BODY-WORN VITAL SIGN MONITOR

• US 20110224500A1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: WATLINGTON, Tom, MOON, Jim, BANET, Matt
• Application Number:
  US12/762,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224500A1
• 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 5/0002 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 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• 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: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The invention provides a body-worn vital sign monitor that measures a patient'"'"'s vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, SpO2, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) while simultaneously characterizing their activity state (e.g. resting, walking, convulsing, falling) and posture (upright, supine). The monitor processes this information to minimize corruption of the vital signs and associated alarms/alerts by motion-related artifacts. It also features a graphical user interface (GUI) rendered on a touchpanel display that facilitates a number of features to simplify and improve patient monitoring and safety in both the hospital and home.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a patient, comprising the following steps:

(a) measuring vital sign information with a vital sign monitor configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s body, the vital sign monitor comprising a wireless decoder configured to decode information, a sensor comprising a portion configured to attach to the patient and measure the vital sign information, and a wireless transmitter;

(b) decoding information with the wireless decoder, the decoding yielding decoded information describing at least one of a medication, a medication-delivery rate, a clinician, and the patient;

(c) transmitting vital sign information and the decoded information with the wireless transmitter; and

(d) analyzing the vital sign information and the decoded information with a remote computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless decoder is a barcode scanner.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the decoding step further comprises scanning a barcode with the barcode scanner to yield information describing at least one of the medication, the medication-delivery rate, the clinician, and the patient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless decoder is a RFID sensor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the decoding step further comprises detecting a RFID with the RFID sensor to yield information describing at least one of the medication, the medication-delivery rate, the clinician, and the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step further comprises comparing information describing both the medication and the patient to database information comprised by a database.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the database information comprises at least one of acceptable medications corresponding to the patient and acceptable medication-delivery rates corresponding to the patient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step further comprises collectively analyzing both the vital sign information and the decoded information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the analyzing step further comprises comparing information describing the medication, the patient, and vital sign values measured from the patient to database information comprised by a database.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the database information comprises at least one of acceptable medications corresponding to the patient and acceptable medication-delivery rates corresponding to the patient.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the analyzing step further comprises determining an acceptable medication-delivery rate in response to collectively analyzing information describing the medication, the patient, and vital sign values measured from the patient.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a packet from the remote computer to the vital sign monitor in response to the analysis step.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the packet comprises a message confirming that at least one of a medication and a medication-delivery rate is acceptable for the patient.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the packet comprises a set of instructions.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the vital sign monitor further comprises a display.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the display is further configured to display contents of a packet transmitted from the remote server to the vital sign monitor in response to the analysis step.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the vital sign monitor is configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s wrist.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the portion comprised by the sensor is an electrode configured to attach to the patient'"'"'s torso.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the portion comprised by the sensor is an optical sensor configured to attach to one of the patient'"'"'s fingers.

2. A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:

(a) a vital sign monitor configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s body, the vital sign monitor comprising a wireless decoder configured to yield decoded information describing at least one of a medication, a medication-delivery rate, a clinician, and the patient, a sensor comprising a portion configured to attach to the patient and measure vital sign information, and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the vital sign information and the decoded information; and

(b) a remote computer configured to receive and process the vital sign information and the decoded information.

3. A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:

a vital sign monitor configured to be worn on the patient'"'"'s body, the vital sign monitor comprising;

connection means configured to attach the vital sign monitor to the patient'"'"'s body;

a mechanical housing connected to the connection means;

a wireless decoder comprised by the mechanical housing and configured to detect information describing at least one of a medication, a medication-delivery rate, a clinician, and the patient;

a sensor comprising a sensing portion configured to attach to the patient and measure vital sign information;

a processing component comprised by the mechanical housing and interfaced to both the sensor and the wireless decoder, the processing component configured to process the vital sign information to generate at least one of a vital sign and a time-dependent waveform, and configured to process information received by the wireless decoder to generate decoded information;

a wireless transmitter comprised by the mechanical housing and interfaced to the processing component, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit the vital sign information and the decoded information; and

a display component comprised by the mechanical housing and interfaced to the processing component, the display component configured to display contents of a packet transmitted by a remote computer; and

the remote computer configured to receive and process the vital sign information and the decoded information transmitted by the wireless transmitter, and in response to the processing transmit the packet to the vital sign monitor.

4. A vital sign monitor configured to be worn on a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

(a) a sensor configured to measure vital sign information from the patient;

(b) attachment means configured to attach the sensor to the patient'"'"'s body;

(c) a wireless decoder configured to decode information associated with at least one of the patient, a clinician, and a medication; and

(d) a wireless transmitter interfaced to the sensor and the wireless decoder, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit the vital sign information and information associated with at least one of the patient, a clinician, and a medication to a remote computer.