System and method for communicating over a network with a medical device

Abstract

A device is provided for connecting a medical apparatus to a network. The device collects data from the medical apparatus and performs a variety of processing functions, such as trending, protocol translation, generating reports, etc. related to the collected data. The device then transmits the collected data over a network to interested parties. In some implementations, the device can transmit the collected data as an email message.

1 . A computer-implemented method of communicating with a client system over a network, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a network device and from the client system over the network using a first protocol, an email message comprising a command;   formatting the received email message so that the command can be communicated to a medical apparatus using a second protocol;   transmitting the command to the medical apparatus, wherein the network device is physically connected to the medical apparatus;   receiving a response from the physically connected medical apparatus after the physically connected medical apparatus has processed the command;   generating a response email message comprising the received response;   generating a report related to the received response; and   transmitting the response email message and the report to the client system over the network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physically connected medical apparatus is a ventilator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network device is located within a medical institution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the medical institution includes a firewall. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the received response in a data storage located within the network device. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method of communicating with a client system over a network, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a network device, medical data from a medical apparatus, wherein the medical apparatus is physically connected to the network device;   generating an applet for displaying the received medical data;   generating an email message comprising the received medical data; and   sending the email message and the applet to the client system over the network.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the network device further generates reports related to the medical data and performs trending analysis on the medical data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the medical apparatus is a ventilator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the network device further stores the medical data. 
     
     
         10 . A device for connecting a medical apparatus to a network, the device comprising:
 a first port for physically connecting the device to the medical apparatus;   a second port for connecting the device to the network;   a data storage system for storing medical data received from the physically connected medical apparatus; and   a computer system configured to:
 receive an email message including a request for medical data associated with the physically connected medical apparatus; 
 transmit the request to the physically connected medical apparatus; 
 receive medical data from the physically connected medical apparatus using a first protocol; 
 store the received medical data for future analysis; 
 format the received medical data for transmission using a second protocol; and 
 generate an applet for displaying the received medical data. 
   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the physically connected medical apparatus is a ventilator.