ON DEMAND HELP/IN-SERVICE FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20090275805A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Alisa J., Shreffler, Lari E., St. Pierre, Shawn C., Lane, John A., Robinson, James M., Gunter, Suzanne Abate
• Granted Patent: US 8,808,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7271 Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis A61B5/316, A61B5/349 and A61B5/374 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

The invention is a medical monitor including an electronic circuit configured to receive a signal from the physiological sensor. A microcomputer configured to process the signal from the physiological sensor generates a value representative of the physiological parameter. The microcomputer is also configured to cause the medical monitor to display an in-service help screen on a display on the medical monitor in response to a detection of a predetermined number of out of range values of the physiological parameter. The microcomputer can also be configured to process a second signal from a second sensor representative of a second parameter and the microcomputer configured to cause the medical monitor to display an in-service help screen on a display on the medical monitor in response to a detection of a predetermined number of out of range values of the second parameter.

Claims

1. A medical monitor comprising:

a physiological sensor, said physiological sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter;

an electronic circuit configured to receive a signal from said physiological sensor, said electronic circuit further comprising a microcomputer configured to process said signal from said physiological sensor and to generate a value representative of said physiological parameter; and

said microcomputer configured to cause said medical monitor to display an in-service help screen on a display on said medical monitor in response to a detection of a predetermined number of out of range values of said physiological parameter.

2. The medical monitor of claim 1, where said microcomputer is programmed with one or more instructions comprising an algorithm configured to determine whether said value representative of said physiological parameter is a value within a range of expected values.

3. The medical monitor of claim 1, where said microcomputer is programmed with one or more instructions comprising an algorithm configured to determine whether said value representative of said physiological parameter is a value outside a range of expected values.

4. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises an oral temperature probe and said in-service help screen displays an image of a sublingual pocket.

5. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises a temperature probe type selected from the group of probe types consisting of an oral probe, an axillary probe, and a rectal probe, and said detection of a predetermined number of out of range values comprises detection of a predetermined number of out of range values expected for a particular selected probe type.

6. The medical monitor of claim 5, wherein said in-service help screen on a display comprises a warning that an improper probe type mode may have been selected on said medical monitor.

7. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises a respiration monitor based on an ECG measurement and said detection of a predetermined number of out of range values comprises a detection of anomalous respiration.

8. The medical monitor of claim 7, wherein said in-service help screen on a display comprises a warning that indicates insufficient or anomalous respiration and a suggestion to check ECG lead placement and ECG lead types

9. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises a SPO₂ monitor and said detection of a predetermined number of out of range values comprises a detection of anomalous SPO₂ electrical levels.

10. The medical monitor of claim 9, wherein said in-service help screen on a display comprises a warning that a defective SPO₂ probe is suspected and a suggestion to replace said defective SPO₂ probe.

11. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises a CO₂ monitor and said detection of a predetermined number of out of range values comprises a detection of abnormally low CO₂ levels.

12. The medical monitor of claim 11, wherein said in-service help screen on a display comprises a warning that an esophageal intubation is suspected and displays an image showing an esophageal intubation.

13. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises a capnography monitor and said detection of a predetermined number of out of range values comprises a detection of an alveolar plateau that is rounded or “

blunted”

where it blends with the down stroke of the capnogram.

14. The medical monitor of claim 13, wherein said in-service help screen on a display comprises a warning that an air leak is suspected and displays at least a selected one of:

an image of a endotracheal tube cuff an image of a tracheal tube cuff, an image of an artificial airway showing a problematic airflow possibly due to an insufficient opening.

15. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises a capnography monitor and said detection of a predetermined number of out of range values comprises a detection of a slope of the ascending limb of said capnogram that has little or no alveolar plateau.

16. The medical monitor of claim 15, wherein said in-service help screen on a display comprises a warning including at least a selected one of:

warning that an endotracheal tube kink is suspected, warning that the patient airway is otherwise obstructed, warning that a recommendation for immediate intervention.

17. The medical monitor of claim 16, wherein said in-service help screen further comprises suggestions of possible causes including at least a selected one of:

suggestion if no visible kinks, consider bronchospasm, suggestion of COPD, suggestion of foreign body in the upper airway, suggestion of herniated endotracheal or tracheal tube cuff.

18. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises a capnography monitor and said detection of a predetermined number of out of range values comprises a detection of increasing EtCO₂ values, and a capnography shows an elevated baseline or said capnograph waveform does not return to zero at the end of inspiration.

19. The medical monitor of claim 18, wherein said in-service help screen on a display comprises a warning that Co2 re-breathing is suspected and a suggestion that an operator look for at least a selected one of:

suggestion of an inadequate expiratory time, suggestion of a malfunctioning inspiratory valve, suggestion of an insufficient inspiratory flow rate, suggestion of a malfunction in the breathing circuit.

20. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein said medical monitor comprises a temperature probe and said detection of a predetermined number of out of range values comprises a detection of a temperature measurement beyond a pre-determined temperature and said in-service help screen displays an instruction to an operator to order at least one pre-determined type of lab work based on said temperature measurement.

21. The medical monitor of claim 1, wherein a second parameter comprises a measurement of time from an indicator of commencing a medical measurement to receiving a predetermined number of output values representative of said physiological sensor, and wherein on detecting a condition where said predetermined number of output values representative of said physiological sensor are outside of an expected range, said medical monitor is configured to display an intervention screen on a display on said medical monitor.

22. The medical monitor of claim 21, wherein said indicator of commencing a medical measurement comprises removing said physiological sensor from a stored position.

23. The medical monitor of claim 22, wherein said indicator of commencing a medical measurement comprises removing a temperature probe from a temperature probe storage well.

25. The medical monitor of claim 1, where said microcomputer is programmed with one or more instructions comprising an algorithm configured to determine whether said value representative of said second parameter is a value within a range of expected values.

24. A medical monitor comprising:

a physiological sensor, said physiological sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter;

an electronic circuit configured to receive a signal from said physiological sensor, said electronic circuit further comprising a microcomputer configured to process said signal from said physiological sensor and to generate a value representative of said physiological parameter, and

said microcomputer configured to process a second signal from a second sensor representative of a second parameter; and

said microcomputer configured to cause said medical monitor to display an in-service help screen on a display on said medical monitor in response to a detection of a predetermined number of out of range values of said second parameter.

26. The medical monitor of claim 24, where said microcomputer is programmed with one or more instructions comprising an algorithm configured to determine whether said value representative of said second parameter is a value outside a range of expected values.

27. The medical monitor of claim 24, wherein said second parameter comprises a signal from one or more accelerometers and said physiological parameter is a temperature parameter.

28. The medical monitor of claim 24, wherein said second parameter comprises a signal from a biting sensor and said physiological parameter is a temperature parameter.

29. The medical monitor of claim 24, wherein said second parameter comprises a signal from an ambient light sensor and said physiological parameter is a SPO₂ parameter.

30. The medical monitor of claim 24, wherein said second parameter comprises a NIBP measurement and said physiological parameter is a SPO₂ parameter and wherein a comparison of said NIBP measurement with said SPO₂ parameter tests for distortion of an SPO₂ caused by operation of an NIBP cuff.

31. The medical monitor of claim 24, wherein said second parameter comprises a temperature measurement to determine proper contact of a NIBP cuff with a person'"'"'s limb.

32. The medical monitor of claim 24, wherein said second parameter comprises a measurement of time from an indicator of commencing a medical measurement to receiving a predetermined number of output values representative of said physiological sensor, and wherein on detecting a condition where said predetermined number of output values representative of said physiological sensor are outside of an expected range, said medical monitor is configured to display an intervention screen on a display on said medical monitor.

33. The medical monitor of claim 24, wherein said second parameter comprises an indication of a maintenance problem.

34. The medical monitor of claim 33, wherein said indication of a maintenance problem comprises an out of paper indication.

35. The medical monitor of claim 34, wherein said in-service help screen on a display on said medical monitor comprises one of selected in-service help screens, at least one instructional video and at least one instructional image, both demonstrating how to change the paper.

36. A medical monitor comprising:

a physiological sensor, said physiological sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter;

an electronic circuit configured to receive a signal from said physiological sensor, said electronic circuit further comprising a microcomputer configured to process said signal from said physiological sensor and to generate a value representative of said physiological parameter; and

said microcomputer configured to cause said medical monitor to record instances of in-service help provided by said medical monitor.

37. The medical monitor of claim 36, wherein said medical monitor records instances of in-service help provided by said medical monitor beyond a threshold number.

38. The medical monitor of claim 36, wherein said recorded instances of in-service help provided by said medical monitor include an operator identifier.

39. The medical monitor of claim 36, wherein said recorded instances of in-service help provided by said medical monitor are sent to another computer via a wired or wireless network.

40. The medical monitor of claim 39, wherein said recorded instances of in-service help provided by said medical monitor are sent to a manufacturer of said medical monitor.

41. A medical monitor comprising:

a physiological sensor, said physiological sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter;

an electronic circuit configured to receive a signal from said physiological sensor, said electronic circuit further comprising a microcomputer configured to process said signal from said physiological sensor and to generate a value representative of said physiological parameter; and

said microcomputer configured to cause said medical monitor to record instances of measurement of said physiological parameter.

42. The medical monitor of claim 41, wherein beyond a pre-determined number of measurement instances during a pre-determined interval, said medical monitor records instances of measurement of said physiological parameter.

43. The medical monitor of claim 41, wherein said pre-determined interval comprises a clinical work shift.

44. The medical monitor of claim 41, wherein said recorded instances of measurement of said physiological parameter include an operator identification.

45. The medical monitor of claim 41, wherein said recorded instances of measurement of said physiological parameter include a patient identification or a room identification.

46. A medical monitor comprising:

a physiological sensor, said physiological sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter;

an electronic circuit configured to receive a signal from said physiological sensor, said electronic circuit further comprising a microcomputer configured to process said signal from said physiological sensor and to generate a value representative of said physiological parameter; and

said microcomputer configured to cause said medical monitor to provide at least one training session on how to measure said physiological parameter using said medical monitor, and said microcomputer configured to identify an operator and to allow said operator access to at least one feature of said medical monitor based on a record indicating that said operator completed said at least one training session.