Universal Docking Station for Continuous Sensor Data and Location Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional docking stations disconnect sensors from medical monitoring devices, causing loss of sensor data and location context when the device is removed, leading to incomplete patient monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A docking station with multiple ports and a user interface that informs sensors of their location, allowing them to store and communicate this information to medical monitoring devices and other output devices, even when the monitoring device is not connected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors are connected to a medical monitoring device via a docking station, then additional sensor ports are provided and data can be transmitted, but when the medical monitoring device is removed the sensors are disconnected and can no longer provide data
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station acts as an intermediary device between sensors and medical monitoring devices. It maintains a persistent connection to the network and automatically manages sensor data transmission, allowing sensors to remain connected to the docking station while the medical monitoring device is removed or added without disrupting the sensor-to-network connection path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes the docking station's connection to the network and configures it to automatically accept and transmit sensor data. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for manual reconfiguration when medical monitoring devices are connected or removed, ensuring continuous data transmission is already in place before any device changes occur.
2Device complexity
If sensors are directly connected to a medical monitoring device, then data transmission is straightforward, but additional ports are limited and manual configuration is required when devices are reconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station provides multiple sensor ports and serves multiple functions: it acts as a connection hub for multiple sensors, a persistent network interface, an automatic data transmission manager, and a device-agnostic intermediary that works with any medical monitoring device without requiring device-specific configuration.
3Ease of operation
If the medical monitoring device is removed from the docking station, then device portability is improved, but sensor data transmission is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station serves as a persistent intermediary that remains stationary and connected to the network while the medical monitoring device is removed. Sensors continue to transmit data through the docking station to the network, eliminating transmission interruptions during device portability operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous data transmission by maintaining the sensor-to-docking station-to-network data path independently of the medical monitoring device's presence. The docking station continuously receives and forwards sensor data without interruption, allowing the medical monitoring device to be removed or moved without affecting the continuity of useful data transmission.
Data Source
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AI summary
A docking station is disclosed that is adapted to append location information into the sensor signal data stream of intelligent sensors connected to docking station ports and enable that location information for each sensor to be communicated to a hospital network even when a multi-parameter patient monitor is not present. The docking station may include a graphical user interface that displays sensor status data, generates sensor-related alarms, and enables users to silence the alarms via the graphical user interface.