Parameter disturbance response apparatus
First Claim
1. In a patient monitoring system having a plurality of devices wherein at least one of said devices is a PPD generator which creates a PPD event and at least one of said devices is a susceptible sensor which can cause an error condition as a result of said PPD event, the improvement comprising:
- notifying means coupled to said plurality of devices for providing an encoded message notifying said at least one susceptible sensor of the identity and characteristics of said PPD event, said characteristics always including at least the PPD event initiation time and duration, and wherein said notifying means is centralized.
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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.
51 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a patient monitoring system having a plurality of devices wherein at least one of said devices is a PPD generator which creates a PPD event and at least one of said devices is a susceptible sensor which can cause an error condition as a result of said PPD event, the improvement comprising:
notifying means coupled to said plurality of devices for providing an encoded message notifying said at least one susceptible sensor of the identity and characteristics of said PPD event, said characteristics always including at least the PPD event initiation time and duration, and wherein said notifying means is centralized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A patient monitoring system comprising:
- a PPD generator which causes a PPD event;
a susceptible sensor which is susceptible of producing an error as a result of a PPD event; and notifying means coupled to said plurality of devices for providing an encoded message notifying said at least one susceptible sensor of the identity and characteristics of said PPD event, said characteristics always including at least the PPD event initiation time and duration, and wherein said notifying means is adapted to couple to an additional PPD generator wherein said notifying means is centralized.
- a PPD generator which causes a PPD event;
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6. A patient monitoring system comprising:
a PPD generator which causes a PPD event; a susceptible sensor which is susceptible of producing an error as a result of a PPD event; and notifying means coupled to said PPD generator and said susceptible sensor for notifying said susceptible sensor of said PPD event by means of an encoded message containing at least the initiation time and duration of said PPD event, wherein said notifying means is adapted to couple to an additional susceptible sensor wherein said notifying means is centralized.
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7. A patient monitoring system comprising:
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a first patient monitor having a first visual display, the first monitor including PPD generator which generates a PPD event message in response to a PPD event; a susceptible second monitor having a second visual display in a housing separate from that of the first monitor, the second monitor being susceptible to producing an error as a result of a PPD event; and notifying means coupled to said PPD generator and said susceptible second monitor for notifying said susceptible second monitor of said PPD event by means of an encoded message containing at least the initiation time and duration of said PPD event, wherein said notifying means is centralized. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for monitoring vital signs of a mammal comprising:
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a plurality of test apparatus connected to said mammal; means having input means and output means for respectively receiving messages from each connected test apparatus over said input means and for transmitting all said messages over said output means back to all said connected apparatus; at least one connected test apparatus being a parameter disturbance apparatus which will disturb at least part of its operation, said parameter disturbance apparatus further comprising; means for generating parameter disturbance messages comprising a disturbance identification, an indicated beginning time and an estimated duration time; means for transmitting said disturbance message to said communication means over its said input means; at least one connected test apparatus being a vital sign sensor apparatus having means for sensing a vital sign and generating a proportional output signal, said output signal being disturbed and inaccurate during the time certain identified parameter disturbances are operating, said vital sign sensing means further comprising; alarm means for indicating whenever said output signal is outside a predetermined range; means for receiving said parameter disturbance message generated by said disturbance apparatus from said output means of said communication means; means for suppressing said alarm means in response to said parameter disturbance message from the indicated beginning through the estimated duration time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification