PULSE AND CONFIDENCE INDICATOR DISPLAYED PROXIMATE PLETHYSMOGRAPH

• US 20120041316A1
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ammar Al Ali, Divya S. Breed, Jerome J. Novak, Massi E. Kiani
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Breed, Divya S., Novak, Jerome J., Kiani, Massi E., Al Ali, Ammar
• Granted Patent: US 9,636,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7214 using signal cancellation, e.g. based on input of two identical physiological sensors spaced apart, or based on two signals derived from the same sensor, for different optical wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a display is used to show an indication of the signal'"'"'s quality. This indication of the signal'"'"'s quality may be provided in a number of ways, including audibly or visually.

Claims

1. A method of indicating pulse occurrences and signal quality in an electronic patient monitor when a displayed plethysmograph alone may not be a sufficient visual indicator, the method comprising:

electronically receiving a sensor output signal indicative of light attenuated by pulsing blood of a patient;

determining with a signal processor plethysmographic data responsive to said sensor output signal;

determining with said signal processor a measurement of confidence that said plethysmographic data accurately reflects physiological parameters occurring in said patient;

displaying said plethysmographic data on a display of a patient monitoring device;

displaying a visual pulse indicator in proximity to said plethysmographic data to indicate to a caregiver which of said displayed plethysmographic data corresponds to an occurrence of a pulse of said patient; and

modifying said visual pulse indicator, said modification responsive to said measurement of confidence.

2. The method of claim 1, where said visual pulse indicator comprises a vertical lines coinciding with the peak of arterial pulsations in said plethysmographic data.

3. The method of claim 2, where said modification comprises modifying a height of said vertical lines.

4. The method of claim 1, where said modification comprises modifying a presentation attribute of said pulse indicator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said attribute comprises a color.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising modifying an associated sound.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said attribute comprises a thickness.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said attribute comprises a height.

9. An electronic patient monitor including a signal processor communicating with a noninvasive optical sensor and a display device responsive to measurements and calculation made by said signal processor, said patient monitor configured to indicate pulse occurrences and signal quality when a displayed plethysmograph alone may not be a sufficient visual indicator, the monitor comprising:

a sensor signal input receiving a sensor output signal indicative of light attenuated by pulsing blood of a patient;

a signal processor receiving said sensor output signal, determining plethysmographic data responsive to said sensor output signal, determining a measurement of confidence that said plethysmographic data accurately reflects physiological parameters occurring in said patient; and

a display device displaying said plethysmographic data, displaying a modified visual pulse indicator in proximity to said plethysmographic data to indicate to a caregiver which of said displayed plethysmographic data corresponds to an occurrence of a pulse of said patient, said modification to said visual pulse indicator being responsive to said measurement of confidence.

10. The monitor of claim 9, where said visual pulse indicator comprises a vertical lines coinciding with the peak of arterial pulsations in said plethysmographic data.

11. The method of claim 10, where said modification comprises modifying a height of said vertical lines.

12. The monitor of claim 9, where said modification comprises modifying a presentation attribute of said pulse indicator.

13. The monitor of claim 12, wherein said attribute comprises a color.

14. The monitor of claim 12, further comprising modifying an associated sound.

15. The monitor of claim 12, wherein said attribute comprises a thickness.

16. The monitor of claim 12, wherein said attribute comprises a height.