Compliance monitoring apparatus and method

• US 6,442,422 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Duckert, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US09/372,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/48, 607/46, 607/50, 607/62, 607/63, 607/75, 607/72, 607/115, 600/587, 600/595, 600/547, 600/546, 600/548, 128/908
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/908 Patient protection from electric shock

Abstract

A method and apparatus for evaluating the connection between the patient monitor and the patient. The apparatus is a compliance monitoring circuit that generates a constant current output to the isolation transformer of a patient monitoring device. Changes in the impedance of the patient connection cause changes in the output voltage of the constant current generator. This voltage can be measured and compared against a reference to generate a visible or audible compliance alarm.

Claims