Patient ID Tag Links Sensor Data to Identity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional physiological monitoring sensors, such as pulse oximetry sensors, face issues with data disassociation from patients and unauthorized remanufacturing, leading to incorrect measurements and malfunctions due to improper configuration or tampering.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system that incorporates a patient identification tag with an optical machine-readable representation of data, which links patient-specific data to the appropriate patient and prevents unauthorized remanufacture by ensuring the sensor only operates with a corresponding patient ID, using a barcode or other machine-readable format that is difficult to reproduce or access after initial use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If patient data is stored on a monitoring device used for multiple patients, then data collection efficiency is improved, but data disassociation from the correct patient occurs leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the monitoring device reads the patient identification tag, verifies patient identity, and confirms data association before storing measurements. This closed-loop verification ensures that even in multi-patient environments, each patient's data is accurately linked to the correct individual, preventing data disassociation while maintaining efficient data collection.
2Ease of manufacture
If a sensor is remanufactured to reduce costs, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but unauthorized remanufacturing leads to incorrect measurements and malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a patient identification tag and verification mechanism into the sensor before it is deployed. This preliminary configuration establishes an immutable link between the sensor and patient identity, preventing unauthorized remanufacturing from compromising measurement accuracy. The verification system ensures that only properly configured sensors can function, maintaining reliability while allowing legitimate manufacturing processes.
3Measurement precision
If an information element is included in the sensor for quality control, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the sensor becomes vulnerable to tampering and unauthorized remanufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a patient identification tag as an intermediary between the sensor and the patient. This tag serves as a mediator that verifies patient identity and establishes a secure link without exposing the sensor's internal information elements to tampering. The tag acts as a protective layer that maintains measurement accuracy while preventing unauthorized access and remanufacturing attempts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures accurate patient data association and prevents sensor remanufacture by requiring a unique patient ID for operation, maintaining data integrity and preventing malfunctions, thus enhancing sensor quality assurance and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
a patient identification (ID) tag having an optical machine-readable representation of data
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is generally directed to maintaining sensor quality standards and/or preventing improper remanufacture of sensors, such as pulse oximetry sensors. Present embodiments may include a system for facilitating the monitoring of physiologic conditions that includes an optical reader configured to translate an optical machine-readable representation of data associated with a patient into electronic data, a memory device configured to receive and store the electronic data after an initial reading of the machine-readable representation of data by the optical reader, and a processor configured to associate the electronic data with historical data obtained from the patient and limit access to the historical data based on whether the optical reader provides matching electronic data based on a subsequently read optical machine-readable representation of data when predefined conditions are met.