Method and apparatus for measuring and recording vital signs of a patient
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring and displaying the vital signs of a patient having an alpha-numeric identification device, comprising:
- a temperature sensing probe for making body contact with the patient, said temperature sensing probe comprising an elongated, cylindrical rod having a thermister sensing element for contact with the patient'"'"'s body;
a portable, data-gathering acquisition unit;
electronic anticipation circuitry disposed in said acquisition unit and coupled to said probe for sensing the change in patient temperature and predicting the stabilized temperature of the patient;
digital indication means coupled to said anticipation circuitry for indicating the predicted stabilized temperature of the patient;
alpha-numeric sensing means mounted on said probe and coupled to said acquisition unit and responsive to a printed or magnetic code for reading said code to identify the patient;
data storage means coupled to said digital indication means and said anticipation circuitry for storing the predicted stabilized temperature and the identification of the patient.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring and displaying the vital signs of a patient wearing an alpha-numeric identification bracelet, including a temperature sensing probe for making body contact with the patient, a portable, data-gathering acquisition unit and electronic anticipation circuitry disposed in the acquisition unit and coupled to the probe for sensing the change in patient temperature and predicting the stabilized temperature of the patient. There is a digital read-out coupled to the anticipated circuitry for indicating the predicted stabilized temperature of the patient, and an alpha-numeric sensor coupled to the acquisition unit and responsive to the alpha-numeric code for reading the code to identify the patient. The system also has a data storage memory coupled to the digital read-out and the anticipation circuitry for storing the predicted stabilized temperature and the indentification of the patient. The system further includes a pulse sensor disposed in the acquisition unit for detecting the pulse rate of the patient. The pulse sensor is coupled to the digital read-out and the data memory for storing the patient'"'"'s pulse rate. A console is provided having a visual display, a digital keyboard for selecting identification concerning the patient, and a means for electronically producing patient vital-sign data on the visual display of said console in response to the keyboard. The console is coupled to the acquisition unit.
161 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring and displaying the vital signs of a patient having an alpha-numeric identification device, comprising:
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a temperature sensing probe for making body contact with the patient, said temperature sensing probe comprising an elongated, cylindrical rod having a thermister sensing element for contact with the patient'"'"'s body; a portable, data-gathering acquisition unit; electronic anticipation circuitry disposed in said acquisition unit and coupled to said probe for sensing the change in patient temperature and predicting the stabilized temperature of the patient; digital indication means coupled to said anticipation circuitry for indicating the predicted stabilized temperature of the patient; alpha-numeric sensing means mounted on said probe and coupled to said acquisition unit and responsive to a printed or magnetic code for reading said code to identify the patient; data storage means coupled to said digital indication means and said anticipation circuitry for storing the predicted stabilized temperature and the identification of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification