System and method for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment

Abstract

A system and method for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment. Connectivity to a centralized server over a network connection is confirmed. Data reporting for a patient by one or more monitoring devices that are wirelessly connectable is induced through control provided through a user interface. Each of the devices is registered as the device attempts to establish a wireless connection and report the data conditioned on permission for access. Upon granting of the permission for access, the device is wirelessly connected and the data is subsequently received over the wireless connection.

1 . A system for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment, comprising:
 one or more medical devices configured to collect and report patient data; and   a patient management device configured to interface to the one or more medical devices, the patient management device comprising:
 a configuration module configured to establish an initial connection with each of the medical devices by inducing data reporting by each medical device, wherein the induced data reporting causes the configuration module to execute an automated setup procedure enabling the initial connection and subsequent connections between each of the medical devices and the patient management device; 
 a lookup module configured to:
 register each of the medical devices on a list of devices having permission for access during the automated setup procedure, and 
 look up each of the medical devices on the list of devices having permission for access as each medical device attempts to establish a connection subsequent to the initial connection; and 
 
 a storage device configured to receive the reported patient data from the one or more medical devices when identified as on the list of devices having permission for access. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the medical devices are reconfigured by specifying operational parameters to the device. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the operational parameters are selected from the group comprising personal identification number, service name, and time clock. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the registration of each device is restricted by class. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of patient profiles and device configurations are retrieved by the patient management device from a centralized server over a network connection. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the patient management device further comprises a reporting module to provide a status to the centralized server of each device that has been granted the permission for access. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the devices to which permission for access has previously been granted is wirelessly reconnected and further data is subsequently received over the wireless connection. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the further data has been temporarily stored due to an unsuccessful wireless reconnection attempt. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the initial and subsequent connections are a Bluetooth connection. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more medical devices comprise one of implantable medical devices and external medical devices. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the external medical devices are selected from the group consisting of: external devices that operate autonomously; external devices that operate under patient, attendant, or caregiver control; and external devices that include a user interface for receiving or providing subjective feedback or communications. 
     
     
         17 . A method for providing automatic setup of a remote patient care environment, comprising:
 inducing data reporting by each of one or more medical devices that are configured to collected and report patient data, wherein inducing data reporting establishes an initial connection with each of the medical devices, wherein the induced data reporting causes the configuration module to execute an automated setup procedure enabling the initial connection and subsequent connections between each of the medical devices and the patient management device;   registering, by a lookup module, each of the medical devices on a list of devices having permission for access during the automated setup procedure;   looking up each of the medical devices on the list of devices having permission for access as each medical device attempts to establish a connection subsequent to the initial connection; and   receive the reported patient data from the one or more medical devices when identified as on the list of devices having permission for access   wirelessly connecting with the device upon granting of the permission for access and subsequently receiving the data over the wireless connection.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 reconfiguring one or more of the devices by specifying operational parameters to the device.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the operational parameters are specified through at least one of the user interface and the centralized server. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 restricting the registration of each device by class.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 retrieving at least one of patient profiles and device configurations from the centralized server over the network connection.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 providing a status to the centralized server of each device that has been granted the permission for access.   
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 wirelessly reconnecting with at least one of the devices to which permission for access has previously been granted and subsequently receiving further data over the wireless connection.   
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the further data has been temporarily stored due to an unsuccessful wireless reconnection attempt. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the external medical devices are selected from the group consisting of: external devices that operate autonomously; external devices that operate under patient, attendant, or caregiver control; and external devices that include a user interface for receiving or providing subjective feedback or communications. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)