Medical device interface system

Details Medical device interface system Medical device interface system

1999-11-19

2002-06-18

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Boxes and housings

With electrical device

C174S050000, C174S066000, C220S003940

Reexamination Certificate

active

06407335

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a medical device interface system, and more particularly, to an interface for securing a medical device to a mounting device such as a rail or a pole. The invention further relates to instrument docking devices providing power and electrical communications between an instrument, associated with the interface, and an external device.
In today's hospital environment, it is common for multiple medical devices, e. g., syringe pumps, infusion pumps, vital signs monitoring devices, to be simultaneously used to treat and monitor an individual patient. In such situations the instruments are typically secured to a mounting device positioned near the patient. A commonly used mounting device is a mounting rail or bar having standard height and depth dimensions. Typically, such rails are mounted to the walls of a hospital room at various heights and run the entire length of the room. The rails are spaced outward from the wall on spacers to allow for the placement of a fastening device between the wall and the back of the rail. A typical device for securing a medical device to a mounting rail is an L-bracket and a screw clamp. The L-bracket is mounted to the back of an instrument near the top and positioned such that when the instrument is mounted to the rail the bracket rests on the top and extends downward behind the back of the rail. The screw clamp is located on the rear of the instrument and is positioned such that when tightened the screw clamps against the back of the rail. This mounting device is somewhat inconvenient in that it requires the turning of a clamp screw in space that is typically too small to comfortably accommodate hand movement.
Another common mounting device is a pole, such a free-standing pole or one associated with the patient's bed. Pole clamps have commonly been used and have been rigidly mounted to the backs of medical devices. However, unless they are configured to be movable out of the way, they can interfere with other mounting arrangements of the instrument. Such stationary clamps can also cause inconvenience in handling and storage of the instrument due to the protrusion of the clamp. Hence those skilled in the art have recognized a need for a more versatile pole clamp.
Once the medical devices are properly secured to a mounting device the instruments must be connected to a power outlet. To this end, each individual power cord of each individual instrument is plugged into a power outlet located in the wall or in a power strip extension cord having multiple power outlets. Providing power connections in this manner may be problematic in that cables may become tangled thus rendering the tracing of an individual cable to its associated outlet and the subsequent movement of an individual instrument difficult. Safety issues also arise in that the use of a power strip extension cord to accommodate multiple instruments may cause a power outlet to be overloaded. Furthermore, the more cables that are laying on a hospital floor, the higher the risk of entanglement with a patient or care provider. In addition to the power cords, most medical devices also require or can accommodate a data communications connection to an external device such as a computer. The connection of individual data communications cables to each device further increases the forgoing problems and difficulties.
Hence, those skilled in the art have recognized a need for an interface capable of mounting an instrument to either a mounting rail or a pole. The need has also been recognized for a docking station capable of accepting a plurality of instruments and providing power and communications signals to the instruments through the docking station instead of through individual cables. The present invention fulfills these needs and others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly and in general terms, the invention is directed to a device interface system for securing a medical device to a mounting device such as a rail or a pole. The invention is further directed to an instrument docking device for providing power and electrical communications between an instrument, associated with the interface, and an external device.
In a first aspect, the invention relates to an interface forming part of an instrument housing for securing the instrument housing to a mounting rail mounted to a surface. The interface includes a back panel, a first portion protruding rearward from the back panel and a first recess carried by the protruding portion. The first recess is dimensioned to receive the mounting rail. The interface further includes a rail cam rotatably mounted within the protruding portion. The rail cam is aligned with the first recess to receive and retain the mounting rail.
In a detailed aspect of the interface, the protruding portion further carries a circular cutout partially within the first recess, and the rail cam includes a circular cam base having a surface substantially subflush with the first recess. The base is mounted for pivotal movement within the circular cutout. The rail cam further includes two opposing arms near the periphery of the cam base. The arms extend substantially perpendicular relative the surface of the cam base and each arm has an arm base defining a lock surface. The arms are positioned on the cam base such that the distance between the two lock surfaces is large enough to receive the mounting rail. In a further detailed facet of the interface, each arm further includes a guiding portion at the top of the arm base for contacting the mounting rail during insertion of the rail cam onto the mounting rail and transferring the force of contact with the mounting rail to the cam base to therein induce rotation of the rail cam.
In another detailed facet, the mounting rail has a height and depth and the guiding portion of each rail-cam arm includes a first portion sloping downward from a first height near the outer periphery of the arm base to a second height inward relative the outer periphery of the arm base. The second height is less than the first height. The guiding portion further includes a second portion contiguous with the first portion and extending outward from the arm base above the lock surface. The distance between the cam base and the bottom of the second portion is slightly greater than the depth of the mounting rail and the distance between the ends of opposing second portions is less than the height of the mounting rail.
In still another detailed aspect, the first recess includes a top region defined by at least one substantially planar top surface and an arcuate top surface, the arcuate top surface further defining an arcuate top region. The first recess further includes a bottom region defined by at least one substantially planar bottom surface and an arcuate bottom surface, the arcuate bottom surface further defining an arcuate bottom region. The rail cam has a closed/lock position during which the second portion of one of the arms is positioned above the at least one bottom surface and the second portion of the other arm is positioned below the at least one top surface, and the rail cam has an open/release position during which the second portion of one of the arms is positioned below the at least one bottom surface and the second portion of the other arm is positioned above the at least one top surface.
In a second facet, the invention relates to an interface device for securing an instrument to a docking station having a casing having at least one signal port and a mounting rail mounted within a recessed portion of the casing. The interface device includes a back panel forming part of an instrument housing for housing the instrument, a first portion protruding rearward from the back panel and a first recess carried by the protruding portion. The first recess is dimensioned to receive the mounting rail. The interface device further includes a rail cam rotatably mounted within the protruding portion and aligned with the first recess to receive and retain the mounting rail and at least one first-porti

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