Indicating The Accuracy Of A Physiological Parameter

• US 20100249549A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Manheimer, Paul, Baker, Clark R. JR., Andersohn, Lutz
• Granted Patent: US 9,186,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7415 Sound rendering of measured values, e.g. by pitch or volume variation A61B5/741 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for displaying information that describes the accuracy of estimated values of physiological parameters. As part of the process of estimating a physiological parameter, the data used for the estimation are further analyzed to determine one or more statistical parameters indicative of the accuracy of the estimate. These statistical parameters are then displayed to the caregiver in order to provide the caregiver additional information concerning the estimated value. In the systems and methods described herein, one or more probability analyses are performed on the data used to generate the estimate of the physiological parameter. The analyses may include calculating the accuracy, confidence interval or some other statistical parameter representative of the accuracy of the estimate of the physiological parameter from the variations in the data An indication of the accuracy and/or an indication of the calculated probability may then be displayed to a caregiver or user.

Claims

1. A method for displaying oxygen saturation of a patient'"'"'s blood comprising:

calculating an estimated value of the oxygen saturation of the patient'"'"'s blood based at least in part upon information received from a sensor;

displaying the estimated value on a user interface;

calculating at least one statistical parameter associated with the estimated value based at least in part upon information received from the sensor; and

displaying the at least one statistical parameter with the estimated value on the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the at least one statistical parameter comprises:

displaying at least one of an upper limit of a confidence interval and a lower limit of the confidence level, the displayed confidence interval limit(s) calculated based at least in part upon a predetermined confidence level and/or information received from the sensor.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a user selection selecting the predetermined confidence level.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the at least one statistical parameter comprises:

displaying the upper limit of the confidence interval, the lower limit of the confidence level, and an accuracy of the estimated value on the user interface, the displayed accuracy calculated based at least in part upon information received from the sensor.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the at least one statistical parameter comprises:

displaying the predetermined confidence level.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

displaying a representation of a dial having a circumference with an associated scale; and

displaying an arrow pointing to a first position on the circumference corresponding to the estimated value of the oxygen saturation of the patient'"'"'s blood;

displaying a first mark on the circumference at a second position corresponding to the upper limit of the confidence interval;

displaying a second mark on the circumference at a third position corresponding to the lower limit of the confidence level; and

adjusting a feature of the arrow based on the accuracy.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

displaying a bar with an associated scale; and

displaying a first mark at a first position on the bar corresponding to the estimated value of the oxygen saturation of the patient'"'"'s blood;

displaying a second mark at a second position on the bar corresponding to the upper limit of the confidence interval;

displaying a third mark at a third position on the bar corresponding to the lower limit of the confidence level; and

displaying the first mark with a size corresponding to the accuracy of the estimated value of the oxygen saturation of the patient'"'"'s blood.

8. A method for the real-time display of a physiological parameter comprising:

displaying a first indicator identifying an estimated value of the physiological parameter; and

displaying a second indicator describing a probability distribution of the physiological parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the second indicator further comprises:

identifying a predetermined confidence level; and

displaying at least one of an upper limit of the confidence interval or a lower limit of the confidence interval, the displayed limit(s) calculated based at least in part upon the predetermined confidence level and physiological data used to generate the estimated value.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the second indicator further comprises:

displaying two or more second indicators.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

displaying a third indicator describing an accuracy of the estimated value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the third indicator further comprises:

calculating, based at least in part upon physiological data used to generate the estimated value, a standard deviation of the physiological data; and

generating the third indicator based on the standard deviation.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

displaying a scale;

displaying the first indicator at a first position relative to the scale corresponding to the estimated value; and

displaying the second indicator at a second position relative to the scale corresponding to a value related to the probability distribution of the physiological parameter.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

displaying a bar adjacent to a scale; and

displaying the first indicator and second indicator at different locations in bar.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

displaying the scale about a circumference of a representation of a dial; and

displaying the first indicator as an arrow within the dial pointing to the estimate value.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

displaying the second indicator as a bar on the circumference of the dial.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

displaying the first indicator as a number; and

displaying the second indicator as one or more numbers.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein displaying a first indicator comprises:

audibly communicating the estimated value of the physiological parameter.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein displaying the first indicator and the second indicator comprises:

audibly communicating the estimated value of the physiological parameter and the probability distribution of the physiological parameter.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

generating one or more audible tones having at least one of a pitch, an amplitude, a duration and a separation period selected based on the probability distribution of the physiological parameter.