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

Abstract

A medical device is provided that performs a requested action. The requested action may be communicated, for example, to the medical device via email messages. After performing the requested action, a response that is dependent upon the requested action is generated. The generated response is then sent on a network from the medical device as an email message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical system, comprising:
 a medical system that is operative to monitor a patient and comprises at least one medical device; and   a computing system embedded in the medical system, said computing system operative to receive commands over a network from a node that is external to the medical system, and operative to respond to at least some of said commands by generating, and sending over said network, email messages that include data obtained from monitoring the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a ventilator. 
     
     
         3 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the medical system is located within a medical institution. 
     
     
         4 . The medical system of  claim 3 , wherein the email server is located outside the medical institution. 
     
     
         5 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the requested action comprises configuring at least one setting associated with the medical system. 
     
     
         6 . The medical system of  claim 1 , wherein the commands are received as email messages addressed to an email address associated with the medical system. 
     
     
         7 . A method performed by a medical device, the method comprising:
 by execution of instructions by the medical device:
 performing a requested action; 
 generating a response that is dependent upon the requested action; and 
 sending the generated response on a network from the medical device as an email message. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the medical device is a ventilator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the medical device is located within a medical institution. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the requested action is received from an email server that is located outside the medical institution. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the requested action comprises configuring at least one setting associated with the medical device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein communication with the medical device is limited by a firewall. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the received action is performed after receiving a request to perform the action over the network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the email message is sent by the medical device using a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the requested action is received as an email message addressed to an email address associated with the medical device. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method of communicating with a medical device over a network, the method comprising:
 receiving over the network from an email server, by the medical device, a request to perform an action; and   performing, by the medical device, the requested action;   wherein the request is received as an email message, and the medical device comprises computer hardware.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medical device is a ventilator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medical device is located within a medical institution. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the email server is located outside the medical institution. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the requested action comprises configuring at least one setting associated with the medical device.