Alarm for patient monitor and life support equipment system

• US 5,319,355 A
• Filed: 07/10/1991
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Linda G. Russek
• Inventors: Russek, Linda G.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US07/727,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/311.1, 340/825.44, 340/524-525, 340/407, 340/539, 340/514, 340/502, 128/903, 128/202.22, 455/351, 455/53-54, 455/100, 455/88-90, 455/53.1, 455/54.1, 455/54.2, 368/10-12
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An alarm system for notifying necessary medical and hospital personnel that a patient or the patient'"'"'s life support equipment require immediate response without providing the alarm signal to the monitored patient or surrounding patients, to prevent patient trauma which may otherwise result from the sound of the alarm. The system includes an alarm signal generator that provides a coded pulse indication of the patient and equipment type. The coded signal is sent to a master control unit preferably located at a nurses'"'"' station. The master control unit then transmits the coded alarm signal simultaneously to the appropriate group of pagers having vibrational annunciators and a visual display that describes the patient location and equipment type. The patients monitor and equipment at bedside and the pagers have no audio alarm signals. The alarm signal can only be terminated manually by an interrupt switch at the bedside.

Claims

1. A communications system for medical use, comprising:

medical equipment associated with a patient;

alarm signal generator means in communication with aid equipment for generating an alarm signal, said alarm signal identifying said equipment and readings from said equipment;

control means for receiving said alarm signal and for displaying indicia relevant to patient location, patient identification and equipment readings associated with such patient;

said control means having a means for transmitting a pager message to at least one paging means in the form of an identifying signal, said identifying signal providing each of said at least one paging means with information relevant to said equipment and such patient; and

each of said at least one paging means having a visual indicia display, means for receiving said pager message, and means for transmitting a response to said pager message to said control means.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one paging means further comprises a vibrational annunciator means, each of said at least one paging means displaying visually relevant information concerning said patient and said equipment while also providing a vibration annunciation.

3. A communications system according to claim 2, wherein said visual indicia display further comprises an illuminated display screen for displaying indicia indicative of room, patient and equipment relating to the particular alarm signal requiring immediate response.

4. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one paging means is worn by a user.

5. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises:

key input means for providing messaging information to said control means;

memory means for storing said messaging information;

processing means for processing said messaging information and said alarm signal in order to prioritize messages and route said messages to appropriate personnel; and

transceiver means for communicating said processed messaging information.

6. A communications system according to claim 5, wherein said messaging information comprises up-to-date staffing information relevant to all patients, said control means further comprises means to send said processed messaging information to appropriate and available staff.

7. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said system is used with emergency medical services and ambulance equipment whereby said control means receives said alarm signal from emergency medical equipment used by medical services and ambulances.

8. A communications system according to claim 1, further comprising an audio communication means comprising a plurality of walkie-talkies;

and

a corresponding plurality of portable headsets each adapted to be connected to a respective walkie-talkie, whereby the privacy of communications between said plurality of walkie-talkies is ensured.

9. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of walkie-talkies communicates with said control means, said system further comprising an additional headset adapted to be connected to said control means.

10. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said system is used with equipment at any one or more of a clinic, a doctor'"'"'s office, a hospital, a nursing home and a patient'"'"'s home.

11. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said alarm signal generator means provides said alarm signal directly to each of said at least one paging means and to said control means.

12. A communications system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator means and located near said equipment, wherein said alarm signal, when generated by said alarm signal generator means, continues until said interrupt switch is activated.

13. A communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a messaging controller means for prioritizing said pager message such that a higher priority message will interrupt a lower priority message transmitted to each of said at least one paging means so that the higher priority message will be transmitted to each of said at least one paging means.

14. A communications system for medical use, comprising:

a sensor attached to medical equipment associated with a patient for monitoring the status of said medical equipment;

an alarm signal generator in communication with the sensor for communicating an alarm signal to a remote section;

an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near said equipment;

wherein said alarm signal when communicated by said alarm signal generator continues until said interrupt switch is activated, the interrupt switch terminating said alarm signal for a period of time, the alarm signal reactivating at the end of the period of time if the sensor is in an alarm signal condition; and

a call button for paging medical personnel from the patient'"'"'s bedside.

15. An alarm system comprising:

a sensor for determining a status of a plurality of conditions of a patient and an operational status of life support equipment;

an alarm signal generator connected to said sensor and said alarm signal generator for transmitting said signals;

an alarm controller connected to a signal receiver and remotely located from said alarm signal generator for generating an audio alarm and a visual alarm indicating patient location in response to said receiver receiving said signals, each alarm being generated at a location remote from the patient;

processing means connected to said alarm controller for automatically selecting one of a plurality of remote displays for activation;

a controller transmitter connected to said processing means for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said selected remote display for notification of selected personnel associated with said remote displays that said alarms have been generated; and

an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near the bedside of the patient wherein said audio and visual alarms when generated by said alarm controller continue regardless of the receipt of further signals until said interrupt switch is activated.

16. The alarm system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said alarm signal generator includes a timer circuit connected to said switch to automatically reactivate said alarm signal after a predetermined time.

17. The alarm system as set forth in claim 15, wherein

said signals generated by said alarm signal generator include a coded electrical pulse indicative of relevant patient and equipment information.

18. The alarm system set forth in claim 15, wherein said alarm signal generator includes a manually-activated switch for generating an alarm signal.

19. The alarm system set forth in claim 15, further comprising a visual display unit located in the vicinity of said patient for indicating the status of said patient conditions and said equipment status.

20. A method for communicating medical information comprising:

receiving an electrical signal from medical equipment associated with a patient;

generating an alarm signal indentifying said equipment and readings from said equipment;

transmitting said alarm signal to a control means, said control means displaying indicia relevant to patient location, patient identification and equipment readings associated with such patient;

transmitting an identifying signal from said control means to at least one paging means with relevant information related to said equipment and such patient for visual display on an indicia display of each of said at least one paging means; and

transmitting a response from any of said at least one paging means to said control means.

21. An alarm system comprising:

a sensor for determining a patient'"'"'s condition;

an alarm signal generator connected to said sensor for generating signals indicative of said patient'"'"'s condition and location;

an alarm controller connected to a signal receiver and remotely located from said alarm signal generator for generating an alarm indicating patient location in response to said receiver receiving said signals, said alarm being generated at a location remote from the patient;

processing means connected to said alarm controller for automatically selecting at least one or more remote displays for activation;

a controller transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said selected remote displays for notifying selected personnel associated with said remote displays of said alarm; and

an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near the bedside of the patient wherein said alarm, when generated by said alarm controller, continues regardless of the receipt of further signals until said interrupt switch is activated.