG. 1.
[0055] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example of a nursing station system 100. The system 100 in FIG. 2 and below provide technical improvements to solve the shortcomings in the field of nursing stations including those identified in FIG. 1.
[0056] The system 100 may generally include a primary computing device 102 configured to store, maintain, edit, transmit, and / or receive data related to one or more patients, a healthcare facility and / or environment, and other aspects of providing healthcare. The primary computing device 102 may communicate across one or more networks 104 with one or more access devices 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, etc. (collectively, ‘106’). The one or more access devices 106 may comprise one or more computing devices, electronic device, or otherwise to provide the features disclosed herein. The access devices 106 may be located in or otherwise comprise one or more of the nursing stations and / or locations of care being provided as disclosed herein, such as a general ward, critical care unit, emergency department, and / or a community or residence for patients.
[0057] The nursing station will serve as a central hub for patient care across various settings. In general wards, it may feature a Patient Care Portal and Information Center, connecting all clinicians and providing a Family Care Portal. In critical care and emergency departments, it can function as a Mission Control, managing prescriptions, therapies, alarms for medical devices, and medical care equipment, while also connecting clinicians and offering a Family Care Portal. For community care, nurses can assess and treat patients at home, requiring all necessary information on-site without ad-hoc support from colleagues or physicians.
[0058] The described systems and methods address several needs across various care settings. In the general ward, a Patient Care Portal connects all clinicians in a collaborative, data rich environment. The system may include an Information Center and / or a Family Care Portal.
[0059] In a critical care and emergency department (CCED), the features described provide a Mission Control hub with real time visibility to clinical events and data including, for example, one or more of: prescription, therapies, alarm management for all medical devices, 6BA2207.DOCX 7Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)and medical care equipment status, inventory, availability, and location. The CCED may also include a Connecting point for all clinicians responsible for patient treatment and a Family Care Portal.
[0060] As more care moves to alternative settings such as long-term care communities or residential or in-home settings, the features described provide remote access to nurses assessing and treating patients in the alternative setting. The features support the care giver when ad-hoc support from colleagues or physicians may be limited or unavailable. Furthermore, all information may be needed at the home of the patient.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of another example of the nursing station system 100. Nurse stations are essential to an integrated connected ecosystem, supporting the care continuum across all settings. The system in FIG. 3 illustrates inclusion of a one or more database, or a data lake 108 for continuity of care and big data for diagnosis and treatment recommendations, encompassing patient monitors, care equipment, various portals, and diverse workstations including mission control, point-of-care, remote, and / or paramedicine. The data lake 108 may be stored, maintained, transmitted, received, and / or editable by the primary computing device 102 and / or one or more of the access devices 106.
[0062] Nurse Stations are a key enabler of an integrated connected ecosystem that can play a vital role to the care continuum across all care settings. The data lake 108, such as shown in FIG. 3, can drive continuity of care for a single patient as well as facilitate recommendations for diagnosis or treatment using big data analytics. The data lake 108 may receive or collect information from one or more of: Patient Monitors, Devices, & Care Equipment 110; Patient care portals 106e; Family care portal 106f ; Lab, pharmacy, and clinician workstations, portals, and more 106g; Mission control nursing workstations both macro and micro 106h; Point-of-care nursing workstations 106i; Fully remote nursing workstation 106j; Paramedicine workstations 106k; and / or the devices and systems shown and described.
[0063] FIGS. 4A and 4B shows a block diagram of examples of the system 100 with an example mission control nursing station system with centralized and decentralized nursing stations. The system shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B may be referred to as a nursing administration command center 1061. The features shown offer comprehensive visibility of patient throughput, transport status, infusion status, and / or urgent situations within the hospital through data-driven dashboards. These dashboards provide real-time updates on patient status, operational metrics, and / or predictive analytics to optimize resource allocation. Centralized nursing stations 106m enhance unit charge nurse visibility and create an ergonomically-friendly environment with real-time monitoring and predictive analytics. Decentralized nursing stations 106n, equipped 6BA2207.DOCX 8Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)with advanced communication tools, portable diagnostic devices, telehealth capabilities, wearable health devices, robotic devices 112 configured to provide assistance, and / or collaboration spaces, significantly enhance patient care and nursing efficiency by fostering a more efficient, patient-centered, and supportive environment.Mission Control Nursing: Centralized / Decentralized Nursing Station
[0064] Nursing Administration command center 1061 provides the visibility of patient throughput, transport status, infusion status, and / or any urgent situations occurring within the hospital. Centralized Nurses Station 106m provides unit charge nurse visibility to all patient information. Ergonomically-friendly environment with data driven dashboards that includes patient portals. Dashboards provide a comprehensive view of multiple data points at once, such as:• Patient Monitoring: Real-time updates on patient status, including infusion status, transport status, and / or physician arrival times;• Operational Metrics: Length of stay, bed occupancy rates, and / or discharge planning.• Real-Time Monitoring: Dashboards displaying real-time patient data such as vital signs, infusion status, and / or transport status; and / or• Predictive Analytics: Tools that use data to predict patient needs and optimize resource allocation.
[0065] A decentralized nursing station 106n can significantly enhance patient care and nursing efficiency. Here are some examples of features and technologies that may be included in the system 100 via the primary computing device 102 and / or the access devices / nursing stations 106:• Advanced Communication Tools: Integrating real-time communication systems, such as secure messaging apps and hands-free devices, can improve coordination among healthcare teams;• Portable Diagnostic Devices: Handheld devices for monitoring vital signs, portable EKGs, and ultrasound machines enable nurses to provide immediate care at the patient's bedside;• Telehealth Capabilities: Incorporating telehealth technology allows nurses to consult with specialists remotely and provide care to patients in rural or underserved areas;• Wearable Health Devices: These devices can continuously monitor patients' vital signs and alert nurses to any abnormalities, ensuring timely interventions;6BA2207.DOCX 9Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)• Robotic Assistance: Robotic devices 110 can help with routine tasks such as transporting supplies and medications, allowing nurses to focus more on direct patient care;• Collaboration Spaces: Designated areas for team collaboration and quick consultations can enhance communication and teamwork among nursing staff; and / or• Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Access to comprehensive and up-to-date patient information through EHRs is crucial. This allows nurses to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently.
[0066] By incorporating these features, decentralized nurses' stations can create a more efficient, patient-centered, and supportive environment for both patients and healthcare providers.Example Nurse Station Systems with Wearable and Sensing Features
[0067] FIG. 5 shows an example of a point-of-care nursing system with wearables, sensors, and augmented / mixed reality devices.
[0068] FIG. 6 shows an example of a point-of-care nursing system with wearables, sensors, and augmented / mixed reality devices.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wearables, sensors, and / or augmented / mixed reality devices 114 that enable nurses to focus on patient care rather than data entry. In one example, the augmented reality device(s) 114 include or comprise Al “workstation” glasses provide essential information through augmented reality, enhancing the care process. The patient’s room may remain stress-free and home-like, while nurses use hands-free gestures and / or voice commands to interact with the system, reducing cross-contamination risks. Manual data entry is reduced and / or eliminated as Al glasses or other capture devices record and integrate data from various sensors and cameras, allowing nurses to work more efficiently and humanely.
[0070] In the left illustration of FIG. 5, the augmented reality device(s) 114 presents a neutral interface without or with minimal information. On the right illustration of FIG. 5, the augmented reality or virtual reality wearable device 114 projects the device interface such that only the clinician can “see” the display when within the glasses field of view. The augmented reality device(s) 114 may include a wearable headset that may connect directly with a device or indirectly such as through one or more of a central server, connectivity engine, mission control system, and / or electronic health record system.6BA2207.DOCX 10Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)
[0071] The patient’s room, as a result, may be relatively clean and distraction free. The environment feels more like home than a laboratory with minimalist equipment. The patient and family members or loved ones do not see screens or hear the vitals, alarms, and more. Instead, they can just focus on being there with their family member or loved one without the added stress on today’s hospital environment.
[0072] For the point of care nurse however, the Al “Workstation” glasses 114 show her everything she needs to see when she needs it to care for her patient. This includes augmented reality overlay where traditional monitors would be (FIG. 5, right image) or additional information that floats in front of her as part of a heads-up display (FIG. 6). The augmented reality device(s) 114 may even remind her of family names or important activities going on in the patient’s life to make the care process more human.
[0073] The augmented reality device(s) 114 may further be configured to detect hands-free gestures with head motion, eye control, voice command, and / or more to compliment traditional physical hand-based selections and interrelations enabling nurses to work in new ways and at new paces with less risk of cross-contamination. Enabled by the features described, manual data entry is reduced or no longer required, as the Al “Workstation” glasses with video image capture and audio enablement records what happens in the room without the nurse having to put any cognitive energy towards this task. This data set is complimented by the suite of other connected systems used to enable care including patient sensors and other in room cameras and sensors.Example Paramedicine and Fully Remote Nursing Stations
[0074] In the future, remote nursing and paramedicine may play an increasingly crucial role in patient care, utilizing home and non-traditional settings. The home and other non-traditional care settings may play a larger role in the patient’s care continuum in the future. Remote nursing and paramedicine may be key to triaging clinical decisions to provide efficient and effective care while balancing the benefits and risks to the patient. Remote nurses may monitor patients from home-based workstations, providing medical guidance and interacting with equipment remotely. Paramedics may expand their roles to include point-of-care nursing in various settings, using wearables, sensors, and augmented reality to connect with clinicians. Medical equipment in homes may be streamlined, with headsets enabling remote control by nurses.
[0075] Remote nurses may have workstations in their homes or individual offices. Like mission-control, they monitor patients who could be in hospitals, at home, or other care 6BA2207.DOCX 11Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)environments and field calls with them. During these calls they provide medical guidance and triage risk. They also are able to interact with medical equipment remotely such as pumps, patient monitors, and more.
[0076] Paramedics may continue to play a role in patient transport and their responsibilities may likely expand to include point-of-care nursing in alternate settings outside the hospital that are not limited to, but include, the home. Like the point of care nursing, these paramedics may rely on wearables, sensors, and augmented reality to connect directly with clinicians. Headsets may give them the ability to have doctors or other clinician support personal see what they are seeing real time so they can provide the best possible patient care.
[0077] Medical equipment left in the home could also have clean finishes without screens displaying traditional data. Instead, similar with point-of-care features described herein, headsets would enable augmented, virtual visual fields or displays of data for interaction, enabling remote or mission control nurses to control critical medications and / or functions.
[0078] FIG. 7 shows an example of a paramedicine station 106k with nursing station features.
[0079] FIG. 8 shows an example fully remote nursing system 106j.
[0080] The nursing station features may include be a central hub integrating advanced technologies and data-driven solutions to enhance patient care across various settings, from hospitals to home care, with real-time data, Al, and wearable technologies.Additional Embodiments
[0081] FIG. 9 shows another example of nurse stations of the system 100. The system 100 may include a virtual nurse station 106o that can be a command center for a nurse to monitor patients and clinical activity. The virtual nurse station, directly or indirectly, may communicate with an on-the-go nurse station. The on-the-go nurse station 106p may be a robotic device that moves through the care area with a clinician, augmented reality wearable device, smartphone application, and / or combination thereof to provide the information and services described.
[0082] FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of additional features of the nursing station system 100. The system of FIG. 10 may include additional features of the virtual workstation and / or on the go nurse station as well as introducing integration with a tracking board and physical workstation.
[0083] FIG. 11 shows additional or alternative features that may be included in an example of the nursing station system 100. The systems or devices may, in whole or in part, include the features described in FIG. 11 and / or include features that enable a feature described in FIG. 11.6BA2207.DOCX 12Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)
[0084] One or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various aspects or features can include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which can be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. The programmable system or computing system may include clients and servers. A client and server are remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.
[0085] These computer programs, which can also be referred to as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, or code, include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural and / or object-oriented programming language, and / or in assembly / machine language. As used herein, the term “machine-readable medium” refers to any computer program product, apparatus and / or device, such as for example magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, and Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as a machine-readable signal. The term “machine-readable signal” refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor. The machine-readable medium can store such machine instructions non-transitorily, such as for example as would a non-transient solid-state memory or a magnetic hard drive or any equivalent storage medium. The machine-readable medium can alternatively or additionally store such machine instructions in a transient manner, such as for example, as would a processor cache or other random access memory associated with one or more physical processor cores.
[0086] To provide for interaction with a user, one or more aspects or features of the subject matter described herein can be implemented on a computer having a display device, such as for example a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED) monitor for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, such as for example a mouse or a trackball, by which the user may provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, such as for 6BA2207.DOCX 13Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)example visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. Other possible input devices include touch screens or other touch-sensitive devices such as single or multi-point resistive or capacitive track pads, voice recognition hardware and software, optical scanners, optical pointers, digital image capture devices and associated interpretation software, and the like.
[0087] As used herein a “user interface” (also referred to as an interactive user interface, a graphical user interface or a user interface) may refer to a network based interface including data fields and / or other control elements for receiving input signals or providing electronic information and / or for providing information to the user in response to any received input signals. Control elements may include dials, buttons, icons, selectable areas, or other perceivable indicia presented via the UI that, when interacted with (e.g., clicked, touched, selected, etc.), initiates an exchange of data for the device presenting the UI. A UI may be implemented in whole or in part using technologies such as hyper-text mark-up language (HTML), FLASH™, JAVA™, .NET™, web services, or rich site summary (RSS). In some implementations, a UI may be included in a stand-alone client (for example, thick client, fat client) configured to communicate (e.g., send or receive data) in accordance with one or more of the aspects described. The communication may be to or from a medical device or server in communication therewith.
[0088] As used herein, the terms “determine” or “determining” encompass a wide variety of actions. For example, “determining” may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, generating, obtaining, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like via a hardware element without user intervention. Also, “determining” may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like via a hardware element without user intervention. “Determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like via a hardware element without user intervention.
[0089] As used herein, the terms “provide” or “providing” encompass a wide variety of actions. For example, “providing” may include storing a value in a location of a storage device for subsequent retrieval, transmitting a value directly to the receptacle via at least one wired or wireless communication medium, transmitting or storing a reference to a value, and the like. “Providing” may also include encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, validating, verifying, and the like via a hardware element.6BA2207.DOCX 14Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)
[0090] As used herein, the term “message” encompasses a wide variety of formats for communicating (e.g., transmitting or receiving) information. A message may include a machine readable aggregation of information such as an XML document, fixed field message, comma separated message, or the like. A message may, in some implementations, include a signal utilized to transmit one or more representations of the information. While recited in the singular, it will be understood that a message may be composed, transmitted, stored, received, etc. in multiple parts.
[0091] As user herein, the terms “correspond” or “corresponding” encompasses a structural, functional, quantitative and / or qualitative correlation or relationship between two or more objects, data sets, information and / or the like, preferably where the correspondence or relationship may be used to translate one or more of the two or more objects, data sets, information and / or the like so to appear to be the same or equal. Correspondence may be assessed using one or more of a threshold, a value range, fuzzy logic, pattern matching, a machine learning assessment model, or combinations thereof.
[0092] In some implementations, data generated or detected can be forwarded to a “remote” device or location, where “remote,” means a location or device other than the location or device at which the program is executed. For example, a remote location could be another location (e.g., office, lab, etc.) in the same city, another location in a different city, another location in a different state, another location in a different country, etc. As such, when one item is indicated as being “remote” from another, what is meant is that the two items can be in the same room but separated, or at least in different rooms or different buildings, and can be at least one mile, ten miles, or at least one hundred miles apart. “Communicating” information references transmitting the data representing that information as electrical signals over a suitable communication channel (e.g., a private or public network). “Forwarding” an item refers to any means of getting that item from one location to the next, whether by physically transporting that item or otherwise (where that is possible) and includes, at least in the case of data, physically transporting a medium carrying the data or communicating the data. Examples of communicating media include radio or infra-red transmission channels as well as a network connection to another computer or networked device, and the internet or including email transmissions and information recorded on websites and the like.
[0093] The subject matter described herein can be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and / or articles depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the 6BA2207.DOCX 15Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and / or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and / or combinations and sub-combinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and / or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other implementations may be within the scope of the following claims.6BA2207.DOCX 16
Claims
Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)CLAIMSWhat is claimed:
1. A nursing station system, comprising:a primary computing device, comprising:at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the primary computing device to:maintain, in one or more databases, data associated with one or more patients; anda plurality of access devices in communication with the primary computing device, wherein each of the plurality of access devices is configured to receive, transmit, or edit the data associated with one or more patients.
2. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of access devices is positioned in at least one of a patient treatment room, an emergency room, a nursing station remote from the patient treatment room, or a telehealth location remote from the patient treatment room.
3. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of access devices is positioned in at least one of a patient residence, a surgical suite, an intensive care unit, or a mobile paramedicine location.
4. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein the data associated with one or more patients includes at least one of patient medical records, medication data, nutritional data, laboratory data, or vital signs.
5. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein the data associated with one or more patients includes at least one of patient transport status, patient location data, clinician data, treatment schedule, treatment guidelines, or regulatory guidelines.
6. The nursing station system of claim 1, further comprising one or more medical devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more medical devices are configured to monitor, detect, diagnose, or treat a medical parameter.6BA2207.DOCX 17Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)7. The nursing station system of claim 6, wherein the one or more medical devices include at least one of a heart rate monitor, and oxygen level monitor, an echocardiogram monitor, a blood pressure monitor, an intravenous fluid delivery device, or a medical imaging device.
8. The nursing station system of claim 1, further comprising one or more augmented reality devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more augmented reality devices are configured to project at least a portion of the data associated with one or more patients into a field of view.
9. The nursing station system of claim 8, wherein the one or more augmented reality devices are configured to be wearable, and wherein the field of view is a field of view of a wearer of the one or more augmented reality devices.
10. The nursing station system of claim 8, wherein the one or more augmented reality devices are configured to record a video, capture an image, record an audible sound, or capture a voice command.
11. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access devices communicate with the primary computing device across a wireless network.
12. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access devices are configured to provide verbal communication with the primary computing device.
13. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein the primary computing device is configured to generate an alert based at least in part on the data associated with one or more patients, and transmit the alert to one or more of the plurality of access devices.
14. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein the primary computing device is configured to visually display the data associated with one or more patients.6BA2207.DOCX 18Attorney Docket No. 04133-2600716 (P-30568.W001)15. The nursing station system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access devices are configured to visually display the data associated with one or more patients.
16. The nursing station system of claim 1, further comprising one or more robotic devices in communication with the primary computing device or at least one of the plurality of access devices, wherein the one or more robotic devices are configured to transport medical supplies.6BA2207.DOCX 19