Display Of Historical Alarm Status

• US 20110132368A1
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sanchez, Gabriel, Patel, Nirav
• Application Number:
  US12/760,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20110132368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

This disclosure describes embodiments of alarm systems and methods for use in devices such as medical ventilators. Embodiments described provide for an apparatus of an interactive multilevel alarm system. Embodiments of the alarms also provide, at a glance, current alarm and device status information and historical alarm information to the operator. Embodiments also direct interaction with the alarming functions of the device by the operator. In some embodiments, additional visual indicators may be provided to identify non-normal or noteworthy operating conditions, such as the use of a therapeutic gas by a mechanical ventilator, so that the operator can assess the impact of that non-normal condition on any current and historical alarm information simultaneously provided.

Claims

1. A method for indicating alarms on a medical device providing therapy to a patient, the method comprising:

monitoring data associated with at least one physiologic parameter of the patient or operational characteristic of the medical device;

determining, based on the data, a change in device status level to a current device status level;

displaying, via a current status indicator in response to the determining operation, a first color or combination of color and behavior associated with the current device status level; and

displaying, via a historical alarm indicator in response to the determining operation, one of a plurality of colors or combinations of color and behavior selected based on the current device status level and a previously-determined device status level, wherein the previously-determined device status level corresponds to the device status level displayed by the historical alarm indicator when the change in device status level is determined.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying via the historical alarm indicator further comprises:

determining that the current device status level is greater than the previously-determined device status level; and

displaying the one of the plurality of colors or combinations of color and behavior associated with the current device status level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying via the historical alarm indicator further comprises:

determining that the current device status level is less than the previously-determined device status level; and

displaying the one of the plurality of colors or combinations of color and behavior associated with the previously-determined device status level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining operation comprises:

selecting, based on the data, one of a plurality of predetermined device status levels including a “

no alarm”

status and a “

high-level alarm”

status.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining operation comprises:

selecting, based on the data, one of a plurality of predetermined device status levels including, ranked from low to high, a “

no alarm”

status, a “

low-level alarm”

status, a “

medium-level alarm”

status and a “

high-level alarm”

status.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

emitting an audible alarm associated with the current device status level.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the first color or combination of color and behavior associated with the current device status and the one of the plurality of colors or combinations of color and behavior displayed by the historical alarm indicator are different.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the displaying operations further comprise:

displaying the respective colors or combinations of color and behavior so that they are visible in a 360 degree arc around the medical device when viewed from a predetermined height.

9. A ventilation system adapted to provide respiratory therapy to a patient comprising:

a gas delivery system;

a processor that monitors data associated with at least one physiologic parameter of the patient or operational characteristic of the ventilation system and, based on the data, selects one of a predetermined set of ranked ventilator status levels as a current status level;

a user interface including a display contained in a display housing;

one or more indicators in the display housing visible in a 360 degree arc around the ventilation system when viewed from a predetermined height, the one or more indicators including;

a current status indicator adapted to display a first one of a plurality of current status indications, each current status indication being a different color or combination of color and behavior and each current status indication associated with a different ventilator status level, wherein the first one corresponds to the current status indication associated with the current status level; and

a secondary indicator adapted to display any of a plurality of historical status indications, each historical status indication being a different color or combination of color and behavior and each historical status indication associated with a different ventilator status level;

wherein the secondary indicator displays one of a first historical status indication associated with the current status level or a second historical status indication associated with the highest ventilator status level selected by the processor after a predetermined event.

10. The ventilation system of claim 9, wherein the secondary indicator displays the first historical indication if the highest ventilator status level selected after a predetermined event is equal to or less than the current status level.

11. The ventilation system of claim 9, wherein the secondary indicator displays the second historical indication if the highest ventilator status level selected after a predetermined event is greater than the current status level.

12. The ventilation system of claim 9, wherein the current status indications and the historical status indications are different color or combination of color and behavior for at least one ventilator status level.

13. The ventilation system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined event is an operator reset of an alarm function on the ventilation system.

14. The ventilation system of claim 9, wherein the system indicates an audible alarm based on the ventilator status level indicated by both the current status level and the historical status level.

15. An alarm system for a medical device adapted to provide therapy to a patient comprising:

a processor communicably coupled to a computer readable medium, wherein the processor monitors data associated with at least one physiologic parameter of the patient or operational characteristic of the alarm system and, based on the data, selects one of a predetermined set of ranked alarm levels as a current status level;

one or more indicators visible in a 360 degree arc around the alarm system when viewed from a predetermined height, the one or more indicators including;

a current status indicator adapted to display a first one of a plurality of current status indications, each current status indication being a different color or combination of color and behavior and each current status indication associated with a different alarm level, wherein the first one corresponds to the current status indication associated with the current status level; and

a secondary indicator adapted to display any of a plurality of historical status indications, each historical status indication being a different color or combination of color and behavior and each historical status indication associated with a different alarm level;

wherein the secondary indicator displays one of a first historical status indication associated with the current status level or a second historical status indication associated with the highest alarm level selected by the processor after a predetermined event.

16. The alarm system of claim 15, wherein the secondary indicator displays the first historical indication if the highest alarm level selected after a predetermined event is equal to or less than the current status level.

17. The alarm system of claim 15, wherein the secondary indicator displays the second historical indication if the highest alarm level selected after a predetermined event is greater than the current status level.

18. The alarm system of claim 15, wherein the current status indications and the historical status indications are different color or combination of color and behavior for at least one alarm level.

19. The alarm system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined event is an operator reset of an alarm function on the alarm system.

20. The alarm system of claim 15, wherein the alarm system indicates an audible alarm based on the alarm level indicated by both the current status level and the historical status level.