Spot check monitor credit system

Abstract

A spot check credit system advantageously includes various embodiments for obtaining authorization or payment for each measurement, groups of measurements, times of measurement or the like. In an embodiment, the system utilizes a server that communicates web pages over a computer network. In an embodiment, the system utilizes a digital communication device such as a photocommunicative key.

1 . A spot check credit system partitions the task of distributing sensor credits between a server functioning as a credit provider and a plurality of clients functioning as credit requesters, the server and clients communicate over a computer network, the server runs a web server program so as to serve web pages to the clients, the clients run web browsers so as to receive the web pages and access spot check credits, the spot check credit system comprising:
 a server that communicates a plurality of web pages over a computer network;   a client in communications with the server and executing a web browser so as to receive the web pages;   a spot check credit request relayed from the client to the server via one of the web pages;   the request specifying a sensor ID and a requested number of credits to purchase;   each spot check credit enables a single measurement for a group of physiological parameters; and   a credit file application that executes on the server so as to generate a credit file in response to the spot check credit request;   the credit file is downloaded from the server to the client.   
     
     
         2 . The spot check credit system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a physiological monitor in communications with the sensor so as to perform spot check measurements in conjunction with the sensor; and 
 the monitor in communications with the client so as to download the spot check credit file. 
 
     
     
         3 . The spot check credit system according to  claim 2  wherein the credit file comprises:
 a file sequence code indicating when the credit file was created relative to other credit files; 
 a file sensor ID indicating a sensor; and 
 a number of spot check credits that were purchased for the credit file. 
 
     
     
         4 . The spot check credit system according to  claim 3  wherein the sensor comprises a memory that stores:
 a sensor ID identifying the sensor 
 a sequence code of the most recent credit file used to add credits to the sensor; 
 a spot check credit number that is decremented after each spot check; and 
 the memory readable by the monitor so as to determine each of the sensor ID, the sequence code and the spot check credit number. 
 
     
     
         5 . The spot check credit system according to  claim 4  wherein the monitor comprises:
 an interface that downloads the sensor memory and uploads credit file data when the sensor is plugged into the monitor; 
 a monitor display that indicates the sensor ID, the sequence code and the spot check credit number; and 
 a processor that compares the credit file with the sensor memory so as to verify the sensor ID and the sequence code. 
 
     
     
         6 . The spot check credit system according to  claim 5  wherein the monitor communicates with the client via at least one of a USB cable interconnecting the monitor and the client and a memory card that can be read from and written to by both the client and the monitor, the memory card physically transferred between the client and monitor for uploads and downloads. 
     
     
         7 . The spot check credit system according to  claim 6  wherein the sequence code is a coordinated universal time (UTC) stamp. 
     
     
         8 . A spot check credit method comprising:
 specifying a sensor ID;   requesting spot check credits for the specified sensor;   creating a credit file with a time stamp, the sensor ID and the credits; and   encrypting the credit file.   
     
     
         9 . The spot check credit method according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 downloading the credit file to a client from a server; 
 retransmitting the credit file to a monitor connected to the client either directly via a cable connected between the client and monitor or indirectly via a memory card. 
 
     
     
         10 . The spot check credit method according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 decrypting the credit file; and 
 reading a sensor attached to the monitor so as to verify its sensor ID matches the credit file sensor ID. 
 
     
     
         11 . The spot check credit method according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 reading the sensor to determine a sensor time stamp; 
 verifying that the credit file time stamp is later than the sensor time stamp; and 
 adding the credit file credits to pre-existing sensor credits. 
 
     
     
         12 . The spot check credit method according to  claim 11  further comprising:
 performing a spot check measurement; 
 writing a decremented credit count to the sensor; 
 uploading the spot check results to the client; and 
 associating an email address with the spot check results. 
 
     
     
         13 . The spot check credit method according to  claim 12  further comprising:
 uploading the spot check results and email address to the server; 
 storing the spot check results on a server database; and 
 emailing the spot check results from the server to the email address. 
 
     
     
         14 . A spot check monitoring method attaches a reusable sensor to a spot check monitor so as to upload sensor credits to the sensor; each sensor credit represents a quantum of currency; the monitor reads the number of sensor credits and is enabled to make a physiological measurement in conjunction with the sensor if the number of sensor credits is greater than zero; after the measurement, the number of sensor credits are decremented, the spot check monitoring method comprising:
 providing a physiological monitor having a sensor port that attaches a reusable sensor;   attaching an optical sensor to the sensor port;   uploading at least one sensor credit from the monitor to store in sensor memory, the sensor credit representing a quantum of currency;   reading the sensor memory with the monitor;   the monitor determining if the number of sensor credits is at least one;   the monitor performing a physiological measurement in conjunction with the sensor based upon a remaining sensor credit; and   the monitor decrementing the sensor memory corresponding with the physiological measurement.   
     
     
         15 . The spot check monitoring method according to  claim 14  further comprising:
 providing a monitor button corresponding to one measurement of a particular parameter; 
 responding to a press on the button to initiate the one measurement; and 
 the one measurement corresponding to a one credit decrement of the number of sensor credits. 
 
     
     
         16 . The spot check monitoring method according to  claim 15  further comprising providing a second monitor button corresponding to one measurement of a second particular parameter. 
     
     
         17 . The spot check monitoring method according to  claim 16  further comprising virtualizing the monitor button and second monitor button on a touch screen. 
     
     
         18 . The spot check monitoring method according to  claim 17  further comprising a timer provided on the touch screen corresponding to the time to complete the one measurement. 
     
     
         19 . The spot check monitoring method according to  claim 18  wherein the particular parameter corresponding to the monitor button is total hemoglobin. 
     
     
         20 . The spot check monitoring method according to  claim 19  wherein the second particular parameter is an abnormal hemoglobin. 
     
     
         21 . A photocommunicative key comprising:
 a detector;   an emitter;   a memory configured to store information for communication with a patient monitor; and   a processor configured to process signals received from the detector, generate signals to be sent to the emitter, and store information in the memory, wherein the processor is also configured to generate a signal to be sent to the patient monitor, the signal capable of communicating at least some of the information stored in the memory via the emitter and wherein at least a portion of the information to be sent includes measurement credits authorizing the patient monitor to make additional patient measurements.   
     
     
         22 . The photocommunicative key of  claim 21 , wherein the signal also comprises software upgrades for the patient monitor. 
     
     
         23 . The photocommunicative key of  claim 21 , wherein the detector receives an input signal communicating usage information relating to billing for patient monitor usage. 
     
     
         24 . A method of accounting for use of a medical device, the method comprising:
 generating a signal with a microprocessor, said signal including credit information authorizing said medical device to perform additional measurements; and   driving a light source in a manner responsive to said signal, said light source emitting optical radiation configured to be received by a detector of an optical sensor of said medical device to authorize said device to perform some or all of that device's functions.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said signal generated by said microprocessor includes upgrade information for said monitor. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said signal generated by said microprocessor includes patient information for said monitor. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , key includes nonoptical communication components. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said components comprise USB circuitry. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said components comprise wireless circuitry. 
     
     
         30 . A method of accounting for use of a medical device, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal from an electronic device other than said medical device, said signal including credit information authorizing said medical device to perform additional measurements, said reception comprising one of optical communication, wireless communication, and USB communication; and   configuring said medical device to take additional measurements consistent with said signal.   
     
     
         31 . A digital device capable of authorizing a patient monitor to take measurements, the device comprising:
 a communication portion configured to communicate with said patient monitor to provide credits usable by said patient monitor to take measurements on a monitored patient; and   a processing portion configured to receive and send information from and to said patient monitor, said information including said credits.   
     
     
         32 . The digital device of  claim 31 , wherein said communication portion includes USB circuitry. 
     
     
         33 . The digital device of  claim 31 , wherein said communication portion includes wireless circuitry. 
     
     
         34 . The digital device of  claim 33 , wherein said wireless circuitry comprises Bluetooth circuitry. 
     
     
         35 . The digital device of  claim 31 , wherein said communication portion includes optical circuitry. 
     
     
         36 . The digital device of  claim 35 , wherein said optical circuitry communicates with complementary components associated with said patient monitor, said complementary components including emitters and detectors. 
     
     
         37 . The digital device of  claim 35 , wherein at least one of said detectors powers said digital device. 
     
     
         38 . The digital device of  claim 35 , wherein said digital device is shaped to mechanically mate with a sensor of said medical detector. 
     
     
         39 . The digital device of  claim 35 , comprising transparent windows.