Physiological parameter measuring system
First Claim
1. A portable electronic apparatus capable of being transported to, and successively and rapidly servicing, individually a plurality of patients by simultaneously measuring temperature, pulse rate, and respiration rate for each successive patient, comprising:
- a plurality of sensing means for measuring said temperature, pulse and respiration, respectively, and each simultaneously providing a signal corresponding to said temperature, pulse, and respiration, respectively;
converting means for receiving and converting said signals corresponding to said temperature, pulse and respiration, respectively, to produce corresponding digital data signals, said corresponding digital data signals including a series of measurement values leading to a single measurement value;
processing means for receiving and processing said corresponding digital data signals so as to calculate said single measurement value for temperature before said single measurement value for temperature is reached, and so as to calculate a pulse rate and a respiration rate, and for determining, by analysis of said corresponding digital data signals, invalidity of at least one of the temperature, pulse and respiration calculations, said processing means generating indication signals indicating said invalidity of said at least one of the temperature, pulse and respiration calculations;
indicator means responsive to said indication signals for alerting an operator of said portable electronic apparatus each time said invalidity of said at least one of the temperature, pulse and respiration calculations is indicated; and
display means connected to said processing means for displaying said single measurement value for temperature, said calculated pulse rate, and said calculated respiration rate.
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Abstract
A system for measuring physiological parameters such as temperature, pulse rate, and respiration rate employs specialized algorithms in combination with a digital processor to provide accurate measurements in a short period of time which are then displayed to the system operator. Mathematical curve fitting principles and a specialized algorithm are employed by the digital processor to implement the measurements. Automatic error signals and alarm signals are produced whenever a reading is determined to be inaccurate or abnormal. The system is entirely self-contained and, upon completion of a measuring cycle, actuation of the appropriate function key, will visually display the desired measurement to the operator.
65 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A portable electronic apparatus capable of being transported to, and successively and rapidly servicing, individually a plurality of patients by simultaneously measuring temperature, pulse rate, and respiration rate for each successive patient, comprising:
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a plurality of sensing means for measuring said temperature, pulse and respiration, respectively, and each simultaneously providing a signal corresponding to said temperature, pulse, and respiration, respectively; converting means for receiving and converting said signals corresponding to said temperature, pulse and respiration, respectively, to produce corresponding digital data signals, said corresponding digital data signals including a series of measurement values leading to a single measurement value; processing means for receiving and processing said corresponding digital data signals so as to calculate said single measurement value for temperature before said single measurement value for temperature is reached, and so as to calculate a pulse rate and a respiration rate, and for determining, by analysis of said corresponding digital data signals, invalidity of at least one of the temperature, pulse and respiration calculations, said processing means generating indication signals indicating said invalidity of said at least one of the temperature, pulse and respiration calculations; indicator means responsive to said indication signals for alerting an operator of said portable electronic apparatus each time said invalidity of said at least one of the temperature, pulse and respiration calculations is indicated; and display means connected to said processing means for displaying said single measurement value for temperature, said calculated pulse rate, and said calculated respiration rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Electronic apparatus for simultaneously measuring temperature, pulse rate, and respiration of a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sensing means for providing signals corresponding to temperature, pulse, and respiration; oscillator means connected to receive said temperature signal for producing a signal having a frequency proportional to the temperature sensed; first and second amplification and filtering means connected to receive said pulse signal and said respiration signal respectively for amplifying said received signals and for producing output signals only upon the occurrence of a signal corresponding to a pulse or respiration of the patient; means connected to receive said frequency signal proportional to temperature for producing a digital output signal representing the temperature sensed; clock means for producing a synchronizing signal having a first preselected frequency, a gate signal having a preselected frequency less than said first preselected frequency, and binary output signals representing preselected time intervals; interrupt means connected to receive said clock signal, said gate signal and said output signals from said first and second amplification and filtering means for producing an interrupt signal and a pulse flag signal each time a pulse signal is received and for producing said interrupt signal and a respiration flag signal each time a respiration pulse is received and for producing said interrupt signal each time said gate signal is received; digital processing means connected to receive said interrupt signals, said flag signals, and said synchronizing signals, said digital signal representing temperature, and said binary signal representing preselected time intervals, for calculating a final temperature value prior to reaching said final temperature, said calculation being made according to a first algorithm based on a least square fit to a hyperbolic curve, said digital processing means serving also for calculating a pulse rate and a respiration rate according to a second algorithm including steps for determining if pulse rate and said respiration rate data are within certain tolerances in order to determine validity of such data; and display means connected to said digital processing means for selectively displaying said final temperature value, said calculated pulse rate, and said calculated respiration rate. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification