Monitoring system for producing patient status indicator
First Claim
1. A patient monitoring method, comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring a plurality of medical parameters;
(b) transforming each medical parameter to a sigmoid function indicative of at least normal and critical levels of the parameter;
(c) comparing each of said functions to a prescribed sequence of reference values and on the basis of the comparison generating for each parameter a corresponding danger level;
(d) selecting one of said danger levels as a vital function status (VFS) indicator; and
(e) displaying said VFS indicator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Patient monitoring methods comprising the steps of measuring a plurality of medical parameters, transforming each medical parameter to a function indicative of at least normal and critical levels of the parameter, comparing each function to a prescribed sequence of reference values and on the basis of the comparison generating for each parameter a corresponding danger level, selecting one of the danger levels as a vital function status (VFS) indicator, and displaying the VFS indicator. Each parameter is transformed to a sigmoid function in accordance with pre-selected maximum and minimum values and a pre-selected baseline value adapted to the patient being monitored. A maximum value of the danger levels is selected as the VFS indicator. The VFS indicator will be such that any physician can have, without any previous knowledge of the patient, a reasonably good idea as to the condition of the patient.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A patient monitoring method, comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring a plurality of medical parameters; (b) transforming each medical parameter to a sigmoid function indicative of at least normal and critical levels of the parameter; (c) comparing each of said functions to a prescribed sequence of reference values and on the basis of the comparison generating for each parameter a corresponding danger level; (d) selecting one of said danger levels as a vital function status (VFS) indicator; and (e) displaying said VFS indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A patient monitoring system, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of medical monitors operative to measure a plurality of medical parameters of a patient, each said medical parameter having a predefined baseline or homeostatic value; (b) means for transforming each medical parameter to a function indicative of at least normal and critical levels of the parameter; (c) means for comparing each of said functions to a prescribed sequence of reference values and on the basis of the comparison generating for each parameter a corresponding danger level; (d) means for selecting one of said danger levels as a vital function status (VFS) indicator; and (e) means for displaying said VFS indicator; wherein said means for transforming employs a member of the following group; a sigmoid function. ##EQU8## wherein x represents the measured value of the medical parameter;
BL represents the baseline value for the medical parameter;
xmax represents a predefined maximum value of the medical parameter;
a, b, and w represent predefined numbers; and
y represents the value of the function, and ym represents a predefined maximum value of the function. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A medical monitoring system, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of medical monitors, each monitor including means for measuring a medical parameter indicative of a condition of a patient being monitored, each medical parameter having a baseline value; (b) a computer operatively coupled to said medical monitors, said computer being programmed to determine for each medical parameter a corresponding danger level and to select one of said danger levels as a vital function status (VFS) indicator;
wherein, in determining said danger levels, each medical parameter is transformed to a function defined by pre-selected maximum and minimum parameter values and a pre-selected baseline value, said function exhibiting a maximum sensitivity for parameter values near said baseline; and(c) means for simultaneously displaying a history of said VFS indicator over a predefined short time span and over a predefined long time span; wherein said computer is programmed to transform said medical parameters by employing a member of the following group; a sigmoid function. ##EQU9## wherein x represents the measured value of the medical parameter;
BL represents the baseline value for the medical parameter;
xmax represents a predefined maximum value of the medical parameter;
a, b, and w represent predefined numbers; and
y represents the value of the function, and ym represents a predefined maximum value of the function. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A patient monitoring method, comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring a plurality of medical parameters of a patient; (b) transforming each medical parameter to a function indicative of at least normal and critical levels of the parameter, wherein said functions have common maximum and minimum values, wherein each said function is defined by a pre-selected baseline value adapted to said patient, and wherein each said function exhibits a maximum sensitivity or slope for parameter values near said baseline; (c) comparing each of said functions to a prescribed sequence of reference values and on the basis of the comparison generating for each parameter a corresponding danger level; (d) selecting one of said danger levels as a vital function status (VFS) indicator; and (e) displaying said VFS indicator; wherein said transforming employs a member of the following group; a sigmoid function ##EQU10## wherein x represents the measured value of the medical parameter;
BL represents the baseline value for the medical parameter;
xmax represents a predefined maximum value of the medical parameter;
a, b, and w represent predefined numbers; and
y represents the value of the function, and ym represents a predefined maximum value of the function.
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Specification