LIFE SUPPORT AND MONITORING APPARATUS WITH MALFUNCTION CORRECTION GUIDANCE

• US 20100292544A1
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Impact Instrumentation, Inc. (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Eizadkhah, Denise, Beck, George, Sherman, Leslie H., LeCroy, Dorian
• Granted Patent: US 9,283,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)

Abstract

A life support and monitoring apparatus with malfunction correction guidance is provided. The life support and monitoring apparatus of the present disclosure identifies the root cause or potential cause of a fault/failure and then prompts an operator to take appropriate steps to assure the continuance of life support and critical physiologic monitoring. When multiple faults/failures exist, the apparatus automatically prioritizes them based on risk to the patient and prompts the operator to do the most appropriate intervention to assure patient safety.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing at least one physiological parameter of a patient;

a user interface including a display for communicating events to an operator;

at least one memory for storing a plurality of event codes and data associated to each event code; and

a controller for determining if an event has occurred based on the at least one sensed physiological parameter of the patient, wherein if the controller has determined an event has occurred, the controller determines the event code number and retrieves the associated data from the memory based on the determined event code and causes the display of the user interface to display the associated data.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the associated data of each event includes at least an alarm name and description, mitigation/resolution instructions, if not resolved instructions and an indication of the priority of the alarm.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the mitigation/resolution instructions are presented as text data.

4. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the mitigation/resolution instructions are presented in the form of a video or audible message.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a communication interface for communicating with an external computing device, wherein the external computing device stores additional associated data.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein if multiple events occur, the controller is further configured to prioritize the events based on risk to the patient and list the multiple events on the display of the user interface from the event with the highest priority to the event with the lowest priority.

7. The apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to lockout display of at least one lower priority event until the highest priority event is rectified.

8. A ventilation apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing at least one physiological parameter of a patient;

a ventilator module for providing mechanical ventilation and supplying an adjustable level of inspired oxygen (FIO2) to the patient;

a controller for controlling the ventilator module to achieve the adjustable level of inspired oxygen (FIO2) based on the sensed at least one physiological parameter of the patient;

a user interface including a display for communicating events to an operator; and

at least one memory for storing a plurality of event codes and data associated to each event code,

wherein the controller determines if an event has occurred based on the at least one sensed physiological parameter of the patient, wherein if the controller has determined an event has occurred, the controller determines the event code number and retrieves the associated data from the memory based on the determined event code and causes the display of the user interface to display the associated data.

9. The ventilation apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the associated data of each event includes at least an alarm name and description and mitigation/resolution instructions.

10. The ventilation apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the associated data of each event further includes if not resolved instructions.

11. The ventilation apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the mitigation/resolution instructions are presented as a checklist to resolve the event.

12. The ventilation apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the mitigation/resolution instructions are presented in the form of a video or audible message.

13. The ventilation apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising a communication interface for communicating with an external computing device, wherein the external computing device stores additional associated data.

14. The ventilation apparatus as in claim 8, wherein if multiple events occur, the controller is further configured to prioritize the events based on risk to the patient and list the multiple events on the display of the user interface from the event with the highest priority to the event with the lowest priority.

15. The ventilation apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to lockout display of at least one lower priority event until the highest priority event is rectified.

16. The ventilation apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the sensed at least one physiologic parameter includes oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO₂), end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂), heart rate, blood pressure and temperature.

17. An event correction guidance method for a life support apparatus, the method comprising:

monitoring, by at least one sensor, at least one physiological parameter of a patient;

determining, by a controller, if an event has occurred based on the at least one sensed physiological parameter of the patient;

wherein if an event has occurred, determining, by the controller, an event code number for the determined event;

retrieving associated data from a memory based on the determined event code; and

displaying on a display of the life support apparatus the associated data.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the associated data of each event includes at least an alarm name and description, mitigation/resolution instructions, if not resolved instructions and an indication of the priority of the alarm.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein the mitigation/resolution instructions are presented as text data.

20. The method as in claim 18, wherein the mitigation/resolution instructions are presented in the form of a video or audible message.

21. The method as in claim 18, wherein if multiple events occur, the method further includes prioritizing the events based on risk to the patient and listing the multiple events on the display from the event with the highest priority to the event with the lowest priority.

22. The method as in claim 21, further comprising locking out display of at least one lower priority event until the highest priority event is rectified.

23. A ventilation apparatus comprising:

a ventilator module for providing mechanical ventilation and supplying an adjustable level of inspired oxygen (FIO2) to a patient;

a controller for controlling the ventilator module to achieve the adjustable level of inspired oxygen (FIO2);

a user interface including a display for communicating events to an operator; and

at least one memory for storing a plurality of event codes and data associated to each event code,

wherein the controller determines if an event has occurred with the patient, the ventilator module, a breathing circuit, a consumable resource, patient sensor connection or at least one sensed physiological parameter of the patient, wherein if the controller has determined an event has occurred, the controller determines the event code number and retrieves the associated data from the memory based on the determined event code and causes the display of the user interface to display the associated data.