Remotely programmable infusion system

Abstract

A remotely programmable infusion system. The remotely programmable infusion system comprises a memory for storing a programmable protocol and a remote communication port for sending a voice signal to a remote touch-tone transceiver and for receiving a remote programming signal from the remote touch-tone transceiver. The remotely programmable infusion system also comprises a voice storage unit for storing the voice signal. The remotely programmable infusion system further comprises a processor, coupled to the remote communication port, to the voice storage unit, and to the memory, for accessing the voice signal from the voice storage unit and the programmable protocol from the memory, and for processing the programmable protocol in response to receiving the remote programming signal.

1 . A remotely programmable infusion system having a programmable protocol, said remotely programmable infusion system being programmable by a remote touch-tone transceiver, comprising 
 a memory for storing said programmable protocol; a voice storage unit for storing a voice signal;    a remote communication port for sending said voice signal to said remote touch-tone transceiver and for receiving a remote programming signal from said remote touch-tone transceiver; and    a processor, coupled to said remote communication port and to said voice storage unit and to said memory, for accessing said voice signal from said voice storage unit, for accessing said programmable protocol from said memory, and for processing said programmable protocol in response to receiving said remote programming signal.    
   
   
       2 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 1  wherein the remotely programmable infusion system has a user access code; and wherein the processor permits remote programming of the programmable protocol in response to receiving said user access code from the remote touch-tone transceiver.  
   
   
       3 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 1  wherein the remotely programmable infusion system has a user access code and a master access code; wherein the user access code is stored in the memory and is programmable; wherein the processor permits programming of the user access code in response to receiving said master access code from the remote touch-tone transceiver; and wherein the processor permits remote programming of the programmable protocol in response to receiving said user access code from the remote touch-tone transceiver.  
   
   
       4 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 1  wherein the processor accesses a mode query signal from the voice storage unit, the remote communication port relays said mode query signal from the processor to the remote transceiver, and the processor selects one of a plurality of programming modes in response to a mode select signal being received from the remote touch-tone transceiver, said mode select signal being sent by the remote touch-tone transceiver in response to the remote touch-tone transceiver receiving said mode query signal.  
   
   
       5 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 4  wherein the plurality of programming modes includes an edit mode for editing the programmable protocol, a review mode for reviewing the programmable protocol, and a create mode for entering a new programmable protocol.  
   
   
       6 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a local communication port, coupled to the processor, for relaying signals between the processor and a local touch-tone transceiver.  
   
   
       7 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 1  wherein the remotely programmable infusion system has a status report mode, the remotely programmable infusion system further comprising a switch for selecting said status report mode; and wherein the processor accesses the programmable protocol from the memory in response to said status report mode being selected.  
   
   
       8 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 7  wherein the remote communication port relays the programmable protocol from the processor to a computer in response to the processor accessing the programmable protocol.  
   
   
       9 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a programming access switch for selecting either a patient conversation mode or a programming mode, said programming mode providing programming of the programmable protocol by the remote touch-tone transceiver.  
   
   
       10 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 9 , further comprising an override circuit for bypassing the patient conversation mode and thereby directly initiating the programming mode.  
   
   
       11 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm for indicating an alarm condition in the remotely programmable infusion system.  
   
   
       12 . The remotely programmable infusion system recited in  claim 1  wherein the voice signal is a digital voice signal, the system further comprising a voice synthesizer for converting said digital voice signal into an analog human voice signal, said analog human voice signal emulating the sound of a human voice.  
   
   
       13 . A method for remotely programming an infusion system, said infusion system having a voice storage unit for storing a voice signal and having a programmable protocol, said infusion system being programmable by a remote touch-tone transceiver, the method comprising: 
 establishing a connection between said infusion system and said remote touch-tone transceiver;    first accessing said voice signal from said voice storage unit after establishing said connection between said remote touch-tone transceiver and said infusion system;    first sending said voice signal to said remote touch-tone transceiver;    second receiving a remote programming signal from said remote touch-tone transceiver; and    processing said programmable protocol in response to receiving said remote programming signal.    
   
   
       14 . The method recited in  claim 13  wherein the infusion system has a user access code and the voice storage unit stores an access code voice command, the method further comprising: 
 second sending said access code voice command to the remote touch-tone transceiver in response to establishing the connection; and    initiating a remote programming session for the programmable protocol in response to receiving said user access code from the remote touch-tone transceiver.    
   
   
       15 . The method recited in  claim 13  wherein the infusion system has a master access code and a user access code, wherein the user access code is programmable, and wherein the voice storage unit stores an access code voice command, the method further comprising: 
 second sending said access code voice command to the remote touch-tone transceiver in response to establishing the connection;    first initiating a remote programming session for said user access code in response to receiving said master access code from the remote touch-tone transceiver; and    second initiating a remote programming session for the programmable protocol in response to receiving said user access code from the remote touch-tone transceiver.    
   
   
       16 . The method recited in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 second accessing a mode query signal from the voice storage unit;    second sending said mode query signal to the remote touch-tone transceiver;    third sending a mode select signal from the remote touch-tone transceiver to the infusion system in response to said mode query signal; and    selecting one of a plurality of programming modes in response to receiving said mode select signal.    
   
   
       17 . The method recited in  claim 16  wherein the plurality of programming modes includes an edit mode for editing the programmable protocol, a review mode for reviewing the programmable protocol, and a create mode for entering a new programmable protocol.  
   
   
       18 . The method recited in  claim 13 , further comprising relaying signals between the infusion system and a local transceiver.  
   
   
       19 . The method recited in  claim 13  wherein the infusion system has a status report mode and a protocol memory for storing the programmable protocol, the method further comprising selecting said status report mode; and accessing the programmable protocol from the protocol memory in response to selecting said status report mode.  
   
   
       20 . The method recited in  claim 19 , further comprising second sending the programmable protocol to a computer in response to accessing the programmable protocol from the protocol memory.