Method and apparatus for displaying labour related information associated to an obstetrics patient

• US 20070255588A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PeriGen, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: LMS Medical Systems, Ltd. (Halma PLC)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Emily
• Granted Patent: US 10,134,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0011 Foetal or obstetric data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02411 of foetuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/033 Uterine pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/344 Foetal cardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4362 Assessing foetal parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/02 Measuring pulse or heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system and apparatus implementing a graphical user interface for displaying labour related information is provided. The graphical user interface displays, a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression. At least one viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveys a given feature measurement and a safety limit associated to the given feature measurement. The graphical user interface also displays at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows, the subset of viewing windows including at least one viewing window other than the first viewing window. The graphical user interface also displays the selected subset of viewing windows simultaneously with the first viewing window. In response to the given feature measurement exceeding the associated safety limit, the graphical user interface displays information to attract the attention of the user to the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement. As a variant, the set of possible viewing windows including one or more groupings including at least two viewing windows allowing a user to selected multiple viewing windows simultaneously. In another variant, a signal conveying a user identifier associated to a user of the system is received. At least one additional viewing window other than the first viewing window is selected for display from the set of possible viewing windows at least in part on the basis of the user identifier.

Claims

1. ) A computer readable storage medium storing a program element suitable for execution by a CPU, said program element implementing a graphical user interface module for displaying labour related information, said graphical user interface module being adapted for:

a) displaying a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression, at least one viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying;

i) a given feature measurement; and

ii) a safety limit associated to the given feature measurement;

b) displaying at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows, the subset of viewing windows including at least one viewing window other than the first viewing window;

c) displaying the selected subset of viewing windows simultaneously with the first viewing window;

d) in response to the given feature measurement exceeding the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement, displaying information to attract the attention of the user to the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement.

2. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein said set of possible viewing windows includes a viewing window conveying over a first time segment levels of risk associated with labour progression.

3. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 2, wherein for each time sub-segment of said first time segment, said graphical user interface module being adapted for displaying data conveying a respective level of risk associated with labour progression for an obstetrics patient.

4. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one viewing window in said set of possible viewing windows is adapted to convey information elements derived at least in part on the basis of clinical measurements obtained from the obstetrics patient.

5. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 4, wherein said set of possible viewing windows includes a viewing window displaying data conveying an expected cervical dilation over time.

6. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one possible viewing window in said set of possible viewing windows conveys a tracing of a fetal heart rate feature measurement over time.

7. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement includes at least one threshold value.

8. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 7, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted for displaying a visual indicator in association with the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement when the given feature measurement exceeds the at least one threshold value.

9. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 7, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted to display the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement when the given feature measurement exceeds the at least one threshold value.

10. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement further conveys in graphical form the at least one threshold value.

11. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein a viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveys a tracing indicative of a uterine contraction pattern.

12. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the uterine contraction pattern is a running average of a uterine contraction count associated with the obstetrics patient.

13. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein said control includes a selection box.

14. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted for displaying a set of controls, each control in said set of controls being associated to a respective viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows, each control allowing a user to select an associated viewing window.

15. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one control allows the user to select the subset of the set of windows by using an input device selected from the set consisting of a mouse, keyboard, pointing device, speech recognition unit and touch sensitive screen.

16. ) An apparatus for implementing a user interface for displaying labour related information, said apparatus comprising:

a) an input for receiving signals conveying labour information;

b) a processing unit in communication with said input, said processing unit being operative for implementing a graphical user interface module for displaying labour related information, said graphical user interface module being adapted for;

i) displaying a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression derived at least in part from the signals received at said input, at least one viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying;

(1) a given feature measurement; and

(2) a safety limit associated to the given feature measurement;

ii) displaying at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows, the subset of viewing windows including at least one viewing window other than the first viewing window;

iii) displaying the selected subset of viewing windows simultaneously with the first viewing window;

iv) in response to the given feature measurement exceeding the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement, displaying information to attract the attention of the user to the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement;

c) an output in communication with said processing unit, said output being suitable for releasing a signal for causing a display unit to display the graphical user interface module.

17. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said set of possible viewing windows includes a viewing window conveying over a first time segment levels of risk associated with labour progression.

18. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein for each time sub-segment of said first time segment, said graphical user interface module being adapted for displaying data conveying a respective level of risk associated with labour progression for an obstetrics patient.

19. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein at least one viewing window in said set of possible viewing windows is adapted to convey information elements derived at least in part on the basis of clinical measurements obtained from the obstetrics patient.

20. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said set of possible viewing windows includes a viewing window displaying data conveying an expected cervical dilation over time.

21. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein at least one possible viewing window in said set of possible viewing windows conveys a tracing of a fetal heart rate feature measurement over time.

22. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement includes at least one threshold value.

23. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted for displaying a visual indicator in association with the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement when the given feature measurement exceeds the at least one threshold value.

24. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted to display the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement when the given feature measurement exceeds the at least one threshold value.

25. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement further conveys in graphical form the at least one threshold value.

26. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein a viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveys a tracing indicative of a uterine contraction pattern.

27. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein the uterine contraction pattern is a running average of a uterine contraction count associated with the obstetrics patient.

28. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said control includes a selection box.

29. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted for displaying a set of controls, each control in said set of controls being associated to a respective viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows, each control allowing a user to select an associated viewing window.

30. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said at least one control allows the user to select the subset of the set of windows by using an input device selected from the set consisting of a mouse, keyboard, pointing device, speech recognition unit and touch sensitive screen.

31. ) A method for displaying labour related information, said method comprising:

a) receiving signals conveying labour information;

b) displaying a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression derived at least in part from the signals received, at least one viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying;

i) a given feature measurement; and

ii) a safety limit associated to the given feature measurement;

c) displaying at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows, the subset of viewing windows including at least one viewing window other than the first viewing window;

d) displaying the selected subset of viewing windows simultaneously with the first viewing window;

e) in response to the given feature measurement exceeding the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement, displaying information to attract the attention of the user to the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement.

32. ) A method as defined in claim 31, wherein said set of possible viewing windows includes a viewing window conveying over a first time segment levels of risk associated with labour progression.

33. ) A method as defined in claim 32, wherein for each time sub-segment of said first time segment, said graphical user interface module being adapted for displaying data conveying a respective level of risk associated with labour progression for an obstetrics patient.

34. ) A method as defined in claim 31, wherein at least one viewing window in said set of possible viewing windows is adapted to convey information elements derived at least in part on the basis of clinical measurements obtained from the obstetrics patient.

35. ) A method as defined in claim 34, wherein said set of possible viewing windows includes a viewing window displaying data conveying an expected cervical dilation over time.

36. ) A method as defined in claim 31, wherein at least one possible viewing window in said set of possible viewing windows conveys a tracing of a fetal heart rate feature measurement over time.

37. ) A method as defined in claim 31, wherein the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement includes at least one threshold value.

38. ) A method as defined in claim 37, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted for displaying a visual indicator in association with the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement when the given feature measurement exceeds the at least one threshold value.

39. ) A method as defined in claim 37, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted to display the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement when the given feature measurement exceeds the at least one threshold value.

40. ) A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement further conveys in graphical form the at least one threshold value.

41. ) A method as defined in claim 31, wherein a viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveys a tracing indicative of a uterine contraction pattern.

42. ) A method as defined in claim 41, wherein the uterine contraction pattern is a running average of a uterine contraction count associated with the obstetrics patient.

43. ) A method as defined in claim 31, wherein said control includes a selection box.

44. ) A method as defined in claim 31, wherein said graphical user interface module is adapted for displaying a set of controls, each control in said set of controls being associated to a respective viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows, each control allowing a user to select an associated viewing window.

45. ) A method as defined in claim 31, wherein said at least one control allows the user to select the subset of the set of windows by using an input device selected from the set consisting of a mouse, keyboard, pointing device, speech recognition unit and touch sensitive screen.

46. ) A labour monitoring system comprising:

a) a first sensor for receiving a signal indicative of a fetal heart rate;

b) a second sensor for receiving a uterine contraction signal associated with an obstetrics patient;

c) an apparatus for implementing a user interface for displaying labour related information, said apparatus comprising;

i) a first input in communication with said first sensor for receiving the fetal heart rate signal;

ii) a second input in communication with said second sensor for receiving the uterine contraction signal;

iii) a processing unit in communication with said first input and said second input, said processing unit being operative for implementing a graphical user interface module for displaying labour related information, said graphical user interface module being adapted for;

(1) displaying a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression derived at least in part from the signals received at said first input and said second input, at least one viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying;

(a) a given feature measurement; and

(b) a safety limit associated to the given feature measurement;

(2) displaying at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows, the subset of viewing windows including at least one viewing window other than the first viewing window;

(3) displaying the selected subset of viewing windows simultaneously with the first viewing window;

(4) in response to the given feature measurement exceeding the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement, displaying information to attract the attention of the user to the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement;

iv) an output in communication with said processing unit, said output being suitable for releasing an output signal for causing a display unit to display the graphical user interface module.

d) a display unit in communication with the output of said apparatus, said display unit being responsive to the output signal to display the graphical user interface module.

47. ) A client system adapted for communication with a server system for implementing a graphical user interface module for displaying labour related information for an obstetrics patient, said client system and said server system being operative to exchange messages over a data network, said client system being adapted for:

a) receiving from said server system a program element for causing a graphical user interface module to be displayed at said client system, said graphical user interface module being adapted for;

i) displaying a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression, at least one viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying;

(1) a given feature measurement; and

(2) a safety limit associated to the given feature measurement;

ii) displaying at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows, the subset of viewing windows including at least one viewing window other than the first viewing window;

b) transmitting data indicative of the selected subset of the set of possible viewing windows to said server system;

c) receiving from said server system instructions for causing the selected subset of viewing windows to be displayed simultaneously with the first viewing window;

d) receiving from said server system instructions for causing information to be displayed to attract the attention of the user to the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement in response to the given feature measurement exceeding the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement.

48. ) A client system as defined in claim 48, wherein the data network is the Internet.

49. ) A client system as defined in claim 48, wherein said control allows the user to select the subset of the set of possible viewing windows by using an input device selected from the set consisting of a mouse, keyboard, pointing device, speech recognition unit and touch sensitive screen.

50. ) An apparatus for implementing a user interface for displaying labour related information, said apparatus comprising:

a) means for receiving signals conveying labour information;

b) means for implementing a graphical user interface module for displaying labour related information, said graphical user interface module being adapted for;

i) displaying a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression derived at least in part from the signals received, at least one viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying;

(1) a given feature measurement; and

(2) a safety limit associated to the given feature measurement;

ii) displaying at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows, the subset of viewing windows including at least one viewing window other than the first viewing window;

iii) displaying the selected subset of viewing windows simultaneously with the first viewing window;

iv) in response to the given feature measurement exceeding the safety limit associated to the given feature measurement, displaying information to attract the attention of the user to the viewing window conveying the given feature measurement;

c) means for releasing a signal for causing a display unit to display the graphical user interface module.

51. ) A computer readable storage medium storing a program element suitable for execution by a CPU, said program element implementing a graphical user interface module for displaying labour related information, said graphical user interface module being adapted for:

a) displaying a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression, the set of possible viewing windows including at least one grouping, the at least one grouping including at least two viewing windows;

b) displaying at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows;

c) displaying the selected subset of viewing windows simultaneously with the first viewing windows.

52. ) A computer readable storage medium storing a program element suitable for execution by a CPU, said program element implementing a graphical user interface module for displaying labour related information, said graphical user interface module being adapted for:

a) receiving a signal conveying a user identifier associated to a user of the system;

b) displaying a first viewing window selected from a set of possible viewing windows, each viewing window in the set of possible viewing windows conveying a feature measurement related to labour progression;

c) displaying at least one additional viewing window other than the first viewing window, the at least one additional viewing window being selected from the set of possible viewing windows at least in part on the basis of the signal conveying the user identifier;

d) displaying at least one control allowing a user to select a subset of viewing windows from the set of possible viewing windows;

e) displaying the selected subset of viewing windows simultaneously with the first viewing window and with the at least one additional viewing window.