Maintenance systems and methods for medical devices

Abstract

A maintenance system for a medical device includes a user device configured to communicate with the medical device and execute maintenance tasks on the medical device and communicate with a user via a user interface of the user device or the medical device. The maintenance tasks may be executed by either device or both devices, and communication with a user may occur via a user interface of either device or both devices. The system may also include a server configured to communicate with one or both of the user device and the medical device. The maintenance tasks may include an electrical safety check, a physical check, a performance check, and a functional check. Examples of functional checks include validation of a transient current detector and a thermal cutout.

1 . A maintenance system for a medical device, the maintenance system comprising:
 a user device, the user device including a processor and a user interface; and   a server comprising a processor; wherein the processor of the server is configured to:
 establish a connection between a processor of the medical device and the processor of the user device; 
 generate user interface information to cause one or more user interface elements to be displayed by the user interface of the user device, the one or more interface elements prompting a user at the user device to perform an action; 
 in response to the performed action, receive status information from the processor of the medical device; 
 using the received status information, determine a status of a component of the medical device; 
 based upon the determined status, determine whether the component is in need of replacement; and 
 in response to a determination that the component is in need of replacement, automatically initiate an order for a replacement component for the medical device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor of the server is configured to automatically initiate an order for a replacement component for the medical device by generating user interface information to cause one or more user interface elements to be displayed by a user interface of a second user device associated with a second user, the one or more user interface elements prompting the second user to confirm the order. 
     
     
         3 . The maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor of the server is further configured to generate user interface information to cause the user to input one or more values at the user interface of the user device, the one or more values used to perform one or more diagnostic procedures on the medical device. 
     
     
         4 . The maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the user device is remote from the medical device. 
     
     
         5 . The maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the status of the component comprises a remaining operational life of the component. 
     
     
         6 . The maintenance system of  claim 5 , wherein determining whether the component is in need of replacement comprises determining if the remaining operational life of the component is under a threshold value. 
     
     
         7 . The maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor of the server is further configured to determine whether the medical device is associated with account information. 
     
     
         8 . A maintenance system that provides automated maintenance for a medical device, the maintenance system comprising:
 a processor configured to execute one or more maintenance tasks for the medical device and communicate with a user via a user interface.   
     
     
         9 . The maintenance system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is housed within the medical device. 
     
     
         10 . The maintenance system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is housed within a user device that is separate from the medical device, the user device comprising a user interface, and wherein the medical device comprises a separate processor. 
     
     
         11 . The maintenance system of  claim 10 , comprising a server, the server comprising a server processor, the server processor configured to communicate with the processor of the medical device. 
     
     
         12 . The maintenance system of  claim 10 , comprising a server, the server comprising a server processor, the server processor configured to communicate with one or both of the processor housed in the user device and the processor housed in the medical device. 
     
     
         13 . The maintenance system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more maintenance tasks comprises one of an electrical safety check, a physical check, a performance check, or a functional check. 
     
     
         14 . The maintenance system of  claim 13 , wherein a said electrical safety check comprises evaluating the electrical functionality of the medical device. 
     
     
         15 . The maintenance system of  claim 13 , wherein a said physical check comprises evaluating one or more physical aspects of the medical device. 
     
     
         16 . The maintenance system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more physical aspects of the medical device include a power cable, a heater wire adapter, a housing, a front panel, a sensor cartridge, or a general condition. 
     
     
         17 . The maintenance system of  claim 13 , wherein a said performance check comprises validating an operation of a system health protection component of the medical device, the system health protection component configured to respond to an unexpected condition. 
     
     
         18 . The maintenance system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the user device and the medical device is configured to generate or simulate an unexpected condition as part of validating the operation of the system health protection component. 
     
     
         19 . The maintenance system of  claim 17 , wherein the system health protection component comprises a transient current detector. 
     
     
         20 . The maintenance system of  claim 17 , wherein the system health protection component comprises a thermal cutout. 
     
     
         21 - 53 . (canceled)