Patient controlled analgesia for pediatric patients

Abstract

A method of providing a patient controlled analgesia to a pediatric patient including connecting a patient controlled analgesia system, such as an infusion pump and hand control, to an intravenous line of the pediatric patient and securing the hand control in a patient interface object, such as a stuffed toy having an internal void for receiving the hand control and an actuator affixed within the void. The patient is informed that pressing the area of the stuffed toy proximate to the actuator results in relieving pain experienced by the patient. Furthermore, an Internet address that is specific to the pediatric patient is provided to the patient for instructions on use of the combined patient controlled analgesia system and the patient interface object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing patient controlled analgesia to a patient, said method comprising steps of:
 connecting an intravenous line from a patient controlled analgesia system to said patient, said patient controlled analgesia system comprising said intravenous line, an infusion pump coupled to said intravenous line, and a hand control in operational communication with said infusion pump;   securing and concealing said hand control in a patient interface object, wherein said patient interface object is a toy comprising an internal void therein and having an actuator affixed within said internal void wherein said actuator is selectively movable to engage and disengage said hand control and wherein engagement of said hand control initiates delivery of analgesia by said infusion pump to said patient; and   familiarizing said patient to correlate pressing an area of said toy proximate to said actuator with relieving pain experienced by said patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing instructions to access an Internet page to said patient, wherein said Internet page is unique to said patient and wherein said Internet page displays instructions on use of said combined patient controlled analgesia system and said patient interface object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising steps of:
 assigning a unique alpha-numeric identifier with said patient interface object; and   logging into said provided Internet page using said unique alpha-numeric identifier.   
     
     
         4 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising steps of:
 displaying a picture of said toy representing said patient interface object; and   listing information unique to said care of said patient.   
     
     
         5 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said information comprises medical treatment procedures and operation instructions of said patient controlled analgesia system with said patient interface object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising after said connecting step, a step of:
 selecting said toy form for said patient interface object from said group of toy forms, said group of toy forms comprising:
 an animal, 
 a legendary creature, 
 a cartoon character, and 
 an inanimate object. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said toy further comprises a rear opening and a retainer affixed within said internal void for securely receiving said hand control. 
     
     
         8 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said actuator is biased away from said retainer. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient, comprising steps of:
 connecting an intravenous line from a patient controlled analgesia system to said patient, said patient controlled analgesia system comprising said intravenous line, an infusion pump coupled to said intravenous line, and a hand control in operational communication with said infusion pump, wherein engagement of said hand control initiates delivery of analgesia by said infusion pump to said patient;   securing and concealing said hand control within an internal void of a patient interface object, wherein said patient interface object is a toy;   familiarizing said patient to correlate pressing an area of said toy proximate to said actuator with relieving pain experienced by said patient; and   engaging said hand controller to initiate delivery of analgesia by said infusion pump to said patient.   
     
     
         10 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a step of providing an Internet address to said patient, wherein at least one web page associated with said Internet address provides instructions on use of said patient controlled analgesia system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at least one web page associated with said Internet address comprises information on said medical treatment received by said patient. 
     
     
         12 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at least one web page associated with said Internet address comprises information on how said patient should express pain with visual analog scales. 
     
     
         13 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising said step of providing an alpha-numeric identifier unique to said patient interface object, wherein said alpha-numeric identifier provides access to said web page when said alpha-numeric identifier is entered into a login field. 
     
     
         14 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said at least one web page displays a picture representing said patient interface object. 
     
     
         15 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said at least one web page lists information unique to said care of said patient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said patient is a pediatric patient. 
     
     
         17 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a step of:
 determining by said dosage controller subassembly, if said patient delivery request is within an outside of a maximum dosage period and upon determination that said patient delivery request is within an allowable dosage period, delivering a quantity of analgesia to said patient.   
     
     
         18 . A method of receiving instruction regarding a patient controlled analgesia system and use thereof, comprising steps of:
 connecting an intravenous line from a patient controlled analgesia system to said patient, said patient controlled analgesia system comprising said intravenous line, an infusion pump coupled to said intravenous line, a hand control in operational communication with said infusion pump and a dosage controlling circuit, wherein engagement of said hand control initiates delivery of analgesia by said infusion pump to said patient;   securing and concealing said hand control within an internal void of a patient interface object, wherein said patient interface object is formed in a shape of a toy; and   engaging said hand controller to request a delivery of analgesia by said infusion pump to said patient;   monitoring dosages of analgesia using said dosage controlling subsystem;   determining by said dosage controller subassembly, if said patient delivery request is within an outside of a maximum dosage period and upon determination that said patient delivery request is within an allowable dosage period, delivering a quantity of analgesia to said patient.   
     
     
         19 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising steps of:
 obtaining an Internet address of a web page, wherein said web page contains at least one of:
 instructions on use of said patient controlled analgesia system, 
 an image of said patient interface object, 
 information pertaining to care of said patient, 
 information pertaining to said analgesia, and 
 information pertaining to said medical condition of said patient; 
   accessing said web page; and   viewing said web page to learn about information provided on said web page.   
     
     
         20 . The method of providing patient controlled analgesia to said patient as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising steps of:
 receiving an alpha-numeric identifier unique to said patient interface object;   logging onto a website associated with said unique alpha-numeric identifier;   accessing a web page within said website using said unique alpha-numeric identifier, wherein said web page includes a picture representing said toy and information unique to care of said patient;   viewing said picture representing said toy; and   viewing said information unique to care of said patient.