MXPA99004752A - Device for the control and / or monitoring centralde infus pumps - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for central control and / or monitoring of infusion pumps (101A-101C, 102A-102F), which comprises a connection and support unit (103) adapted to releasably place therein a plurality of pumps of infusion to be controlled and / or monitored with respect to its functions, or having such pumps disposed releasably thereon, and a central control and / or monitoring unit (110) adapted to have the infusion pumps connected to the same, the unit of union and support (103), in predefined positions for support of the infusion pumps are provided with a respective interface to allow the communication of data for the connection of the respective infusion pump, and the central unit of control and / or monitoring (110) comprises a display device for visual representation of the condition of all the infusion pumps connected to it, with the topology of the representation visual inspection of the infusion pumps on the display device corresponding to the topology of the disposition of the infusion pumps on the junction and support unit (10)

Description

DEVICE FOR THE CONTROL AND / OR CENTRAL MONITORING OF INFUSION PUMPS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to medical systems and particularly to infusion pump systems used to deliver drugs to critically ill patients. In hospitals and other medical institutes, the administration of drugs, vitamins, nutrients and the like to critically ill patients is commonly done through infusion pumps through the intravenous route, that is, directly into the patient's blood. Infusion pumps are commercially available in substantially two types. According to the first type, a syringe pump is placed to advance a syringe plunger at a controlled feed rate in order to perform the administration of the contents of the syringe. According to the second type, there are pumps by which an infusion fluid is placed at a high level in an infusion bottle or an infusion bag and is administered by means of a pump at a controlled delivery rate. In the description in the following, the term REF .: 30316"infusion pump" must be understood to refer to both types of pump. In modern hospital environments, it has become a very common practice to administer medications not manually by means of a syringe but instead, by preparing predictable doses of drugs in a manner suitable for infusion pumps and using such pumps to administer the medications to the patient. The administration is often set to be performed at a constant feed rate, but may also be performed discontinuously or in accordance with a supply profile with a variable feed rate. This frequent application of infusion pumps results in a situation in which, in the modern intensive care world, intensive care has been established around a dozen infusion pumps connected to it. In the intensive care of critically ill patients, for example, in therapy for patients with heart disease, it is not uncommon for a number of up to 20 infusion pumps to be exceeded. In the present state of the art, all these pumps together with other medical devices attached to the intensive care bed have been mounted in a conglomerate of individual apparatuses, which together with numerous other factors considerably alter the economy and the operating capacity of the devices. work places of intensive care. This is clearly described in "medizintechnik" 1/96 pp. 7-11, and for various reasons, a demand for standardization and systematization has been expressed. In addition, in the same article, the fluid system of the company B. Braun Melsungen AG is mentioned as a partial solution for the handling of infusion pumps. In this fluid system, the problems with respect to workplace ergonomics and clear placement are solved by providing a connection system for individual infusion pumps in a retaining plate, and a clearly monitored display, shown in a display unit, of the operating parameters of each individual infusion pump together with additional parameters of the patient. To rotate flexibility to the system, individual infusion pumps can be added and removed from the dedicated connection sites respectively, where power and data connections are automatically established. One possibility for central entry of parameters related to infusion pumps is described in U.S. Patent 4,756,706. The introduction of these parameters is done in a central unit which, in a similar arrangement to stacking, is mechanically and electrically connected to the infusion pumps and exchanges data with the latter. A massive disadvantage of this system is caused by the unidimensionality of the arrangement because the mechanical and electrical connections from the central unit to the first infusion pump and then on itself to the next respective infusion pump are established when the pumps are stacked one over another. Out of the practical considerations regarding the accessibility of each individual infusion pump and the central unit, this stacking arrangement seems suitable only up to a number of approximately ten infusion pumps. In practical handling, the stacked arrangement causes the additional disadvantage that the removal of an infusion pump placed in the middle part of the stack requires partial disassembly of the stack and a subsequent refurbished assembly. In practical use, this represents a considerable disadvantage since, as detailed in the following further, such a system of infusion pumps used in a typical hospital environment is a dynamic system. A third considerable disadvantage of the described modality resides in that this system represents an isolated solution which does not allow any means to establish data communications with devices that do not belong to the system. In addition, this system needs the use of special infusion pumps suitable for stacking. Normally the use of existing pumps is not possible. In the past, numerous solutions have been proposed to provide the individual infusion pump with means for data communication and to use such means in a suitable manner. An illustrative example is provided in U.S. Patent No. 5,376,070, relating to a communication controller for data communication with an individual infusion pump adapted to have a controller detachably connected thereto. Therefore, all of the individual infusion pumps can be programmed successively and then operated individually after separating the connection to the communications controller. This system does not allow a truly centralized control and monitoring but only offers a more convenient way to program each infusion pump compared to a programming performed on the pump itself. An additional aspect in this regard is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,681,285 related to an infusion pump provided with an electronic memory, wherein the memory can be loaded with a list of medications and the user can select a medication together with its appropriate parameter for this list of medications. Since in this mode the actual management process is now as in the previous performed on the infusion pump itself and since the connection to an externally compiled list of medicines is only established at relatively large time intervals, it is largely lacking of the centralizing aspect. Additional efforts have been made in various ways by which the drugs contained in a syringe or in an infusion bottle become readable for the machine. This is often done by printed bar codes adapted to be detected by means connected to the infusion pump or directly integrated therein. Examples thereof are provided in U.S. Patents 4,978,335 and 5,317,506. In addition, particularly in the most recent past, infusion pumps can be found which are provided - in addition to the means necessary for their actual function - with functions to increase their handling convenience by implementing additional actions. One of these examples is the North American patent 5,609,575 related to a computer for the calculation of infusion speeds that are going to be calculated according to the entries made by the user. To appreciate the advantage of a central infusion pump monitor, it should be considered that the present complex of infusion pumps can comprise as many as 19 individual keys to operate the numerous functions. Normally, some of these keys that have multiple functions assigned to them. Assuming a number of only 10 infusion pumps in an intensive care bed, 190 individual keys will have to be provided to operate this system. furtherEach infusion pump is provided with its own optical display device, its own optical and acoustic alarm system and its own interfaces with superordinate systems for acquisition and signaling of hospital data. In addition, the user interface of an individual infusion pump currently hardly meets modern requirements with respect to ergonomic criteria because the financial margin for the individual infusion pump is very narrow. Normally, therefore, use is made only of monochrome alpha numeric liquid displays or seven-digit light-emitting diode displays. Since, on the other hand, the possibility of implementing more complex functions also in the infusion pumps -which is made possible by improvements in the calculation capacity- has revealed a different discrepancy between what is technically feasible and what is manageable reasonably, and new solutions must be found in this respect. In a central infusion monitor, a modern and comfortable graphical user interface can be installed which significantly improves and accelerates communication with the system. Furthermore, such a central infusion pump monitor makes it possible to avoid the material and financial expenses in the individual infusion pump in those functional elements which are not positively assigned to a current pump function which are completely or partially placed externally to the pump. the infusion pump, which finally - even when considering the expense for the central infusion pump monitor - can result in a reduction in costs for the total system. Examples of functional elements that are not assigned to the current pump function and therefore can be completely or partially removed to external sites of the infusion pump, are the entry keys, the display device or the energy package with accumulator. Similarly, under financial aspects, the recently established obligation to perform an exact account for each individual care service performed on a patient in intensive care should be considered. Currently, the registration of medications administered by infusion pumps is updated almost exclusively manually. By using a central infusion pump monitor, the connection of the infusion pumps to a superordinate patient data management system or a hospital information system is considerably facilitated because there is only a single interface for connection to a lot of infusion pumps. This results in the convenient possibility of automatically documenting the administration of medications to an intensive care patient for medical and accounting purposes.

An additional application for such central control of infusion pumps is in the field of anesthesia. In this regard, efforts have been made over several years to replace gas anesthesia, a form of anesthesia that is still practiced on a regular basis, by intravenous anesthesia. Among the reasons for this are the increasingly lower limit values for the concentrations of tolerable anesthetic gases in the operating rooms of the operating rooms, the prohibition implied in this way of finding pregnant persons working in the field of anesthesia. , and the comparatively small side effects of narcotics administered intravenously. The additional reasons for the use of so-called fully intravenous anesthesia are found in the financial aspects since, instead of a complex and expensive anesthesia apparatus, there is a need only for a relatively simple and inexpensive breathing device and several infusion pumps adapted, and in environmental aspects since all the gases of anesthesia used are suspected to have harmful influences on the earth's ozone layer. For such completely intravenous anesthesia, at least three infusion pumps are required which induce the current anesthesia, analgesia, that is, deactivation of consciousness; analgesia, that is, the decrease in sensitivity to pain; and muscle relaxation, that is, the ease of tension in the muscles. Since the situation in the workplace anesthesia is currently determined substantially by two medical devices, the patient who monitors the survival of the vital parameters such as ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, etc., and the anesthesia apparatus for the With real anesthesia and breathing in this way the anesthetist communicates with the super-ordered systems instead of the subsystems, it is desirable to transfer this operating principle to fully intravenous anesthesia. The input and output device for all infusion pumps installed at the anesthesia work site should be provided as a central infusion pump monitor. This not only makes the system easier to examine, it also facilitates the documentation through which anesthesia is prescribed by law and which in many cases is still performed manually. With respect to the place of work of the anesthetist, U.S. Patent No. 4,741,732 is also of importance. Such patent discloses a solution for maintaining a specific arterial plasma level, established by the user of a drug, for example a narcotic, which is administered by an infusion pump. The approach is based on previous series examinations of numerous sufficiently large probands of a model of physiological processes, followed by using the model on any desired patient while introducing parameters, for example, the patient's body weight. It is described that all the functions are established directly on the infusion pump, with a resulting complexity of the pump. In addition, when more than one medicament is used whose delivery rate is controlled according to such a model, the parameters, for example the patient's body weight, can be entered into each individual infusion pump. Also against this background, a central infusion pump monitor would offer advantages. Based on the state of the art indicated above, an objective of the present invention is to provide a device for central control and / or monitoring of infusion pumps which allows central control / monitoring of a plurality of infusion pumps, the which is produced in a simple and inexpensive manner, offers sufficient flexibility with respect to the number and arrangement of infusion pumps and provides high reliability in handling. The present invention avoids the essential disadvantages of the infusion pump systems according to the current state of the art and numerous advantages are obtained by the use of such a system. The present invention comprises a central infusion pump monitor for controlling and monitoring two or more infusion pumps. The monitor of the central infusion pump includes one or a plurality of microprocessors with associated program and data memories, as well as one or a plurality of display and entry units. In addition, one or a plurality of data connections are provided between the central infusion pump monitor and the infusion pumps connected thereto. The central infusion pump monitor may include a power pack and a battery for its own power supply and for the power supply of all connected infusion pumps. The central infusion pump monitor is placed to transmit control instructions to all connected infusion pumps and to receive response data from it. The individual infusion pumps at all times are releasably attached to a support which also comprises the means for electrical connection between the infusion pumps and the central infusion pump monitor. The central infusion pump monitor can be placed to a large extent in any desired position and is not confined to a specific position on this support; instead, it can be mounted separately from the support, for example in the patient's bed. The complete system is portable and therefore can completely or partially accompany the patient when the patient must move to a different site. The central infusion pump monitor comprises a means for calculating the infusion rate to be supplied from each of the connected infusion pumps. For this calculation, it is possible to make use of parameters related to the patient -or to the medication- introduced by the user and of algorithms stored permanently in the memory of the central infusion pump monitor. What is essential is the visual and preferably graphic representation, displayed in the display units, the topology of the connected arrangement of the infusion pumps, the possibility for the introduction of control instructions and control parameters on the pump monitor of central infusion or -in a restricted form- on each individual infusion pump, and the display of operating parameters and values of the infusion pumps connected in the display units of the central infusion pump monitor. An additional feature is the connection capability of the central infusion pump monitor to documentation devices, for example, a hospital information system, to printing devices, which can also be integrated into a central infusion pump monitor, and to signaling devices, for example a nurse call system. In addition, there is the possibility for the connection of additional devices which, for example, perform a measurement regarding the elimination of the body fluid and thus allow a balance of the entry and exit of fluids in the patient. Additional possibilities for connection comprise all the known devices of the data processing technology, which, by way of example only, include a mass memory, a keyboard, a mouse, a bar code reader and a printer, a remote control and devices for remote data transfer. All these devices can be integrated into the central infusion pump monitor and can also be connected externally to it. According to the idea of the invention, it is not relevant if the central infusion pump monitor is a separate device or if its function is integrated in a different device, for example a patient monitor to monitor the vital parameters, a device of respiration or a data processing device that preferably serves other purposes. In addition, the central infusion pump monitor can be placed within a single housing or have its functional units distributed along a plurality of housings. The invention will now be explained in more detail, with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Figure 1 is a view of an exemplary arrangement of an infusion pump system; Figure 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary system of infusion pumps with a central infusion pump monitor and connections to peripheral devices; Figure 3 is an exemplary block diagram of a central infusion pump monitor in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a view of an example of the input menu for setting parameters for an infusion pump; Figure 5 is a view of an exemplary visual display for an infusion pump within the infusion pump system; and Figure 6 is an exemplary view of an exemplary visual display for the infusion pump system, consisting of a plurality of visual displays according to Figure 5. An exemplary arrangement of an infusion pump system 101A-101C, 102A -102F with fluid reservoirs 105A-105C and infusion lines 104 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Arrangements of this type are already in practical use in hospital environments and can be varied based on the respective medical requirements. In the case of critically ill patients in intensive care, for example, the number of syringe pumps 102A-102F may be increased, or a second station 103 may be placed with infusion pumps close to the first. It will be apparent that the number of possible variations of the present arrangement is practically unlimited and is substantially restricted only by the construction configuration of the mechanical support for the infusion pumps and by the number of infusion pumps. According to an essential aspect of the present invention, the topology of the infusion pump system is not relevant, that is, the partial arrangement of the individual infusion pumps within the system. It is only required that the topology of the system be known for the central infusion pump monitor or for the central control and / or monitoring unit 110. This can be done either by automatic recognition of the topology or by manual entry of the topology or by a combination of both options. Since, for an intensive care patient, the mechanical needs will change with respect to the time spent in the intensive care area, such an infusion pump system should be understood as a dynamic system where system components can be added or remove during continuous operation and where the operating parameters, for example drugs to be administered, administered doses, time protocols for administration and the like. For this reason, an automatic recognition of the topology of the system with respect to a manual input thereof is preferable due to the reduced effort per operation and for the reduced error potential. For the same reason, the addition and removal, respectively of a component of the system, is preferably carried out in such a way that both the mechanical and electrical connections to each component of the system can be established • or interrupted without any additional user activity when the component of the respective system has been correctly immobilized on the support 103 or released therefrom. Since the present invention is based on the use of infusion pumps, together with their support systems 103, - which have already been introduced in the market, and do not involve the need for the development of new infusion pumps and support systems, the connection between each individual infusion pump 101A-101C, 102A-102F to monitor infusion pump 110 central should be established in an appropriate manner. According to one aspect of the present invention, the identification of the topography of the system and therefore the spatial arrangement of each individual infusion pump within the system is carried out by wiring or wiring. As shown in Figure 2, there is a data connection 220 between each individual infusion pump 101A-101C, 102A-102F and the central infusion pump monitor 110. Through this data connection 220, the individual infusion pumps 101A-101C, 102A-102F receive control instructions from the central infusion pump monitor 110 and transmit status information to the central infusion pump monitor 110. Since, in the present embodiment, the central infusion pump monitor 110 and the individual infusion pumps 101A-101C, 102A-102F are joined by star-connected wiring, it is readily apparent that the topography of the system can be detected by interrogation of each individual position by central infusion pump monitor 110. The individual infusion pumps 101A-101C, 102A-102F are only required, in response to a specific instruction supplied by the central infusion pump monitor 110, to transmit their operational status and data or to initiate such transmission by themselves, which can be done continuously or at defined time points. As described above, since the normal hospital environment demands that the system be dynamically adaptable to medical requirements, the support system 103 including in the wiring must be adapted for extension within the established limits. This can be carried out by individual elements positioned to mechanically support a plurality of infusion pumps 101 and / or 102 while at the same time safeguarding the correct wiring with each individual infusion pump 101 and / or 102 and with the next element respective and from the respective preceding element. It is also possible that the topology of the system is provided so that it differs from the linear array and is made two-dimensional, as shown by way of example in FIG. 2. The connected star-shaped arrangement that has been described of the individual infusion pumps 101A-101C, 102A-102F to central infusion pump monitor 110 is only one possible mode. Furthermore, it is possible to place this connection in accordance with various known network configurations sufficiently from the data processing technology, for example, as an annular connection, a common link connection or a combination thereof. The essence is only the clear identifiability of each individual infusion pump 101A-101C, 102A-102F within the system and the possibility of locating them within the topological arrangement. In the connected star-shaped arrangement just described, this is very simple and can be carried out in a reliable manner; In a different network configuration, this may involve additional precautions with respect to the programming elements (software), the physical elements (hardware) or the design of the system construction. If the user, as explained above with reference to Figure 3, changes the setting of a parameter of one of the connected infusion pumps when operating an input unit 305, this setting will appear in the display unit 304 of the monitor 110 of central infusion pump.

Upon confirmation of the correctness by the user, the two microprocessors 301 and 302 independently acquire and process this setting and transmit it to the microprocessor 303. The microprocessor 303 performs a comparison between the data transmitted from the microprocessors 301 and 302 and , if these data coincide with each other, transmits the adjustment to the respective infusion pump by means of the data connection 220. To increase the reliability and operational safety, the respective infusion pump responds by transmitting, via the data connection 220, response data from which the correctness of the data transmission can be derived. The respective infusion pump transmits this response data to the microprocessor 303, and the latter transmits the response data identically in addition to the microprocessors 301 and 302 which independently compare the transmitted data with the response data in this way examine the correctness of data transmission. For time-dependent processes, the central infusion pump monitor 110 is provided with a real-time clock 308 which also serves as a second safety feature against errors in the operation cycle of the microprocessors. Each of the microprocessors 301-303 comprises program memories 306, 309, 311 and data memories 307, 310, 312 and, if required, additional peripheral units 317. In accordance with the current exemplary embodiment, communication between the monitor 110 of central infusion pump and individual infusion pumps is performed via data connections 220 in respective series which establish the connection to microprocessor 303 via a corresponding number of universal asynchronous receivers and transmitters 313, UART. Additional devices 210, 230 for connection to the central infusion pump monitor 110, for example, for measurement of patient fluid removal are preferably connected by means of one or a plurality of similar data connections 221, 222. As an electrical specification, the RS485 standard is selected for semi-duplex operation due to its high immunity to noise. However, the above is only a possible mode of data connections 220-222, additional possibilities comprise all types of network known from data processing technology, for example RS232, Ethernet, CAN, I2C, Firewire, USB , etc. Additional components of the central infusion pump monitor are a power pack 315 and a rechargeable battery 316 for power supply to the central infusion pump monitor 110. For data communication with external devices, for example a superordinate data processing device 202, a printing device 203, a monitor 204 for the patient, a system 205 for calling a nurse and additional input / output units 206, it makes use of adapted peripheral means 314 specifically coupled to one or a plurality of existing microprocessors 301-303 by means of one or a plurality of data connections. The power pack 315 and the battery 316 can also be placed to supply power to all of the infusion pumps connected to the central infusion pump monitor 110 to additional devices. In any case, they supply power to the central infusion pump monitor 110. Separation into a plurality of microprocessors 301 and 302 is a common feature for security relevant applications, but is not a precondition in the sense of the invention. The additional embodiments may comprise all of the known methods for obtaining what is termed the first error security in a central infusion pump monitor. The safety of the first error represents the common safety philosophy in medical products that is carried out where the first random error must be avoided which can cause harm to the patient, to the people who operate or to third parties. In addition, it is required to detect if a first error has occurred within a period of time where there is no probability of presenting a second error 'which is independent of the first error. To obtain this security of the first error, the current transmission of data to and from the infusion pumps, in the present embodiment, has been protected from transmission errors through the use of security measures commonly used in data processing technology. In the present embodiment, errors in further processing of user inputs to control instructions for individual infusion pumps are minimized by providing a variety of physical elements (hardware) and programming elements (software) between microprocessors 301 and 302 , that is, the two microprocessors 301 and 302 are of different types and carry out different programs which obtain their results through different arithmetic processes. Since the specific parts of the monitor of the central infusion pump, for example, the display units 304 can not in any way or only with considerable effort be safely protected against the first errors, it has been provided for this purpose that the user entries are made in two stages in order to obtain the same security. In a first step, the user enters his instructions through an input means 305. In the selected mode, a combined input is provided by means of keys and a rotary switch. The entry will then be presented in at least one display unit 304. In the selected embodiment, this is a menu-assisted graphic user surface on an active matrix liquid crystal color display device similar to known usage surfaces sufficiently in the data processing field. After completing all entries within a menu, all of the relevant entries regarding security will be displayed once again in other positions on the screen so that the user can make a comparison between the instructions entered by the and the instructions read by central infusion pump monitor 110. Only after a positive confirmation of correct condition by the user, the instructions will be processed and finally transmitted to one of the infusion pumps. Figure 4 shows an example of such input menu 401. After successful transmission of the instructions to the infusion pump, the latter, according to its respective design, can continue its operation in a more or less self-contained manner, even when it is detached from the central infusion pump monitor 110 upon removal from the support. In infusion pumps for completely self-contained operation, a series of instructions is made in the infusion pump which will initiate the same process as if the infusion pump were connected to the central infusion pump monitor 110. In infusion pumps which are not designed for completely self-contained operation and are provided for a smaller range of functions, removal of the infusion pump from support 103 will cause a more recently adjusted delivery rate to be maintained or, in In special cases such as, for example, the profiles described further below, the infusion pump removed from the support 103 can switch to a safe condition, which is normally the condition of stopping the pump. According to a further aspect of the invention, all connected infusion pumps are displayed in at least one display unit 304 of central infusion pump monitor 110, preferably in graphic form. To eliminate the risk of erroneous manipulation, the screen will transport schematically by visually representing the topological arrangement of the actual infusion pump system in the respective display unit 304. Thus, the allocation of each infusion pump to its visual representation on the central infusion pump monitor 110 can be easily monitored by the operating team. This is an important feature with respect to the security of the system and the acceptance of such a system. The granting of an instruction to a specific infusion pump will now be made by selecting the desired infusion pump by means of an input unit 305. This selection is carried out through functions commonly provided for graphic user surfaces, for example, by placing a frame, changing the background color, inverting the screen area or highlighting the selected object in some different way. After a positive confirmation of the selection by the user, the user has access to a menu 401, as shown by way of example in Figure 4, which comprises all possible settings for a special melt pump. These adjustments can be related to: name of the medication, concentration of the medication, desired dosage, desired delivery profile and so on. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustment is made by selecting a point in the menu by the appropriate input means 305, for example a rotary switch, positioned to cause the movement of the cursor on the screen, and by subsequent confirmation of the selection through of a suitable input means 305, for example, by pushing the rotary switch. A desired setting, e.g., concentration, can now be selected by rotating the rotary switch until it reaches the desired value, and then pushing the rotary switch to thereby conform the adjustment. Some components of the menu 401 can be placed in a variable manner, as would be reasonable, for example, for the introduction of the parameters of a profile. The menu 401 shown in Figure 4 may cover the entire display area or only a portion of the display area of the respective display unit 304.

In the exemplary mode, this menu occupies only a part of the exhibition area. A second part shows all the operating data of the selected infusion pump, for example in an exhibit display according to figure 5. A third party can display the visual representation of all relevant safety settings to allow repeated confirmation by the user. In addition, by means of the graphic representation of the topological arrangement of the infusion pump system, the user can only observe to obtain an analysis of the condition of all the connected infusion pumps. This condition may include the current operating state "in operation" / "stopped", the current fill level of the fluid reservoir, for example the syringe, the current supply speed, the condition of the battery and the like. A special advantage of the central infusion pump monitor is provided by the centralization of the alarm output. By the described graphic representation of the representation of the topological arrangement of the system, an infusion pump can be located quickly and reliably, which is causing an alarm when the units are indicated on the screen in a visual way that clearly differentiates them from the other infusion pumps. In addition, the reason for the alarm and additional information of the display unit can be inserted on the screen, with respect to the activation of an alarm, an additional advantage of the described central infusion pump monitor 110 becomes evident, notably in the reduction significant effort for connection to a nurse call system 205. These are signaling message systems commonly used in hospitals which, in the event of an alarm from a connected device, activate an optical and / or acoustic signal at the site of the health care team. In patients who are monitored for their monitoring of vital parameters, this technique, together with the central display of vital parameters, has been established for a long time; in infusion pumps, a connection to a nurse call system 205 has not yet been omitted altogether due to the large number of individual devices per bed in intensive care. With the central infusion pump monitor 110, the complexity of connections to a single connection is reduced for all the infusion pumps included in the system, which ultimately results in a financial advantage. A special advantage of the graphical user interface is the convenient option to adjust and display the so-called profiles. A profile is the delivery speed of an infusion pump after the time function and possible additional parameters. In the simplest case of a profile, the infusion pump will work at a supply speed that is constant with respect to time. Additional profiles can be provided with ascending and descending ramps, which can be subject to a limit with respect to time or volume, which can be arranged to follow a randomly desired arithmetic function, such as the exponential function, or to be provided with characteristic Similar. An additional modality of the profile is related to bolus administration, which is often required in medical practice and is performed at certain time intervals, for example three times a day, in specific amounts. On the monitor 110 of the central infusion pump the selection of such profiles of the adjustment of its parameters can be performed much more comfortably than would be possible with an individual infusion pump due to the lack of adequate means for visualization; In practice, until now, this condition has had the effect that such profiles are generated almost exclusively by activities on the side of the health care team. The automatic generation of profiles and their transformation into control instructions for the individual infusion pump clearly relieves the workload on the health care equipment and results in a more accurate dosing of the individual drugs. A possibility for an extension of the profiles of what is called teaching. In the operation in technique, the monitor of the central infusion pump stores all the actions performed by the user, that is, the user controls the infusion pumps in the conventional way by hand and makes his decisions based on his complex medical knowledge which, for the Most of it can not be converted into formulas and rules. After completing the teaching operation, the user can provide the sequence stored in this way with a unique identification which can be referenced in the future to reproduce this sequence of actions again at all times without the user being further involved. In the field of automation technology, this teaching principle has been used for a long time; In relation to fully intravenous anesthesia, this solution also promotes importance in the medical sector because the dosage of narcotics, as is common in conventional gas anesthesia, depends on parameters such as body weight of patients, age , sex and experience measured. A further extension of the profiles may reside in the pharmacokinetic models where the distribution of a drug administered in the patient's body is simulated by suitable models. These models are specific to the medication and will be provided with additional parameters, for example, weight or age of the patient. The target value in this regard is a desired level of plasma in the patient's blood, ie, a desired concentration of this drug. This desired concentration can be constant with respect to time, if only one wishes to replace the quantity of the medication that the body will absorb per unit of time, or the concentration can be variable with respect to time. It is the purpose of the pharmacokinetic model to control the delivery rate of the infusion pump by a control algorithm in such a way that, in consideration of the parameters introduced, the actual concentration of this drug in the blood is equal to the desired concentration. Such a pharmacokinetic model can be implemented in the infusion pump itself as well as in the central infusion pump monitor 110, while, for the above reason of ease of use, the implementation in the central infusion pump monitor 110 is preferred. A further aspect of the invention relates directly to the above profiles. According to this aspect, the prescriptions of medication, which previously have been introduced almost always manually in the prescription form by the doctor and the drug administrations are made by the health care team in the course of the day , which are automated, at least with respect to medications administered by infusion pumps. For this purpose, the central infusion pump monitor 110 is provided with at least one interface to at least one superordinate data processing device 202 within which the prescription plan is introduced instead of the prescription sheet. which is filled by hand. Another possibility resides in the entry of the prescription plan into a patient monitor 204, while the central infusion pump monitor may be provided with a data connection for this purpose. According to a third possibility, the prescription plan can be introduced in the same central infusion pump monitor 110. Regardless of which of the described possibilities is selected to introduce the prescription plan, the prescription plan will introduce the central infusion pump monitor 110 and it is performed in the same way in which it would be performed manually by a person working in the care of the output would be carried out manually, that is to say, at the times defined by the doctor in the prescription plan, the pumps are automatically activated or stopped, or the delivery speeds are changed, and the like. This represents an additional step towards providing the health care team with routine tasks and will also reduce the risk of errors by decreasing the complexity of the process at one level. Medications used in the intensive care setting are usually taken from a specific supply of medications which are applied to the patient based on the medical requirement. Since each hospital has its own medication supply, it seems reasonable, instead of introducing these medications again at the time of each application, having them recorded in a drug data bank and selecting among them when required. Since, for a clear documentation, it is indispensable that the data for each drug that is administered by the infusion pump be available for the central infusion pump monitor 110, the present invention provides that the central infusion pump monitor 110 is coupled to a data bank of medicines. This drug data bank can be placed in the central infusion pump monitor 110 as well as in external devices, for example 202, as already described above in connection with the prescription plan. Normally, the medication data side is generated once according to the requirements of the respective hospital and is updated when required. The drug data bank contains information for each drug, for example, the name of the drug, the permissible units of concentration, the allowable range of delivery rate, dosing parameters and the like. As illustrated in Figure 4, the introduction by means of the on-screen menu is restricted to selecting the name of the drug from a drug data bank, entering the concentration as well as the delivery parameters, for example, by selecting the profile. As information appended to the respective medicine, the drug data bank may contain permissible profiles of the respective medicine. In addition, according to an important aspect of the invention, each medicament may have a specific color assigned thereto. This specific color will then be represented in the display image according to FIG. 5 by color indications of all the characteristics assigned to a medicament, for example name of the medicament, concentration, current supply speed, amount still remaining in the tank. of fluid, shape of future and past profile. This possibility of a selective assignment of colors allows a considerably easier revision of the system. Thus, for example, all cardioactive medications may have the red color assigned to them, which until now was often done by colored labels that were attached to the syringes. As further shown in Figure 5, the display screen 501 of each infusion pump is divided into different areas. A first area 502 is provided to display indications with respect to the current conditions of the pump, for example pump running / pump idle, symbolized by a virtual rotating wheel; main supply or operation of the battery, symbolized by the corresponding standard symbol; alarms symbolized by a bell and the like. A second area 503 shows the name of the medicament administered by the infusion pump, the concentration of the medicament and the amount of fluid remaining in the syringe relative to the entire contents of the syringe. In case of an infusion pump supplying a fluid from a fluid reservoir placed at a higher level, the quantity already supplied or infused is represented, instead of the remaining quantity. A third area 504 shows the current delivery rate of the infusion pumps, measured in physical units. A fourth area 505 shows the delivery profile of the infusion pump. This profile is preferably shown as a graphical representation, with the time axis positioned horizontally and the supply speed represented vertically. The area to the left of the center shows the past and the area to the right of the center shows the future. The area of the past is represented as a full surface and the area of the future is represented as a line corresponding to the selected supply speed. The center line represents the current time point. For flexible adaptation to conditions in a hospital environment, the scale of the time axis, that is, the time space shown for the past and the present, is adjustable; thus, for example, in places of intensive care, an adjustment can be made for a period of six hours in both directions while, for applications in places in operations, shorter periods of time can be selected, for example 30 minutes in both directions. In a fifth area 506, alarms and messages related to the respective infusion pump are displayed. In addition, the central infusion pump monitor offers possibilities for requesting and displaying additional menus which, like menu 401 of FIG. 4 further described in the foregoing, are operated by means of an input unit 305. Such a menu can be, for example, a patient menu, in order to enter all the data related to the patient. An additional menu of this kind is a trend menu for an easily analysable representation of the drug administration made with respect to time for each infusion pump connected to the system. An additional menu of this kind is a natural adjustment menu for entering general data such as the date and time of day as well as additional setting parameters for the internal functions of the central infusion pump monitor 110. These menus are not illustrated here because they are not very different from the corresponding menus that are found, for example in monitors for patients according to the current state of the art. For each connected infusion pump, a display device 502 is provided as shown by way of example in Figure 5. If a plurality of such display devices according to Figure 5 are combined in a manner that allows the topology of the infusion pump system read from the display unit 304, a visual representation similar to that of figure 6 is obtained. Here is an example of a display screen display for the infusion pump system 101A-101C , 102A-102F of Figure 1. Individual infusion pumps 101A-101C, 102A-102F are provided with respective display areas 602A-602C, 603A-603F assigned thereto. In addition to the fields for the individual infusion pumps, at least one display unit is provided with one of a plurality of display areas 601 containing general indications not assigned to a specific infusion pump, eg name, age and weight of patients, date and time of day and the like. The individual fields 602A-602C, 603A-603F for individual infusion pumps can also be placed to defer from a standard deployment if circumstances so require. Thus, for example, it can be seen in Figure 6 that infusion pumps with an infusion bag 101A-101C can be provided with a slightly different screen image as compared to syringe pumps 102A-102F. In addition, it is possible to generate different representations for different types of infusion pumps. What constitutes the essence is a quick and simple analysis that is obtained in the system of the infusion pumps by a graphic representation of the topological disposition of the individual infusion pumps on at least one display unit of the pump monitor 110. central infusion. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers.

Claims (3)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A device for central control and / or monitoring of infusion pumps, comprising: a) a connection and a support unit adapted for releasable placement thereof of a plurality of infusion pumps, which are to be controlled and / or monitored with respect to its functions, or having such pumps disposed releasably thereon, and b) a control and / or central monitoring unit adapted to have the infusion pumps connected thereto, characterized in that: c) the unit of attachment and support in the predefined positions for support of the infusion pumps is provided with a respective interface to allow data communication for the connection of the respective infusion pump, and d) the central control and / or monitoring unit comprises a device for display for visual representation of the condition of the totality of the infusion pumps connected to it, with the topology of the visual representation of the pumps infusion in the display device corresponding to the topology of the arrangement of the infusion pumps on the junction and the support unit. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that in addition to the interfaces for data communication, an interface for energy supply of the respective infusion pump is provided in one or a plurality of positions previously defined for such infusion pumps . The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the junction and support unit has provided thereon a central power supply unit connected to the interfaces for power supply. . The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the infusion pumps and the central control and / or monitoring unit are additionally provided with an autonomous emergency power supply means which, in the event of a failure of the supply unit of the Central energy will safeguard the reliable operation of infusion pumps. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the central control and / or monitoring unit comprises a subunit provided on the junction and support unit, and a subordinate unit connected thereto, wherein the subunit is positioned for independently control predetermined functions of the infusion pumps and / or to control the communication between the infusion pumps and the subordinate unit. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the subordinate unit is placed in a separate housing. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control and / or monitoring unit or the subordinate unit are releasably connected to the junction and support unit and arranged to be placed freely. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection of the infusion pumps to the connection and support system is arranged in such a way that a mechanical fastener can simultaneously establish a connection to the respective interconnection for data communication with the central control and / or monitoring unit. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the interfaces for data communication and the infusion pumps are arranged in such a way that, after separation of an infusion pump from the connection and support system, the pump of infusion immediately detects such detachment and independently continues its operation in its predetermined function or keeps the last operative condition retained or introduces a safety condition. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that in addition to the infusion pumps, one or a plurality of additional modules can be arranged to detect physiological parameters of a patient in the junction and support unit and / or can be connected to the central control and / or monitoring unit. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the central control and / or monitoring unit, preferably the subunit, can be connected to one or a plurality of additional devices inside the patient's environment or to another device not primarily transportable within from the medical institute to allow the exchange of cats. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the central control and / or monitoring unit, preferably the subordinate unit, comprises input means for the user to enter parameters for control of the infusion pumps. 13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the system comprises a means for calculating infusion rates from the parameters entered by the user, the parameters preferably comprise the concentration of a physiologically active substance within the fluid and / or the patient's body weight and / or the desired concentration of the physiologically active substance in the blood of a patient. 1 . The device according to claim 10, characterized in that one or a plurality of physiological parameters are measured by one or a plurality of suitable measuring devices or parameters derived from the average physiological parameters which will alter the result of the calculation of the infusion rates . The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the central control and / or monitoring unit is provided to have a list of medicines and parameters related to the drugs introduced therein manually or from another device, and to store the parameters in it. 16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that the list of medications as well as the parameters related to the medications can be varied by a manual entry. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that specific conditions of the individual infusion pumps, particularly of alarm, can be displayed by the central control and / or monitoring unit.