Nuisance alarm reductions in a physiological monitor
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an alarm in a medical diagnostic apparatus, said apparatus monitoring a measured value, said method comprising:
- measuring a value of a physiological parameter;
establishing a dynamic threshold value;
establishing a condition value from a combination of said measured value and said dynamic threshold value; and
triggering an alarm when said condition value exceeds a predetermined level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling alarms in a medical diagnostic apparatus where an alarm is generated when a measured value for a physiological parameter is outside a specified range. The method continuously calculates a baseline value, and establishes dynamic thresholds that are related to and continuously track the baseline value. The method determines the amount of time the measured value is past the dynamic threshold, and the amount by which the threshold is passed. Alarms are triggered based upon a combination of the amount of time and the amount by which the threshold is passed. Preferably, the combination is an integral or some function of an integral.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an alarm in a medical diagnostic apparatus, said apparatus monitoring a measured value, said method comprising:
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measuring a value of a physiological parameter;
establishing a dynamic threshold value;
establishing a condition value from a combination of said measured value and said dynamic threshold value; and
triggering an alarm when said condition value exceeds a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
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17. A method for controlling an alarm in a pulse oximeter apparatus, said apparatus monitoring said alarm when a measured value for a physiological parameter is outside a specified range, comprising:
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establishing a dynamic upper threshold value and a dynamic lower threshold value, wherein said threshold values define said range, and wherein said dynamic upper and said dynamic lower threshold values are related to a continuously calculated baseline value;
determining a quantity of time said measured value is outside said range;
determining a measure of the extent by which said range is exceeded by said value during said quantity of time;
triggering said alarm when a combination of said quantity of time and said extent exceeds a predetermined level;
further monitoring said alarm when a measured value for said physiological parameter is outside a fixed range;
establishing a fixed upper threshold value and fixed lower threshold value, wherein said fixed threshold values define said fixed range; and
triggering said alarm when said measured value exceeds said fixed range by a second predetermined value.
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18. A medical diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
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an alarm;
a sensor for measuring a value of a physiological parameter;
a computer useable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for managing said alarm, said computer readable code configured to execute functions, comprising;
calculating a baseline of said value;
establishing a continuously tracking threshold value, wherein said threshold value follows said baseline;
comparing said value of a physiological parameter to said threshold value;
monitoring said alarm when said value of a physiological parameter exceeds said threshold;
determining a quantity of time where said value of a physiological parameter exceeds said threshold;
determining a measure of the extent said threshold is exceeded by said value during said quantity of time; and
triggering said alarm when a combination of said quantity of time and said extent exceeds a predetermined level.
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Specification