DE102016015371A1 - A method of associating a medical device with a group in a medical device data network, dendrant network device, medical device, and server unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for associating a medical device with a device group in a medical device data network, wherein a data network device is associated with the device group, comprising acquiring first image information, detecting a presence of a face, sending a request message, the prompt message indicating a request, second image information detecting the second image information, detecting a presence of a face based on the second image information, determining a coincidence of the first image information with the second image information, associating the medical device with the device group of the data network device. The invention further relates to a data network device, a medical device and a Server unit for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Description

In a multi-patient clinical setting, especially in an intensive care unit, a patient is typically associated with multiple medical devices that physically act on the patient or acquire physiological sensor information from the patient.

If a patient is established or admitted in a clinical environment, it must be ensured that the medical devices associated with him are also unambiguously assigned to or associated with this patient in a data network. Such an association or such an association is preferably carried out by an authorized person, such as an authorized nurse. Furthermore, it is necessary that the allocation or association in their workload may not be too high and can be carried out error-free even in stressful situations.

From the prior art methods are known in which a clinician in an input unit of a first medical device inputs data to assign the medical device to the patient and the clinician then in turn has to input data into another input unit of another medical device input data to the second Medical device to assign the same patient. The medical devices can then advertise their respective assignment to the patient via corresponding data network interfaces to a central network device, such as an IT management system. Input data may be, for example, data for patient identification, such as a patient number.

It is also known from the prior art, instead of inputting data to a medical device, to perform a code reading operation on a medical device, for example by means of a barcode or a QR code. Here, for example, a medical device carry a sticker on the housing, which reproduces the code in optical form, in which case this code on the medical device housing as well as a code on a bracelet of a patient can be read via a scanner. Again, this assignment process must be repeated for another medical device by means of code reading on the other medical device and the bracelet of the patient.

It is common to the method known from the prior art that the corresponding procedures of input or code reading must be repeated in full for each additional medical device which is to be assigned to the patient. Such allocation procedures are potentially flawed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, in a situation in which a first device is already assigned to a patient, to be able to automatically and advantageously carry out an assignment of a further device to the patient.

The object according to the invention is achieved by a method for assigning a medical device to a device group in a medical device data network according to claim 1.

The object according to the invention is furthermore achieved by a data network device according to claim 6.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a medical device according to claim 10.

The object according to the invention is furthermore achieved by a server unit for a data network according to claim 14.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and are explained in more detail in the following description with partial reference to the figures.

According to the inventive method, a data network device is already assigned to a corresponding device group. At the data network device or a medical device then a first image information is detected. Based on the first image information, the presence of a face is detected. In this way, it can thus be recognized that, in the presence of the face, the method according to the invention for assigning a further medical device to that device group to which the data network device already belongs must be carried out.

Upon detection of the face, a request message is sent either to medical devices present in the medical device data network or to the data network device. The prompt message indicates a request to potentially capture second image information at a medical device receiving the challenge message or at the data network device. The request message is preferably a so-called broadcast message, which is addressed to medical devices present in the medical device data network or to data network devices present in the medical device data network.

The request message is thus preferably sent as a data message in the medical device data network.

A medical device or the data network device receiving the request message then acquires second image information. In this case, the medical device or the data network device can then potentially detect a presence of a face in the second image information on the basis of the second image information.

Then, the medical device or the data network device preferably provides the second image information.

It can then be determined that the first image information matches the second image information. As a result, it is thus possible to determine, preferably, whether the same face has been detected on the data network device and also on the medical device or vice versa.

In the case that the determination result is positive, the medical device is assigned to the device group of the data network device.

The following explanations given below at this point as well as in the exemplary embodiments apply to the case in which the first image information is acquired at the data network device and then later the second image information at the medical device. As an exemplary embodiment, this will be explained later explicitly. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the event the data network device is already associated with the device group, the method may also be done in reverse order. In this case, the image acquisition unit first acquires the first image information on the medical device, a presence of a face on the basis of the first image information on the medical device being detected, in which case the medical device transmits the request message to the data network device, the message preferably being a broadcast message, in which case Upon receipt of the request message, the data network device detects the second image information and detects a presence of a face based thereon, wherein upon transmission of the second image information from the data network device to the medical device, the medical device determines a match of the first and second image information, and in that case in that the determination result is positive that the medical device is assigned to the device group of the data network device. Such mapping can be done in different ways, as explained in more detail later.

The following statements describe the possible sequence in which first the data network device captures the first image information and the medical device captures the second image information.

It is thus possible for a clinician by the method according to the invention to initiate the method according to the invention by presenting his face in an image acquisition area of the image acquisition unit of the data network device. If the data network device then has recognized a face, the sending of the request message then takes place as a broadcast in the medical device network to other existing medical devices. Since a medical device receiving such a request message then detects the second image information and tries to detect a face based on the second image information, it is just possible for the clinician to approach an image acquisition unit of the medical device so that his face is in one Image capture area of the image acquisition unit of the medical device is located. If his face is then detected on the basis of the second image information of the image acquisition unit of the medical device, it can then be determined whether the same face was detected on the medical device as well as on the data network device. This can be determined by checking a match of the first image information and the second image information. If this determination result is positive, the assignment of the medical device to the device group to which the data network device has already been assigned then takes place.

The inventive method makes it possible in a simple manner that another medical device can be assigned to such a device group to which a data network device already belongs.

For example, the data network device may itself be a medical device or, preferably, a portable data network device, which is preferably a wearable data network device in the form of a wristband. Preferably, the portable data network device is a data network device portable on a patient's body. In this case, data communication of the portable data network device to a medical device data network preferably takes place via radio technology.

Preferably, the method is characterized in that the request message indicates a request to a respective existing medical device or the data network device, a second image information at the respective Medical device or the data network device to detect within a predetermined period of time.

This is advantageous since the medical device or the data network device does not have to capture the second image information for an indeterminate period of time in order to potentially detect a face but because the medical device or the data network device only has to change to such a corresponding operating state if it does or she has received the request message. Furthermore, a misallocation of the medical device to a device group after expiration of the predetermined period of time is excluded.

Preferably, the method further comprises providing a first pattern data set, authenticating a user based on the first image information and the first pattern data set, and sending the request message in the event that the authentication result is positive.

This refinement is advantageous because, on the basis of the first image information, it can further be ensured that only authorized users can make the assignment of the medical device to the device group.

Preferably, the method further comprises providing a second pattern data set, detecting a gesture based on the first image information and the second pattern data set, detecting the gesture based on the second image information and the second pattern data set in the case that the gesture is based on the first image information and also detected based on the second image information, and associating the medical device with the device group of the data network device.

The gesture is preferably a facial gesture or a mimic gesture. A facial gesture or mimic gesture in the sense of this application is a change of the face over time, preferably according to a predetermined pattern.

This embodiment is advantageous since the method according to the invention does not necessarily start automatically when a clinician accidentally brings his face in an image capture area of the image capture unit of the data network device, but then when the corresponding gesture is detected.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of outputting image information representing the gesture. This is advantageous because the user or clinician is hereby indicated, which gesture he has to make to carry out the assignment of the medical device to the device group.

Further proposed is a data network device, comprising an image acquisition unit for acquiring a first image information, a data network interface, and at least one arithmetic unit, wherein the arithmetic unit is designed to detect a presence of a face based on the first image information, via the data network interface, a request message to in the medical device data network emit existing medical devices, wherein the request message indicates a request to acquire second image information, to receive second image information from the medical device via the data network interface, to detect coincidence of the first image information with the second image information, and in the case that the determination result is positive, associate the medical device with a device group of the data network device.

Preferably, the data network device further comprises a memory unit for providing a first pattern data set, wherein the arithmetic unit is further configured to authenticate a user based on the first image information as well as the first pattern data set and to send out the prompt message in case the authentication result is positive.

Preferably, the data network device is further configured such that the memory unit is further configured to provide a second pattern data set, wherein the arithmetic unit is further configured to detect a gesture based on the first image information and the second pattern data set based on the second image information and the second pattern data set detect the gesture as well as in the case that the gesture was detected based on the first image information and also on the basis of the second image information to associate the medical device to the device group of the data network device.

Preferably, the data network device further comprises an optical display unit for optically outputting image information representing the gesture.

Also proposed is a medical device, comprising an image acquisition unit for acquiring image information, a data network interface, and at least one arithmetic unit, wherein the arithmetic unit is configured to receive first image information from a data network device via the data network interface, to receive a request message via the data network interface Request indicates to acquire second image information, to detect the second image information by means of the image acquisition unit, to detect coincidence of the first image information with the second image information, and, in the case that the determination result is positive, to associate the medical device with a device group of the data network device.

Preferably, the medical device further comprises a memory unit for providing a first pattern data set, wherein the arithmetic unit is further configured to authenticate a user based on either the first or the second image information as well as the first pattern data set, as well as in the case that the authentication result is positive, assign the medical device to the device group of the data network device.

Preferably, the medical device is further configured such that the memory unit is further configured to provide a second pattern data set, wherein the arithmetic unit is further configured to detect a gesture based on the first image information and the second pattern data set based on the second image information and the second pattern data set detect the gesture, as well as in the case that the gesture was detected based on the first image information and also on the basis of the second image information to associate the medical device to the device group of the first device.

Preferably, the medical device further comprises an optical display unit for optically outputting image information representing the gesture.

Also proposed is a server unit for a data network comprising a data network interface, and at least one arithmetic unit, wherein the arithmetic unit is adapted to receive first image information from a data network device via the data network interface, to send a request message via the data network interface to medical devices present in the medical device data network, wherein the request message a request indicates to acquire second image information, to receive, via the data network interface, the second image information from a medical device, to match the first image information with the second image information, and in the case that the determination result is positive, the medical device to a device group of the data network device assigned.

Preferably, the server unit further comprises a memory unit for providing a first pattern data set, wherein the arithmetic unit is further configured to authenticate a user on the basis of the first image information and the first pattern data set, and to send out the request message in the event that the authentication result is positive.

Preferably, the server unit is further configured such that the memory unit is further configured to provide a second pattern data set, wherein the arithmetic unit is further configured to detect a gesture based on the first image information and the second pattern data set based on the second image information and the second pattern data set detect the gesture as well as in the case that the gesture was detected based on the first image information and also on the basis of the second image information to associate the medical device to the device group of the data network device.

• - auf Basis der ersten Bildinformation ein Vorhandensein eines Gesichtes zu detektieren,
• - über die Datennetzwerkschnittstelle eine Aufforderungsnachricht an eine in dem Medizingerätedatennetzwerk vorhandene Datennetzwerkvorrichtung auszusenden, wobei die Aufforderungsnachricht eine Aufforderung indiziert, eine zweite Bildinformation zu erfassen,
• - über die Datennetzwerkschnittstelle von der Datennetzwerkvorrichtung die zweite Bildinformation entgegenzunehmen,
• - eine Übereinstimmung der ersten Bildinformation mit der zweiten Bildinformation festzustellen,
• - sowie in dem Fall, dass das Feststellungsergebnis positiv ist, das Medizingerät zu einer Gerätegruppe der Datennetzwerkvorrichtung zuzuordnen.

Further proposed is a medical device, comprising an image acquisition unit for acquiring a first image information, a data network interface, and at least one arithmetic unit, wherein the arithmetic unit is designed,

• to detect a presence of a face on the basis of the first image information,
• send a request message via the data network interface to a data network device present in the medical device data network, wherein the request message indicates a request to acquire a second image information,
• to receive the second image information via the data network interface from the data network device,
• determine a match of the first image information with the second image information,
• - And in the case that the determination result is positive, assign the medical device to a device group of the data network device.

Preferably, the request message is a request to the data network device indicated to capture a second image information within a predetermined period of time

• 1 eine Datennetzwerkvorrichtung, ein Medizingerät als auch eine Servereinheit gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform,
• 2 Schritte des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens
• 3, 4 weitere, bevorzugt auszuführende Schritte.

In the following the invention with reference to specific embodiments without limiting the general inventive concept is explained in detail with reference to the figures. Showing:

• 1 a data network device, a medical device as well as a server unit according to a preferred embodiment,
• 2 Steps of the method according to the invention
• 3 . 4 further, preferably executed steps.

The 1 shows a scenario that is possible in a medical device network NW of a clinical environment.

Several devices G, M are associated to a patient PA.

A device G, which may preferably be a medical device, may also be referred to as a data network device G, since the device G may exchange data messages DN over a data network interface D via a data network NW.

Preferably, the device G is a medical device, which acts physiologically on the patient PA via an actuator A, for example a gas delivery unit. For this purpose, the actuator A is preferably connected via an inspiratory port IP and an inspiratory port EP by means of a breathing tube BS to the patient PA at a Y-piece Y.

The medical device M preferably has a measuring unit ME, which may be connected via a sensor connection SV with a sensor SEN to detect a sensor signal SI. The sensor signal SI indicates a physiological sensor signal of the patient PA.

The medical device M thus has, for example, a measuring unit ME for detecting a physiological sensor signal SI and its evaluation. Alternatively or additionally, the medical device M may have an actuator A, such as the actuator A of the device G, for a physiological action on a patient PA.

The medical device M also has a data network interface D for exchanging data messages DN towards a data network or medical device network NW.

Preferably, a server unit or a server SE is also present in the medical device network NW, which can exchange data messages DN with the data network NW via a data network interface D.

For example, the device or data network device G may be a wristband or other data network device portable on the patient's body PA. Here, the data network device G may, for example, perform data communication to the network NW via the data network interface D by means of radio technology. The data network device G is preferably a wristband.

The data network device G has an image acquisition unit B1 for acquiring image information. Furthermore, the data network device G has at least one arithmetic unit S1. Furthermore, the data network device G preferably has a memory SP1 in which a data element PID indicates a patient identity or a group identity. Such a patient identity or group identity can index a corresponding device group. As a result, therefore, the data network device G is assigned to a corresponding device group in the medical device network NW.

Preferably, a corresponding assignment of the device G to the device group can be provided by storing corresponding assignment data ZD for the assignment of the device G to the device group in a memory unit SPN of the server unit SE.

The device G preferably further comprises an optical display unit AN1.

The individual sub-devices of the device G are preferably connected to one another via an internal data bus ID1.

The medical device M has an image acquisition unit B2 for acquiring image information and at least one arithmetic unit S2. Furthermore, the medical device M preferably has a storage unit SP2. Preferably, the medical device M has an optical display unit AN2.

The individual sub-devices of the medical device M are preferably connected to one another via an internal data bus ID2.

In addition to the memory unit SPN and the data network interface D, the server unit SE also has at least one control unit SN. The sub-devices of the server unit SE are in this case preferably connected to one another via an internal data bus IDN.

As described above, it should be possible for a clinician, by introducing his field of view into an image acquisition area of the image acquisition unit B1 of the device G as well as an image acquisition area of the image acquisition unit B2 of the medical device M, to have an association of the Medical device M to make that device group to which the device G already belongs.

This shows the 2 corresponding process steps.

In one process step 1 First image information BI1 is acquired at the data network device G by the image acquisition unit B1.

In one step 2 Then a presence of a face is detected on the basis of the image information BI1. As a result, it can thus be determined whether a clinician is currently introducing his field of view into the image acquisition area of the image acquisition unit B1.

In one step 3 then a request message ANF is sent out. The request message ANF is sent to medical devices M present in the medical device data network NW. The prompt message indicates a request to capture further image information.

In one step 4 receives a medical device, such as the medical device M from the 1 , the prompt message ANF. The medical device then records in one step 5 a second image information BI2.

On the basis of the second image information BI2 is then in one step 6 detects a presence of a face. This takes place on the second medical device M. It can therefore be determined hereby whether the clinician is just bringing his field of vision into an image acquisition area of the image acquisition unit B2 of the medical device M.

In one step 7 It is then determined whether the same face could be detected or detected in the first image information BI1 as well as the second image information BI2. Thus, a matching of the first image information BI1 with the second image information B12 takes place.

• - John Wright, Allen Y. Yang, Member, Arvind Ganesh, S. Shankar Sastry, Yi Ma, „Robust Face Recognition via Sparse Representation“, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PATTERN ANALYSIS AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE, VOL. 31, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 2009
• - Imran Naseem, Roberto Togneri, Mohammed Bennamoun, „Linear Regression for Face Recognition“, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PATTERN ANALYSIS AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE, VOL. 32, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 2010 .

Face recognition is preferably carried out according to one or more methods of the following documents:

• - John Wright, Allen Y. Yang, Member, Arvind Ganesh, S. Shankar Sastry, Yi Ma, "Robust Face Recognition via Sparse Representation," IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PATTERN ANALYSIS AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE, VOL. 31, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 2009
• - Imran Naseem, Roberto Togneri, Mohammed Bennamoun, Linear Regression for Face Recognition, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PATTERN ANALYSIS AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE, VOL. 32, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 2010 ,

If the result of the determination is positive, then it becomes a step 8th branches, in which the medical device M is assigned to the device group of the device G.

Such assignment can be effected, for example, by the device V sending corresponding devices or patient identification data PID via the network NW to the medical device M in the form of data messages DN and the medical device M then storing the corresponding assignment data PID in its memory unit SP2.

Preferably, the transmission of the data PID from the device G to the medical device M can take place if the medical device M has previously requested this from the device G on the basis of data messages.

In the event that the server unit SE makes an assignment of the medical device M to the corresponding device group, the server unit SE can, for example, configure corresponding assignment data ZD in order to store the assignment of the medical device M to the same device group as that of the device G.

The server unit SE can preferably send corresponding assignment data such as the data PID in the form of a data message DN to the medical device M via the network NW.

Such a transmission of corresponding data PID by the server unit SE to the medical device M can preferably take place when the medical device M has requested this from the server unit SE on the basis of a data message DN.

As stated above, the statements made here apply first to the case in which the first image information is acquired at the data network device and then later the second image information at the medical device. As an exemplary embodiment, this will be explained later explicitly. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the event the data network device is already associated with the device group, the method may also be done in reverse order. In this case, the image acquisition unit first acquires the first image information on the medical device, a presence of a face on the basis of the first image information on the medical device being detected, in which case the medical device stores the image Issuing a request message to the data network device, the message preferably being a broadcast message, the data network device then detecting the second image information upon receiving the request message and detecting presence of a face based thereon, then after transmitting the second image information from the data network device to the one Medical device, the medical device detects a match of the first and second image information, and wherein in the case that the determination result is positive that assigns medical device to the device group of the data network device. Such mapping can be done in different ways, as stated above.

The 3 shows further steps, which preferably after the step 1 of the 2 are to be carried out.

In one step 2A a first pattern data record MD1 is provided.

In one step 2 B an authentication of a user on the basis of this pattern data set and the first image information BI1 from the 2 , If the authentication result is positive, then becomes the step described above 3 branches out in which the request message ANF is sent. In the case that the authentication result is negative, no sending of the request message ANF takes place.

The 4 shows further, preferably to be performed steps, which after the step described above 7 from the 2 can be performed.

In one step 7A a second pattern data record MD2 is provided.

Based on the first image information BI1 from the 2 and the second pattern data record MD2 is then in one step 7B a gesture, preferably a facial gesture, detected.

• - K.K. Biswas, S.K. Basu, „Gesture Recognition using Microsoft Kinect“ Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Automation, Robotics and Applications, Dec 6-8, 2011, Wellington, New Zealand
• - Pragati Garg, Naveen Aggarwal and Sanjeev Sofat, Vision Based Hand Gesture Recognition”, World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Computer, Electrical, Automation, Control and Information Engineering Vol:3, No:1, 2009

The step of gesture recognition is preferably carried out according to one of the methods which are known from the following documents:

• - KK Biswas, SK Basu, "Gesture Recognition using Microsoft Kinect" Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Automation, Robotics and Applications, Dec 6 - 8th . 2011 , Wellington, New Zealand
• - Pragati Garg, Naveen Aggarwal and Sanjeev Sofat, Vision Based Hand Gesture Recognition, World of Engineering, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Computer, Electrical, Automation, Control and Information Engineering Vol: 3, No: 1, 2009

In one step 7C is then based on the second image information BI2 from the 2 and the second pattern data record MD2 detects a gesture.

In one step 7D the recognized gestures are checked for their presence. If, in each case, detection results which have detected the same gesture have been obtained both on the basis of the first image information BI1 and the second image information BI2, then a branching is effected to a step 8th of the 2 in which the medical device is assigned to the device group of the data network device.

It will now be explained how the process according to the invention can be implemented.

In this case, essential steps, for example, by the data network device G, the medical device M or the server unit SE from the 1 be performed.

In the event that the data network device G is the leading device or the leading device for implementing the method according to the invention, carrying out method steps as described now takes place.

The device G acquires the first image information BI1 by means of its image acquisition unit B1 and detects the presence of the face of the user or clinician. If the face has been detected, the device G sends the request message ANF via the data network interface D. If the medical device M has then detected the corresponding second image information BI2 by means of its image acquisition unit B2, the data network device G can receive the second image information BI2 from the medical device M via the data network interface D. Then, the control unit S1 determines whether there is a coincidence of the first image information BI1 with the second image information BI2 so as to determine whether the same face of a user or a clinician has been located in the respective image capturing areas of the image capturing units B1 and B2, respectively.

In the case that the determination result is affirmative, the arithmetic unit S1 assigns the medical device M to the device group of the data network device G. This can be done in the ways described above. For example, the control unit S1 sends via the data network interface D corresponding data messages DN to the medical device M, the data messages DN having the device group assignment data PID, such as patient identification data.

In the case that the data network device G further performs authentication of the user, the storage unit SP1 provides the first pattern data record MD1 necessary for this, which indexes a pattern of a user to be authenticated.

Further, in the case that the calculating unit S1 performs the recognition of a gesture, the storage unit SP1 further provides the second pattern data MD2 indicating a pattern of the predetermined gesture.

Then, the arithmetic unit S1 performs detection of the gesture based on the first image information BI1 of its own image acquisition unit B1.

Since the device G has also already received the second image information BI2 from the image acquisition unit B2 of the medical device M, the arithmetic unit S1 can then also detect the gesture on the basis of the second image information BI2 and the second sample data set MD2.

If the same gesture was then detected in both image information BI1, BI2, the arithmetic unit S1 finally performs the assignment of the medical device M to the device group of the data network device.

Preferably, the display unit AN1 is controlled by the control unit S1 such that an image information is presented, which presents the predetermined gesture.

In the event that the medical device M carries out the essential steps of the method according to the invention, an appropriate method steps are carried out as described below.

The computing unit S2 of the medical device M receives the first image information BI1 from the data network device G via the data network interface D. Furthermore, the arithmetic unit S2 receives via the data network interface D the previously described request message ANF.

By means of the image acquisition unit B2, the arithmetic unit detects the second image information BI2. Then, the arithmetic unit S2 detects a coincidence of the image information BI1, BI2 to determine whether the same face exists in the respective image capturing areas of the image capturing units B1, B2.

If the determination result is positive, then the control unit S2 performs the assignment of the medical device M to the device group of the data network device G. This preferably takes place in that the medical device M receives the assignment data or patient data PID from the device G via a data message DN.

Preferably, the assignment takes place in that the medical device M sends a request message in the form of a data message DN to the server unit SE to make an assignment of the medical device M to the same device group or the same patient in corresponding assignment data ZD, as is the case for the device G of FIG Case is.

The memory unit SP2 can, for example, provide the first pattern data record MD1 and then authenticate a user based on the first or second image information BI1, BI2 and the pattern data record MD1. If the authentication result is positive, it is only then that the medical device M or its arithmetic unit S2 before the assignment of the medical device M to the device group of the data network device G before.

The storage unit SP2 further preferably provides the second pattern data record MD2. As in the manner described above, based on the data network device and the inventive method, then the arithmetic unit S2 can perform a gesture recognition and in the case that the same gesture in both image information BI1, BI2 were detected, make the appropriate assignment of the medical device.

Preferably, the arithmetic unit S2 controls the visual display unit AN2 to effect an optical output of image information, the image information representing the predetermined gesture.

In the event that the server unit SE from the 1 the authoritative steps of the method according to the invention is carried out an undertaking of the corresponding steps as described below.

The computing unit SN of the server unit SE receives the first image information BI1 from the data network device G via the data network interface D.

The arithmetic unit SN then sends the request message ANF to the medical devices, such as the medical device M, so that they can potentially acquire the second image information BI2.

Furthermore, the arithmetic unit SN receives the second image information BI2 from the medical device M via the data network interface. Then, the arithmetic unit SN determines whether there is coincidence of the first image information BI1 with the second image information BI2 to determine whether the same face can be detected in the corresponding image information BI1, BI2. In the case that the determination result is affirmative, the arithmetic unit SN assigns the medical device M to the device group of the data network device G. This takes place in the manner described above, according to which preferably the server unit SE or its arithmetic unit SN correspondingly configures the assignment data ZD so that an assignment of the medical appliance M to the same device group of the apparatus G is indicated. Preferably, the arithmetic unit SN sends via the data network interface D a corresponding data messages DN, in which the group identifier or patient identifier PID is indexed and which is directed to the medical device M.

Preferably, the storage unit SPN provides the pattern data record MD1 to the server unit SE, in which case the arithmetic unit SN carries out the authentication of the user described above and then sends out the request message in the event that the authentication result is positive.

Further, the memory unit SPN preferably provides the second pattern data set MD2 to the server unit SE to then perform the above-described gesture recognition and, in the case of a double positive detection result, associate the medical device M with the device group of the data network device G.

According to another variant, the medical device performs essential steps of the inventor measured method. In this case, the image acquisition unit B2 of the medical device acquires the first image information BI1. the arithmetic unit S2 detects presence of a face on the basis of the first image information BI1. The arithmetic unit S2 then sends the request message ANF to the data network device G via the data network interface D. After acquiring the second image information BI2, the data network device G sends the second image information BI2 to the medical device M. The arithmetic unit S2 then receives the second image information BI2 and delivers it a match of the first image information BI1 with the second image information BI2 fixed. In the event that the fortress result is positive, then the medical device M is assigned to the device group of the data network device G. Although some aspects have been described in connection with a device, it should be understood that these aspects also constitute a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or a component of a device is also to be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or detail or feature of a corresponding device.

Depending on particular implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware and / or in software. In this case, in particular, a computing unit in the form of hardware and / or software can be implemented. The implementation may be performed using a digital storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a DVD, a Blu-Ray Disc, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or FLASH memory, a hard disk, or other magnetic disk or optical memory are stored on the electronically readable control signals, which can cooperate with a programmable hardware component or cooperate such that the respective method is performed.

A programmable hardware component may be integrated by a processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a computer, a computer system, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) Circuit (IC = Integrated Circuit), a system on chip (SOC) system, a programmable logic element or a field programmable gate array with a microprocessor (FPGA = Field Programmable Gate Array) may be formed.

The digital storage medium may therefore be machine or computer readable. Thus, some embodiments include a data carrier having electronically readable control signals capable of interacting with a programmable computer system or programmable hardware component such that one of the methods described herein is performed. One embodiment is thus a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer readable medium) on which the program is recorded for performing any of the methods described herein.

In general, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a program, firmware, computer program, or computer program product with program code or data be implemented, wherein the program code or the data is effective to perform one of the methods when the program runs on a processor or a programmable hardware component. The program code or the data can also be stored, for example, on a machine-readable carrier or data carrier. The program code or the data may be present, inter alia, as source code, machine code or bytecode as well as other intermediate code.

Yet another embodiment is a data stream, signal sequence, or sequence of signals that represents the program for performing any of the methods described herein. The data stream, the signal sequence or the sequence of signals can be configured, for example, to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example via the Internet or another network. Embodiments are also data representing signal sequences that are suitable for transmission over a network or a data communication connection, the data representing the program.

For example, a program according to one embodiment may implement one of the methods during its execution by, for example, reading or writing one or more data into memory locations, optionally switching operations or other operations in transistor structures, amplifier structures, or other electrical, optical, magnetic or caused by another operating principle working components. Accordingly, by reading a memory location, data, values, sensor values or other information can be detected, determined or measured by a program. A program can therefore acquire, determine or measure quantities, values, measured variables and other information by reading from one or more storage locations, as well as effect, initiate or execute an action by writing to one or more storage locations and control other devices, machines and components ,

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It will be understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to others of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and not by the specific details presented in the description and explanation of the embodiments herein.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited non-patent literature

• John Wright, Allen Y. Yang, Member, Arvind Ganesh, S. Shankar Sastry, Yi Ma, "Robust Face Recognition via Sparse Representation," IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PATTERN ANALYSIS AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE, VOL. 31, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 2009 [0070]
• Imran Naseem, Roberto Togneri, Mohammed Bennamoun, Linear Regression for Face Recognition, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PATTERN ANALYSIS AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE, VOL. 32, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 2010 [0070]
• Pragati Garg, Naveen Aggarwal and Sanjeev Sofat, Vision Based Hand Gesture Recognition, "World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Computer, Electrical, Automation, Control and Information Engineering Vol: 3, No: 1, 2009 [0084]

Claims (18)

A method of associating a medical device (M) with a device group in a medical device data network (NW), wherein a data network device (G) is associated with the device group Detecting first image information (BI1), preferably on the data network device (G) or the medical device (M), Detecting presence of a face on the basis of the first image information (BI1), Sending a request message (ANF), preferably to medical devices (M) present in the medical device data network (N) or to the data network device (G) present in the medical device network, wherein the request message (ANF) indicates a request to provide second image information (BI2) to capture, on receipt of the request message (ANF), acquisition of the second image information (BI2), Detecting a presence of a face on the basis of the second image information (BI2), Determining a match of the first image information (BI1) with the second image information (BI2), and, in the case that the determination result is affirmative, assigning the medical device (M) to the device group of the data network device (G). Method according to Claim 1 wherein the request message (ANF) indicates a request, preferably to a respective existing medical device (M) or to the data network device (G) present in the medical device network, second image information (BI2) to the respective medical device or the data network device (G) within to capture a predetermined period of time. Method according to Claim 1 , further comprising - providing a first pattern data record (MD1), - authentication of a user based on the first image information (BI1) and the first pattern data record (MD1), - sending the request message (ANF) in the event that the authentication result is positive. Method according to Claim 1 further comprising - providing a second pattern data set (MD2), - detecting a gesture on the basis of the first image information (BI1) and the second pattern data set (MD2), - detecting the gesture on the basis of the second image information (BI2) and the second sample data set ( MD2), - in the case that the gesture was detected on the basis of the first image information (BI1) and also on the basis of the second image information (BI2), assigning the medical device (M) to the device group of the data network device (G). Method according to Claim 4 , further comprising - outputting image information representing the gesture. A data network device (G) comprising an image acquisition unit (B1) for acquiring first image information (BI1), a data network interface (D), - and at least one arithmetic unit (S1), wherein the arithmetic unit (S1) is formed, to detect presence of a face on the basis of the first image information (BI1), via the data network interface (D) to send a request message (ANF) to medical devices (M) present in the medical device data network (NW), the request message (ANF) indicating a request to acquire a second image information (BI2), to receive second image information (BI2) from a medical device (M) via the data network interface (D), determine a match of the first image information (BI1) with the second image information (BI2), - And in the case that the determination result is positive, the medical device (M) to assign a device group of the data network device (G). Data network device (G) after Claim 6 , further comprising a memory unit (SP1) for providing a first pattern data set (MD1), wherein the arithmetic unit (S1) is further configured to - authenticate a user based on the first image information (BI1) and the first pattern data set (MD1), - as well to send the request message (ANF) in case the authentication result is positive. Data network device (G) after Claim 6 wherein the memory unit (SP1) is further configured to provide a second pattern data set (MD2), wherein the arithmetic unit (S1) is further configured to - detect a gesture based on the first image information (BI1) and the second pattern data set (MD2), to detect the gesture on the basis of the second image information (BI2) and the second pattern data record (MD2), as well as in the case that the gesture was detected on the basis of the first image information (BI1) and also on the basis of the second image information (BI2) to associate the medical device (M) with the device group of the data network device (G). Data network device after Claim 8 further comprising an optical display unit (AN1) for optically outputting image information representing the gesture. Medical device (M), comprising an image acquisition unit (B2) for acquiring image information, a data network interface (D), - And at least one arithmetic unit (S2), wherein the arithmetic unit (S2) is formed, receive first image information (BI1) from a data network device (G) via the data network interface (D), receive a request message (ANF) via the data network interface (D) which indicates a request to acquire a second image information, capture the second image information (BI2) by means of the image acquisition unit (B2), determine a match of the first image information (BI1) with the second image information (BI2), - And in the case that the determination result is positive, the medical device (M) to assign a device group of the data network device (G). Medical device (M) after Claim 10 , further comprising a memory unit (SP2) for providing a first pattern data set (MD1), wherein the arithmetic unit (S2) is further configured, - a user based on either the first or the second image information (BI1, BI2) and the first pattern data set (MD1 ), and - in the event that the authentication result is positive, assign the medical device (M) to the device group of the data network device (G). Medical device (M) after Claim 10 wherein the memory unit (SP2) is further configured to provide a second pattern data set (MD2), wherein the arithmetic unit (S2) is further configured to - detect a gesture based on the first image information (BI1) and the second pattern data set (MD1), to detect the gesture on the basis of the second image information (BI2) and the second pattern data record (MD2), as well as in the case that the gesture was detected on the basis of the first image information (BI1) and also on the basis of the second image information (BI2) to assign the medical device (M) to the device group of the first device (G). Medical device after Claim 12 , further comprising an optical display unit (AN2) for optically outputting image information representing the gesture. Server unit (SE) for a data network (NW), including a data network interface (D), and at least one arithmetic unit (SN), wherein the arithmetic unit (SN) is designed receive first image information (BI1) from a data network device (G) via the data network interface (D), via the data network interface (G) to send a request message to medical devices (M) present in the medical device data network (NW), the request message (ANF) indicating a request to acquire a second image information (BI2), to receive the second image information (BI2) from a medical device (M) via the data network interface (D), determine a match of the first image information (BI1) with the second image information (BI2), - And in the case that the determination result is positive, the medical device (M) to assign a device group of the data network device (G). Server unit after Claim 14 , further comprising a memory unit (SPN) for providing a first pattern data set (MD1), wherein the arithmetic unit (SN) is further configured to - authenticate a user based on the first image information (BI1) and the first pattern data set (MD1), - as well to send the request message (ANF) in case the authentication result is positive. Server unit after Claim 14 wherein the memory unit (SPN) is further configured to provide a second pattern data set (MD2), wherein the arithmetic unit (SN) is further configured, to detect a gesture on the basis of the first image information (BI1) and the second sample data record (MD2), - to detect the gesture on the basis of the second image information (BI2) and the second pattern data record (MD2), as well as in the case that the gesture has been detected on the basis of the first image information (BI1) and also on the basis of the second image information (BI2), to associate the medical device (M) to the device group of the data network device (G). Medical device (M), including an image acquisition unit (B2) for acquiring first image information (BI1), a data network interface (D), and at least one arithmetic unit (S2), wherein the arithmetic unit (S2) is designed to detect presence of a face on the basis of the first image information (BI1), via the data network interface (D) to send a request message (ANF) to a data network device (G) present in the medical device data network (NW), the request message (ANF) indicating a request to acquire a second image information (BI2), to receive the second image information (BI2) via the data network interface (D) from the data network device (G), determine a match of the first image information (BI1) with the second image information (BI2), - And in the case that the determination result is positive, the medical device (M) to assign a device group of the data network device (G). Medical device (M) after Claim 17 wherein the request message (ANF) indicates a request to the data network device (G) to acquire a second image information (BI2) within a predetermined period of time.

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