Auditory alarms for physiological data monitoring
First Claim
1. A physiological data monitoring system for measuring at least one physiological characteristic, comprising:
- a sensor unit; and
a monitoring unit in data communication with the sensor unit having a sonification module, said sonification module comprising at least one programmable sound generator module to produce a plurality of signals indicative of a physiological parameter and said sonification module being capable of storing a plurality of control parameters for managing the at least one programmable sound generator module wherein the signals produced have a plurality of frequencies, amplitudes, or frequencies in combination with amplitudes modified in accordance with at least one physiological data value, wherein the sonification module generates frequency tones, at a plurality of predetermined transition points, corresponding to a measured physiological parameter and wherein the transition points represent an appreciable change in the measured physiological parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and devices for monitoring physiological data such that a health care provider is able to effectively monitor a patient'"'"'s health status, including, for example, blood flow characteristics, without having to maintain constant visual contact. In one embodiment of the present invention, a physiological data monitoring system measures at least one physiological characteristic wherein the physiological data monitoring system comprises a sensor unit and a monitoring unit in data communication with the sensor unit. The monitoring unit has a sonification module that comprises one programmable sound generator module to produce a plurality of signals indicative of a physiological parameter and a memory module for storing a plurality of control parameters for managing the programmable sound generator module, wherein the plurality of signals produced have a plurality of frequencies modified in accordance with at least one physiological data value. More specifically, the present invention provides a pulse oximetry sonification system that generates fixed frequency singular and/or combined amplitude-adjusted dual audio tones corresponding to predetermined transition and/or intermediate points over a range of SpO2 measurements.
118 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A physiological data monitoring system for measuring at least one physiological characteristic, comprising:
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a sensor unit; and
a monitoring unit in data communication with the sensor unit having a sonification module, said sonification module comprising at least one programmable sound generator module to produce a plurality of signals indicative of a physiological parameter and said sonification module being capable of storing a plurality of control parameters for managing the at least one programmable sound generator module wherein the signals produced have a plurality of frequencies, amplitudes, or frequencies in combination with amplitudes modified in accordance with at least one physiological data value, wherein the sonification module generates frequency tones, at a plurality of predetermined transition points, corresponding to a measured physiological parameter and wherein the transition points represent an appreciable change in the measured physiological parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A pulse oximeter monitoring unit for measuring at least one blood flow characteristic through the application of at least one sensor having a plurality of light sources and at least one photodetector, comprising:
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a processor in data communication with the sensor wherein the processor transmits control signals to the light sources;
a data acquisition module in data communication with said processor and said sensor unit wherein the data acquisition module receives input signals from the photodetectors;
a memory module in data communication with said data acquisition module; and
a sonification module in data communication with the memory module wherein the sonification module generates tones, at a plurality of predetermined transition points, corresponding to a measured SpO2 level, wherein the transition points represent an appreciable change in the measured SpO2 level. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A method of monitoring a patient'"'"'s physiological status using a monitoring system that measures at least one physiological characteristic, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a value for a physiological characteristic;
transmitting the value to a sonification module;
receiving in the sonification module the transmitted value;
comparing the value to a plurality of predetermined transition points;
if the value matches one of said transition points, selecting a corresponding stored frequency value;
based on the frequency value selected, generating signal waveforms having a frequency corresponding to the stored frequency value;
transmitting the waveforms to a digital to analog converter;
amplifying the converted waveforms;
if the value does not match one of said transition points, identifying at least two transition points that approximate the value;
selecting at least two frequency values corresponding to the at least two transition points;
based on the at least two frequency values, generating at least two signal waveforms having frequencies corresponding to the at least two transition points;
modifying amplitudes of the at least two signal waveforms; and
mixing the at least two amplitude adjusted signal waveforms. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification