Apparatus and method for assessing the condition of critically ill patients
First Claim
1. Apparatus for indicating the condition of a patient who appears to be suffering from circulatory shock, comprising:
- skin temperature sensor means for sensing skin temperature;
ambient temperature sensor means for sensing ambient temperature;
circuit means connected to said skin and ambient sensor means, for generating a signal representing the difference between the temperatures sensed by them; and
means responsive to said circuit means for generating a signal indicating the physical condition of a patient;
said skin temperature sensor means including a pair of separate skin temperature sensors which each independently senses a skin temperature; and
said circuit means being constructed to generate a signal which represents the difference between the higher one of the temperatures sensed by said pair of skin temperature sensors and the temperature sensed by said ambient temperature sensing means.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for assessing the condition of a patient in circulatory shock by measuring the peripheral or skin temperature of the patient, as by measuring the difference between the patient'"'"'s toe temperature and ambient temperature, which is more accurate than heretofore. The gradient of the toe-minus-ambient temperature difference is calculated, and an indication of poor condition is given if the toe-minus-ambient temperature difference does not rise by at least a predetermined amount such as 3° C. within a predetermined period such as ten hours. Instead of taking only the difference between the temperature at one toe and ambient, the temperatures at both large toes of the patient are taken and the difference between the higher of the two toe temperatures minus ambient is utilized in the calculations that provide an indication of patient condition.
51 Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus for indicating the condition of a patient who appears to be suffering from circulatory shock, comprising:
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skin temperature sensor means for sensing skin temperature; ambient temperature sensor means for sensing ambient temperature; circuit means connected to said skin and ambient sensor means, for generating a signal representing the difference between the temperatures sensed by them; and means responsive to said circuit means for generating a signal indicating the physical condition of a patient; said skin temperature sensor means including a pair of separate skin temperature sensors which each independently senses a skin temperature; and said circuit means being constructed to generate a signal which represents the difference between the higher one of the temperatures sensed by said pair of skin temperature sensors and the temperature sensed by said ambient temperature sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Apparatus for indicating the condition of a patient who appears to be suffering from circulatory shock, comprising:
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means for generating a first signal representing the temperature of the patient; means responsive to said first signal for generating a second signal indicating an unfavorable condition of the patient when the temperature of the patient does not rise more than a predetermined amount during a period which is more than one hour. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method for sensing the condition of a patient who appears to be suffering from circulatory shock, comprising:
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measuring the skin temperature of the patient at locations on each of his feet; measuring the ambient temperature; and generating a signal indicating poor patient condition when the temperature difference between the highest of the two feet location and ambient temperature is below a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method for sensing the condition of a patient who appears to be suffering from circulatory shock, comprising:
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measuring the skin temperature of the patient; and generating a signal indicating poor patient condition when said skin temperature does not rise at least at a predetermined temperature-time rate. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for sensing the condition of a patient who appears to be suffering from circulatory shock, comprising:
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measuring the skin temperature of the patient; measuring elapsed time; generating a signal representing a rate of skin temperature rise with time; and generating a signal indicating poor patient condition when the rate of skin temperature rise with time does not at least equal a predetermined rate.
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Specification