Medical Device Interface Protocol Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices from different manufacturers often use proprietary communication protocols, limiting interoperability and making it difficult for end users to interface devices from one manufacturer with those from another, as manufacturers are reluctant to share proprietary information.
Innovation Solution
An interface device with a processor and memory that translates between proprietary protocols used by medical devices and a standard protocol, allowing communication between devices from different manufacturers, enabling interoperability by using hardware connection ports and a network interface to facilitate data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manufacturers use proprietary communication protocols to protect their competitive position and ensure high-quality operation, then device reliability and operational quality are improved, but interoperability between devices from different manufacturers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interface device as an intermediary component that sits between medical devices from different manufacturers and the control system. This interface device translates proprietary protocols from various manufacturers into a unified communication protocol, enabling interoperability while preserving the reliability of each manufacturer's proprietary device operations. The interface device mediates the communication without requiring manufacturers to share their proprietary protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manufacturers share proprietary protocol details to enable interoperability, then device interoperability is improved, but manufacturers lose competitive advantage and proprietary information security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device serves as a mediator that translates proprietary protocols without requiring manufacturers to share their protocol details. The interface device maintains a library of proprietary protocols and translates between them and a unified protocol internally, keeping manufacturer proprietary information secure while enabling interoperability.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device creates a virtual copy or representation of multiple proprietary protocols in its memory, allowing it to translate between different protocols without actually sharing the proprietary information with external systems. This copying approach enables protocol translation while preserving the security and competitive advantage of the original proprietary protocols.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a unified communication protocol is implemented across all medical devices, then interoperability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing diversity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication protocol architecture into two distinct layers: a unified protocol layer for high-level communication between the control system and interface device, and proprietary protocol layers for device-specific operations. This segmentation allows each manufacturer to maintain their proprietary protocols at the device level while using a standardized unified protocol at the system level, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple proprietary protocols and translate them into a single unified protocol. This universal interface device can work with devices from various manufacturers without requiring each device to implement multiple protocols, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining interoperability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An interface device is configured to provide one or more links to first-party medical devices, each of which communicates using a proprietary protocol. The interface device can translate between the proprietary protocol and a second protocol that is accessible via a second link to the interface device. Details of the second protocol can be provided to third parties for configuring third-party medical devices to connect to the interface device via the second link. Using the second link, one or more third-party medical devices can send information to and/or receive information from the first-party medical devices without the need for the third-party device (or devices) to have any information about the proprietary protocol(s) of the first-party medical device(s). The first-party medical devices can include surgical tools and related support equipment and the third-party medical device can include a control station used to monitor and control the tools and support equipment.