METHOD, ARRANGEMENT AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING FLUID BALANCE STATUS OF A SUBJECT

• US 20100081942A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Huiku, Matti
• Granted Patent: US 8,246,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/483
• 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 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• 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 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/168 Means for controlling media flow to the body or for metering media to the body, e.g. drip meters, counters ; Monitoring media flow to the body flow control in general G05D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring fluid balance status of a subject are disclosed. A hemoglobin measure indicative of hemoglobin concentration in the blood of a subject and at least one physiological parameter responsive to blood volume changes in the subject are determined and concurrent behavior of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter is indicated to a user, thereby to give an indication of fluid balance status of the subject. The cause and/or reliability of the fluid balance status may also be indicated.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring fluid balance status of a subject, the method comprising:

determining a hemoglobin measure indicative of hemoglobin concentration in blood of a subject, wherein the determining includes determining successive values of the hemoglobin measure;

defining at least one physiological parameter responsive to blood volume changes in the subject, wherein the defining includes defining successive values for the at least one physiological parameter; and

indicating concurrent behavior of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter, thereby to give an indication of fluid balance status of the subject.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defining includes defining the at least one physiological parameter, in which the at least one physiological parameter is a cardiovascular parameter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating includes displaying prevailing trends of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter graphically.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating includes

selecting, based on the concurrent behavior, a message indicative of the fluid balance status of the subject;

and

displaying the message to a user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the indicating includes selecting the message, in which the message indicates at least one of a cause of the fluid balance status and a suggestion of a fluid therapy form.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the selecting includes selecting the message based on current values of the at least one physiological parameter and the hemoglobin measure.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the determining includes acquiring measurement signals from the subject non-invasively and substantially continuously through a multi-wavelength pulse oximeter;

and

the defining includes deriving the at least one physiological parameter from the measurement signals.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating includes a administering a fluid bolus to the subject.

9. The method according to claim 4, further comprising determining a quality index indicative of reliability of the fluid balance status of the subject.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a quantitative estimate of blood volume of the subject.

11. An arrangement for monitoring fluid balance status of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a hemoglobin measurement unit configured to determine a sequence of a hemoglobin measure indicative of hemoglobin concentration in blood of a subject;

a physiological parameter unit configured to define a sequence of at least one physiological parameter responsive to blood volume changes in the subject; and

an indicator unit configured to receive the sequence of the hemoglobin measure and the sequence of the at least one physiological parameter, and to indicate concurrent behavior of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter, thereby to give an indication of fluid balance status of the subject.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the at least one physiological parameter is a cardiovascular parameter.

13. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the indicator unit is configured to select, based on the concurrent behavior, a message indicative of the fluid balance status of the subject and to display the message to a user.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the message indicates at least one of a cause of the fluid balance status and a suggestion of a fluid therapy form.

15. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the hemoglobin measurement unit comprises a multi-wavelength pulse oximeter.

16. The arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the physiological parameter unit is configured to receive measurement signals from the multi-wavelength pulse oximeter.

17. The arrangement according to claim 11, further comprising an infusion pump configured to administer a fluid bolus to the subject, wherein the physiological parameter unit is configured to control the infusion pump.

18. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the indicator unit is configured to determine a quality index indicative of reliability of the fluid balance status of the subject.

19. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the indicator unit is further configured to determine a quantitative estimate of blood volume of the subject.

20. An apparatus for monitoring fluid balance status of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a data interface unit configured to receive successive values of a hemoglobin measure indicative of hemoglobin concentration in blood of the subject and successive values of at least one physiological parameter responsive to blood volume changes in the subject;

a display control unit configured to generate, based on the successive values of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter, display data indicative of concurrent behavior of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter, thereby to give an indication of fluid balance status of the subject.