Medical Protocol Translator for Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical communication systems face challenges in facilitating seamless communication between medical devices using different protocol formats, leading to interoperability issues and inefficiencies in data exchange.
Innovation Solution
A medical communication protocol translator is developed to receive input messages from one medical device formatted according to a first protocol and output messages formatted according to a second protocol supported by another medical device, using a set of translation rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If medical devices use different protocol formats for communication, then device functionality and versatility are improved, but interoperability and communication efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a protocol translator that acts as an intermediary component between medical devices using different communication protocols. The translator receives messages in one protocol format, translates them to another protocol format, and forwards them to the destination device. This mediator approach allows devices with diverse protocol requirements to communicate effectively without sacrificing their individual functionality or requiring a complete standardization of protocols across all devices.
2Reliability
If protocol translation is implemented between medical devices, then interoperability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication system into distinct segments: sending devices, protocol translator, and receiving devices. Each component maintains its own protocol expertise independently, with the translator handling only the translation function. This segmentation isolates the complexity of protocol translation to a dedicated component rather than requiring every medical device to implement multiple protocol stacks, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining interoperability.
3Device complexity
If direct communication between devices using different protocols is attempted, then system simplicity is maintained, but communication efficiency and data exchange accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol translator serves as a communication bridge that enables efficient data exchange between devices using different protocols. Rather than attempting direct communication which would result in protocol mismatches and communication failures, the translator ensures accurate message transmission by converting protocols appropriately, thereby maintaining high data exchange efficiency without compromising system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical communication protocol translator can be configured to facilitate communication between medical devices that are programmed to communicate with different protocol formats. The medical communication protocol translator can receive an input message formatted according to a first protocol format from a first medical device and to output an output message formatted according to a second protocol format supported by a second medical device using a set of translation rules. For example, a medical communication protocol translator can receive an input message from a hospital information system formatted according to a first HL7 protocol format and output an output message formatted according to a second HL7 protocol format based on a comparison with the set of translation rules.