Parameter disturbance response apparatus

• US 5,651,367 A
• Filed: 07/19/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schloemer, David E., Sippel, Jack B. II, Spero, Ronald A., Hoffman, Harold K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUANG, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/504,399
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 128/630, 128/637-639, 128/668, 128/670-675, 128/687, 128/725
• US Class Current: 600/483
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker

Abstract

This invention provides apparatus for collecting parameter disturbance information from each connected apparatus which can disturb measuring vital signs, and broadcasting a message regarding the disturbance and a coordinating clock signal to all apparatus. Connected sensors susceptible to parameter disturbances identify them from the message and suppress their audible alarm during an interval given in the message. This eliminates false audible alarms caused by such disturbances. The disturbance interval can be extended for later disturbances unless it is a new source or disturbance type and the alarm is already suppressed. A brickwall timer limits the total maximum suppressed interval to a safe maximum. A recovery timer allows a sensor to recover from a parameter disturbance before responding to a subsequent one.

Claims

1. In a patient monitoring system having a plurality of devices wherein at least one of said devices is a patient parameter disturbance generator which generates a patient parameter disturbance event and at least one of said devices is a susceptible sensor which can cause an error condition as a result of said patient parameter disturbance event, an improvement to the system comprising:

notifying means coupled to said plurality of devices for notifying said at least one susceptible sensor of the generation of said patient parameter disturbance event;

wherein said notifying means is decentralized.

2. In a patient monitoring system having a plurality of devices wherein at least one of said devices is a patient parameter disturbance generator which generates a patient parameter disturbance event and at least one of said devices is a susceptible sensor which can cause an error condition as a result of said patient parameter disturbance event, an improvement to the system comprising:

notifying means coupled to said plurality of devices for notifying said at least one susceptible sensor of the generation of said patient parameter disturbance event;

wherein said notifying means is adapted to couple to an additional patient parameter disturbance generator;

wherein said notifying means is decentralized.

3. In a patient monitoring system having a plurality of devices wherein at least one of said devices is a patient parameter disturbance generator which generates a patient parameter disturbance event and at least one of said devices is a susceptible sensor which can cause an error condition as a result of said patient parameter disturbance event, an improvement to the system comprising:

notifying means coupled to said plurality of devices for notifying said at least one susceptible sensor of the generation of said patient parameter disturbance event;

wherein said notifying means is adapted to couple to an additional susceptible sensor;

wherein said notifying means is decentralized.

4. In a patient monitoring system having a plurality of devices wherein at least one of said devices is a patient parameter disturbance generator which generates a patient parameter disturbance event and at least one of said devices is a susceptible sensor which can cause an error condition as a result of said patient parameter disturbance event, an improvement to the system comprising:

notifying means coupled to said plurality of devices for notifying said at least one susceptible sensor of the generation of said patient parameter disturbance event;

wherein said notifying means is adapted to couple to an additional patient parameter disturbance generator;

wherein said notifying means is adapted to couple to an additional susceptible sensor, and wherein said notifying means is decentralized.

5. A patient monitoring system comprising:

a. a patient parameter generator which causes a patient parameter disturbance event;

b. a susceptible sensor which is susceptible of producing an error as a result of a patient parameter disturbance event; and

c. notifying means coupled to said patient parameter disturbance generator and said susceptible sensor for notifying said susceptible sensor of said patient parameter disturbance event, wherein said notifying means is adapted to couple to an additional patient parameter disturbance generator;

wherein said notifying means is decentralized.

6. A patient monitoring system comprising:

a. a patient parameter disturbance generator which causes a patient parameter disturbance event;

b. a susceptible sensor which is susceptible of producing an error as a result of a patient parameter disturbance event; and

c. notifying means coupled to said patient parameter disturbance generator and said susceptible sensor for notifying said susceptible sensor of said patient parameter disturbance event, wherein said notifying means is adapted to couple to an additional susceptible sensor; and

wherein said notifying means is decentralized.