Medical devices with proximity detection

摘要

A wireless medical device is disclosed. The wireless medical device comprises a processor, a memory, a sensor for detecting a physiological signal, a radio and a proximity detector to measure a distance of the wireless medical device relative to a second wireless medical device. The proximity detector includes a ranging functionality. A wireless communication channel is created when a distance between the wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is within a first predetermined threshold. The distance is greater than zero.

主权项

1. A wireless medical device, the wireless medical device comprising:
a processor; a memory; a sensor for detecting a physiological signal; a radio; and a proximity detector to measure a distance of the wireless medical device relative to a second wireless medical device, the proximity detector including a ranging functionality, wherein a wireless communication channel is created when the distance measured by the proximity detector between the wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is within a first predetermined threshold, the distance being greater than zero, wherein, upon establishing the wireless communication channel, the wireless medical device receives a patient context from the second wireless medical device, the patient context providing an identifier for a patient; wherein the patient context is transmitted from the second wireless medical device to the wireless medical device over a channel that is different from the wireless communication channel, with the channel using a different communication method from a primary communication method used for the wireless communication channel; and wherein the patient context is removed from the wireless medical device when:
the distance between the wireless medical device and the second wireless medical device is greater than a second predetermined threshold for at least a predetermined time interval; ora time since a physiological measurement has been made at the wireless medical device is greater than a predetermined time interval.