Method for monitoring pre-eclamptic patients

• US 7,465,273 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Friedman, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II; Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha; Navin
• Application Number:
  US11/948,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/310, 600322-324, 600/326, 600/328, 600/335, 600/481, 600483-485, 600490-503, 600/529, 600/532
• US Class Current: 600/494
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02225 using the oscillometric method
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring and estimating the blood pressure of a pregnant patient that modifies the blood pressure estimating algorithm when the patient is pre-eclamptic. The level of carbon monoxide within a patient'"'"'s bloodstream or exhaled breath can be analyzed to determine whether a pregnant patient is pre-eclamptic. After the patient has been diagnosed as pre-eclamptic, the NIBP monitoring system adjusts its algorithm for estimating the patient'"'"'s blood pressure to compensate for the physical changes that occur in the patient during pre-eclampsia. The adjusted blood pressure estimates calculated by the NIBP monitoring system can be calculated using different adjustment techniques and methods and are displayed on the NIBP monitor.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing the operation of a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor having a blood pressure cuff selectively inflatable and deflatable to determine at least a systolic pressure, a mean arterial pressure and a diastolic pressure for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that the patient is pregnant at the NIBP monitor;

receiving an indication that the patient is pre-eclamptic at the NIBP monitor;

adjusting at least the determined systolic pressure and the determined diastolic pressure to compensate for the effects of pre-eclampsia; and

displaying the adjusted blood pressure estimates.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of the carbon monoxide level in the blood of the patient at the NIBP monitor; and

determining whether the patient is pre-eclamptic based upon the carbon monoxide level.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

positioning a carbon monoxide detection device on the patient to detect the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s blood;

generating a signal related to the carbon monoxide level; and

receiving the signal at the NIBP monitor.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the carbon monoxide detection device is a pulse oximeter that detects the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the patient'"'"'s blood.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the carbon monoxide detection device detects the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s expired breath.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates includes:

increasing the estimated systolic pressure by a first offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

increasing the estimated diastolic pressure by a second offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates includes:

adjusting the ratio of the systolic pressure from an estimated mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

adjusting the ratio of the diastolic pressure from the mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

8. A method of enhancing the operation of a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor having a blood pressure cuff selectively inflatable and deflatable to determine at least a systolic pressure, a mean arterial pressure and a diastolic pressure for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that the patient is pre-eclamptic at the NIBP monitor;

adjusting at least the determined systolic pressure and the determined diastolic pressure to compensate for the effects of pre-eclampsia; and

displaying the adjusted systolic and diastolic pressure estimates.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates includes:

increasing the estimated systolic pressure by a first offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

increasing the estimated diastolic pressure by a second offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates includes:

adjusting the ratio of the systolic pressure from an estimated mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

adjusting the ratio of the diastolic pressure from the mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the pre-eclamptic indication is manually received at the NIBP monitor.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the pre-eclamptic indication is received from a remote data storage system in communication with the NIBP monitor.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the remote data storage system is an electronic database including historical information related to the patient.

14. A method of enhancing the operation of a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor having a blood pressure cuff selectively inflatable and deflatable to determine at least a systolic pressure, a mean arterial pressure and a diastolic pressure for a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication of the carbon monoxide level in the blood of the patient at the NIBP monitor;

determining whether the patient is pre-eclamptic based upon the carbon monoxide level;

adjusting at least the determined systolic pressure and the determined diastolic pressure to compensate for the effects of pre-eclampsia; and

displaying the adjusted blood pressure estimates.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

positioning a carbon monoxide detection device on the patient to detect the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s blood;

generating a signal related to the carbon monoxide level; and

receiving the signal at the NIBP monitor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the carbon monoxide detection device is a pulse oximeter that detects the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the patient'"'"'s blood.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the carbon monoxide detection device detects the level of carbon monoxide in the patient'"'"'s expired breath.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates include:

increasing the estimated systolic pressure by a first offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

increasing the estimated diastolic pressure by a second offset value when the patient is pre-eclamptic.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adjusting the blood pressure estimates include:

adjusting the ratio of the systolic pressure from an estimated mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic; and

adjusting the ratio of the diastolic pressure from the mean arterial pressure when the patient is pre-eclamptic.