Apparatus for the implementation of a physiologically controlled measurement at a living subject

• US 20020103422A1
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Harder, Martin, Seng, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 6,689,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal

Abstract

An apparatus for the implementation of a physiologically controlled measurement at a living subject has a signal acquisition arrangement for acquiring a physiological signal of the subject, a display for the graphic display of a time curve of the physiological signal, and a time-setting arrangement for setting at least one relative point in time that is referenced to the time curve of the physiological signal and that is to be employed for the control of the time sequence of the measurement. The display is configured for also graphically displaying the at least one relative point in time in its temporal relationship to the physiological signal, particularly by mixing at least one time bar in the displayed image. Quick visual monitoring of the relative points in time that are set is thus possible.

Claims

1. An apparatus for obtaining a physiologically controlled measurement at a living subject, comprising:

a signal acquisition arrangement, adapted for interaction with a living subject, for acquiring a physiological signal from the living subject, said physiological signal having a time curve associated therewith;

a time-setting arrangement connected to said signal acquisition arrangement for setting at least one point in time referenced to said time curve for controlling a time sequence of a measurement to be subsequently implemented at said living subject; and

a display connected to said signal acquisition arrangement and said time-setting arrangement for graphically displaying said time curve of said physiological signal and for graphically displaying said at least one point in time in a temporal relationship to said time curve of said physiological signal.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said time-setting arrangement sets at least two different points in time, and wherein said display graphically displays a time window between said two points in time in a temporal relationship to said time curve of said physiological signal.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said display displays said time window as a time bar.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display also displays a reference point in time, and wherein said display graphically displays a time window between said point in time and said reference point in a temporal relationship to said time curve of said physiological signal.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said display displays said time window as a time bar.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display displays said physiological signal and said at least one point in time with a stationary time access.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display displays said physiological signal and said at least one point in time with a moving time access.