SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING THE IMPACT OF ALARM SOUNDS ON PATIENTS
First Claim
1. A system for use with a patient in a healthcare environment, the system comprising:
- a medical device configured to monitor or treat a patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient is located and comprising an alarm unit configured to issue an audible alarm;
a detection unit configured to detect whether a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located;
a remote alarm unit configured to issue an alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located; and
a control unit that is connected to the medical device, the detection unit and the remote alarm unit, the control unit being configured to;
(i) control the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm in the event that (a) the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and (b) the detection unit detects that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and
(ii) control the remote alarm unit to issue an audible alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located in the event that (a) the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and (b) the detection unit detects that no healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and
wherein the detection unit or a second detection unit is configured to detect the distance of the healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located and the control unit is further configured to set the volume of the audible alarm issued by the remote alarm unit based on the distance of a healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a system for use with a patient in a healthcare environment, the system comprising a medical device configured to monitor or treat a patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient is located and comprising an alarm unit configured to issue an audible alarm; a detection unit configured to detect whether a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; a remote alarm unit configured to issue an alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located; and a control unit that is connected to the medical device, the remote detection unit and the alarm unit, the control unit being configured to: (i) control the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm in the event that the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and the detection unit detects that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and (ii) control the remote alarm unit to issue an alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located in the event that the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and the detection unit detects that no healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for use with a patient in a healthcare environment, the system comprising:
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a medical device configured to monitor or treat a patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient is located and comprising an alarm unit configured to issue an audible alarm; a detection unit configured to detect whether a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; a remote alarm unit configured to issue an alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located; and a control unit that is connected to the medical device, the detection unit and the remote alarm unit, the control unit being configured to; (i) control the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm in the event that (a) the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and (b) the detection unit detects that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and (ii) control the remote alarm unit to issue an audible alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located in the event that (a) the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and (b) the detection unit detects that no healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and wherein the detection unit or a second detection unit is configured to detect the distance of the healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located and the control unit is further configured to set the volume of the audible alarm issued by the remote alarm unit based on the distance of a healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11)
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7-8. -8. (canceled)
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12. A method of operating a system for use with a patient in a healthcare environment, the method comprising:
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determining whether a healthcare staff member is in the room in which a medical device that is monitoring or treating a patient is located; detecting the distance of the healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located; and in the event that an alarm condition for the patient or medical device is detected; (i) issuing an audible alarm from an alarm unit in the medical device if it is determined that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and (ii) issuing an audible alarm from a remote alarm unit to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located if it is determined that no healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located, and setting the volume of the audible alarm based on the distance of a healthcare staff member from the room in which the patient is located. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A medical device for use in monitoring or treating a patient in a patient bed, the position and/or configuration of the patient bed being adjustable to the needs of the patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient bed is located, the medical device comprising:
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a sensor configured to monitor the patient and/or the operation of the medical device; a directional speaker configured to emit an alarm signal in the event that the sensor detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device, the directional speaker being configured to emit the alarm signal with spatial directivity such that the alarm signal is emitted substantially away from a patient on the patient bed; a control unit that is configured to determine the position and/or configuration of the patient bed or changes in the position and or configuration of the patient bed and to adjust the spatial directivity of the directional speaker in response to the position and/or configuration of the patient bed or changes in the position and/or configuration of the patient bed so that the alarm signal is emitted substantially away from a patient on the patient bed.
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15. A method of operating a medical device for use in monitoring or treating a patient in a patient bed, in which the position and/or configuration of the patient bed is adjustable to the needs of the patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient bed is located, the medical device comprising a directional speaker configured to emit an alarm signal with spatial directivity;
- the method comprising;
determining the position and/or configuration of the patient bed or changes in the position and/or configuration of the patient bed; and in the event that an alarm condition for the patient or medical device is detected, adjusting or setting the spatial directivity of the directional speaker in response to the position and/or configuration of the patient bed or changes in the position and/or configuration of the patient bed so that the alarm signal is emitted substantially away from a patient on the patient bed.
- the method comprising;
Specification