System and method for monitoring pre-eclamptic patients

• US 20070232938A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Friedman, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/494
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring and estimating the blood pressure of a pregnant patient that modifies the blood pressure estimating algorithm when the patient is pre-eclamptic. The level of carbon monoxide within a patient'"'"'s bloodstream or exhaled breath can be analyzed to determine whether a pregnant patient is pre-eclamptic. After the patient has been diagnosed as pre-eclamptic, the NIBP monitoring system adjusts its algorithm for estimating the patient'"'"'s blood pressure to compensate for the physical changes that occur in the patient during pre-eclampsia. The adjusted blood pressure estimates calculated by the NIBP monitoring system can be calculated using different adjustment techniques and methods and are displayed on the NIBP monitor.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and estimating the blood pressure of a pregnant patient, the system comprising:

a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor including a blood pressure cuff positionable on the patient, the NIBP monitor including a processor operable to receive oscillation signals from a transducer within the blood pressure cuff and estimate the patient'"'"'s blood pressure based upon the oscillation signals; and

a carbon monoxide detection device operable to determine the carbon monoxide level present within the patient,

wherein the processor modifies the blood pressure estimate based upon the detected carbon monoxide level.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the carbon monoxide detection device is a pulse oximeter sensor positionable on the patient.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the carbon monoxide detecting device senses the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s exhaled breath.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor estimates at least a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure based upon the received oscillation signals and a predetermined algorithm, wherein the processor adjusts the estimated systolic pressure and diastolic pressure when the sensed carbon monoxide level indicate the patient is pre-eclamptic.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is operable to determine whether the patient is pre-eclamptic based upon the detected carbon monoxide level, wherein the processor modifies the blood pressure estimate when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the processor estimates at least the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure, wherein the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure estimates are increased when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the pulse oximeter sensor is operable to detect the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the patient'"'"'s blood.

8. A method of monitoring blood pressure in a pregnant patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor operable to estimate the blood pressure of the patient and generate at least an estimated systolic pressure and an estimated diastolic pressure;

receiving an indication that the patient is pre-eclamptic at the NIBP monitor;

adjusting the blood pressure estimates of the NIBP monitor to compensate for the effects of pre-eclampsia; and

displaying the adjusted blood pressure estimates.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of the carbon monoxide level in the blood of the patient at the NIBP monitor; and

determining whether the patient is pre-eclamptic based upon the received carbon monoxide level.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

positioning a carbon monoxide detection device on the patient to detect the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s blood;

generating a signal related to the carbon monoxide level; and

receiving the signal at the NIBP monitor.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the carbon dioxide detection device is a pulse oximeter that detects the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the patient'"'"'s blood.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the carbon dioxide detection device detects the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s exhaled breath.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates includes:

increasing the estimated systolic pressure by a first offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

increasing the estimated diastolic pressure by a second offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates includes:

adjusting the ratio of the systolic pressure from an estimated mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

adjusting the ratio of the diastolic pressure from the estimated mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first and second offset values are determined based on the estimated mean arterial pressure.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the pre-eclamptic indication is manually received at the NIBP monitor.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein the pre-eclamptic indication is received from a remote data storage system in communication with the NIBP monitor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the remote data storage system is an electronic database including historical information related to the patient.

19. A method of enhancing the operation of a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor having a blood pressure cuff selectively inflatable and deflatable to determine at least a systolic pressure, a mean arterial pressure and a diastolic pressure for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that the patient is pregnant at the NIBP monitor;

receiving an indication that the patient is pre-eclamptic at the NIBP monitor;

adjusting at least the determined systolic pressure and the determined diastolic pressure to compensate for the effects of pre-eclampsia; and

displaying the adjusted blood pressure estimates

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of the carbon monoxide level in the blood of the patient at the NIBP monitor; and

determining whether the patient is pre-eclamptic based upon the carbon monoxide level.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

positioning a carbon monoxide detection device on the patient to detect the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s blood;

generating a signal related to the carbon monoxide level; and

receiving the signal at the NIBP monitor.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the carbon monoxide detection device is a pulse oximeter that detects the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the patient'"'"'s blood.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the carbon monoxide detection device detects the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s expired breath.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates includes:

increasing the estimated systolic pressure by a first offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

increasing the estimated diastolic pressure by a second offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates includes:

adjusting the ratio of the systolic pressure from an estimated mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

adjusting the ratio of the diastolic pressure from the mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic.