Abstract:
An telemetry system is disclosed herein. The telemetry system includes a sensor configured to obtain cardiac data, a first wireless device configured to store identification data, and a transmitter connected to the sensor. The transmitter includes a second wireless device. The transmitter is configured to directly receive the cardiac data from the sensor, and to implement the second wireless device to receive the identification data from the first wireless device. The telemetry system also includes a receiver wirelessly coupled with the transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive the cardiac data and the identification data from the transmitter. The telemetry system also includes a processor coupled with the receiver. The processor is configured to correlate the cardiac data with the identification data.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to a telemetry system and method. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a telemetry system and method adapted to monitor cardiac activity such as with an electrocardiogram (ECG). 
         [0002]    An electrocardiograph is a device configured to record the electrical activity of the heart over time, and to convey the recorded electrical activity in the form of an ECG. The electrocardiograph operates by measuring electrical potential between various locations on the patient&#39;s body. The electrical potential measurements are obtained with a plurality of sensors secured directly to the patient. The sensors are operatively connected to a corresponding plurality of lead wires that are typically physically connected to a signal acquisition device. In a typical hospital environment, one or more electrocardiograph devices are implemented to obtain ECGs from each of a large number of different patients. 
         [0003]    One problem is that the process of manually correlating each ECG with an appropriate patient is labor intensive. Another problem is that the process of manually correlating each ECG with an appropriate patient is subject to human error. These problems are compounded in the context of a telemetry system in which a large number of patients are being monitored. 
       SUMMARY 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 one embodiment, a telemetry system includes a sensor configured to obtain cardiac data, a first wireless device configured to store identification data, and a transmitter connected to the sensor. The transmitter includes a second wireless device. The transmitter is configured to directly receive the cardiac data from the sensor, and to implement the second wireless device to receive the identification data from the first wireless device. The telemetry system also includes a receiver wirelessly coupled with the transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive the cardiac data and the identification data from the transmitter. The telemetry system also includes a processor coupled with the receiver. The processor is configured to correlate the cardiac data with the identification data. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a method includes storing identification data on a wireless device, implementing a sensor to obtain cardiac data, detecting and acquiring the identification data and the cardiac data, and implementing a processor to correlate the cardiac data with a specific patient based on the identification data. 
         [0007]    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 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a telemetry system in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of the telemetry system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with another embodiment; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is flow chart illustrating a method in accordance with an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a telemetry system  10  is shown in accordance with an embodiment. The telemetry system  10  comprises a first wireless device  12 ; a sensor  14 ; a transmitter  16 ; a receiver  18 ; a central server  20 ; and a display  22 . The transmitter  16  comprises a second wireless device  24  that is adapted to function in a complementary manner with the first wireless device  12  to transfer data. The central server  20  comprises a processor  26 . 
         [0013]    The first wireless device  12  will hereinafter be referred to as an RFID transponder  12 , and the second wireless device  24  will be referred to as an RFID reader  24  in accordance with an embodiment. It should, however, be appreciated that other wireless devices may be envisioned such as, for example, a bar code and a bar code reader. The RFID transponder  12  is wirelessly coupled with the RFID reader  24  of the transmitter  16  by the wireless connection  30  that is represented by a dashed line. The RFID transponder  12  may be configured to transmit data to the RFID reader  24  of the transmitter  16 . The RFID transponder  12  may be referred to as being wirelessly detectable, in the sense that it can be detected by the RFID reader  24  without requiring that a fixed-wire connection be established between the RFID transponder  12  and the RFID reader  24 . In other words, the RFID reader  24  can detect the RFID transponder  12  when they are in sufficiently close proximity, and subsequently the RFID reader  24  can acquire data from the RFID transponder  12 . 
         [0014]    The RFID transponder  12  is configured to retain identification data and to transmit the identification data to the RFID reader  24  of the transmitter  16 . The identification data may, for example, comprise the patient&#39;s identity as well as data pertaining to the patient&#39;s, age, height, weight, sex, race, family and genetic medical data, medical history, physical handicaps, known medical conditions, known medical allergies, and current ailment conditions such as symptoms, duration, physician observations and the like. As another example, the identification data retained may comprise an arbitrary unique ID that has separately been associated with the patient&#39;s identity and/or other identification data, retained outside of the RFID transponder. 
         [0015]    In a non-limiting manner, the RFID transponder  12  may be may be embedded in an adhesive tag (not shown) that adheres to the patient in a tamper resistant fashion, or disposed within a wristband (not shown) adapted for attachment to a patient&#39;s wrist. During the admissions process, a patient&#39;s identification data may be manually input and stored on the RFID transponder  12 . The RFID transponder  12  can then be secured directly to the patient such that the identification data is physically associated with the appropriate patient. 
         [0016]    The sensor  14  is connectable to the transmitter  16  via connection  32  that is represented by a solid line. Connection  32  generally comprises a wire or other conductor adapted to electrically couple the sensor  14  with the transmitter  16 . According to one embodiment, the sensor  14  comprises a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) lead electrodes, and the connection  32  comprises a corresponding plurality of ECG lead wires. According to another embodiment, the sensor  14  comprises a pulse oximetry device adapted for attachment to a patient&#39;s finger. 
         [0017]    The sensor  14  monitors cardiac activity of a patient. More precisely, the sensor  14  is configured to obtain cardiac data from a patient, and to transmit the cardiac data to the transmitter  16  via connection  32 . According to the embodiment wherein the sensor  14  comprises a plurality of ECG lead electrodes, the cardiac data is convertible into ECG data comprising a P-wave, a QRS complex and a T-wave and/or heart rate information in a known manner. 
         [0018]    The transmitter  16  is adapted to receive identification data from the RFID transponder  12  via connection  30 , and cardiac data from the sensor  14  via connection  32 . The transmitter  16  is further adapted to transmit the identification data and the cardiac data to the receiver  18  via wireless connection  34  represented by a dashed line. According to one embodiment, the transmitter  16  is a compact device that may be conveniently carried by a patient. 
         [0019]    The receiver  18  is adapted to automatically detect and receive data from the transmitter  16  via connection  34 . The receiver  18  is further configured to transmit the identification data and cardiac data to the central server  20  via connection  36 . Connection  36  generally comprises a wire or other conductor adapted to electrically couple the receiver  18  with the central server  20 . Transmitters and receivers are well known in the art and thus will not be explained in further detail. 
         [0020]    The central server  20  is adapted to receive identification data and cardiac data from the receiver  18 , and to selectively transmit data to the display  22 . The central server  20  comprises a processor  26  adapted to automatically correlate the cardiac data with a specific patient based on the identification data. As this process was conventionally manually performed, the implementation of the central server  20  in the manner described reduces labor requirements and human error. According to one embodiment, the processor  26  converts the cardiac data into ECG data comprising a P-wave, a QRS complex and a T-wave, labels the ECG data with the associated patient&#39;s identity, and transmits the labeled ECG data to the display  22  via connection  38 . 
         [0021]    Having described the individual components of the telemetry system  10  in detail, the telemetry system  10  will now be described in accordance with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . Common reference numbers are implemented to identify similar components in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For purposes of this exemplary embodiment, assume that three patients  50 - 54  are being monitored by the telemetry system  10 . It should, however, be appreciated that the telemetry system  10  may be implemented to monitor a much larger number of patients. 
         [0022]    The patents  50 - 54  each have an RFID transponder  12  and a sensor  14 . Assume for purposes of this embodiment that a separate RFID transponder  12  is secured to each of the patients  50 - 54  with a wristband, and that the sensor  14  attached to each patient  50 - 54  comprises a plurality of ECG lead electrodes. It should also be assumed that the RFID transponder  12  associated with each patient  50 - 54  has been pre-programmed with the patient&#39;s identification data. 
         [0023]    For purposes of the present embodiment, the transmitter  16  comprises a compact pocket-sized device that may be conveniently carried by the patient. By carrying the transmitter  16  wherever they go, the patient can be generally continuously monitored from a variety of different locations within or near a given hospital facility. In contrast, more conventional systems are only capable of monitoring patients while they are in bed. Also for purposes of the present embodiment, the receiver  18  comprises a plurality of receiver devices disposed throughout a hospital facility such that a network is formed and each transmitter  16  is detectable from a plurality of different locations. 
         [0024]    Cardiac data from each patient  50 - 54  can be acquired with a sensor  14 , and transmitted to the central server  20  in the manner previously described. Advantageously, this cardiac data acquisition can take place on multiple patients and from a plurality of different locations within a hospital facility. One problem with conventional systems, particularly those adapted to monitor much larger numbers of patients, it is that it is necessary to ensure a given set of cardiac data is associated with the appropriate patient. By implementing the telemetry system  10  to automatically correlate cardiac data with a specific patient based on the identification data from the RFID transponder  12 , labor requirements and the potential for human error are minimized. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a method  100  for implementing the telemetry system  10  will now be described in accordance with an embodiment. The method  100  comprises a plurality of steps  102 - 110 . Steps  102 - 110  need not necessarily be performed in the order shown. 
         [0026]    At step  102 , patient identification data is stored on a wireless device such as, for example, an RFID transponder. This step is typically manually performed when the patient is admitted to a hospital. Step  102  may also optionally comprise securing the RFID transponder to a corresponding patient with a wristband. At step  104 , a sensor is implemented to obtain cardiac data. The sensor may, for example, comprise a plurality of ECG lead electrodes. 
         [0027]    At step  106 , the identification data and cardiac data are detected and wirelessly acquired. This step is preferably performed by the transmitter  16  and receiver  18  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). More precisely, the RFID reader  24  of the transmitter  16  detects and wirelessly acquires the identification data from the RFID transponder  12 . Similarly, the receiver  18  detects and wirelessly acquires both the identification data and the cardiac data from the transmitter  16 . 
         [0028]    At step  108 , the processor  26  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is implemented to correlate the cardiac data with a specific patient based on the identification data. This step may also optionally include converting the cardiac data into ECG data comprising a P-wave, a QRS complex and a T-wave, and labeling the ECG data with the associated patient&#39;s identity. 
         [0029]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.