Method for continuous monitoring of patients to detect the potential onset of sepsis

• US 20030181815A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mini-Mitter Co., Inc. (Respironics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mini-Mitter Co., Inc. (Respironics Incorporated)
• Inventors: McKenzie, Jack E., Ebner, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,022,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/483
• 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 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B

Abstract

A method of screening for possible onset of sepsis in a patient includes providing the patient with a transducer that automatically and periodically measures a first physiological parameter of the patient and transmits a first signal that is encoded with the measured parameter value, and receiving the first signal and automatically comparing the measured parameter value with at least one alarm limit. The first physiological parameter is body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate or a clinical indicator of sepsis. A conditional warning signal is asserted in the event that the measured parameter value bears a predetermined relationship to said alarm limit and an alarm signal is issued in the event that a physiological condition other than the condition that gave rise to the conditional warning signal is indicative of onset of sepsis.

Claims

1. A method of screening for possible onset of sepsis in a patient, comprising:

(a) providing the patient with a transducer that automatically and periodically measures a first physiological parameter of the patient and transmits a first signal that is encoded with the measured parameter value,

(b) receiving the first signal and automatically comparing the measured parameter value with at least one alarm limit,

(c) asserting a conditional warning signal in the event that the measured parameter value bears a predetermined relationship to said alarm limit, and

(d) issuing an alarm signal in the event that another physiological condition is indicative of onset of sepsis, and wherein said first physiological parameter is body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate or a clinical indicator of sepsis.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first physiological parameter is body temperature and step (d) comprises issuing said alarm signal in the event that a second physiological parameter is indicative of onset of sepsis.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said second physiological parameter is heart rate, respiration rate, or a clinical indicator of sepsis.

4. A method according to claim 3, comprising providing the patient with a transducer that measures heart rate and emits a transducer signal that is encoded with the measured heart rate, receiving the transducer signal and comparing the measured heart rate with a heart rate alarm limit, and issuing said alarm signal in the event that the measured rate exceeds the heart rate alarm limit.

5. A method according to claim 3, comprising providing the patient with a transducer that measures respiration rate and emits a transducer signal that is encoded with the measured respiration rate, receiving the transducer signal and comparing the measured respiration rate with a respiration rate alarm limit, and issuing said alarm signal in the event that the measured respiration rate exceeds the respiration rate alarm limit.

6. A method according to claim 3, comprising observing the patient and issuing said alarm signal in the event that the patient exhibits a clinical indicator of sepsis.

7. A method of screening for possible onset of sepsis in a patient, comprising:

(a) providing the patient with a first transducer that automatically and periodically measures the patient'"'"'s core temperature and transmits a first signal that is encoded with the measured core temperature value,

(b) providing the patient with a second transducer that automatically and periodically measures a reference temperature of the patient and transmits a second signal that is encoded with the measured reference temperature value,

(c) receiving the first and second signals and automatically comparing the measured core temperature value with the measured reference temperature value,

(d) issuing a warning signal in the event that the measured temperature value bears a predetermined relationship to the measured reference temperature value, and

(e) testing the patient for onset of sepsis.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the warning signal issued in step (d) is a conditional warning signal and the method further comprises, between steps (d) and (e), issuing an alarm signal in the event that another physiological condition is indicative of onset of sepsis.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the warning signal is an alarm signal and the method comprises performing step (e) in direct response to step (d), without an intervening indicator of onset of sepsis.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first transducer provided in step (a) is an ingestible thermometer and the second transducer provided in step (b) is a skin patch incorporating a telesensor for measuring skin temperature.

11. A method of screening for possible onset of sepsis in a patient, comprising:

(a) providing the patient with a transducer that automatically measures the patient'"'"'s interbeat interval,

(b) calculating the patient'"'"'s heart rate variability,

(c) issuing a warning signal in the event that the calculated value of heart rate variability bears a predetermined relationship to a reference value, and

(d) testing the patient for onset of sepsis.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the warning signal issued in step (c) is a conditional warning signal and the method further comprises, between steps (c) and (d), issuing an alarm signal in the event that another physiological condition is indicative of onset of sepsis.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the warning signal is an alarm signal and the method comprises performing step (d) in direct response to step (c), without an intervening indicator of onset of sepsis.

14. A method of screening and testing for sepsis in a patient, comprising:

providing the patient with an automatic thermometer that periodically measures the patient'"'"'s body temperature and transmits a temperature signal that is encoded with the measured temperature value,

receiving the temperature signal and automatically comparing the measured temperature value with at least one alarm limit,

asserting a warning signal in the event that the measured temperature value bears a predetermined relationship to said alarm limit,

determining whether another physiological condition is indicative of onset of sepsis, and, if so,

testing the patient for sepsis.