Hospital meter system

Abstract

A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid. The instrument includes a first port. The system includes a cradle for receiving the instrument. The cradle includes a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle. The system further includes a base having a third port. The cradle includes a fourth port for coupling to the third port to permit downloading to the base of data collected from the instrument by the cradle. The system further includes an accessory box including a fifth port. Engagement of the cradle with the accessory box couples the fourth and fifth ports. Engagement of the accessory box with the base couples the third and fifth ports.

1 . A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cradle further includes means for the entry of data by an operator.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the data entry means includes a touch screen for the manual entry of data.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the data entry means includes a key pad for the manual entry of data.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a base, the base including a third port and the cradle including a fourth port, coupling of the third and fourth ports permitting downloading to the base of data collected from the instrument by the cradle.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein coupling of the third and fourth ports includes providing complementary surfaces on the cradle and base, engagement of the complementary surfaces of the cradle and base coupling the third and fourth ports.  
     
     
         7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the base includes a fifth port for coupling to a port on a computer to permit transmission of data from the base to the computer.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  and further including a computer for at least one of storing the data, analyzing the data, and generating reports based upon the data, the base including a fifth port for coupling to a sixth port on the computer.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a bar code reader and patient identification devices, the system being capable of reading bar code from the patient identification devices to identify data which is entered into the system with a particular patient.  
     
     
         11 - 13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including an accessory box including a third port, the cradle including a fourth port, engagement of the cradle with the accessory box coupling the third and fourth ports.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein coupling of the third and fourth ports includes providing complementary surfaces on the accessory box and cradle, engagement of the complementary surfaces of the accessory box and cradle coupling the third and fourth ports.  
     
     
         16 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the accessory box further includes a housing and a carrying handle pivotally coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         21 - 36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle, a base including a third port and the cradle including a fourth port, coupling of the third and fourth ports permitting downloading to the base of data collected from the instrument by the cradle, the cradle including at least one rechargeable battery for powering circuitry in the cradle, the base including a power supply, coupling of the third and fourth ports permitting charging of the battery from the power supply.  
     
     
         38 . A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle, the cradle including a bar code reader, the system further including patient identification devices, the bar code reader being capable of reading bar code from the patient identification devices to identify data which is entered into the system with a particular patient.  
     
     
         39 . A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle, a bar code reader, and operator identification devices, the system being capable of reading bar code from the operator identification devices to identify data which is entered into the system with a particular operator.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the bar code reader is incorporated into the cradle.  
     
     
         41 . A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle, an accessory box including a third port, the cradle including a fourth port, engagement of the cradle with the accessory box coupling the third and fourth ports, a base including a fifth port, engagement of the accessory box with the base coupling the fifth port and the third port through the accessory box to permit downloading to the base of data collected from the instrument by the cradle.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein coupling of the third and fifth ports includes providing complementary surfaces on the accessory box and base, engagement of the complementary surfaces of the accessory box and base being designed to achieve coupling of the third and fifth ports.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the base includes a sixth port for coupling to a port on a computer to permit the downloading of data from the base to the computer.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41  and further including a computer for at least one of storing the data, analyzing the data, and generating reports based upon the data, the base including a sixth port for coupling to a seventh port on the computer.  
     
     
         45 . A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle, an accessory box including a third port, the cradle including a fourth port, engagement of the cradle with the accessory box coupling the third and fourth ports, the accessory box further including a housing and a carrying handle pivotally coupled to the housing, the carrying handle having two ends, one of the ends including a number of yieldable locking positions for the handle with respect to the housing.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45  further including a non-yieldable locking position of the handle with respect to the housing.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46  wherein at least one of the handle and the cradle includes a feature for engagement with the other of the cradle and the handle when the cradle engages the accessory box and the handle is in the non-yieldable locking position.  
     
     
         48 . A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle, an accessory box including a third port, the cradle including a fourth port, engagement of the cradle with the accessory box coupling the third and fourth ports, the accessory box further including a drawer accessible from two opposite sides of the accessory box, the drawer including a stop for reducing the likelihood of accidental disengagement of the drawer from the accessory box when the accessory box is withdrawn from either of said two opposite sides.  
     
     
         49 . A healthcare data management system for use with an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument to the cradle, an accessory box including a third port, the cradle including a fourth port, engagement of the cradle with the accessory box coupling the third and fourth ports, the accessory box including a drawer accessible from two opposite sides of the accessory box, the drawer including latches to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent opening of the drawer.  
     
     
         50 . A healthcare data management system including an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system further including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument.  
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50  wherein the system further includes a touch screen for the entry of data by an operator.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 50  wherein the system further includes a key pad for the manual entry of data.  
     
     
         53 . A healthcare data management system including an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system further including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument, the system further including a bar code reader and patient identification devices, the system being capable of reading bar code from the patient identification devices to identify data which is entered into the system with a particular patient.  
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53  wherein the system further includes a touch screen for the entry of data by an operator.  
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 53  wherein the system further includes a key pad for the manual entry of data.  
     
     
         56 . A healthcare data management system including an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system further including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument, the system including a bar code reader, the system further including patient identification devices, the bar code reader being capable of reading bar code from the patient identification devices to identify data which is entered into the system with a particular patient.  
     
     
         57 . A healthcare data management system including an instrument for determining the concentration of a medically significant component of a body fluid, the instrument including a first port, the system further including a cradle for receiving the instrument, the cradle including a second port for coupling to the first port to download data from the instrument, a bar code reader, and operator identification devices, the system being capable of reading bar code from the operator identification devices to identify data which is entered into the system with a particular operator.