WO2025083435A1

WO2025083435A1 - Data recording device

Info

Publication number: WO2025083435A1
Application number: PCT/HU2024/050076
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gyula KIRÁLY
Original assignee: Hospitaly Kft
Current assignee: Hospitaly Kft
Priority date: 2023-10-19
Filing date: 2024-10-10
Publication date: 2025-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-19
Also published as: HU5722U

Abstract

A data recording device configured in a portable manner to record vital data, comprising a front panel (10) and data value setting units, wherein each data value setting unit comprises a respective manual setting knob (11, 21) arranged on the front panel (10). The data recording device further comprises a personal identification unit and a wireless data transmission unit that is in electronic connection with the data value setting units and the personal identification unit.

Description

DATA RECORDING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a data recording device that is adapted for recording vital data and has a portable design. In particular, the invention relates to a device that supports bedside data recording or data recording in hospital wards.

BACKGROUND ART

In the prior art there are known solutions to enable data recording in healthcare institutions, i.e., in hospitals, infirmaries, hospital wards. These solutions aim at recording, and potentially processing in a centralised manner, the measured or otherwise determined values of vital parameters assigned to individual patients.

The simplest of such solutions is the bed chart; such charts are typically hung on the footboard of hospital beds, the vital data values being recorded manually, i.e. as hand-written notes. Applying bed charts has several drawbacks. Manual data recording presents problems related to data security and data management, because manually recorded data can be accessed continuously by anyone at the foot of the patient’s bed. Moreover, paper-based data recording presents hygiene and environmental problems, and it is also problematic for ergonomy that the healthcare worker authorised for data recording is not able to perform data recording using only one hand, i.e., both hands must be used for data recording.

A mechanically adjustable medical reference chart adapted for indicating hospital treatment or care procedures is disclosed in US 4,041 ,893. The reference chart has manually operable linear slide members and rotary members for setting and indicating the various stages of treatment procedures. The disadvantage of this technical solution is that it is not suitable for electronic, i.e., digital data recording, and it also does not address the above-described problems related to data security and data management.

A technical solution for recording patient data and transmitting them to a central facility is disclosed in US 2019/0371479 A1 . The solution has the disadvantage that it does not include manually operable setting means that could be easily and simply used by healthcare staff, i.e., it proposes tablet-like data entry that necessitates using both hands.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The task to be solved by the invention is to provide a data recording device that is able to implement bedside data recording in healthcare institutions, hospitals, hospital wards in a simple manner and is easily operable by healthcare staff. Another objective of the invention is to provide an “electronic bed chart” that can be implemented at low cost, can be hung on the footboard of hospital beds, and can implement digital data recording by analogue-like operation. Our further objective is to implement the data recording solution while providing flexibility and expandability. A still further objective of the invention is to implement data transmission to a medical information system by setting data values manually by healthcare staff and transmitting the recorded values to a central facility in the form of digital data.

The objects set forth above have been achieved by providing the data recording device according to claim 1 . Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example with reference to the following drawings, where

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the front panel of the data recording device according to the invention showing the components arranged on the front panel,

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the internal structure of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the front panel of another preferred embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the front panel of a further preferred embodiment.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the front panel 10 of a data recording device for recording vital data according to the invention that has been configured to be portable. The labels of the vital parameters can be seen in a row at the top of the front panel 10, with a respective group of handling/display devices being arranged corresponding and assigned to each vital parameter by way of its arrangement. For each vital parameter, the measured or otherwise determined data values can be set for data transmission with a respective data value setting unit, each data value setting unit comprising a manual setting knob 11 , 21 arranged on the front panel 10.

The setting knobs 11 , 21 can be expediently linear sliding knobs, turning knobs, or even toggle switches or buttons, or multiple-way switches or buttons. As can be seen in Fig. 1 , in the case of data values adjustable in a range between lower and upper limit values, sliding knobs can be expediently applied, while for selecting from distinct data values the expedient choice can be turning knobs.

The data recording device preferably has a housing of which only the front panel 10 is visible in Fig. 1. A block diagram of the internal structure of the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 can be seen in Fig. 2. As depicted in Fig. 2, each data value setting unit preferably has a transformation unit 11 a, 21 a adapted for transforming the manually set values of the setting knobs 11 , 21 into digital values. The transformation can be implemented in any known manner, for example by digitising resistance-based analogue settings, optically, by means of a selector switch, or in any other suitable manner. The transformation units 11 a, 21 a are expediently arranged in the housing of the device behind the front panel 10 together with the rest of the internal components.

As can also be seen in Fig. 2, the data recording device further comprises a personal identification unit 31 and a wireless data transmission unit 32 that is in electronic connection with the data value setting units and the personal identification unit 31. The term “electronic connection” is preferably taken to refer to a wired connection that can be a direct one, but it is more expedient if it is a connection implemented via the control unit 30 programmed for performing operational functions shown in Fig. 2, i.e., if it is controlled by the control unit 30. The control unit 30 can be implemented for example as a microcontroller programmed to perform the functions to be implemented. Furthermore, the electronic connection can also be an optoelectronic or wireless connection; it is expedient to select the connection that can be most preferably applied for the data transfer, activation, and control functions to be implemented by means of the electronic connection.

The data value setting units are expediently also connected to the control unit 30. These units can be utilised for inputting variable discrete or analogue values, for example in one of the modes described above.

In the input groups of handling/display devices shown in Fig. 1 , a respective data display field 12, 22 adapted to display the digital data value set by a given setting knob 11 , 21 is arranged on the front panel 10 assigned to each of the setting knobs 11 , 21. The data display fields 12, 22 can be implemented as separate displays or as parts of a larger display surface, and provide improved security by enabling visual verification of the input data values.

Preferably, data transmission activation buttons 13, 23 that are in electronic connection with the data transmission unit 32 and are each assigned to a respective setting knob 11 , 21 are arranged on the front panel 10. The electronic connection is preferably a wired connection also in this case, and is expediently also implemented through the control unit 30.

Each data transmission activation button 13, 23 preferably has a light source indicating successful data transmission.

The data recording device preferably has a personal identification unit 31 that is equally suited for identifying a person authorised for recording data and for patient identification. The personal identification unit 31 is preferably configured to utilise near-field communication (NFC), the position of the NFC sensor being expediently indicated on the front panel 10 by a position indicator field 14.

The power supply of the control unit 30, the personal identification unit 31 connected to it, and of the data transmission unit 32 connected to the control unit 30 is provided by a rechargeable battery that is also arranged in the housing but for the sake of simplicity is not shown in the drawings.

The personal identification unit 31 is of particular importance for the operation of the data recording device, because it allows for identifying persons authorised for data recording, and for giving permission to operate particular components of the data recording device. The person authorised for data recording is expediently a skilled healthcare worker, who may activate the data recording device according to the invention for example through the automated sensing of his/her NFC wristband. Without an identified operator, the data recording device according to the invention preferably does not perform either display or data transmission operations.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the data transmission unit 32 transmits the data value or data values set by means of the setting knobs 11 , 21 to a medical information system in case the personal identification unit 31 has identified a person authorised for data recording. These authorisations can be expediently based on the verification of authorisation information stored in a medical information system, for example a HIS (Hospital Information System), for which the data recording device expediently carries out bidirectional wireless communication with the medical information system. In this case, the data transmission unit 32 expediently also performs the functions of a data receiving unit. Such implementations are of course also possible wherein information required for identification are stored in the data recording device itself, so it is not necessary to contact the medical information system to this effect.

The vital parameters can be transmitted to the medical information system for example parameter by parameter, such that sending the digital value set by the setting knobs 11 , 21 and displayed in the data display field 12, 22 that has been assigned to the given setting knobs 11 , 21 and has been authorised for operation by the personal identification unit 31 is initiated by pressing the data transmission activation button 13, 23 assigned to the given knobs. The operation of these data transmission activation buttons 13, 23 may expediently also be authorised by the personal identification unit 31 , for example the authorised state being indicated by a given - for example, red - colour. Data transfer is initiated by pressing the data transmission activation button 13, 23, and the successful completion of the transmission can be expediently indicated to the person performing data recording by turning on a colour indication of a different (e.g. green) colour for a specified time, for example for 5 s. The data transmission activation buttons 13, 23 thus preferably have a light source indicating successful data transmission. The data transmission activation buttons 13, 23 are expediently also in a wired connection with the control unit 30 and perform their functions as commanded by the software running in it.

By way of example, the data transmission unit 32 may use a WIFI data connection for wireless communication, but of course any other suitable standard may also be used. The data connection established to the HIS is preferably encrypted, the transmitted data being preferably stored directly in the HIS.

Fig. 3 shows another preferred embodiment of the data recording device that, in addition to the components described above, also comprises on the front panel 10 an identifier display field 15 where personal identification data of a person identified by the personal identification unit 31 can be displayed. These data can be for example name and birth date, as it can be seen in Fig. 3. The operation of the identifier display field 15 is expediently also authorised by the personal identification unit 31 , i.e. , information is displayed only in case a person previously authorised for data recording has been identified by the personal identification unit 31 . The data shown in the identifier display field 15 may also originate from the medical information system and can be retrieved expediently after identification through bidirectional communication between the data recording device and the medical information system. Such solutions are of course also possible wherein the personal identification data of the patients are pre-stored in the data recording device, in which case it is not necessary to contact the medical information system.

Patient identification may also be implemented preferably by utilising NFC sensors and may include either the identification of beds by means of NFC tags attached thereto, or the identification of the patients based on their NFC wristbands. In the case of bed identification, identification of the patient is performed within the HIS system. In case of applying NFC sensors, the automated feedback and displaying of patient data improves patient safety.

Patient identification allows for the simple assignment of the data values set on the device to the identified patient.

In Fig. 4 there can be seen a further preferred embodiment that comprises additional groups of handling/display devices 16 on the front panel 10 that can be used as desired. These groups can be labelled as desired, and the data assigned to them can also be transmitted for central processing as described above. In such a way, a modularly expandable device is obtained.

The data recording device according to the invention may of course also be implemented in other ways than what has been set forth above. Instead of NFC communication, RFID communication, reading of QR codes or bar codes, biometric identification or other suitable identification methods can also be applied, and wireless protocols other than WIFI can also be suited for the purposes according to the invention. The identification process is expediently adapted to the internal information system of the given institution. Certain components and functions may also be implemented in hardware, in software, or applying a mixed hardwaresoftware implementation; these components and functions can be implemented in the control unit 30, or externally to it, or internally and externally in a mixed way.

The mode of industrial application of the invention follows from the characteristics of the invention and from the description set forth above. Expediently, it is sufficient to apply one data recording device per room or ward in the healthcare institutions. The data recording device can be carried from patient to patient, i.e., the data assigned to the given patient can be recorded and uploaded. The data recording device according to the invention expediently has a waterproof, sterilisable configuration. The manual setting knobs 11 , 21 and the data transmission activation buttons 13, 23 allow the operator to set the data values and activate data transmission even using one hand only. The battery of the data recording device can be for example charged overnight for daily data recording.

In addition to the advantages described above, the invention has the following related advantageous effects as compared to the prior art. The invention provides a low-cost device that reduces the risk of data or information loss by making instant documentation/data recording possible. The data recording device according to the invention can be easily introduced and staff can be easily trained to use it; it can even be left at the foot of the bed as it does not store data that can be read out without authorisation, so it may implement an initial step towards introducing fully digital data recording. The technical solution according to the invention also reduces the administrative burden on skilled healthcare workers.

A further advantage is that the data recording device according to the invention can be used in any linguistic environment, for recording any vital parameter in an arbitrarily adjustable value range, which for example allows the device to be more easily adaptable to patients in children’s wards. Furthermore, any measurement unit (e.g. °C or °F) can be selected for data recording.

Claims

1 . A data recording device configured in a portable manner to record vital data, comprising a front panel (10) and data value setting units, wherein each data value setting unit comprises a manual setting knob (11 , 21 ) arranged on the front panel (10), characterised by further comprising a personal identification unit (31 ) and a wireless data transmission unit (32) that is in electronic connection with the data value setting units and the personal identification unit (31 ).

2. The data recording device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the setting knobs (11 , 21 ) are implemented as sliding knobs or turning knobs.

3. The data recording device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a respective data display field (12, 22) assigned to each of the setting knobs (11 , 21 ) is arranged on the front panel (10).

4. The data recording device according to claim 3, characterised in that a respective data transmission activation button (13, 23) assigned to each setting knob (11 , 21 ) is arranged on the front panel (10), said data transmission activation buttons (13, 23) being in electronic connection with the data transmission unit (32).

5. The data recording device according to claim 4, characterised in that each data transmission activation button (13, 23) has a respective light source for indicating a successful data transmission.

6. The data recording device according to claim 4, characterised in that an identifier display field (15) adapted to display personal identification data of the person identified by the personal identification unit (31 ) is arranged on the front panel (10).

7. The data recording device according to claim 6, characterised in that the data display fields (12, 22), the data transmission activation buttons (13, 23) and/or the identifier display field (15) are in electronic connection with the personal identification unit (31 ).

8. The data recording device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the personal identification unit (31 ) is configured as a near-field communication (NFC) unit.