Patient monitoring help screen system and method

• US 20070225575A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wang, Hui, Eghbal, Darius, Kilborn, J., Palange, Cheryl
• Application Number:
  US11/386,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225575A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a patient monitoring help screen system and method. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include a patient monitoring device with an integral help screen system. The help screen system may provide context-based help, such that the help screen accessed by a help key may relate to a specific display context.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, comprising:

a patient monitor adapted to display physiological information related to a patient; and

a user input device in communication with the monitor, wherein the user input device is configured to cause the monitor to display a help screen.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a key or button.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user input device comprises a help icon.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein monitor is configured to display a plethysmographic waveform, a heart rate, an SpO₂ value, an alarm indicator, or any combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the help screen comprises a help menu.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the help menu comprises at least one help topic.

7. The system of claim 5, comprising a second user input device adapted to cause the monitor to display a help subscreen.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the help screen comprises at least two pages of help screens.

9. The system of claim 8, comprising a second user input device adapted to effect a switch between the at least two pages of help screens.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising a second user input device adapted to close the help screen.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first-user input device is adapted to effect a switch from the display of the physiological information to the help screen.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising a first display window adapted to display the physiological information and a second display window adapted to display the help screen.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.

14. A monitoring system, comprising:

a patient monitor comprising a display adapted to provide a plurality of output displays of computerized processes, wherein the plurality of output displays are adapted to be associated with a respective plurality of contexts; and

a user input device in communication with the monitor, wherein the user input device is configured to effect activation of a plurality of help screens on the display, wherein the plurality of help screens are adapted to be associated with the respective plurality of contexts.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user input device comprises a key or button.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the user input device comprises a help icon.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the output displays comprises a main display associated with a main display context.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of output displays comprise a plethysmographic waveform display associated with a main display context.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the help screen associated with the plethysmographic waveform display context comprises a help screen main menu.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the help screen main menu comprises at least one help topic.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of output displays comprise a sensor signal condition display associated with a signal condition display context.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the help screen associated with the sensor signal condition display context comprises a sensor help screen.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the patient monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.

24. A method comprising:

receiving one or more input signals related to a physiological state of a patient;

generating information related to the input signals;

displaying the information using a display;

receiving one or more input signals from a user-input device; and

displaying a help screen associated with the information.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the information comprises a plethysmographic waveform display.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the help screen associated with the plethysmographic waveform display comprises a help screen main menu.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the information comprises a sensor signal condition display.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the help screen associated with the sensor signal condition display comprises a sensor help screen.

29. A monitor configured to display physiological data from a patient, the monitor comprising:

a first help screen related to a first displayed physiological information; and

a second help screen related to a second displayed physiological information.

30. The monitor of claim 29, wherein the first help screen comprises a help menu.

31. The monitor of claim 29, wherein the first help screen comprises at least two pages of help screens.

32. The monitor of claim 29, wherein the first help screen and the second help screen are not displayed at the same time.

33. The monitor of claim 29, wherein the monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.

34. A computer-readable medium comprising:

code adapted to generate information related to the physiological state of a patient;

code adapted to receive one or more input signals from a user-input device; and

code adapted to display a help screen related to the information upon receipt of the input signal from the user-input device.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the help screen comprises a help menu.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the help menu comprises at least one help topic.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the help screen comprises a series of help screens.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the series of help screens is hierarchical.