PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETER SYSTEM

• US 20080300471A1
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar, Kiani, Massi E., Graybeal, John, Petterson, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,721,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• 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 physiological parameter system has one or more parameter inputs responsive to one or more physiological sensors. The physiological parameter system may also have quality indicators relating to confidence in the parameter inputs. A processor is adapted to combine the parameter inputs, quality indicators and predetermined limits for the parameters inputs and quality indicators so as to generate alarm outputs or control outputs or both.

Claims

1. A patient monitor comprising:

a first input configured to receive a trend data signal indicative of trend data related to a first parameter signal, said first parameter signal indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a patient and said first parameter signal responsive to a first physiological sensor monitoring said patient;

a second input configured to receive a second parameter signal, the second parameter signal responsive to a second physiological sensor monitoring said patient;

a plurality of predetermined limits for said parameter signals; and

a processor adapted to combine said trend data, determined values from said second parameter signal and said limits so as to generate an alarm output.

2. The patient monitor according to claim 1 comprising:

a variable threshold responsive to said second parameter signal,

said alarm output responsive to said trend data and said variable threshold.

3. The patient monitor according to claim 2 comprising:

a predetermined limit related to said second parameter signal,

wherein said alarm output is triggered below said variable threshold, and

wherein said variable threshold is raised in response to said second parameter signal and said predetermined limit.

4. The patient monitor according to claim 3 wherein:

said first parameter signal comprises values responsive to an SpO₂ of the patient;

said second parameter signal comprises values responsive to an ETCO₂ of the patient; and

said variable threshold is a lower limit for the SpO₂ that is raised in response to a downward trend in the ETCO₂ at a rate greater than said predetermined limit.

5. The patient monitor according to claim 1 comprising:

a pattern detector having a detection output responsive to said trend data,

said alarm output responsive to said detection output.

6. The patient monitor according to claim 5 further comprising:

a slope detector output responsive to said second parameter signal; and

a predetermined slope limit responsive to said slope detector output,

wherein said alarm output is triggered only if said slope detector output exceeds said slope limit.

7. The patient monitor according to claim 6 wherein:

said first parameter signal comprises values responsive to an ETCO₂ of the patient;

said second parameter signal comprises values responsive to an SpO₂ of the patient; and

said alarm output is responsive to ETCO₂ morphology only when there is a sufficient downward trend in SpO₂.

8. A physiological parameter system comprising:

a trend data input relating to trend data of a parameter, the parameter responsive to a physiological sensor;

a quality indicator input relating to confidence in said trend data input;

a plurality of predetermined limits for said trend data input and said quality indicator input; and

a processor adapted to combine said inputs and said limits so as to generate a control output.

9. The physiological parameter system according to claim 8 wherein said control output disables patient controlled analgesia when confidence in said trend data input is low.

10. The physiological parameter system according to claim 9 wherein said control output prevents said trend data input from disabling patient controlled analgesia when said quality indicator indicates confidence is low.

11. A physiological parameter method comprising the steps of:

inputting trend data related to a parameter, the parameter responsive to a physiological sensor;

inputting a quality indicator related to data confidence for said trend data;

outputting a control signal from the combination of said trend data and said quality indicator,

wherein said control signal is adapted to affect the operation of a medical-related device.

12. The physiological parameter method according to claim 11 wherein said trend data and said quality indicator are derived from a pulse oximetry sensor, said outputting step comprising the substeps of:

configuring said control signal to conditionally disable said medical-related device;

regulating said control signal in response to said quality indicator.

13. The physiological parameter method according to claim 12 wherein said regulating substep comprises the substep of disabling a shut-off signal when confidence in said trend data is low.

14. The physiological parameter method according to claim 13 wherein said regulating substep comprises the substep of enabling a shut-off signal when confidence in said trend data is high.

15. A system for indicating a diagnostic indication of a patient condition comprising:

a first sensor configured to measure a first physiological parameter and output an indication of trend data related to the first physiological parameter;

a second sensor configured to measure a second physiological parameter different from said first physiological parameter and output an indication of trend data related to the second physiological parameter; and

a processor which receives the outputs of the first and second sensors and determines a diagnostic indication of a patient condition from the outputs.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor comprises one or more of a pulse oximetry sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an ECG sensor, an acoustic sensor, or a capnographer.