Medical device wireless network architectures

US8897198B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Covidien LP · US

Inventors

• Robert B. Gaines · Lake Saint Louis, US
• Joel D. Wiesner · Saint Peters, US
• John Holste · Hamburg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 14, 2011
• Grant date: Nov 25, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 12, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G16H40/67
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An architecture for networked communications between a series of medical devices and a remote monitoring device. An interface circuit coupled to each medical device communicates with one of a plurality of relay modules via a wireless relay network. The relay modules communicate with the remote monitoring device over an internet-accessible wireless communication network. Each relay module includes a receiver coupled to the wireless relay network, a first transmitter coupled to the wireless relay network, a second transmitter coupled to the internet-accessible wireless communications network; and a controller. The controller determines a status of the internet-accessible wireless communications network. When the status indicates that the internet-accessible wireless communications network is accessible to the wireless relay module, the second transmitter is selected for transmitting medical device data. When the internet-accessible wireless communications network is not accessible, the first transmitter is selected for transmitting the data to another wireless relay module.