Patent ID: 9734293
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: A61B,G16H,H04L

Claim:
1. A method of associating at least one patient care device in a room of a healthcare facility with a first patient in the room which also has a second patient in the room, the method comprising coupling an input port of a medical device adapter to an output port of the patient care device, the medical device adapter using a low power protocol to wirelessly transmit patient data received from the patient care device, the medical device adapter being battery powered by an onboard battery, the medical device adapter enhancing battery life by using power from the patient care device if power is available via the output port of the patient care device, receiving at an association computer wireless location data transmitted wirelessly from the patient care device via the medical device adapter and received by first and second wireless receivers located in the room and positioned near first and second hospital beds assigned to the first and second patients, respectively, the association computer being operable to determine that the patient care device should be associated with the first patient and not with the second patient based upon association rules programming executed by the association computer including rules regarding resolving ambiguities concerning whether the patient care device is to be associated with the first patient or the second patient based on proximity of the patient care device to the first wireless receiver and to the second wireless receiver, prompting a caregiver with a graphical display in the room to provide an input on the graphical display to confirm the association of the patient care device to the first patient, and receiving the input on the graphical display from the caregiver to confirm the association of the patient care device to the first patient, wherein the patient care device comprises one or more of the following: life support equipment, a ventilator, vital signs monitoring equipment, an electrocardiograph (EKG), an electroencephalograph (EEG), a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, a blood oxygen saturation monitor, an intravenous (IV) pump, a drug infusion pump, an insulin pump, or a passive motion device.