Graphic user interface for a patient ventilator

• US 5,915,379 A
• Filed: 03/14/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sanborn, Warren G., Wallace, Charles L., Arnett, David, Butterbrodt, Jay, Ferguson, Howard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh X.
• Application Number:
  US08/818,201
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.21, 128/204.23, 128/204.18, 128/204.26, 128/200.24, 128/205.23
• US Class Current: 128/204.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration

Abstract

The invention is directed to a ventilation control system for controlling the ventilation of a patient. The ventilation control system utilizes a user-friendly user interface for the display of patient data and ventilator status, as well as for entering values for ventilation settings to be used to control the ventilator.

Claims

1. A ventilator system for ventilating a patient, comprising:

a respirator for ventilating the patient;

a programmable processor responsive to selected ventilation parameters for controlling the respirator to ventilate the patient;

a memory connected to the processor for storing a plurality of ventilation parameters;

a display for displaying the plurality of ventilation parameters including ventilation parameters currently used by the processor to control the respirator and a plurality of proposed ventilation parameters, said display including a graphical representation of the ventilation parameters currently used and the proposed ventilation parameters of a breath cycle;

input means cooperating with the memory and the display for selecting one of the proposed ventilation parameters from the plurality of proposed ventilation parameters and for assigning values to the selected proposed ventilation parameter, the selected value being displayed by the display;

wherein one of the proposed ventilator parameters may be selected in any order and values assigned to one, or more than one of the proposed ventilator parameters while the processor controls the ventilator using the currently used values of the ventilation parameters; and

wherein a user accepts the one or more assigned values of the proposed ventilator parameters by pressing a button and the processor stores the assigned proposed ventilator values in the memory, and controls the ventilator using the newly stored values.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the breath cycle comprises a time scale, an inspiration bar and an expiration bar, the length of the inspiration bar and the expiration bar being a function of the ventilator settings currently used and proposed to be by the processor to control the ventilator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the breath cycle comprises a time scale, an inspiration bar and an expiration bar, the length of the inspiration bar and the expiration bar being a function of the assigned values of the proposed ventilator settings.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors connected to the processor for providing signals to the processor representing the status of the ventilation of the patient.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is responsive to a signal from a selected one of the plurality of sensors indicating that a patient is connected to the ventilator.