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

• US 20060155176A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• 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 7,252,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• 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

1-14. -14. (canceled)

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

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

(b) providing the patient with a second transducer that automatically measures a reference dermal temperature of the patient and intermittently transmits a second signal that is encoded with the measured reference dermal 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 an alarm signal in the event that the measured core temperature value bears a predetermined relationship to the measured reference dermal temperature value, and

(e) if the alarm signal is issued in step (d), testing the patient for onset of sepsis.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the first transducer provided in step (a) is an ingestible thermometer and the second transducer provided in step (b) is a dermal patch incorporating a telesensor for measuring dermal temperature.

17. 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 heart interbeat interval,

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

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

(d) if the alarm signal is issued in step (c), testing the patient for onset of sepsis.