Parasitic tags for action annotation

• US 7,716,997 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Healey, Jennifer
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, JEWEL VERGIE
• Application Number:
  US11/854,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 738/623.81, 600/300, 600/587, 340/573.1, 602/16
• US Class Current: 73/862.381
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

A sensing device is used to consolidate and time-synchronize Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or other clinical data from patient monitoring devices provided by a plurality of different vendors having proprietary event data formats. The automation of logging of events due to external forces applied to patient monitoring devices detected by the sensing device improves the timing in and completeness of nurses'"'"' notes. Furthermore, the sensing device provides an easy way to synchronize or consolidate data from multiple vendors'"'"' patient monitoring devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor to detect an event due to an action associated with a force applied to a patient monitoring device by a caregiver, the sensor having no communications path and no electrical connection to the patient monitoring device;

an event timer to record a time at which the detected event occurs; and

a wireless communication network interface to transmit the detected event and the recorded time to a collection system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient monitoring device is an IV stand.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer to detect motion of the patient monitoring device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a parasitic switch that is placed over a push button in the patient monitoring device to detect an external force applied to the push button by the caregiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient monitoring device is an electrocardiogram monitor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a parasitic switch that is placed over a push button in the electrocardiogram monitor to detect an external force applied to the push button by the caregiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

memory to store the event and associated timestamp prior to transmitting to the collection device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor to process event data received from the sensor to detect the event.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is placed on and is in physical contact with the patient monitoring device.

9. A method comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, an action associated with a force applied to a patient monitoring device by a caregiver, the sensor having no communications path and no electrical connection to the patient monitoring device;

recording a time at which the detected event occurred; and

transmitting the detected event and the recorded time to a collection system via a wireless communication network interface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the patient monitoring device is an IV stand.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer to detect motion of the patient monitoring device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a parasitic switch that is placed over a push button in the patient monitoring device to detect the force applied to the push button by the caregiver.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the patient monitoring device is an electrocardiogram monitor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a parasitic switch that is placed over a push button in the electrocardiogram monitor to detect the force applied to the push button by the caregiver.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing the event and associated timestamp prior to transmitting to the collection device.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

processing event data received from the sensor to detect the event.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor is placed on and is in physical contact with the patient monitoring device.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the detected event and recorded time is transmitted to the collection system for use in conjunction with other information to corroborate an action performed by the caregiver.

20. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the detected event and recorded time is transmitted to the collection system for use in conjunction with other information to corroborate an action performed by the caregiver.