Abstract:
A medical diagnostic/monitoring system is disclosed herein. The medical diagnostic/monitoring system includes a data acquisition device having a first near field communication device, and a data storage device wirelessly connected to the data acquisition device. The data storage device includes a second near field communication device. The first near field communication device and the second near field communication device are collectively configured to wirelessly transfer power and data from the data acquisition device to the data storage device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and method for wirelessly transferring and storing medical data. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Performing medical diagnostic measurements if the field commonly requires the transfer and/or storage of the acquired measurement data to a centralized site. For example, after performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) in the field, the ECG data is generally transferred to the central computer of a hospital for further analysis. It is known to transfer acquired measurement data using telephone modems or an Internet connection. One problem is that there are situations in which telephone or Internet connections are not available or are not economically feasible. 
         [0003]    It is also known to transfer measurement data acquired in the field using portable media interfaces such as USB drives or flash memory cards. One problem with portable media interfaces is that they require the implementation of an electrical connector to physically couple the portable media interface with the data acquisition device. This electrical connector is often expensive. The electrical connector is also difficult to clean as it generally includes recessed portions that are hard to access with cleaning instruments. The inherent difficulty with cleaning conventional electrical connectors adds to the expense of performing a given medical procedure and also increases the risks associated with bacterial and viral contamination. Another problem with portable media interfaces is that they are difficult to externally label thereby increasing the likelihood that the data will be inaccurately processed and/or that the data will be correlated with the wrong patient. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification. 
         [0005]    In an embodiment, a medical diagnostic/monitoring system includes a data acquisition device having a first near field communication device, and a data storage device wirelessly connected to the data acquisition device. The data storage device includes a second near field communication device. The first near field communication device and the second near field communication device are collectively configured to wirelessly transfer power and data from the data acquisition device to the data storage device. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, an electrocardiogram system includes a sensor, a conductor connected to the sensor, and a data acquisition device connected to the conductor. The data acquisition device includes a first near field communication device. The electrocardiogram system also includes a radio frequency identification memory card wirelessly connected to the data acquisition device. The radio frequency identification memory card includes a second near field communication device. The first near field communication device and the second near field communication device are collectively configured to wirelessly transfer power and data from the data acquisition device to the radio frequency identification memory card. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a method for wirelessly transferring electrocardiogram data to a data storage device includes generating an electromagnetic field using a near field communication device, implementing the electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer power from a data acquisition device to a radio frequency identification memory card, and implementing the electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer electrocardiogram data from the data acquisition device to the radio frequency identification memory card. 
         [0008]    Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and detailed description thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a patient connected to a medical diagnostic/monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. 
         [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematically represented medical diagnostic/monitoring system  10  is shown. The medical diagnostic/monitoring system  10  will hereinafter be described as an electrocardiogram (ECG) system  10  adapted measure the electrical signals generated by a patient&#39;s heart. It should, however, be appreciated that the medical diagnostic/monitoring system  10  may also include other systems and devices such as, for example, an electroencephalogram (EEG) system, a blood pressure monitor, a pulse oximeter, a thermometer, etc. 
         [0012]    The ECG system  10  includes a plurality of sensors or transducers such as the electrodes RA, LA, V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , V 6 , RL and LL, a plurality of conductors such as the lead wires  12 , a data acquisition device  14 , and a data storage device  16 . 
         [0013]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the electrode RA is applied to the patient&#39;s right arm; the electrode LA is applied to the patient&#39;s left arm; the electrodes V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5  and V 6  are applied to the patient&#39;s chest; the electrode RL is applied to the patient&#39;s right leg; and the electrode LL is applied to the patient&#39;s left leg. This application of the electrodes provides a standard twelve lead, ten-electrode ECG signal. It should be appreciated that the electrode configuration of  FIG. 1  is provided for illustrative purposes, and that other electrode configurations can be envisioned. The electrodes RA, LA, V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , V 6 , RL and LL are adapted to sense or detect cardiac electrical signals generated by the patient&#39;s heart, and to generate analog signals proportional to the detected cardiac electrical signals. 
         [0014]    The lead wires  12  each couple one of the electrodes RA, LA, V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , V 6 , RL and LL with the data acquisition device  14 . The lead wires  12  are configured to transmit the analog signals from the electrodes RA, LA, V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , V 6 , RL and LL to the data acquisition device  14 . 
         [0015]    The data acquisition device  14  may optionally include a digital/analog (D/A) converter  21 . The D/A converter  21  is configured to convert the analog signals from the electrodes RA, LA, V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , V 6 , RL and LL into digital signals. 
         [0016]    The data acquisition device  14  is adapted to wirelessly transfer data obtained from the electrodes RA, LA, V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 , V 5 , V 6 , RL and LL, to the data storage device  16 . The data acquisition device  14  implements a near field communication (NFC) integrated circuit (IC)  22  configured to facilitate the wireless transfer of data as will be described in detail hereinafter. Advantageously, the implementation of the NFC IC  22  reduces the cost of the data acquisition device  14 . More precisely, the NFC IC  22  obviates the need for one or more conventional electrical connectors as components of the data acquisition device  14 . As the NFC IC  22  is generally less expensive than conventional electrical connectors, replacing one or more electrical connectors with the NFC IC  22  reduces the overall cost of the data acquisition device  14 . 
         [0017]    The data acquisition device  14  is also easier to clean and sterilize because of the incorporation of the NFC IC  22 . More precisely, the NFC IC  22  obviates the need for one or more conventional electrical connectors having exposed recessed portions that are difficult to access with a cleaning instrument. In contrast, the NFC IC  22  can be disposed entirely within the data acquisition device  14  such that the NFC IC  22  does not interfere with the process of cleaning or sterilizing the outer surface of the data acquisition device  14 . Simplifying the process of cleaning and sterilizing the data acquisition device  14  reduces the labor and cost for a given medical procedure and also reduces the risks associated with bacterial and viral contamination. 
         [0018]    The NFC IC  22  of the data acquisition device  14  works in combination with a NFC IC  24  of the data storage device  16  in the following manner. The NFC IC  22  and the NFC IC  24  function together to produce an electromagnetic field  26  that is operable to wirelessly transmit power  28  from the data acquisition device  14  to the data storage device  16 , and to wirelessly transmit data  30  back and forth between the data acquisition device  14  and the data storage device  16 . Near field communication is well known to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be described in detail. 
         [0019]    The transmission of power  28  from the data acquisition device  14  to the data storage device  16  allows the data storage device  16  to operate without its own dedicated power supply. The elimination of a dedicated power supply allows for a lighter and less expensive data storage device  16 . 
         [0020]    The wireless transmission of data  34  from the data acquisition device  14  to the data storage device  16  obviates the need for a conventional electrical connector as a component of the data storage device  16 . Accordingly, the requisite cost and weight of the data storage device  16  are reduced. 
         [0021]    The wireless transmission of data  34  from the data storage device  16  to the data acquisition device  14  may be useful, for example, so that the data storage device  16  can provide data transmission instructions. According to one embodiment, the data storage device  16  could wirelessly send the data acquisition device  14  instructions dictating the specific type of data to be transmitted. According to another embodiment, the data storage device  16  could wirelessly send the data acquisition device  14  instructions dictating the manner in which data is to be transmitted. 
         [0022]    The data storage device  16  may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) memory card also commonly referred to as a proximity integrated circuit card (PICC). Advantageously, RFID memory cards are adapted to accommodate printing (e.g., alphanumeric characters) or other graphic images. Therefore, the RFID memory cards can be customized to visually convey detailed information such as, for example, the identity of the patient, the type of collected data, the date of data collection, etc. RFID memory cards can also be compact, lightweight, and inexpensive. 
         [0023]    While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only, and should not limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.