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Management software for a universal device communication controller: application to monitoring and computerized
1Département de Calcul Scientifique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté de Médecine, Belgium.
International Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing
|November 1, 1996
Summary
A new virtual device driver and Universal Device Communication Controller (UDCC) enable seamless integration of diverse medical instruments with PCs. This innovation facilitates enhanced data acquisition for applications like infusion monitoring in critical care settings.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- Integrating diverse medical instruments with varying communication protocols to a personal computer presents significant challenges in clinical settings.
- Existing solutions often lack flexibility and require specialized hardware for each device type, limiting broad applicability.
- The need for a standardized, adaptable interface is crucial for efficient data collection and device management in healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and implement a virtual device driver and a Universal Device Communication Controller (UDCC) for local area network device integration.
- To enable observation, operation, and connection of multiple medical instruments to a personal computer via a single serial port.
- To demonstrate the utility of this system through the development of an Infusion Monitor for anesthesia and intensive care workstations.
Main Methods:
- Employed software engineering principles, including abstraction and specification rules, for the design of both hardware and software components.
- Developed a specialized hardware interface box (UDCC) to manage different communication protocols from medical instruments.
- Implemented a virtual device driver to standardize communication between the UDCC and the personal computer.
Main Results:
- Successfully designed and implemented a Universal Device Communication Controller (UDCC) capable of interfacing multiple medical devices.
- The virtual device driver facilitated seamless data flow from diverse instruments to a personal computer through a single serial port.
- The Infusion Monitor application, utilizing the UDCC and virtual driver, demonstrated effective integration for anesthesia and intensive care workstations.
Conclusions:
- The developed virtual device driver and UDCC offer a flexible and universal solution for integrating medical instruments with personal computers.
- This approach simplifies device connectivity and enhances data acquisition capabilities in critical care environments.
- The system holds significant potential for improving medical device management and data utilization in healthcare informatics.