MX2007013628A - Sphygmomanometer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sphygmomanometer (2,3,4,5,6) comprising a measuring device which is used to determine blood pressure data, and a data transmission device (8) comprising an external transmission interface which is used to transmit blood pressure data to external data processing devices and/or to transmit control data to the measuring device. The inventive sphygmomanometer is characterised in that the data transmission unit comprises a separate interchangeable interface transducer which can be connected in a detachable manner to a device body of the sphygmomanometer and can be connected to an connection interface of the measuring device by means of an internal connection interface, and converts, between the internal connection interface thereof and the external transmission interface thereof, a first data and/or transmission format which is adapted to the measuring device in a second data and/or transmission format which is adapted to the respective external data processing device and/or vice-versa.

Description

SPHYGOMOMETER WITH DEPENDABLE DATA TRANSMISSION DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE This is a United States national phase application in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT / EP2006 / 002201, filed on March 10, 2006 and claiming the benefit of German patent application No. 102005019751.5 filed on April 28, 2005, both incorporated herein. The International application in was published German on November 2, 2006 as WO 2006/114155 A1 in accordance with PCT Article 221 (2).

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a blood pressure meter with a measuring device for the determination of blood pressure data as well as a data transmission unit with an external transmission interface for transmission of blood pressure data to external data processing devices and / or for the transmission of control data from external data processing devices to a measuring device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Blood pressure meters are increasingly confronted with the requirements of expanded data management. Such data management can be used for private use and can also be part of a diagnosis and / or therapy under medical supervision. Therefore, blood pressure meters include data transmission interfaces by means of which stored data measured in the blood pressure meter can be read. However, in practice there are problems due to the fact that the available infrastructure with regard to doctors and hospitals is not universal enough to establish it on a broad front. For example, there are blood pressure meters that are equipped with infrared interfaces or that can transfer data to doctors by means of a fax modem. However, this requires that the physician in question have data processing devices that are compatible with the respective blood pressure meter. For a measurement evaluation of certain data and / or stored in a blood pressure meter it is possible to plug a data transmission cable into a USB interface in the blood pressure meter to transfer the data to a PC. However, because the practice equipment of a physician is continually subject to special requirements, one can assume that, given the lack of standardization, there can be no agreement on a particular transmission concept.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the invention at hand is based on the task of creating an improved blood pressure meter as well as an improved data transfer unit for such blood pressure meters that simplifies data transmission and improves the compatibility between the meter of blood pressure and the external data processing equipment in doctor's offices, hospitals, etc. The invention provides a data transmission unit for a blood pressure meter. The data transmission unit includes an external transmission interface for the transmission of data to external data processing equipment and / or from the external processor equipment. The unit also includes an operable internal connection interface for disconnectably connecting the data transmission unit to the blood pressure meter. In such a manner, the data transmission unit forms an interchangeable interface converter for the blood pressure meter that converts a first data and / or transmission format that fits the blood pressure meter into a second data format and / or transmission that conforms to the external data processing device. The invention is based on the idea of separating the blood pressure meter and the data transmission unit together with its external transmission interface for each one. The blood pressure meter and the data transmission unit can be connected by means of a connection interface so that during the application of the practice, the blood pressure meter is not rigidly coupled to a form of technical data transmission, but that can be adapted to the requirements in the part of the medical infrastructure. According to one embodiment of the invention, the data transmission unit has a separate interchangeable interface converter which can be detachably attached to a device body of the blood pressure meter and can therefore be connected to a connection interface via an internal connection interface. The interface converter converts, between its internal connection interface and its external transmission interface, a first data and / or transmission format that is adjusted to the measuring device in a second data and / or transmission format that is adjusted to the processor device of respective external data and / or vice versa. The blood pressure meter may be provided with an interface adapter that can be easily changed so that the blood pressure meter, with respect to the data transmission interface, is easily adaptable to the hardware used by the doctor or the hospital and in particular to country-specific data transmission modes. Using the interchangeable interface converter, the blood pressure meter can be quickly adapted in a particular way to various country standards even though the blood pressure meter can be used worldwide in the same basic configuration or, respectively, as the same basic device. The basic device is adapted to the respective required transmission standard when plugged into or connected to the appropriate interface converter. In one embodiment, the interface converter not only provides the external transmission interface that is geometrically adjusted, but also transforms the data format and / or the attached transmission protocol used by the blood pressure meter, or more specifically, its interface connection permanently installed in the respective required data and transmission protocol format which is preset by the interface located in the respective data processor device. It can not be omitted that the data signal level can also be adapted by means of the interface adapter. The interface converter can be designed bidirectionally, ie it converts the first data and / or transmission format that is fitted to the meter device of the blood pressure meter in the second data and / or transmission format that is set to the data processor equipment externally and vice versa. In addition, the blood pressure meter can also be operated without the aforementioned interface converter, particularly if the data and transmission format provided by the connecting interface permanently incorporated into the blood pressure meter is suitable for the respective external data processing device. . In this case, the blood pressure meter can be immediately connected to the external data processing device by means of a cable to read the blood pressure meter data or to enter the control data therein. The connection interface of the blood pressure meter to which the interface converter may be connected may initially be designed in various ways. According to one embodiment of the invention, the connection interface can be an RS-232 port such as an RS-232 port which is operable with personal computers, it is a universal and effective interface that makes it possible to connect a multitude of interfaces forms of data transmission by means of a separate data transmission unit. In this mode, the internal connection interface of the interface converters is also an RS-232 port that can be connected to the corresponding tightly installed connection interface of the blood pressure meter. In this mode, the interface converter converts the specific data and transmission format for the RS-232 port into the data and transmission format for the external transmission interface required in each particular case. According to the invention, the separate data transmission unit can have an infrared interface, a fax modem, a chip card terminal, a cable connection interface and / or a blue tooth unit as an interface of internal transmission. Additional modes of the external transmission interface of the data transmission unit, such as a USB interface, a firewire port, a WLAN interface are also possible. This makes it possible to connect the blood pressure meter to almost any processor equipment of external data simply by replacing the data transmission unit for selecting the data of the blood pressure meter and for processing it in the data processing equipment and / or recording the data from the external data processing equipment in the blood pressure meter. In addition, the interface converter can convert a protocol converter that synchronizes the data transmission protocol provided in the internal connection interface with a different data transmission protocol required in the external transmission interface. In addition, the characteristics of additional data formats can be converted in the required manner using a format converter to ensure data transmission. If required, a level converter can be integrated in the interface converter to raise and / or lower the data signal level from the internal level from in the measuring device to the level required in the data processing device. If, for example, a permanently included RS-232 port is used in the manner mentioned above in the blood pressure meter, a blue tooth unit is used in the data transmission unit as an external transmission interface, the converter of interface converts the data format specific to the RS-232 port and the transmission protocol to the data format and transmission protocol required by the blue tooth specification. In one embodiment, the connection interface of the blood pressure meter with which the data transmission unit can be connected can be formed by means of a card contact unit. chip. In this mode, the external data transmission unit is provided with a corresponding connection adapter that can be inserted into the chip card contact unit. While in this mode the blood pressure meter is pre-established for the transfer medium of the chip card, it opens to any expansion by means of the insertion of the external transmission unit together with its connection adapter and the format converter of data. In this embodiment, the blood pressure meter can distinguish between the chip card operation and the interface operation, i.e. the blood pressure meter can distinguish whether a chip card that can be registered with the data has been inserted into the unit contact chip card or if the transmission unit is used with its connection adapter. Advantageously, complicated cable connections between the device body of the blood pressure meter and the transmission unit can be dispensed with. In one embodiment of the invention, the data transmission unit can be designed as a top unit that can be connected to the body of the blood pressure meter device by means of a plug connection. The data transmission unit, its external transmission interface and / or the connection interface of the blood pressure meter can be unidirectionally designed and in particular allow the reading of the measurement data generated in the blood pressure meter.

Alternatively, the data transmission unit and / or the internal connection interface of the measuring device may be bidirectionally designed. This allows, on the one hand, the aforementioned data transmission from the blood pressure meter to the external data processing equipment. On the other hand, using this mode it is also possible to record the data, in particular the control data from the external data processing equipment, in the blood pressure meter. For example, certain locations of devices such as measuring times, reminder alarms, may be programmed in the blood pressure meter from the outside. According to one embodiment, the bidirectional interface operation can be carried out directly by connecting an external data processing device, for example a computer in the form of a PC, laptop, palmtop or similar, with the measuring device of the blood pressure meter. by means of the connection interface instead of the aforementioned transmission unit with the internal transmission interface. In this respect, the interface operation can go beyond the pure reading or respectively record the data. If such external peripheral devices with increased computing power and high-gauge monitor options are connected, the blood pressure meter only forms an acceptance module for the measurement data. The course of measurements can also be controlled from the external data processing device by means of interface commands. In the same way, the evaluation of the data Measurements may be made on the external device and are not subject to any functional restrictions that may occur on a common blood pressure meter. A considerable expansion of the realization spectrum can be achieved in this way. Alternatively or additionally, the biometric recognition device may be connected to the blood pressure meter by means of the blood pressure meter interface, and in particular directly by means of its connection interface. The biometric recognition device can carry out a user identification, for example, using a sensor for the acceptance of a fingerprint and thus determine the control data for the blood pressure meter depending on the identification of the user. The recognition device can enter this ID in the blood pressure meter, for example to adjust the properties of the measuring algorithm to the respective user. According to one embodiment of the invention, the external data transmission component can simultaneously form, together with the interface converter, a battery charger for electrically charging a battery provided by a device body of the blood pressure meter. However, in this case, the external interchangeable component with the interface converter can perform a double function. On the one hand, the data transmission standard of the pressure meter Blood pressure can be adapted to the requirements, while the blood pressure meter's battery can be charged at the same time. This mode is advantageous because the battery charger is formed by an external component, since it makes it possible to adapt to the electrical interface of the battery charger to the standards of the respective country. The battery charger can have a power connection according to the respective country's standard and also have a level converter, for example, to convert the 230 V power supply voltage common in Europe to the charging voltage for the internal battery of the device. If the device is to be adapted for the United States, the battery charger containing the component will be shifted to reduce the battery charger voltage required in the 110 V power supply voltage common in the United States.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other additional features will be obvious when referring to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a blood pressure meter according to an embodiment of the invention and a separate data transmission unit.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the blood pressure meter from Figure 1 and an external data processing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The blood pressure meter of Figure 1 may include a pressure cuff that can be placed around an extremity and that can be filled with a fluid. In particular, the blood pressure meter may be a wrist device wherein the pressure cuff can be adjusted precisely around the patient's wrist. Attached to the pressure sleeve is a device body comprising a device box, a pump 2 for filling and / or emptying the fluid sleeve, a power supply 3 in the form of batteries and / or storage batteries for making operate the pump 2, a measurement value recorder, for example in the form of a pressure sensor 4, a control mechanism 5 for controlling the pump 2 and for evaluating the measurement signals of the measurement value recorders 4 as well as a storage device 6 for storing the measurement values. As shown in Figure 1, a connection interface 7 is provided in the device body of the blood pressure meter 1 which is connected to the storage device 6 and / or the control mechanism 5. In the mode, as is drawn , the connection interface 7 form an RS-232 port; the connection interface 7 can advantageously be designed as a chip card contact unit. The transmission interface 7 can be connected to a data transmission unit 8 designed as a separate component which, on the one hand, has an internal connection interface 9 by means of which it can be connected to the RS-232 interface 7 of the meter of blood pressure. On the other hand, the data transmission unit 8 comprises an external data transmission interface 10 which, in principle, can have several formats. The external data transmission interface 10 may be, for example, an infrared transmission interface, a fax modem, a blue tooth unit, a chip card terminal and / or a connection cable terminal. Advantageously, the data transmission unit 8 has an interface converter operating between the internal connection interface 9 and the external transmission interface 10. The interface converter transforms the required data and transmission format to the internal connection interface to which it is conditioned by means of the connection to the RS-232 interface 7 of the blood pressure meter in the appropriate data and transmission format that is required in the external data transmission interface 10 and that is conditioned by means of the equipment external data processor that is going to connect there. For this purpose, the interface converter not only adapts the voltage level of the individual data signals to the requirements, but also transforms the data format and protocol transmission, for example from the RS232 format to the format prescribed by the blue tooth specifications. Advantageously, the data transmission unit 8 can be connected to the device body of the blood pressure meter by means of a plug connection. In particular, the internal connection interface 9 of the data transmission unit 8 can be a chip card adapter which can be plugged into the connection interface 7 of the blood pressure meter device body 1 designed as a unit of measurement. chip card contact. This makes it possible to replace the data transmission unit 8 in a simple manner. As shown in Figure 2, the design of the connecting interface 7 of the blood pressure meter device body in the form of a chip card contact unit also provides the advantage that an external data processing device , for example in the form of a laptop or a PC, can be connected directly to the connection interface 7 of the device body of the blood pressure meter. Beyond the transmission of data, this allows the execution of the evaluation of the measurement data determined by the blood pressure meter and the control of the blood pressure meter in the external data processing device 11 in the manner described above.

Claims (15)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A blood pressure meter comprises: a measuring device for obtaining blood pressure data; a device body connection interface; a data transmission unit that can be separated from the device body including: an internal connection interface that can be connected to the device body connection interface, an external transmission interface for at least one of the data transmissions of blood pressure to the external data processing devices and the transmission of control data to the measuring device and an interface converter that converts a first data and / or transmission format that is adjusted with respect to the measuring device in a second data format and / or transmission that is adjusted with respect to the external data processing device.

2. The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the device body connection interface comprises an RS-232 port.

3. The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the device body connection interface comprises a chip card contact unit.

4. - The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the interface converter comprises a protocol converter operable to synchronize a data transmission protocol of the internal connection interface with various data transmission protocols of the external transmission interface.

5. The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the interface converter comprises an operable level converter for adapting a data signal level of the internal connection interface to various signal levels of data from the external transmission interface.

6. The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the external transmission interface comprises at least one of the infrared interfaces, a fax modem, a chip card terminal, a connection interface of cable, a blue tooth unit, a USB interface, a firewire port and a WLAN interface.

7. The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the data transmission unit comprises a battery charger operable to electrically charge a battery included in the device body of the blood pressure meter.

8. The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the internal connection interface and the external connection interface are different from each other.

9. - The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the data transmission unit comprises a top connection operable to be connected to the device body of the blood pressure meter by means of a connector connection.

10. The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that the data transmission unit is bidirectional.

11. The blood pressure meter according to claim 1, further characterized in that it is designed as a wrist device.

12. A data transmission unit for a blood pressure meter comprises: an external transmission interface for transmitting data to at least one of the external data processing equipment and from the external data processor equipment, and an interface internal operable connection for releasably connecting the data transmission unit to the blood pressure meter, wherein the data transmission unit forms an interchangeable interface converter for the blood pressure meter that converts, between its interface connection internal and its external transmission interface a first data and / or transmission format that conforms to the blood pressure meter in a second data and / or transmission format that conforms to the external data processor device.

13. - The data transmission unit according to claim 12, further characterized in that the internal connection interface comprises an RS-232 port.

14. The data transmission unit according to claim 12, further characterized in that the internal connection interface comprises a chip card adapter.

15. The data transmission unit according to claim 12, further characterized in that the external transmission interface comprises at least one of the infrared interface, a fax modem, a chip card terminal, a connection interface of cable, a USB interface, a firewire port, a WLAN interface and a blue tooth unit.