Modular patient care system

A patient care system, comprising:

• at least one functional unit including a microprocessor and memory, said unit capable of providing patient therapies, monitoring a patient condition, or providing information to a user in accordance with functional unit specific information, wherein at least a portion of said functional unit specific information is stored in said memory;
• and
• a first interface unit secured to and communicating with said at least one functional unit through a detachable connection to receive said functional unit specific information, said interface unit comprising a microprocessor, a resident memory, a display, a plurality of softkeys interacting with the display such that said interface is configured in accordance with said functional unit specific information to provide a functional unit specific user interface, and a power supply which supplies operational power requirements to said at least one functional unit through said detachable connection;
• and
• wherein said functional unit specific information permits the user to execute a function of the functional unit through user manipulation of the interface unit.

A patient care system, comprising:

• a first interface unit including a user interface having a first high level of interface functionality;
• a second interface unit including a user interface having a second lower level of interface functionality;
• and
• a functional unit for providing patient therapies or monitoring the condition of a patient sequentially connectable to either of said first and second interface units for receiving power and communications therefrom.

A method for providing care to a patient, comprising:

• providing a first interface unit including an interface memory and a user interface adapted to provide an interface with a user;
• attaching a functional unit to the first interface unit, wherein the functional unit is capable of providing patient therapies or monitoring the condition of the patient in accordance with functional unit specific information;
• transferring at least a portion of the functional unit specific information from the functional unit to the first interface unit;
• configuring said user interface in accordance with the functional unit specific information to provide a user interface for said functional unit;
• manipulating the user interface to set up the functional unit to perform a desired function;
• and
• performing the desired function with the functional unit.

A method for controlling the infusion of fluids to a patient from a plurality of pump units, comprising:

• providing an interface unit including a user interface adapted to provide an interface with a user;
• attaching a plurality of pump units to the interface unit, wherein each pump unit is capable of performing fluid infusion to a patient in accordance with pump unit specific information;
• transferring at least a portion of the pump unit specific information from each pump unit to the interface unit;
• configuring said user interface in accordance with each said pump unit specific information to selectively provide a user interface for each of said pump units;
• manipulating the user interface to set up each pump unit so as to perform an infusion in accordance with a predetermined infusion protocol;
• and
• performing an infusion according to the predetermined infusion protocol with the plurality of pump units.

A method for providing care to a patient, comprising:

• providing a first interface unit including a user interface having a first high level of functionality;
• removeably connecting a functional unit for providing patient therapies or monitoring the condition of a patient to the first interface unit, wherein the functional unit receives power and communications from the first interface unit;
• and
• interchanging a second interface unit including a user interface having a second lower level of functionality with the first interface unit when predetermined requirements change.

A patient care system, comprising:

• an interface unit adapted to provide an interface between the system and a user of the system;
• and
• at least first and second functional units, each capable of providing patient therapies or monitoring the condition of a patient in accordance with functional unit specific information;
• wherein each said functional unit includes communication means for communicating with the interface unit and for providing communication between another functional unit and the interface unit such that said functional units may be secured to and supported by one another in any arrangement and order while communicating with the interface unit.