Pulse oximeter user interface

• US 20020161291A1
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Pishney, James, Lee, Michael, Weber, Walter M., Al-Ali, Ammar, Kianl, Massi E., Carothers, Don
• Granted Patent: US 6,658,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A pulse oximetry user interface has a display and a plurality of views each configured to occupy the display. Each of the views are adapted to present data responsive to a physiological signal. A plurality of icons are configured to occupy a portion of the views and adapted to designate the content of the views. Further, a plurality of keys are proximate to the display and correspond to the icons so as to select the icons. One of the views is a pleth view that presents a pulse waveform. Another one of the views is a trend view that presents a trend graph. At least one of the icons can be selected so as to switch the display between the pleth view and the trend view.

Claims

1. A pulse oximetry user interface comprising:

a display;

a plurality of views each configured to occupy said display, each of said views adapted to present data responsive to a physiological signal;

a plurality of icons configured to occupy a portion of said views and adapted to designate the content of said views; and

a plurality of keys proximate to said display and corresponding to said icons so as to select said icons,

wherein a pleth view one of said views presents a pulse waveform,

a trend view one of said views presents a trend graph, and

at least one of said icons can be selected so as to switch said display between said pleth view and said trend view.

2. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 1 further comprising:

a scale associated with said pulse waveform;

a signal strength measure corresponding to said physiological signal; and

a relationship between said signal strength and said scale so that said pulse waveform conveys information regarding said signal strength.

3. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 2 wherein said relationship is a piecewise-linear auto-scaling function.

4. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 3 wherein

said pulse waveform is about 90% full scale for signal strengths in the range of about 10% to 20% DC;

said pulse waveform is in the range of about 60% to 90% full scale for signal strengths in the range of about 2% to 10% DC;

said pulse waveform is in the range of about 15% to 60% full scale for signal strengths in the range of about 0.5% to 2% DC; and

said pulse waveform is about 15% full scale for signal strengths in the range of about 0.02% to 0.5% DC.

5. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 1 further comprising a designation to indicate a period of time along said trend graph for which signal quality may be low enough to comprise data accuracy.

6. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 5 wherein said trend graph is a plot of average oxygen saturation versus time and said designation is a grayed-out box along the time axis corresponding to said period of time.

7. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 1 further comprising:

a data set, wherein said trend graph initially displays a first portion of said data set; and

a scroll one of said icons that, when selected, scrolls through said data set so that said trend graph displays a second portion of said data set.

8. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 1 further comprising a zoom one of said icons that, when selected, changes the time scale of said trend view and said corresponding trend graph.

9. A pulse oximetry user interface method comprising the steps of:

deriving a pulse waveform responsive to a physiological signal;

calculating a data trend responsive to said physiological signal;

providing said pulse waveform in a first display view;

presenting at least a portion of said data trend in a second display view;

selecting a first icon accessible from said first display view to switch to said second display view; and

selecting a second icon accessible from said second display view to switch to said first display view.

10. The pulse oximetry user interface method according to claim 9 comprising the further steps of:

determining a signal strength for said physiological signal; and

scaling said pulse waveform according to a piecewise linear relationship so as to be responsive to said signal strength.

11. The pulse oximetry user interface method according to claim 9 comprising the further step of indicating a low signal quality time period in said second display view corresponding to said data trend.

12. The pulse oximetry user interface method according to claim 9 comprising the further steps of:

determining a first portion of said data trend corresponding to a first time period;

determining a second portion of said data trend corresponding to a second time period, where said first time period and said second time periods are about equal; and

selecting said first portion or said second portion for said second display view based on a scroll icon provided in said second display view.

13. The pulse oximetry user interface method according to claim 9 comprising the further steps of:

determining a first portion of said data trend corresponding to a first time period;

determining a second portion of said data trend corresponding to a second time period, where said first time period is an integral multiple larger than said second time periods; and

selecting said first portion or said second portion for said second display view based on a zoom icon provided in said second display view.

15. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 14 further comprising:

a pulse waveform portion of said view means responsive to said physiological signal; and

an auto-scaling means applied to said pulse waveform portion for indicating the signal strength of said physiological signal.

16. The pulse oximetry user interface according to claim 14 further comprising:

a trend graph portion of said view means responsive to said physiological signal; and

a signal quality means for indicating a compromised time period of said trend graph portion.

14. A pulse oximetry user interface comprising:

a view means for presenting to a user data responsive to a physiological signal;

a main menu means for choosing display related categories;

a category menu means for choosing display related parameters, said parameters determining the characteristic of said view means;

an icon means for designating said view means, accessing said menu means and altering said parameters; and

a soft key means for selecting said icon means.