Medical Device Proximity Beacon Workflow Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for patient care operate independently without awareness or communication, leading to increased clinician burden, human error, and inefficiencies in patient monitoring and treatment delivery.
Innovation Solution
A medical device system that uses proximity beacons and detectors to automatically recognize and communicate compatibility between devices, establishing direct communication channels to execute coordinated workflows based on compatibility information and workflow assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate medical devices are used for patient monitoring and treatment, then comprehensive patient care functions are provided, but device complexity and clinician burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate medical devices into a unified system where devices communicate through proximity detection and shared workflows. The system merges device functionalities while maintaining operational independence, allowing comprehensive patient care through coordinated device interactions rather than physical consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal communication framework that enables different medical devices to interact through standardized proximity detection and workflow sharing. This multi-functional approach allows any compatible device to participate in patient care workflows, providing versatility without requiring device-specific integration for each care scenario.
2Reliability
If multiple separate medical devices operate independently, then device autonomy is maintained, but communication efficiency and coordination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables devices to autonomously detect proximity, initiate communication, and establish workflows without clinician intervention. Devices self-manage the connection process through proximity beacon detection and automated compatibility assessment, maintaining autonomy while improving coordination efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where devices continuously monitor proximity status and workflow execution. This real-time feedback enables dynamic adjustment of communication patterns and workflow activation, ensuring efficient coordination while preserving device independence through condition-based responses.
3Reliability
If manual device interaction is required, then device compatibility is ensured, but clinician time and human error increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs compatibility assessment and workflow identification in advance through automated proximity detection and device capability exchange. By pre-establishing compatibility status and available workflows before clinician involvement, the system eliminates manual verification steps while ensuring reliable device integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables devices to autonomously verify compatibility and select appropriate workflows without clinician input. The system self-manages the compatibility verification process through automated protocol checking and capability matching, freeing clinicians from time-consuming manual device coordination tasks.
4Productivity
If devices communicate through centralized systems, then system control is improved, but energy consumption and communication delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication architecture into direct peer-to-peer device connections for proximity detection and workflow coordination, rather than routing all communications through a centralized system. This segmentation reduces communication hops and energy consumption while maintaining system-wide control through shared workflow definitions.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device system includes a first patient monitor having a proximity beacon that communicates compatibility information and a medical device associated with the same patient as the first patient monitor. The medical device includes a device proximity detector that detects a proximity beacon when the first patient monitor is within a predetermined proximity range of the medical device, and a device workflow module executable on a processor to receive compatibility information and determine whether the first patient monitor is a compatible device. If so, then a direct communication channel is established with the first patient monitor and a device workflow is identified that corresponds with a monitor workflow executable by the first patient monitor. The medical device then communicates with the first patient monitor via the direct communication channel to execute the identified device workflow until a termination condition is reached.