BIDIRECTIONAL PHYSIOLOGICAL INFORMATION DISPLAY

• US 20110224567A1
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• 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: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A patient monitor for displaying a physiological signal can include a visual element having a middle portion indicative of a transition in the physiological signal between physiological states. The visual element can also include first and second extremity portions, the first extremity portion extending from the middle portion in a first direction and the second extremity portion extending from the middle portion in a second direction. The visual element can also include an actionable value indicator to specify a value about the middle portion and the first and second extremity portions. The patient monitor can also include a processor configured to cause the value indicator to actuate in both the first and second directions according to changes in the physiological signal.

Claims

1. A method of displaying physiological information on a physiological monitor configured to be coupled to a patient sensor operative to detect a physiological signal, the method comprising:

by a processor;

outputting a value indicator to a display of the patient monitor;

expanding the value indicator in two directions simultaneously in response to increasing values in a parameter measured from the physiological signal; and

contracting the value indicator opposite the two directions simultaneously in response to falling values of the measured parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological signal comprises an acoustic signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the physiological parameter is respiratory rate.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the physiological parameter is a signal quality.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said expanding and contracting are performed during an expiration cycle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said expanding and contracting are further repeated during an inspiration cycle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said expanding the value indicator comprises expanding the value indicator in first and second directions that are substantially opposite one another.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the value indicator comprises a bidirectional bar graph.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an indicator of a maximum value attained by the measured parameter over a defined period of time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said expanding and contracting are performed by a processor.

11. A method of displaying physiological information on a physiological monitor, the method comprising:

by a processor;

receiving a physiological signal from a sensor coupled to a patient, the physiological signal reflecting a physiological parameter of the patient; and

activating a visual indicator of a visual element to cause the visual indicator to illuminate from a central region outwards toward both a first end region and a second end region of the visual element and then inwards from the first and second end regions toward the central region, responsive to changes in the physiological parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second end regions comprise opposite ends of the visual element, and wherein the center region is located between said first and second end regions.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the visual indicator comprises an LED.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the visual element comprises a bar graph.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the physiological parameter is a respiratory rate parameter.

16. A physiological monitor comprising:

a processor configured to receive physiological information from one or more sensors coupled with a patient; and

a display comprising a visual element for representing values of a physiological parameter responsive to the physiological information, the visual element comprising;

a middle portion representing an initial position,

first and second extremity portions, the first extremity portion extending from the middle portion in a first direction, and the second extremity portion extending from the middle portion in a second direction, and

a value indicator configured to illuminate starting from the initial position and expanding both to the first and second extremity portions, followed by contracting at least partway toward the middle portion, responsive to changes in the physiological parameter.

17. The physiological monitor of claim 16, wherein the first and second directions comprise substantially opposite directions.

18. The physiological monitor of claim 16, wherein the physiological signal comprises an acoustic signal.

19. The physiological monitor of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to actuate the value indicator in both the first and second directions simultaneously.

20. The physiological monitor of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to actuate the value indicator in both the first and second directions by substantially equal amounts.

21. The physiological monitor of claim 16, wherein the visual element comprises a bar graph.

22. The physiological monitor of claim 16, wherein the visual element comprises a segmented display.

23. The physiological monitor of claim 16, further comprising a sound-producing device to output a sound that changes in response to changes in the physiological signal.