Universal Docking Station for Sensor Location Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional docking stations disconnect sensors from medical monitoring devices, causing loss of location context and data connectivity when the device is removed, leading to incomplete patient monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A docking station that informs sensors of their location and allows them to store and communicate this information to medical monitoring devices and other output devices, even when the monitoring device is disconnected, using a system with multiple ports and a user interface to manage sensor connections and status.
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 reported to the medical monitoring device, but when the medical monitoring device is removed from the docking station, the sensors are disconnected from the medical monitoring device and lose location context
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station acts as an intermediary device that maintains location context independently of the medical monitoring device connection status. The docking station stores location information and transmits it to sensors, enabling sensors to retain location context even when disconnected from the medical monitoring device.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors are equipped with the capability to store location information locally and self-manage their location context. This allows sensors to maintain their location identity and continue providing data with location context even when not directly connected to the medical monitoring device through the docking station.
2Loss of information
If sensors are directly connected to a medical monitoring device, then location context can be maintained, but the number of available sensor ports is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into multiple independent components: the medical monitoring device, the docking station, and multiple sensors. The docking station provides additional sensor ports independently, allowing multiple sensors to be connected while maintaining location context through the docking station's location information transmission capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a docking station is used to provide additional sensor ports, then more sensors can be connected, but manual configuration and connection management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors automatically receive location information from the docking station without requiring manual configuration. The system self-manages the association between sensors, docking station, and location context, eliminating the need for complex manual setup and reducing configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station automatically transmits location information to connected sensors, creating a feedback mechanism that maintains accurate location context without manual intervention. This automated information flow simplifies connection management by eliminating the need for manual tracking of sensor locations.
Data Source
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.