Life Support Device Communication Protocol Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current life support systems lack seamless integration and escalation of advanced diagnosis and treatment during emergencies, particularly in situations where immediate medical attention is required, as they often rely on standalone devices without efficient communication and protocol sharing between different levels of medical devices.

Innovation Solution

A life support system comprising a first device that monitors or applies treatment and communicates with a second device, allowing for the exchange of information and operating instructions to enhance treatment protocols, enabling a seamless transition from basic to advanced care, even when operated by personnel with varying levels of medical training.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If life support devices operate as standalone units, then device simplicity and ease of operation are maintained, but treatment effectiveness and adaptability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidsystem integration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple life support devices into an integrated system where a first device (e.g., AED) and second device (e.g., ALS defibrillator) communicate and coordinate. The devices share treatment protocols and capabilities through wireless communication, allowing them to function as a unified system rather than isolated units, thereby improving treatment effectiveness while maintaining individual device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables life support devices to perform multiple functions by allowing them to access and execute treatment protocols from other devices in the system. A basic device can perform advanced functions by receiving protocol information from an advanced device, making the system universally adaptable to different treatment needs without requiring each device to be fully capable independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If basic life support devices are used by personnel with limited training, then ease of operation is improved, but treatment precision and adaptability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidtreatment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication system as an intermediary between basic life support devices and advanced treatment protocols. The system automatically transfers protocol information and treatment capabilities from advanced devices to basic devices, allowing untrained personnel to access precision treatment algorithms without needing to understand or manually configure them, thus maintaining operational simplicity while achieving treatment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If advanced life support protocols are implemented, then treatment quality is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment qualityVSAvoidoperational difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring treatment protocols and capabilities in the system before emergencies occur. Advanced treatment protocols are stored and prepared in advance in the communication system, so when a basic device needs advanced functionality, the protocols are already available for automatic transfer and execution, eliminating the need for operators to manually set up complex configurations during critical moments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If seamless communication between devices is established, then treatment adaptability is improved, but information security and system reliability risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment adaptabilityVSAvoidinformation security risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms in the communication system where devices verify protocol compatibility, authentication, and system status before and during information exchange. The system continuously monitors communication integrity and device capabilities, providing feedback loops that ensure secure and reliable protocol transfer while maintaining treatment adaptability through verified device-to-device communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3804807B1Providing life support
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION
  • EP3804807B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3804807B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3804807B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a life support system (100) and associated method, the system comprising: a first life support device (105) having a control unit configured to apply a first life support protocol comprising monitoring one or more cardiac or respiratory functions of a subject, and a memory unit (115) operatively coupled to the control unit and configured to store information concerning the one or more cardiac or respiratory functions, the control unit further being configured to transmit the information concerning the one or more cardiac or respiratory functions to a second life support device (135) that is distinct from the first life support device, to receive operating instructions from the second life support device concerning a second life support protocol to be applied to treat the subject based at least in part on upon the information concerning the one or more cardiac or respiratory functions, and to implement the operating instructions on the first life support device (105) to treat the subject by applying the second life support protocol to the subject using the first life support device.