Medical Device Alarm Modeling

• US 20110118573A1
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McKenna, Edward M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to patient monitors with alarm modeling features that may be employed to set alarm limits. According to certain embodiments, the patient monitors may include a user interface for setting alarm limits that may be displayed on the patient monitors and/or on an external device, such as a central monitoring station. The user interface may allow a user to vary alarm limit settings and view how the settings change the alarm history for a representative data trend.

Claims

1. A patient monitor, comprising:

a medical device interface suitable for operable connection to a sensor;

a display capable of displaying patient physiological data based on input received from the sensor and capable of displaying a graphical representation of representative physiological data;

a graphical user interface capable of receiving a user input that alters existing alarm limits for the patient physiological data; and

an alarm modeling feature capable of analyzing the representative physiological data to identify alarm conditions corresponding to the altered alarm limits and capable of displaying indicators that identify the alarm conditions on the graphical representation.

2. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the patient physiological data and the representative physiological data comprise SpO₂ values and wherein the graphical representation comprises a plethysmographic waveform.

3. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the representative physiological data comprises a historical trend of the patient physiological data.

4. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the representative physiological data comprises sample physiological data included within the alarm modeling feature.

5. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface includes a screen capable of displaying the graphical representation, the existing alarm limits, and highlighted sections of the graphical representation identifying alarm events corresponding to the existing alarm limits.

6. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and wherein the indicators comprise touch sensitive graphical elements selectable by a user to alter the alarm limits.

7. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the alarm limits comprise SpO₂ limits, an oxygen saturation pattern detection threshold, or a value specifying a product of magnitude and duration of an oxygen desaturation event, or a combination thereof.

8. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein the indicators comprise graphical elements selected by a user to adjust the alarm conditions for a corresponding portion of the graphical representation.

9. The patient monitor of claim 8, wherein the alarm model feature is capable of determining new alarm limits corresponding to the adjusted alarm conditions.

10. A patient monitoring system, comprising:

one or more patient monitors;

a central monitoring station coupled to the patient monitors and comprising;

a display capable of displaying a graphical representation simulating patient physiological data received from the patient monitors; and

a graphical user interface comprising alarm indicators capable of being displayed with the graphical representation to indicate alarm conditions for portions of the graphical representation; and

an alarm modeling feature capable of modifying the display of the alarm indicators in response to a user input altering alarm limits for the patient physiological data.

11. The patient monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the display is capable of displaying the patient physiological data received from each of the patient monitors.

12. The patient monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the graphical representation comprises a historical trend of patient physiological data received from one of the patient monitors.

13. The patient monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the central monitoring station comprises a communication interface capable of applying the altered alarm limits to the patient monitors.

14. The patient monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the central monitoring station comprises a touch screen for receiving the user input.

15. A method, comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of patient physiological data;

displaying indicators identifying current alarm events corresponding to sections of the graphical representation;

receiving a user input adjusting alarm limits used to determine the current alarm events;

determining new alarm events based on the adjusted alarm limits; and

altering the display of the indicators to reflect the new alarm events.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying a graphical representation comprises selecting a plethysmographic waveform from a plurality of stored plethysmographic waveforms based on the alarm limits.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving a user input comprises receiving a user input altering a shape of the graphical representation and determining adjusted alarm limits based on the altered shape.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving a user input comprises receiving a user input highlighting one or more portions of the graphical representation where alarms should occur.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein altering the display of the indicators comprises toggling the indicators between an alarm status and a no alarm status.

20. The method of claim 15, comprising applying the adjusted alarm limits to one or more patient monitors.