Patient monitoring equipment

• US 4,325,385 A
• Filed: 09/19/1980
• Issued: 04/20/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Simonsen & Weel's EFTF A/S
• Original Assignee: Simonsen & Weel's EFTF A/S
• Inventors: Holte, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/188,909
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 128/630, 128/668, 128/670, 128/671, 128/672, 128/687, 128/688, 128/695, 128/696, 128/698, 128/699, 128/700, 128/702, 128/703, 128/704, 128/705, 128/706, 128/707, 128/709 , 128/710, 128/712
• US Class Current: 600/525
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/28 Circuits for simultaneous or sequential presentation of more than one variable

Abstract

Patient monitoring equipment is disclosed comprising a base unit incorporating an oscilloscope and having connection means for a patient derived ECG signal source, and a plurality of monitoring modules each having means for connection with another signal source representative of other physiological parameters, the modules being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in vertically stacked relation.

Claims

1. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, the base unit having means for connection of a patient derived ECG signal source to be visually displayed, module adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and having means for connection with a second signal source represenative of another physiological parameter of the patient, the module being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in stacked relation and with edges generally overlying edges of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the module and the base unit in assembled relation including interengageable means adapted to interlock upon edgewise sliding movement of the module with respect to the base unit in one direction, and means for electrically interconnecting the module and the base unit to provide for visual display of the physiological parameter received from said second signal source, the means for electrically interconnecting the module and the base unit including mating connectors positioned on the base unit and on the module in positions providing for electrical interconnection by edgewise sliding movement of the module with respect to the base unit in the same direction providing for physical interconnection of the module with the base unit, thereby providing for concurrent electrical and physical interconnection of the module with the base unit.

2. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, the base unit having means for connection of a patient derived ECG signal source to be visually displayed, a plurality of modules adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and respectively having means for connection with other signal sources representative of other physiological parameters of the patient, the modules being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in serially stacked relation with edges of the modules overlying edges of each other and of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the modules and the base unit in assembled relation, including interengageable means on the base unit and on each module adapted to interchangeably interlock alternatively with each other in any superimposed relation of the modules being stacked upon the base unit upon relative edgewise sliding movement of any module with respect to the base unit or with respect to any other module in one direction, and means for electrically interconnecting the modules and the base unit to provide for visual display of the parameters received from said other signal sources, the means for electrically interconnecting the modules and the base unit including mating connectors positioned on the base unit and on the modules in positions providing for electrical interconnection by edgewise sliding movement of a module, alternatively with respect to the base unit or with respect to another module in the same direction providing for physical interconnection of a module with the base unit or alternatively with another module, thereby providing for concurrent electrical and physical interconnection of a module either with the base unit or alternatively with another module.

3. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, the base unit having means for connection of a patient derived ECG signal source to be visually displayed, a module adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and having means for connection with a second signal source representative of another physiological parameter of the patient, the module being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in stacked relation and with edges generally overlying edges of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the module and the base unit in assembled relation including interengageable means adapted to interlock upon edgewise sliding movement of the module with respect to the base unit in one direction, and means adjacent overlying edges of the module and base unit at one side thereof for electrically interconnecting the module and the base unit to provide for visual display of the physiological parameter received from said second signal source, said interengageable means being spaced from the electrical interconnecting means and including a latch mounted on the underside of the module, the base unit having a latch receiving orifice in an upper portion thereof, and the latch and orifice being relatively oriented to provide for engagement of the latch in the orifice upon relative sliding movement of the module and base unit in said one direction.

4. Equipment as defined in claim 3 in which the latch is mounted on the module with freedom for limited downward movement prior to engagement of the latch in the orifice, thereby providing for engagement of the latch in the orifice even with the module spaced above the base unit.

5. Equipment as defined in claim 4 in which the latch is pivotally mounted for downward movement by gravity and further including means limiting downward pivoted movement of the latch to a range less than 90°

.

6. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, the base unit having means for connection of a patient derived ECG signal source to be visually displayed, a module adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and having means for connection with a second signal source representative of another physiological parameter of the patient, the module being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in stacked relation with edges generally overlying edges of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the module and the base unit in assembled relation including interengageable means adapted to interlock upon edgewise sliding movement of the module with respect to the base unit in one direction, means adjacent overlying edges of the module and base unit at one side thereof for electrically interconnecting the module and the base unit to provide for visual display of the physiological parameter received from said second signal source, said interengageable means being spaced from the electrical interconnecting means and including latch elements mounted on the base unit and module arranged to provide for engagement of the latch elements upon relative sliding movement of the module and base unit in said one direction, and the base unit and module having interfitting tongue and groove shaped portions extended on axes paralleling said one direction of movement, thereby providing for guided relative movement of the module and base unit during said relative sliding movement.

7. Equipment as defined in claim 6 in which the means for electrically interconnecting the base unit and the module and the latch elements are located toward opposite ends of said tongue and groove shaped portions of the base unit and module.

8. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, the base unit having means for connection of a patient derived ECG signal source to be visually displayed, a plurality of modules adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and respectively having means for connection with other signal sources representative of other physiological parameters of the patient, the modules being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in serially stacked relation and with edges of the modules overlying edges of each other and of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the modules and the base unit in assembled relation, including interengageable means on the base unit and on each module adapted to interchangeably interlock alternatively with each other in any superimposed relation to the modules being stacked upon the base unit, and means for electrically interconnecting the modules and the base unit to provide for visual display of the parameters received from said other signal sources, the means for electrically interconnecting the modules and the base unit including mating connectors positioned on the base unit and on the modules in positions providing for electrical interconnection of an upper module with the base unit through an intervening module.

9. Equipment as defined in claim 8 in which each module has electrical interconnecting means providing for connection of any one of the modules with the base unit through any module stacked in a position intervening between said one module and the base unit.

10. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, the base unit having means for connection of a patient derived ECG signal source to be visually displayed, a plurality of modules adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and respectively having means for connection with other signal sources representative of other physiological parameters of the patient, the modules being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in serially stacked relation with edges of the modules overlying edges of each other and of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the modules and the base unit in assembled relation, including interengageable means on the base unit and on each module adapted to interchangeably interlock alternatively with each other in any superimposed relation of the modules being stacked upon the base unit or with respect to any other module, and means for electrically interconnecting the modules and the base unit to provide for visual display of the parameters received from said other signal sources, the base unit and a plurality of modules each having at least one manually adjustable control positioned at sides thereof adjacent vertically overlying edges, so that said controls are presented in the same general direction laterally of the assembly of base unit and modules.

11. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, the base unit having means for connection of a patient derived ECG signal source to be visually displayed, a plurality of modules adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and respectively having means for connection with other signal sources representative of other physiological parameters of the patient, the modules being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in serially stacked relation with edges of the modules overlying edges of each other and of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the modules and the base unit in assembled relation, including interengageable means on the base unit and on each module adapted to interchangeably interlock alternatively with each other in any superimposed relation of the modules being stacked upon the base unit or with respect to any other module, and means for electrically interconnecting the modules and the base unit to provide for visual display of the parameters received from said other signal sources, the base unit and at least one module each having a plurality of manually adjustable controls positioned at sides thereof in regions of said vertically overlying edges, so that said controls are presented in the same general direction laterally of the assembly of base unit and modules, and the base unit and the module each having a control functionally related to the corresponding patient parameter in the same general manner, and said functionally related controls being positioned on said sides of the base unit and module in superimposed relation, so that accessibility for manual adjustment is provided in superimposed areas of the same side of the assembly of the base unit and module.

12. Equipment as defined in claim 11 in which the oscilloscope of the base unit is presented toward the front side of the assembly and in which the overlying sides of the base unit and module with which the controls are associated are presented toward one of the lateral sides of the assembly adjoining the front side.

13. Equipment as defined in claim 11 in which the overlying sides of the base unit and module with which the controls are associated are provided with vertically grooved portions in vertical alignment with each other thereby facilitating manual engagement of the controls by manually sensing said grooved portions.

14. Equipment as defined in claim 11 in which said functionally related controls comprise controls for adjustably setting alarm limits for parameter ranges.

15. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, a module adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and having means for connection with a signal source representative of a physiological parameter of a patient, the module being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in stacked relation and with edges generally overlying edges of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the module and the base unit in assembled relation including interengageable means adapted to interlock upon edgewise sliding movement of the module and with respect to the base unit in one direction, and means adjacent overlying edges of the module and base unit at one side thereof for electrically interconnecting the module and the base unit to provide for visual display of the physiological parameter received by said module, said interengageable means being spaced from the electrical interconnecting means and including a latch mounted on the underside of the module, the base unit having a latch receiving orifice in an upper portion thereof, and the latch and orifice being relatively oriented to provide for engagement of the latch in the orifice upon relative sliding movement of the module and base unit in said one direction.

16. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, a plurality of modules adapted to be separably associated with each other and each having means for connection with a signal source representative of a physiological parameter of a patient, the modules being adapted to be assembled in superimposed stacked relation and with edges generally overlying each other, means for physically interlocking the modules in assembled relation including interengageable means adapted to interlock upon edgewise sliding movement of an upper module with respect to a lower module in one direction, and means adjacent overlying edges of the modules at one side thereof for electrically interconnecting the modules, said interengageable means being spaced from the electrical interconnecting means and including a latch mounted on the underside of the upper module, the lower module having a latch receiving orifice in an upper portion thereof, and the latch and orifice being relatively oriented to provide for engagement of the latch in the orifice upon relative sliding movement of the upper module with respect to the lower module in said one direction.

17. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit having an oscilloscope for visual display of signals representative of a plurality of physiological parameters, a plurality of modules adapted to be separably associated with the base unit and respectively having means for connection with signal sources representative of various physiological parameters of the patient, the modules being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in serially stacked relation, means for physically interlocking the modules and the base unit in assembled relation, including interengageable means on the base unit and on each module adapted to interchangeably interlock alternatively with each other in any superimposed relation of the modules being stacked upon the base unit, and means for electrically interconnecting the modules and the base unit to provide for visual display of the parameters received from said signal sources, the means for electrically interconnecting the modules and the base unit including mating connectors positioned on the base unit and on the modules in positions providing for electrical interconnection of an upper module with the base unit through an intervening module, the mating connectors of each module being arranged in upper and lower series adapted to cooperate respectively with the lower and upper series of adjacent modules in the stacked assembly, the connection means for the signal source associated with each module being coupled with only a downwardly presented mating connector, and the other upper and lower mating connectors of that module being interconnected in pairs within the module.

18. Patient monitoring equipment comprising a base unit incorporating a power supply, a plurality of modules adapted to be separably stacked upon the base unit and each having means for connection with a signal source representative of a physiological parameter of a patient, the modules being adapted to be assembled in superimposed stacked relation and with edges generally overlying each other and overlying edges of the base unit, means for physically interlocking the modules in assembled relation including interengageable means adapted to interlock upon edgewise sliding movement in one direction of an upper module with respect to the base unit or to a lower module, and means for electrically interconnecting said power supply with the modules upon relative sliding movement of a module in said one direction.