Method and apparatus for multiple patient parameter variability analysis and display

• US 20030117296A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew J.E. Seely
• Original Assignee: Andrew J.E. Seely
• Inventors: Seely, Andrew J.E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,038,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• 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: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A method and apparatus (100) for providing continuous analysis and display of the variability of multiple patient parameters monitored by multiple bedside monitors (106a-106c) for each patient (102). Each monitor is connected to a patient interface and to a patient data storage unit (115) and a processor (113). Each monitored patient parameter is measured in real-time. Data artifacts are removed, and variability analysis is performed based upon a selected period of observation. Variability analysis yields variability of the patient parameters, which represents a degree to which the patient parameters fluctuate over time, to provide diagnostic information particularly useful in the detection, prevention and treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

Claims

1. A method of monitoring variability of a plurality of patient parameters using data acquired from a plurality of patient monitoring interfaces, comprising steps of:

collecting data points acquired by each of the plurality of patient monitoring interfaces for each of the plurality of patient parameters, respectively;

continuously computing a measure of variability that represents an estimate of a degree to which a particular patient parameter fluctuates over time, for each of the plurality of patient parameters; and

continuously displaying the variability for each of the plurality of the patient parameters.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting a method of computing variability from a plurality of methods of variability analysis, for each of the plurality of patient parameters.

3. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of selecting which of the plurality of patient parameters for which a representation of the variability is to be displayed.

4. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying a correlation between the variability of the plurality of patient parameters.

5. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of computing further comprises a step of removing artifacts from the collected data points for each of the plurality of patient parameters.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of removing artifacts uses a Pointcaré

plot to identify undesirable data points.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying, further comprises a step of displaying variability of each of the patient parameters in real time.

8. Apparatus for monitoring variability of a plurality of patient parameters, comprising:

a processor coupled to a patient monitor for receiving data points respectively associated with the plurality of patient parameters, the processor being adapted to continuously compute, for each of the plurality of patient parameters, a variability representative of an estimate of a degree to which the respective patient parameters fluctuates over time; and

means for continuously displaying the variability parameter for each of the plurality of patient parameters.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for selecting, for each of the plurality of patient parameters, a method of computing a variability parameter from a plurality of methods of variability analysis.

10. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 9, further comprising means for selecting a subset of patient parameters from the plurality of patient parameters.

11. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising means for selecting a method of computing a variability of the respective patient parameter from a plurality of methods of variability analysis.

12. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the processor is further adapted to remove artifacts from the collected data points for each of the plurality of patient parameters.

13. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the processor is further adapted to generate a Pointcaré

plot to identify undesirable data points.

14. The apparatus as claimed in any one, of claims 8-13, wherein the means for displaying further comprises a multiple patient variability display.