Medical Telemetry System Single-Channel Paging via Time Division
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hospital inpatient wards, the widespread use of portable medical telemetry systems for monitoring patient biological information such as blood pressure and heart rate makes it difficult for healthcare staff to locate patients, as existing systems lack efficient methods for tracking patient positions and managing limited medical frequency bands for paging functions.
Innovation Solution
A medical telemetry system that includes a transmitter sending a signal with a unique identification code to medical telemeters, allowing them to perform specific operations such as outputting alarms, registering patient information, and managing data transmission, all through a single channel, enabling efficient patient location and data management without overburdening the limited medical frequency band.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transmission channels are provided for paging function, then patient location capability is improved, but the limited medical frequency band becomes overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the paging function into multiple time slots within a single frequency band. The base station transmits paging signals at different time intervals, and portable telemeters distinguish between them using time-divisional multiplexing. This allows multiple patients to be paged simultaneously without requiring multiple frequency channels, thus resolving the contradiction between patient location capability and frequency band usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic paging signals transmitted at predetermined time intervals. The base station repeatedly transmits paging information in cycles, and portable telemeters monitor for these periodic signals. This periodic action enables continuous patient location capability while using a single frequency channel, as the time-divisional structure allows multiple paging operations to coexist without frequency interference.
2Ease of operation
If portable transmitters are widely used for continuous monitoring, then patient freedom of movement is improved, but patient location tracking becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a feedback loop where portable telemeters continuously transmit their status information (including location data) back to the base station. The base station receives these feedback signals and processes location information to track patient positions in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain patient location awareness despite the portable and mobile nature of the telemeters.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable telemeter serves multiple functions: it continuously monitors biological information, transmits location data, receives paging signals, and executes control commands. By making the portable device multi-functional, the system maintains patient freedom of movement while simultaneously enabling location tracking through the integrated positioning capabilities of the universal telemeter device.
3Quantity of substance
If a single channel is used for transmission, then frequency band usage is optimized, but simultaneous operations for multiple patients become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission operations into distinct time slots for different patients. The base station manages multiple patients by dividing the transmission cycle into separate time intervals, assigning each patient a specific time slot for paging and data transmission. This time-divisional segmentation allows the system to handle multiple patients simultaneously using a single frequency channel, reducing operational complexity through structured time allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-assigning time slots and paging signals to specific patients before actual transmission occurs. The base station maintains a schedule where paging operations for different patients are predetermined in advance. This preliminary organization of transmission timing simplifies the management of multiple patients on a single channel, as the time-divisional structure is established beforehand, avoiding real-time scheduling complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical telemetry system include: a transmitter which transmits a first signal; a first medical telemeter which transmits a second signal including biological information of a patient, the first medical telemeter which receives the first signal and which performs an operation corresponding to information included in the first signal; and a monitor apparatus which receives the second signal.