[001] TECHNICAL FIELD

[002] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to usage of medical devices. More particularly relates to  a medical device and a method to limit usage of the device to a restricted area.

[003] BACKGROUND

Monitoring systems such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)  Global Positioning System (GPS) etc. are used to detect movement of objects with respect to a specified area. If the object being monitored moves out of the specified area  the monitoring systems generate an alert. However  the monitoring systems have not been used in healthcare area. The healthcare area includes medical setups like hospitals  imaging center or clinic. Each of the medical setup has a number of medical devices for diagnosis of different types of diseases. Some of these medical devices are provided license on the condition that the devices shall be used in an authorized location like the premises of hospitals  imaging center or clinic. Further  some medical devices include export control regulations in the specification. Presently  there is no such system  which can track the movement of medical devices.

[004] Therefore  it would be desirable to have a medical device to overcome the above-mentioned problems.

[005] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[006] The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a method and a device as described in the description.

[007] The present disclosure relates to a medical device and method for preventing use of the medical device outside authorized location.

[008] In one embodiment  the present disclosure discloses checking the location of the medical device at predefined intervals of time.

[009] In one embodiment  the present disclosure discloses checking the location of the medical device each time the medical device is activated.

[0010] In one embodiment  the present disclosure provides for enforcing export control regulations for a medical device. The export control can be specific to countries.

[0011] In one non-limiting exemplary aspect  there is provided a method of preventing usage of a medical device in an unauthorized location. The method comprises determining a current location information of the medical device by an object locator unit upon occurrence of events selected from at least one of expiration of predetermined time interval and activation of the medical device. The determined current location information of the medical device is then received by a location checker module. The received current location information of the medical device is compared with predefined location information by the location checker module upon occurrence of the events. Further  when the current location information of the medical device does not match with the predefined location information of the medical device  the medical device is deactivated by locking a display screen of the medical device. But  when the current location information of the medical device matches with the predefined location information of the medical device  the medical device is activated by unlocking the display screen of the medical device.

[0012] In another aspect of the disclosure  a medical device for preventing usage of the device in an unauthorized location is disclosed. The medical device comprises an object locator to determine a current location of the medical device upon occurrence of events selected from at least one of expiration of predetermined time interval and activation of the medical device. The device further comprises a location checker module configured to receive the current location information from the object locator unit and compare the current location information with predefined location information of the medical device. The location checker module performs comparison upon occurrence of the events. The medical device also comprises a processor configured to perform at least one of deactivating the medical device when the current location information of the medical device does not match with the predefined location information of the medical device  wherein the deactivation comprises locking the display screen of the medical device  and activating the medical device when the current location information of the medical device matches with the predefined location information of the medical device  wherein the activation comprises unlocking the display screen of the medical device.

[0013] The aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments  read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the disclosure rather than limiting  the scope of the disclosure being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

[0015] The features of the present disclosure are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The disclosure itself  together with further features and attended advantages  will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description  taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments of the present disclosure are now described  by way of example only  with reference to the accompanied drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

[0016] Figure 1 illustrates usage of medical device within authorized area of usage in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 2 illustrates block diagram of a medical device with restricted area of usage in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart for preventing use of a medical device in unauthorized location in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific aspect disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure  both as to its organization and method of operation  together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood  however  that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates usage of medical device embedded with GPS in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment  the medical device is embedded with a Global Positioning System (GPS). In an exemplary embodiment  Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) GPS receiver chips are widely available at low costs and can be integrated to the medical device. An authorized area for operation of medical device is set initially. The medical device is usable only inside the authorized location. In case the medical device is moved out of the authorized location  the medical device will be locked down and cannot be used.

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates block diagram of a medical device with restricted area of usage in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] A medical device can be any device used in healthcare such as ultrasound system  X-ray system  mammography unit  Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan system  Electro Cardio Gram (ECG) device  Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device  Picture archive and communication system (PACS) device  Fluoroscope device. A person skilled in the art would understand that any other medical device can be used with the present disclosure.

[0025] The medical device (202) comprises a display screen (204)  a processor (206)  a location checker module (208) and an object locator unit (210). The display screen (204) of the medical device (202) displays the reading taken by the medical device (202). An object locator unit (210) continuously determines a current location of the medical device (202). In an exemplary embodiment  the object location unit (210) can be a GPS receiver  Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) receiver or a Geographic Information System (GIS). The current location is determined by the object locator unit (210) upon occurrence of one or more predefined events. In an exemplary embodiment  the predefined events can be activation of the medical device (202) or expiration of predetermined time interval. The location checker module (208) receives the current location information and compares the current location information with predefined location information. The predefined location information is preset in the medical device (202) and is the location which is authorized for the use of the medical device (202). In an exemplary embodiment  the predefined location information can be area covered by a hospital  or a country. In an exemplary embodiment  the predefined location information can be stored in the medical device (202) in form selected from at least co-ordinates of a specified area  latitudnal and longitudnal details of a specified area  ranges of a specified area etc. The comparison is done by the medical device upon occurrence of the events.

[0026] Upon comparison  if the current location information does not match with the predefined location information of the medical device (202)  the processor (206) of the medical device (202) deactivates the medical device (202) by locking the display screen (204) of the device. In the alternative  if the current location information does not match with the predefined location information of the medical device (202)  the processor (206) will activate the medical device (202) by unlocking the display screen (204) of the medical device (202).

[0027] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart for preventing use of a medical device in unauthorized location in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] The method of the present disclosure prevents use of a medical device outside an authorized location. The method comprises determining current location of the medical device (202) upon occurrence of one or more predefined events (step 302). The predefined events can be activation of the medical device or expiration of predetermined time interval. The determined current location of the medical device (202) is received by a location checker module (208). Then  the location checker module (208) compares the current location information with a predefined location information of the medical device (step 304). The comparison of current location information with predefined location information is performed at occurrence of the predefined events. In an embodiment  the predefined location information is preset in the medical device (202) at the time of configuration of the medical device. Upon comparison  if the current location information does not match with the predefined location information of the medical device (202)  then the medical device is out of the authorized area of use. In such case  the processor (206) of the medical device (202) deactivates the medical device (202) by locking the display screen (204) of the device (step 308). Once the medical device (202) is deactivated  the processor (206) determines if predetermined time interval has expired or if the medical device has been activated (step 310). In such case  the location checker module (208) compares the current location information with predefined location information of the medical device (step 304). Further  each time the medical device is deactivated  the service provider associated with the medical device is informed that the medical device has been moved out of the authorized location and has been deactivated. In an embodiment  if a medical device is moved out of the authorized location for more than predefined number of times  the license for the medical device can be cancelled.

[0029] In the alternative  if the current location information matches with the predefined location information of the medical device  the processor (206) will activate the medical device by unlocking the display screen (204) of the medical device (202) (step 312).When the medical device is activated by the medical device  the processor (206) will determine the expiration of predetermined time interval (step 314). In case the predetermined time interval has expired  the location checker module again compares the current location information with predefined location information of the medical device (step 304).

[0030] Thus  the method of the present disclosure detects whenever the medical device moves out of the authorized location and locks the device making it unusable. One of the ways of locking the device is by locking display of the device. Any other action which will disable the device functionality falls within the scope of this disclosure.

[0031] The present disclosure can be implemented across all medical devices with export control regulations on software or technology. Also  the present disclosure can be used with ultrasound device which has restriction on its use for pre-natal diagnostic.

[0032] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention  including the best mode  and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention  including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims  and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims  or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

REFERRAL NUMERALS

Reference numerals Description
202 Medical Device
204 Display Screen
206 Processor
208 Location Checker Module
210 Object Locator Unit

We claim:

1. A method of preventing usage of a medical device in an unauthorized location comprising:
determining a current location information of the medical device by an object locator unit  upon occurrence of events selected from at least one of expiration of predetermined time interval and activation of the medical device;
receiving the determined current location information of the medical device by a location checker module;
comparing the received current location information of the medical device with a predefined location information by the location checker module  wherein the comparison is performed upon occurrence of the events; and
performing at least one of :
deactivating the medical device when the current location information of the medical device does not match with the predefined location information of the medical device  wherein the deactivation comprises locking a display screen of the medical device; and
activating the medical device when the current location information of the medical device matches with the predefined location information of the medical device  wherein the activation comprises unlocking the display screen of the medical device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1  further comprising informing service provider associated with the medical device about locking of the display screen of the medical device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1  wherein the predefined location information is preconfigured in the medical device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1  wherein the predefined location information is a location authorized to operate the medical device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4  wherein the location authorized to operate the medical device is selected from at least one of hospital  clinic  and imaging centre.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1  wherein the object locator unit is selected from at least one of Global Positioning System (GPS)  Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)  and Geographic Information System (GIS).

7. A medical device for preventing usage of the device in an unauthorized location comprising:
an object locator to determine a current location of the medical device upon occurrence of events selected from at least one of expiration of predetermined time interval and activation of the medical device; and
a location checker module configured to:
receive the current location information from the object locator unit;
compare the current location information with a predefined location information of the medical device  wherein the comparison is performed upon occurrence of the events;
a processor  in response to the comparison  configured to perform at least one of :
deactivate the medical device when the current location information of the medical device does not match with the predefined location information of the medical device  wherein the deactivation comprises locking the display screen of the medical device;
activate the medical device when the current location information of the medical device matches with the predefined location information of the medical device  wherein the activation comprises unlocking the display screen of the medical device.

8. The medical device as claimed in claim 7  wherein the object locator unit is selected from at least one of Global Positioning System (GPS)  Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)  an Geographic Information System (GIS).