Ambulatory Medical Telemetry Device Having An Audio Indicator

• US 20110015493A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Koschek, Andrew G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,709,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/185 Electrical failure alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An ambulatory medical telemetry device (10) is provided. The device includes at least one sensor (18) for detecting at least one physiological parameter of a patient and a housing that is securable to the patient. A circuit (50) is located in the housing for receiving and processing a signal representative of the physiological parameter from the sensor to generate recordable physiological data. An audio transducer (16) is located in the housing and operationally coupled to the circuit for generating an audio signal indicating at least one operational state of the device.

Claims

1. An ambulatory medical telemetry device, comprising:

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

a housing securable to the patient;

a circuit located in said housing for receiving and processing a signal representative of the physiological parameter from the at least one sensor to generate recordable physiological data; and

an audio transducer located in said housing and operationally coupled to said circuit for generating an audio signal indicating at least one operational state of the device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said audio signal generated by the audio transducer further indicates physiological-related information.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless receiver operationally coupled to the circuit and the audio transducer and located in said housing for receiving a wireless paging signal such that the audio transducer, in response to the wireless signal, generates an audio paging signal.

4. The device of claim 1 herein said at least operational state of the monitor that is indicated is successful completion of a self-test.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least operational state of the monitor that is indicated is a failure of a self-test.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one operational state of the monitor that is indicated is a successful completion of a test result to obtain the physiological data.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said audio transducer generates at least one tone.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said audio transducer generates at least one different tone for each operational state of the monitor that is to be indicated.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said audio transducer generates a plurality of tones each corresponding to a different operational state of the monitor.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of tones differ in at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of frequency, duration, intervals between tones and intensity.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein one of the tones represents positive feedback and another of other of the tones represents negative feedback.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transceiver operationally coupled to the circuit and the audio transducer and located in said housing for, in a receiving state of operation, receiving a wireless paging signal such that the audio transducer, in response to the wireless signal, generates an audio paging signal.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the physiological parameter detected by the sensor is selected from the group consisting of electrocardiogram/respiration (ECG/RESP), electrocardiogram (ECG), invasive pressures, temperature, non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), SpO₂/Pleth level, carbon dioxide level (CO₂), and cardiac output.

14. A method for providing audible feedback from an ambulatory medical telemetry device securable to a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one physiological parameter of the patient;

receiving and processing a signal representative of the physiological parameter to generate recordable physiological data; and

generating an audio signal indicating at least one operational state of the device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said audio further indicates physiological-related information.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of receiving a wireless paging signal and, in response to the wireless signal, generating an audio paging signal.

17. The method of claim 14 herein said at least operational state of the monitor that is indicated is successful completion of a self-test.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said at least operational state of the monitor that is indicated is a failure of a self-test.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said at least one operational state of the monitor that is indicated is a successful completion of a test result to obtain the physiological data.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said audio signal comprises at least one tone.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein said audio signal comprises at least one different tone for each operational state of the monitor that is to be indicated.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein said audio signal comprises a plurality of tones each corresponding to a different operational state of the device.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein each of said plurality of tones differ in at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of frequency, duration, intervals between tones and intensity.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein one of the tones represents positive feedback and another of other of the tones represents negative feedback.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein the physiological parameter that is detected is selected from the group consisting of, without limitation, electrocardiogram/respiration (ECG/RESP), electrocardiogram (ECG), invasive pressures, temperature, non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), SpO₂/Meth level, carbon dioxide level (CO₂), and cardiac output.

26. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of receiving a first or second wireless paging signal and, in response, generating a first or second audio paging signal, respectively, wherein the first and second audio paging signals are audibly distinctive from one another.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first audio paging signal requests the patient to return to a predetermined location.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the second audio paging signal is used to locate the ambulatory medical telemetry device.