Thermal Control Unit Data Integration for Patient History Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal control systems face challenges in seamlessly transferring and consolidating thermal data across different units during patient transport, leading to discontinuity in temperature management and lack of comprehensive thermal history for caregivers.
Innovation Solution
A thermal control unit equipped with a transceiver, memory, and display that allows for the transfer and integration of thermal history data from one unit to another, enabling the display of complete thermal data on a single device, including patient and fluid temperature readings, treatment times, and vital signs, using wired or wireless communication methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If thermal data is stored separately in each thermal control unit, then data security and unit independence are maintained, but thermal history continuity and comprehensive data access are lost during patient transfers
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal control unit is designed with multi-functionality to serve both as a standalone thermal management device and as a data node in a broader thermal history network. The unit can independently store and manage thermal data while also functioning as a receiver and display device for thermal history data from other units, eliminating data loss during patient transfers without requiring complex external data transfer infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal control unit acts as an intermediary device that receives, stores, and displays thermal history data from other thermal control units. This intermediary function enables seamless data transfer and consolidation across multiple units during patient transfers, ensuring continuous thermal history tracking while maintaining the independence and security of individual unit data storage
2Reliability
If a patient is transferred between multiple thermal control units, then continuous thermal treatment can be maintained, but thermal data discontinuity and loss of thermal history occur
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal control unit maintains continuous thermal treatment by seamlessly integrating thermal history data from previous units into its own data storage and display system. This continuity of useful action ensures that the thermal treatment remains uninterrupted during patient transfers while the thermal history data remains complete and accessible, eliminating data gaps that would otherwise occur when switching between units
3Ease of operation
If thermal data is consolidated on a single display device, then caregivers gain comprehensive thermal history access, but the complexity of data integration and transfer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal control unit performs self-service by automatically receiving, storing, and displaying thermal history data from other thermal control units without requiring complex external data integration systems. The unit's built-in transceiver and memory enable it to independently consolidate thermal data from multiple sources, providing caregivers with comprehensive thermal history access while keeping the data integration process simple and automatic
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
Ensures continuous and comprehensive thermal management by allowing seamless data transfer between units, providing caregivers with a complete thermal history for informed decision-making and maintaining patient temperature consistency during transfers.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger, a pump, The pump circulates the fluid from the fluid inlet through the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a pump, The pump circulates the fluid from the fluid inlet through the heat exchanger and to the fluid outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal control unit controls the temperature of a fluid delivered to one or more thermal transfer devices (e.g. thermal pads) in contact with a patient. The thermal control unit generates thermal data while being used to treat the patient and is adapted to receive thermal history data previously generated by a different thermal control unit in the treatment of that patient. Both the current and previous thermal data are displayable on the thermal control unit currently being used, thereby giving the caregiver a complete picture of the thermal history of the patient. The thermal control unit may also be adapted to transmit its thermal data, as well as the thermal history data previously received from the other thermal control unit, to still another thermal control unit. The thermal history data transfer may take place via a cable, wirelessly, by a portable flash drive, or by other means.