Remote monitoring of medical devices

Abstract

A remote monitoring system for medical data collection can include a data-flagging process embeds authorization and settings information into a file containing the test results. Such data flagging can occur at a medical device or testing site, and may be based in policy settings received from a remote system. A file containing the test results can also include data category information that can be used to protect sensitive information by preventing such information from being communicated to the wrong server.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for processing test results of a medical device, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a communication interface, settings information indicative of one or more authorization levels associated with an entity, wherein each of the one or more authorization levels is indicative of a type of data, from the test results of the medical device, to include in reporting information;   obtaining the test results from the medical device;   creating, with a processor, a file comprising the reporting information, wherein the reporting information includes information indicative of:
 the entity, 
 the one or more authorization levels associated with the entity, and 
 at least a portion of the test results; and 
   sending the file via the communication interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a user with an interface configured to receive an input; and 
 adjusting at least one of the one or more authorization levels based, at least in part, on the input. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting, based on the settings information, at least one of the following settings of the medical device:
 a number of tests reported in a certain period of time, 
 a type of test to include in the reporting information, or 
 a starting date to provide the reporting information. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least the portion of the test results includes:
 a first data set associated with a first authorization level; and 
 a second data set associated with a second authorization level. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the settings information includes scanning a particular data location for the settings information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending the reporting information includes storing the reporting information in a particular data location for transmittal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further including formatting the reporting information in a meta-language. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reporting information further includes an identifier of the medical device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating the file further comprises including, in the reporting information, a cartridge identifier related to the at least the portion of the test results. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating the file further comprises including, in the reporting information, data category information related to at least a portion of the reporting information. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions embedded thereon for processing test results of a medical device, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions for:
 receiving settings information indicative of one or more authorization levels associated with an entity, wherein each of the one or more authorization levels is indicative of a type of data, from the test results of the medical device, to include in reporting information;   obtaining the test results from the medical device;   creating a file comprising the reporting information, wherein the reporting information includes information indicative of:
 the entity, 
 the one or more authorization levels associated with the entity, and 
 at least a portion of the test results; and 
   sending the file via the communication interface.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11  further comprising instructions for:
 providing a user interface configured to receive an input; and 
 adjusting at least one of the one or more authorization levels based, at least in part, on the input. 
 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11  further comprising instructions for adjusting, based on the settings information, at least one of the following settings of the medical device:
 a number of tests reported in a certain period of time, 
 a type of test to include in the reporting information, or 
 a starting date to provide the reporting information. 
 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11  further comprising instructions for formatting the reporting information such that:
 a first data set of the at least the portion of the test results is associated with a first authorization level; and 
 a second data set of the at least the portion of the test results is associated with a second authorization level. 
 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11  wherein the instructions for sending the reporting information include instructions for storing the reporting information in a particular data location for transmittal. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11  further including instructions for formatting the reporting information in a meta-language. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11  further including instructions for including, in the reporting information, an identifier of the medical device. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11  wherein the instructions for creating the file further comprise instructions for including, in the reporting information, a cartridge identifier related to the at least the portion of the test results. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11  wherein the instructions for creating the file further comprise instructions for including, in the reporting information, data category information related to at least a portion of the reporting information. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method for reporting test results from a medical device, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a communication interface, reporting information indicative of the test results from the medical device, wherein the reporting information includes information indicative of:
 an entity, 
 one or more authorization levels associated with the entity, wherein each of the one or more authorization levels is indicative of a type of data from the test results of the medical device, and 
 at least a portion of the test results; 
   receiving a request to report the test results, the request associated with the entity;   determining, with a processor, a subset of the at least the portion of the test results to report based, at least in part, on:
 the one or more authorization levels, and 
 the entity; and 
   providing a report based, at least in part, on the subset.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the report is provided via a web-based portal. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the reporting information further includes an identifier of the medical device, the method further comprising:
 determining a location associated with the medical device based, at least in part, on the identifier; and 
 providing an indication of the location in the report. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  further including sending, via the communication interface, settings information indicative of the one or more authorization levels associated with the entity. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the report is based, at least in part, on test results from a plurality of medical devices. 
     
     
         25 . A system for reporting medical test results, the system comprising:
 a first server configured to send settings information indicative of one or more authorization levels associated with an entity;   at least one medical device configured to:
 receive the settings information; 
 create reporting information regarding test results of a test conducted by the at least one medical device, wherein creating the reporting information includes embedding the reporting information with information indicative of:
 the entity, 
 the one or more authorization levels associated with the entity, and 
 at least a portion of the test results; and 
 
 send the reporting information; and 
   a second server configured to:
 receive the reporting information from the at least one medical device; 
 receive a request to report the test results of the at least one medical device, the request associated with the entity; 
 determine a subset of the at least the portion of the test results to report, based on the reporting information; and 
 provide a report based, at least in part, on the subset. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the report is provided via a web-based portal. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein:
 the at least one medical device is configured to include, in the reporting information, an identifier of the at least one medical device; and 
 the second server is further configured to:
 determine a location associated with each of the at least one medical device, at least in part, on the identifier; and 
 provide an indication of the location in the report. 
 
 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the second server is the same server as the first server. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the first server is configured to send settings information regarding at least one of the following settings of the at least one medical device:
 a number of tests reported in a certain period of time, 
 a type of test to include in the reporting information, or 
 a starting date to provide the reporting information.