Annotating an audio recording during a medical emergency

• US 7,245,964 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Physio-Control Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Moore, Mark P., Giaever, John
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US10/377,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 705/3, 607/5, 607/6, 128/899, 128/903, 128/904, 128/920, 128923-925, 600/300, 600/510, 434/262
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Techniques for managing recording of audio during a medical emergency are presented. An audio recorder may selectively record audio at selected time during the medical emergency, and generate correlation information to temporally correlate the recorded audio with the medical emergency. The audio recorder may establish receive synchronization information from a medical device used during the medical emergency, and may mark recorded audio according to the synchronization information. A computer may generate a record for the medical emergency that includes recorded audio correlated with medical emergency information generated by the medical device. The computer may correlate the recorded audio with the medical emergency information according the synchronization markings.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording audio during a medical emergency;

receiving synchronization information from a separate medical device that at least one of treats or physiologically monitors a patient during the medical emergency; and

marking the recorded audio according to the synchronization information to temporally correlate the recorded audio with the medical emergency.

2. The method of claim 1, in which receiving synchronization information comprises receiving clock information from the medical device, and marking the recorded audio comprises marking the recorded audio with a time.

3. The method of claim 1, in which receiving synchronization information comprises receiving a treatment event identifier from the medical device, and marking the recorded audio comprises marking the recorded audio with the treatment event identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, in which receiving synchronization information comprises:

establishing a local wireless communication session with the medical device; and

receiving the synchronization information via the wireless communication session.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the medical device includes a defibrillator.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating a recording event identifier to the medical device; and

marking the recorded audio with the recording event identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a patient identifier from the medical device; and

marking the recorded audio with the patient identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, in which marking the recorded audio comprises marking the recorded audio to temporally correlate the audio with medical emergency information generated by the medical device, wherein the method further includes providing the marked recorded audio to a device for generation of a record of the medical emergency that includes temporally correlated medical emergency information and recorded audio.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the medical emergency information includes at least one of an electrocardiogram, a capnograph, a plethysmograph, a heart rate over time, a pulse rate over time, a blood oxygen saturation over time, a blood pressure over time, end tidal carbon dioxide measurements, measurements of the fraction of carbon dioxide in air inspired or expired, one or more therapies delivered to a patient, and times at which the one or more therapies were delivered to the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, in which recording audio during a medical emergency comprises selectively recording audio at selected times during the medical emergency.

11. The method of claim 10, in which selectively recording audio comprises:

receiving a record indication from a user; and

recording audio in response to receiving the indication.

12. The method of claim 10, in which selectively recording audio comprises:

receiving a treatment event indication from the medical device; and

recording audio in response to receiving the indication.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying an event type based on the treatment event indication; and

determining a length of time to record based on the event type.

14. The method of claim 12, in which recording audio comprises receiving an indication of a length of time to record from the medical device.

15. A device comprising:

a microphone to detect sound;

a receiver; and

a processor coupled to the microphone and the receiver, wherein the processor records audio detected by the microphone during a medical emergency, receives synchronization information via the receiver from a separate medical device that at least one of treats or physiologically monitors a patient during the medical emergency, and marks the recorded audio according to the synchronization information to temporally correlate the recorded audio with the medical emergency.

16. The device of claim 15, in which the processor receives clock information from the medical device via the receiver and marks the recorded audio with a time.

17. The device of claim 15, in which the processor receives a treatment event identifier from the medical device and marks the recorded audio with the treatment event identifier.

18. The device of claim 15, in which the receiver comprises a transceiver, and the processor establishes a local wireless communication session with the medical device via the transceiver and receives synchronization information via the communication session.

19. The device of claim 15, in which the medical device includes a defibrillator.

20. The device of claim 15, further comprising a transmitter, wherein the processor transmits a recording event identifier to the medical device and marks the recorded audio with the recording event identifier.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor receives a patient identifier from the medical device via the receiver and marks the recorded audio with the patient identifier.

22. The device of claim 15, in which the processor marks the recorded audio to temporally correlate the audio with medical emergency information generated by the medical device, and provides the marked recorded audio to another device for generation of a record of the medical emergency that includes temporally correlated medical emergency information and recorded audio.

23. The device of claim 22, in which the medical emergency information includes at least one of an electrocardiogram, a capnograph, a plethysmograph, a heart rate over time, a pulse rate over time, a blood oxygen saturation over time, a blood pressure over time, end tidal carbon dioxide measurements, measurements of the fraction of carbon dioxide in air inspired or expired, one or more therapies delivered to a patient, and times at which the one or more therapies were delivered to the patient.

24. The device of claim 15, in which the processor selectively records audio at selected times during the medical emergency.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a user interface, wherein the processor selectively records audio in response to receiving a record indication from a user via the user interface.

26. The device of claim 24, in which the processor selectively records audio in response to receiving a treatment event indication from a medical device used during the medical emergency.

27. The device of claim 26, in which the processor identifies an event type based on the treatment event indication, and determines a length of time to record based on the event type.

28. The device of claim 26, in which the processor receives an indication of a length of time to record from the medical device.

29. The device of claim 15, in which the device comprises a portable audio recorder.

30. The device of claim 29, in which the device is configured to be worn by a user.

31. A method comprising:

receiving medical emergency information from a medical device used during a medical emergency; and

correlating recorded audio obtained by an audio recorder during the medical emergency with the medical emergency information based on a synchronization scheme established between the medical device and the audio recorder.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising presenting a record of the medical emergency that includes the correlated medical emergency information and recorded audio to a user.

33. The method of claim 32, in which presenting a record comprises:

playing a selected portion of the recorded audio; and

displaying a portion of the medical emergency information associated with the selected portion of the recorded audio.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

presenting a list of different portions of the recorded audio; and

receiving user input identifying the selected portion of the recorded audio.

35. The method of claim 31, in which the medical emergency information includes at least one of an electrocardiogram, a capnograph, a plethysmograph, a heart rate over time, a pulse rate over time, a blood oxygen saturation over time, a blood pressure over time, end tidal carbon dioxide measurements, measurements of the fraction of carbon dioxide in air inspired or expired, one or more therapies delivered to a patient, and times at which the one or more therapies were delivered to the patient.

36. The method of claim 31, in which the medical device includes a defibrillator.

37. A device comprising:

a receiver to receive information from a medical device used during a medical emergency; and

a processor to receive medical emergency information from the medical device via the receiver and correlate recorded audio obtained by an audio recorder during the medical emergency with the medical emergency information based on a synchronization scheme established between the medical device and the audio recorder.

38. The device of claim 37, further comprising a user interface, wherein the processor presents a record of the medical emergency that includes the correlated medical emergency information and recorded audio to a user via the user interface.

39. The device of claim 38, in which the processor plays a selected portion of the recorded audio, and displays a portion of the medical emergency information associated with the selected portion of the recorded audio.

40. The device of claim 39, in which the processor presents a list of different portions of the recorded audio, and receives user input identifying the selected portion of the recorded audio.

41. The device of claim 37, in which the medical emergency information includes at least one of an electrocardiogram, a capnograph, a plethysmograph, a heart rate over time, a pulse rate over time, a blood oxygen saturation over time, a blood pressure over time, end tidal carbon dioxide measurements, measurements of the fraction of carbon dioxide in air inspired or expired, one or more therapies delivered to a patient, and times at which the one or more therapies were delivered to the patient.

42. The device of claim 37, in which the medical device includes a defibrillator.

43. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive medical emergency information from a medical device used during a medical emergency; and

correlate recorded audio obtained by an audio recorder during the medical emergency with the medical emergency information based on a synchronization scheme established between the medical device and the audio recorder.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to present a record of the medical emergency that includes the correlated medical emergency information and recorded audio to a user.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, in which the instructions cause a processor to:

play a selected portion of the recorded audio; and

display a portion of the medical emergency information associated with the selected portion of the recorded audio.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 45, in which the instructions cause a processor to:

present a list of different portions of the recorded audio; and

receive user input identifying the selected portion of the recorded audio.

47. A method comprising:

providing synchronization information to an audio recorder;

generating medical emergency information during a medical emergency; and

marking the medical emergency information according to the synchronization information.

48. The method of claim 47, in which providing synchronization information comprises providing clock information to the audio recorder, and marking the medical emergency information comprises marking the medical emergency information with a time.

49. The method of claim 47, in which providing synchronization information comprises providing a treatment event identifier to the audio recorder, and marking medical emergency information comprises marking the recorded audio with the treatment event identifier.

50. The method of claim 47, in which providing synchronization information to an audio recorder comprises:

establishing a local wireless communication session with the audio recorder; and

providing the synchronization information to the audio recorder via the communication session.

51. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

receiving a recording event identifier from the audio recorder; and

marking the medical emergency information with the recording event identifier.

52. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

providing a patient identifier to the audio recorder; and

marking the medical emergency information with the patient identifier.

53. The method of claim 47, in which the medical emergency information includes at least one of an electrocardiogram, a capnograph, a plethysmograph, a heart rate over time, a pulse rate over time, a blood oxygen saturation over time, a blood pressure over time, end tidal carbon dioxide measurements, measurements of the fraction of carbon dioxide in air inspired or expired, one or more therapies delivered to a patient, and times at which the one or more therapies were delivered to the patient.

54. A device comprising:

a transmitter to provide information to an audio recorder; and

a processor to provide synchronization information to the audio recorder via the transmitter, generate medical emergency information during a medical emergency, and mark the medical emergency information according to the synchronization information.

55. The device of claim 54, in which the processor provides clock information to the audio recorder, and marks the medical emergency information with a time.

56. The device of claim 54, in which the processor provides a treatment event identifier to the audio recorder, and marks the medical emergency information with the treatment event identifier.

57. The device of claim 54, in which the transmitter comprises a transceiver, wherein the processor establishes a local wireless communication session with the audio recorder via the transceiver and provides synchronization information to the audio recorder via the communications session.

58. The device of claim 54, in which the transmitter comprises a transceiver, and the processor receives a recording event identifier from the audio recorder via the transceiver and marks the medical emergency information with the recording event identifier.

59. The device of claim 54, in which the processor provides a patient identifier to the audio recorder, and marks the medical emergency information with the patient identifier.

60. The device of claim 54, in which the processor marks the medical emergency information to temporally correlate the medical emergency information audio recorded by the audio recorder, and provides the marked medical emergency information to another device for generation of a record of the medical emergency that includes temporally correlated medical emergency information and recorded audio.

61. The device of claim 54, in which the medical emergency information includes at least one of an electrocardiogram, a capnograph, a plethysmograph, a heart rate aver time, a pulse rate over time, a blood oxygen saturation over time, a blood pressure over time, end tidal carbon dioxide measurements, measurements of the fraction of carbon dioxide in air inspired or expired, one or more therapies delivered to a patient, and times at which the one or more therapies were delivered to the patient.

62. The device of claim 54, in which the processor provides an indication of a length of time to record to the audio recorder.

63. The device of claim 54, in which the device comprises a defibrillator.

64. A method comprising:

recording audio during a medical emergency; and

receiving synchronization information from a separate medical device that at least one of treats and monitors a patient during the medical emergency; and

marking the recorded audio according to the synchronization information.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein marking the recorded audio comprises marking the recorded audio to temporally correlate the recorded audio with the medical emergency.

66. The method of claim 64, in which receiving synchronization information comprises receiving clock information from the medical device, and marking the recorded audio comprises marking the recorded audio with a time.

67. The method of claim 64, in which receiving synchronization information comprises receiving a treatment event identifier from the medical device, and marking the recorded audio comprises marking the recorded audio with the treatment event identifier.

68. The method of claim 64, in which recording audio during a medical emergency comprises selectively recording audio at selected times during the medical emergency.

69. A system comprising:

a medical device that includes a first housing, and that at least one of treats or physiologically monitors a patient during a medical emergency; and

a portable audio recorder that includes a second housing, records audio during a medical emergency, receives synchronization information from the medical device, and marks the recorded audio according to the synchronization information to temporally correlate the recorded audio with the medical emergency.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the medical device and the portable audio recorder establish a local wireless communication session, and the portable audio recorder receives the synchronization information via the local wireless communication session.

71. The system of claim 69,

wherein the medical device generates medical emergency information during the medical emergency, and marks the medical emergency information according to the synchronization information,

the system further comprising a computer that receives the marked recorded audio from the audio recorder and the marked medical emergency information from the medical device, temporally correlates the medical emergency information and the recorded audio according to the marking of the medical emergency information and the recorded audio, and generates a record of the medical emergency that includes the temporally correlated medical emergency information and recorded audio.

72. The system of claim 69, in which the medical device comprises an external defibrillator, and the audio recorder is configured to be worn by a user.