Abstract:
A care device and process are provided. The care device has a sensor module ( 11 ), which is to be placed directly on the patient ( 3 ) for picking up the patient&#39;s data, such as temperature, pulse and ECG. A first receiving means ( 13 ) is arranged in space in the vicinity of the patient ( 3 ) and is designed to pass on the measured data received from the sensor module ( 11 ). A mobile part ( 9 ) can be removed from the care device and provides wireless communication and a second receiving means ( 24 ) for establishing an alternative primary wireless link when the patient is removed from the care device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application DE 10 2004 043 653.3 of Sep. 9, 2004, the entire contents of which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention pertains to a care device with wireless data communication and to a process for transmitting measured data of a patient to the care device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A care device for closed care, in which a patient is lying within a hood and is supplied with a predetermined air temperature and humidity, is known from DE 199 60 989 C2 (see also related U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,885 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). It is possible in the case of the prior-art device to remove the patient from the hood so that he or she can lie in direct skin contact with the mother or the father. This kind of care is called “kangaroo care.” With the hood opened, the care device is automatically controlled in this mode of operation such that false alarms are avoided. 
   The prior-art care device is normally operated in the mode of operation of skin temperature control. The set point of a preset skin temperature of the patient is compared here with the measured values of at least one temperature sensor on the patient&#39;s skin. The heating within the hood is set such that deviations between the measured and predetermined temperatures are minimized. The drawback is that the temperature sensors, which are bound to the skin, are connected with the control device of the care device via sensor wires, which greatly limits the range of action upon removal of the patient. On the other hand, the sensor wires can be extended to a limited extent only because of the weak measured signals, which also fails to solve the problem of the lack of mobility. 
   Even though it would also be possible to transmit the measured temperature values in a wireless manner, the maximum transmitting power for the most unfavorable constellation would always have to be selected in case of variable distance, because the case in which the care staff moves away from the care device together with the patient in order to briefly perform therapeutic procedures or examination at another location is also to be taken into account. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The basic object of the present invention is to provide a care device which makes possible the greatest possible flexibility in the treatment of the patient with the lowest possible load and to provide a process for transmitting measured data of a patient to the care device. 
   According to the invention, a care device is provided with a control device for generating a temperature-controlled zone in the environment of a patient. A sensor module is provided to be placed directly on the patient which comprises at least one sensor for picking up the patient&#39;s data, such as temperature, pulse and ECG (Electrocardiogram). The device also has a power supply unit and a transmitter with a low power for establishing a primary radio (i.e., wireless) link. A first receiving means is arranged in space in the vicinity of the patient and is designed to pass on the measured data received from the transmitter of the sensor module to the control device. A mobile part is provided that can be removed from the care device and which has means for wireless communication with the control device. This may be in the form of a secondary radio (i.e., wireless) link with a second receiving means for establishing an alternative primary radio link with the sensor module. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a process is provided for the wireless transmission of measured data of a sensor module arranged at a patient to an associated care device. The process includes the steps of arranging a first receiving means, which is designed to receive the measured values transmitted from the sensor module, in space in the vicinity of the patient. The measured values are transmitted to the care device. A removable mobile part is provided, which has means for wireless communication with the care device and has a second receiving means for receiving the measured data sent by the sensor module. The measured data of the patient is transmitted via the mobile part to the care device when the patient is removed from the care device. 
   The advantage of the present invention is essentially that sensor modules with low transmitting power, which operate in a wireless manner, are used, which directly communicate with a receiving means at the care device unidirectionally when the patient is located on the bed of the device. If the patient is removed from the care device, a radio link to the care device is established for the sensor modules via a mobile part being carried by the user, so that the measured data can also be transmitted when the contact with the receiving means in the care device is interrupted. The limitation of the sensor modules to a low transmitting power has the advantage that the patient is exposed to electromagnetic radiation only to a very limited extent. In addition, the power supply unit of the sensor modules is used only slightly due to the low transmitting power and the unidirectional data transmission, so that the measured data can be acquired over a very long period of time without changing the batteries. By contrast, a higher transmitting power may be present at the mobile part, which passes on measured data to the care device in the form of an intermediate station when the patient is removed from the care device. This is because the mobile part is carried on the body of the caregiver at a sufficiently great distance from the patient. Only the comparatively short distance from the receiving means of the mobile part must be bridged over by the sensor module of the patient. The greatest possible mobility is thus guaranteed. The mobile part is preferably designed for bidirectional data exchange. However, unidirectional operation is also possible. To reduce the capacity of the battery, it is possible to adapt the transmitting power to the distance from the care device, which is to be bridged over. Increased transmitting power is activated only in case of greater distances. 
   The change from the primary radio link at the care device to an alternative primary radio link via the mobile part is advantageously carried out by means of a switchover means. 
   This switchover means may be a push button actuated by the user, which is arranged on the operating unit of the care device. This push button is provided, for example, with the labeling “kangaroo care.” 
   As an alternative, the switchover means is a switching contact on the charging cradle of the mobile part, which is actuated when the mobile part is removed or returned, or the opening or closing of the incubator hood is detected in an incubator in case of closed care. 
   The transmitter of the sensor module is designed such that it is suitable for bridging over a distance of at least 50 cm. A transmitting power of 25 μW is sufficient for this. 
   The wireless radio link is advantageously established by means of infrared light or high frequency. 
   An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and will be explained in greater detail below. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing the design of a care device for open care according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the design of a sensor module according to the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing the care device according to  FIG. 1 , in which the patient is located outside the care device; and 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing the design of a care device for closed care according to the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings in particular,  FIG. 1  schematically shows a first care device  1  for open care, in which a radiant heater  4  is arranged above the patient  3  lying on a bed  2 . The bed  2  is surrounded by side walls  5 . The side walls  5  can be folded down from the first care device  1  before the patient  3  is removed. 
   The first care device  1  contains an operating unit  6 , from which all settings and monitoring measures are carried out, a control device  7 , which generates a temperature-controlled zone in the environment of the patient  3  together with the radiant heater  4 , and a transmitting-and-receiving means  8  for bidirectional wireless communication with a mobile part  9 , which can be removed from the first care device  1 . The bed  2  can be adjusted to the desired working height by means of a height-adjustable chassis  10 . The body temperature of the patient  3  is detected by a sensor module  11  and transmitted via a unidirectional, primary radio (wireless) link  12  to a first receiving means  13 , which passes on the measured data to the control device. The mobile part  9 , which can be removed from a charging cradle  14 , communicates bidirectionally with the transmitting-and-receiving means  8  via a secondary radio (wireless) link  15 . The removal of the mobile part  9  from the charging cradle  14  is recognized by means of a switching contact  16 . As an alternative or in addition to the switching contact  16 , the intended removal of the patient  3  can be entered via a push button  161  actuated by the user on the operating unit  6  or a switch  162  at the bed  2 , which said switch responds to the own weight of the patient  3 , or a switch  163  responding to the opening of a hood  27 ,  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the design of the sensor module  11 . A temperature sensor  18 , a power supply unit  19 , a signal processing unit  20 , and a transmitter  21  with a transmitting antenna  22  are accommodated in a housing  17  of the sensor module  11 . The housing  17  is fastened to the skin of the patient  3  by means of adhesive tape  23 . The measured temperature data are formatted in the signal processing unit  20  and are transmitted together with an identification number of the sensor module  11  via the primary radio link  12 . The transmitter  21  has a transmitting power on the order of magnitude of 25 μW. 
     FIG. 3  shows the first care device  1  with the patient  3 , who is located outside the first care device  1 . The data exchange between the sensor module  11  and the transmitting-and-receiving means  8  of the first care device  1  is established now via the mobile part  9  by establishing an alternative primary radio link  25  between the sensor module  11  and a second receiving means  24  at the mobile part  9 . The secondary radio link  15  between the mobile part  9  and the transmitting-and-receiving means  8  of the first care device  1  is designed in terms of the power data such that the user can move away from the first care device  1  together with the mobile part  9  and the patient  3  without the connection being interrupted. The mobile part  9  is fastened for this application to the clothing of the user, so that only a short distance must be bridged over between the sensor module  11  and the second receiving means  24  at the mobile part  9 . 
     FIG. 4  schematically shows the design of a second care device  26  in the form of an incubator for closed care. Identical components are designated by the same reference numbers as in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . To generate the temperature-controlled zone in the environment of the patient  3 , an air conditioning means  30  is provided, which contains a recirculating fan, not specifically shown, with which a predetermined temperature and moisture ratio can be set in the hood  27  surrounding the patient  3 . To introduce or remove the patient  3 , parts of the hood  27  or even the entire hood  27  is folded up along the arrows  28 . The folding up of the hood  27  is detected by means of the switch  163 . 
   The care devices  1 ,  26  for open and closed care operate as follows: 
   After being switched on, the care devices  1 ,  26  activate the primary radio link  12  and the secondary radio link  15  in a self-test and send a status display via the operating unit  6 . The sensor module  11  is then fastened to the body of the patient  3  and the patient  3  is placed into the care device  1 ,  26 , and the transmitter  21  of the sensor module  11  enters the range of reception of the first receiving means  13 . The measured data and the identification number of the sensor module  11  are displayed on the operating unit  6  of the care device  1 ,  26 . The user then confirms the combination of measured data and the identification number of the sensor module  11 . The identification number of the sensor module  11  is stored in a memory  29  of the care device  1 ,  26 . The sensor module  11  is now connected via the primary radio link  12  with the control device  7  of the care device  1 ,  26 . The measured temperatures and the status of the primary radio link  12  are displayed on the operating unit  6  of the care device  1 ,  26 . 
   The removal of the patient  3  from the care device  1 ,  26  is carried out as follows: 
   The side walls  5  are folded down in the case of the first care device  1  for open care, and the radiant heater  4  is either adjusted to a lower temperature or is switched off completely. The user then actuates the push button  161  on the operating unit  6 , which designates the “kangaroo care,” in order to make preparations for the removal of the patient  3  from the first care device  1 . The wish to remove the patient is recognized and the secondary radio link  15  between the mobile part  9  and the transmitting-and-receiving means  8  of the first care device  1  is initialized. 
   In the case of the second care device  26  for closed care, the hood  27  is first opened along the arrow  28 , the opening movement of the hood  27  being recognized by means of the switch  163 . The secondary radio link  15  between the mobile part  9  and the transmitting-and-receiving means  8  of the second care device  26  is then initialized. 
   The mobile part  9  is now removed from the charging cradle  14 , the removal being recognized by means of the switching contact  16 . The mobile part  9  now activates the second receiving means  24  for establishing the alternative primary radio link  25 . The plausibility of the measured data received from the sensor module  11  is checked in the mobile part  9  by means of the identification number. If the identification number received agrees with the identification number stored in the memory  29 , the measured data of the sensor module  11  are transmitted to the control device  7  of the care device  1 ,  26  over two pathways, namely, the first receiving means  13  and the second receiving means  24 . The patient  3  is now removed. The user can now move away from the care device  1 ,  26  together with the patient and as soon as the range of reception of the first receiving means  13  is left, this is displayed on the mobile part  9 . After the removal of the patient  3 , it is useful to close the hood  27  again in the case of the second care device  26  and subsequently to adjust the temperature to a predetermined interior temperature. The measured data now reach the care device  1 ,  26  via the alternative primary radio link  25  and the secondary radio link  15 . However, as soon as the user leaves the range of the secondary radio link  15  with the patient  3 , a multistep warning report is sent via the mobile part  9 . 
   When the patient  3  is returned into the care device  1 ,  26 , the sensor module  11  enters the range of reception of the first receiving means  13 , and the primary radio link  12  is again established. The data of the sensor module  11  now temporarily enter the control device  7  of the care device  1 ,  26  via both the first receiving means  13  and the second receiving means  24 . The mobile part  9  is then plugged into the charging cradle  14 , which is recognized by means of the switching contact  16 . Both the measured data and the identification number of the sensor module  11  reach the first receiving means  13  via the primary radio link  12 . The identification number received is again compared first with the identification number being stored in the memory  29 . The agreement of the data is confirmed by the user on the operating unit  6 . 
   The care device  1 ,  26  is now brought into the ready-to-operate state, in which the side flaps  5  are folded up and the radiant heater  4  is activated in the case of open care in the first care device  1 . The hood  27  is lowered and the temperature control is set to the measured body temperature in case of the second care device  26  for closed care. The deactivation of the special “kangaroo mode” is proposed to the user via the operating unit  6 . The user confirms the changeover of the mode of operation by pressing the push button  161 . The mobile part  9  will thereafter deactivate its transmission operation, and the secondary radio link  15  is switched off. The sensor module  11  is now connected with the care device  1 ,  26  via the primary radio link  12 . 
   While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.