Security features for a medical infusion pump

Abstract

Various security features for a medical infusion pump are disclosed. The security features include providing dual verification for standing orders, allowing multiple levels of access rights to features of the medical infusion pump, and incorporating a security touch screen in the medical infusion pump. Methods of use and operation of these features are disclosed as well.

1 . A method of verifying a standing order in a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:
 selecting a protocol for execution of a standing order in a medical infusion pump;   verifying the protocol in the medical infusion pump;   receiving confirmation of the protocol from a system external to the medical infusion pump; and   upon receiving confirmation of the protocol, allowing operation of the medical infusion pump in accordance with the protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protocol includes one or more pump parameters selected from the group consisting of:
 a range of permissible basal delivery rates;   a bolus amount;   a fluid delivery amount;   a range of values and patterns for extended boluses;   alarm values; and   protocols for data communication.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the protocol further comprises selecting a therapy. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the protocol further comprises selecting a qualifier. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the protocol further comprises selecting a drug. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying one or more parameters associated with the protocol on a display separate from the medical infusion pump. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein verifying the protocol in the medical infusion pump includes receiving confirmation of the protocol from a healthcare provider. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving confirmation of the protocol includes receiving confirmation of at least one patient-specific parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of:
 patient identity;   drug identity;   time of drug application;   dosage; and   route.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prompting a user for confirmation of the standing order on a display of the system external to the medical infusion pump. 
     
     
         10 . A medical infusion pump comprising:
 a pump mechanism;   a memory;   a programmable circuit arranged to control the pump mechanism and operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to:
 select a protocol for execution of a standing order in a medical infusion pump; 
 verify the protocol in the medical infusion pump; 
 receive confirmation of the protocol from a system external to the medical infusion pump; and 
 upon receiving confirmation of the protocol, allow operation of the medical infusion pump in accordance with the protocol. 
   
     
     
         11 . The medical infusion pump of  claim 10 , wherein the protocol includes one or more pump parameters selected from the group consisting of:
 a range of permissible basal delivery rates;   a bolus amount;   a fluid delivery amount;   a range of values and patterns for extended boluses   alarm values; and   protocols for data communication.   
     
     
         12 . The medical infusion pump of  claim 10 , wherein allowing operation of the medical infusion pump in accordance with the protocol comprises initiating delivery of fluids to a patient in accordance with a standing order. 
     
     
         13 . The medical infusion pump of  claim 10 , wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to prompt a user for confirmation of the protocol. 
     
     
         14 . The medical infusion pump of  claim 10 , wherein the programmable circuit is programmed to receive the protocol from a computing system external to the medical infusion pump. 
     
     
         15 . The medical infusion pump of  claim 14 , wherein the programmable circuit is programmed to request the protocol from a protocol library stored on a server. 
     
     
         16 . The medical infusion pump of  claim 10 , wherein receiving confirmation of the protocol includes receiving confirmation of at least one aspect of the pump protocol, the at least one aspect selected from a group of aspects consisting of
 patient identity;   drug identity;   time of drug application;   dosage; and   route.   
     
     
         17 . The medical infusion pump of  claim 10 , wherein the protocol is selected using protocol selection categories consisting of:
 therapies;   qualifiers; and   drugs.   
     
     
         18 . An infusion pump network comprising:
 a medical infusion pump;   a computing system communicatively connected to the medical infusion pump;   wherein the infusion pump network is configured to execute program instructions to:
 select a protocol for execution of a standing order in a medical infusion pump; 
 verify the protocol in the medical infusion pump; 
 transmit confirmation of the protocol from the computing system to the medical infusion pump; and 
 upon receiving confirmation of the protocol in the medical infusion pump, allow operation of the medical infusion pump in accordance with the protocol. 
   
     
     
         19 . The infusion pump network of  claim 18 , wherein the protocol is selected using protocol selection categories consisting of:
 therapies;   qualifiers; and   drugs.   
     
     
         20 . The infusion pump network of  claim 18 , wherein the protocol includes one or more pump parameters selected from the group consisting of:
 a range of permissible basal delivery rates;   a bolus amount;   a fluid delivery amount;   a range of values and patterns for extended boluses;   alarm values; and   protocols for data communication.   
     
     
         21 . The infusion pump network of  claim 18 , wherein the computing system is configured to prompt a user for confirmation of the standing order. 
     
     
         22 . The infusion pump network of  claim 18 , wherein medical infusion pump includes:
 a pump mechanism;   a memory;   a programmable circuit arranged to control the pump mechanism and operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to, upon receiving confirmation of the protocol, deliver fluids to a patient via the pump mechanism according to the protocol.   
     
     
         23 . The infusion pump network of  claim 22 , wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to prompt a user for confirmation of the protocol. 
     
     
         24 . The infusion pump network of  claim 18 , wherein the computing system is directly linked to the medical infusion pump. 
     
     
         25 . The infusion pump network of  claim 18 , wherein receiving confirmation of the protocol includes receiving confirmation of at least one aspect of the pump protocol, the at least one aspect selected from a group of aspects consisting of:
 patient identity;   drug identity;   time of drug application;   dosage; and   route.