Method of making a patient monitor

• US 7,814,324 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simske, Steven J., Dunfield, John S., Blakley, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parthasarathy; Pramila
• Application Number:
  US11/064,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period

Abstract

A method for making a patient monitor includes providing an electronic device operatively connected to the monitor. The device is configured to measure predetermined signals from a user and to generate therefrom a substantially unique signature specific to the user. The method further includes storing the signature in the electronic device. The electronic device is adapted to compare newly acquired signatures to the substantially unique signature, and to recognize at least one difference from the substantially unique signature. Recognition of a difference in the signatures signifies a new user, whereupon the electronic device acquires new predetermined signals and generates therefrom a new substantially unique signature specific to the new user.

Claims

1. A method for making a patient monitor, comprising:

providing an electronic device operatively connected to the patient monitor the device adapted to measure predetermined signals from a user and generate therefrom a substantially unique signature specific to the user, the substantially unique signature including a signature confidence value that is based on the predetermined signals; and

configuring the electronic device to store the signature;

wherein the electronic device is adapted to compare newly acquired signatures to the substantially unique signature, and to recognize at least one difference from the substantially unique signature, thereby signifying a new user, whereupon the electronic device acquires new predetermined signals and generates therefrom a new substantially unique signature specific to the new user.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the substantially unique signature and the new substantially unique signature comprise at least one character.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one character is derived from at least one of a linear combination and a non-linear combination of the predetermined signals.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the at least one of the linear combination and the non-linear combination of the predetermined signals is based on at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range derived from the predetermined signals.

5. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range is derived from the predetermined signals, and the at least one character is generated from a combination of the at least one of the numerical value and the numerical range and a predetermined value for a user population.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the predetermined signals comprise at least one of respiration rate, body temperature, electrocardiogram waveforms, transformed vectorcardiograms waveforms, vectorcardiogram waveforms, heart sounds, accelerometer measurements, physiological measurements, blood pressure, aortic ejection velocity, fingerprint scans, retinal scans, atomic clock data, positional data, voice analysis, data from a microfluidic device, weight, hemoglobin counts, blood oxygen levels, and combinations thereof.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of unconditional sensitivity values, conditional sensitivity values, and multi-level conditional sensitivity values are derived from the predetermined signals.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the at least one of unconditional sensitivity values, conditional sensitivity values, and multi-level conditional sensitivity values are at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the electronic device includes at least two electrodes operatively connected thereto, the at least two electrodes adapted to receive the predetermined signals from at least one of the user and the new user.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the predetermined signals are at least one of digital signals, analog signals, and combinations thereof.

11. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the electronic device is configured to template the predetermined signals for signal compression.

13. The patient monitor as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the substantially unique signature and the new substantially unique signature comprise at least one character.

14. The patient monitor as defined in claim 13 wherein the at least one character is derived from at least one of a linear combination and a non-linear combination of the predetermined signals.

15. The patient monitor as defined in claim 14 wherein the at least one of the linear combination and the non-linear combination of the predetermined signals is based on at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range derived from the predetermined signals.

16. The patient monitor as defined in claim 13 wherein at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range is derived from the predetermined signals, and wherein the at least one character is generated from a combination of the at least one of the numerical value and the numerical range and a predetermined value for a user population.

12. A patient monitor, comprising:

an electronic device operatively connected to the patient monitor, the device adapted to measure predetermined signals from a user and to generate therefrom a substantially unique signature specific to the user, the substantially unique signature including a signature confidence value that is based on the predetermined signals; and

an electronic storage member operatively connected to the electronic device, the electronic storage member adapted to store the substantially unique signature;

wherein the electronic device is adapted to compare newly acquired signatures to the substantially unique signature, and to recognize at least one difference from the substantially unique signature, thereby signifying a new user, whereupon the electronic device acquires new predetermined signals and generates therefrom a new substantially unique signature specific to the new user.

17. The patient monitor as defined in claim 12 wherein the predetermined signals comprise at least one of respiration rate, body temperature, electrocardiogram waveforms, transformed vectorcardiograms waveforms, vectorcardiogram waveforms, heart sounds, accelerometer measurements, physiological measurements, blood pressure, aortic ejection velocity, fingerprint scans, retinal scans, atomic clock data, positional data, voice analysis, data from a microfluidic device, weight, hemoglobin counts, blood oxygen levels, and combinations thereof.

18. The patient monitor as defined in claim 12 wherein at least one of unconditional sensitivity values, conditional sensitivity values, and multi-level conditional sensitivity values are derived from the predetermined signals.

19. The patient monitor as defined in claim 18 wherein the at least one of unconditional sensitivity values, conditional sensitivity values, and multi-level conditional sensitivity values are at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range.

20. The patient monitor as defined in claim 12 wherein the electronic device includes at least two electrodes operatively connected thereto, the at least two electrodes adapted to receive the predetermined signals from at least one of the user and the new user.

21. The patient monitor as defined in claim 12 wherein the predetermined signals are at least one of digital signals, analog signals, and combinations thereof.

22. The patient monitor as defined in claim 12 wherein the electronic device is adapted to template the predetermined signals for signal compression.

23. A system for recognizing a new user of a cardiac monitor, the system comprising:

an electronic device operatively connected to the cardiac monitor, the device adapted to measure predetermined cardiac signals from a user and to generate therefrom a substantially unique signature specific to the user, the substantially unique signature including a signature confidence value that is based on the predetermined cardiac signals; and

an electronic storage member operatively connected to the electronic device, the electronic storage member adapted to store the signature;

wherein the electronic device is adapted to compare newly acquired signatures to the substantially unique signature, and to recognize at least one significant difference from the substantially unique signature, thereby signifying the new user, whereupon the electronic device acquires new predetermined cardiac signals and generates therefrom a new substantially unique signature specific to the new user.

24. The system as defined in claim 23 wherein the predetermined cardiac signals comprise at least one of electrocardiogram waveforms, transformed vectorcardiograms waveforms, vectorcardiogram waveforms, heart sounds, accelerometer measurements, physiological measurements, blood pressure, aortic ejection velocity, and combinations thereof.

25. The system as defined in claim 23 wherein at least one of the substantially unique signature and the new substantially unique signature comprise at least one character.

26. The system as defined in claim 25 wherein the at least one character is derived from at least one of a linear combination and a non-linear combination of the predetermined cardiac signals.

27. The system as defined in claim 26 wherein the at least one of the linear combination and the non-linear combination of the predetermined cardiac signals is based on at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range derived from the predetermined cardiac signals.

28. The system as defined in claim 25 wherein at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range is derived from the predetermined cardiac signals, and the at least one character is generated from a combination of the at least one of the numerical value and the numerical range and a predetermined value for a user population.

29. The system as defined in claim 23 wherein at least one of unconditional sensitivity values, conditional sensitivity values, and multi-level conditional sensitivity values are derived from the predetermined cardiac signals.

30. The system as defined in claim 29 wherein the at least one of unconditional sensitivity values, conditional sensitivity values, and multi-level conditional sensitivity values are at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range.

31. The system as defined in claim 23 wherein the electronic device includes at least two electrodes operatively connected thereto, the at least two electrodes adapted to receive the predetermined cardiac signals from at least one of the user and the new user.

32. The system as defined in claim 23 wherein the predetermined cardiac signals are at least one of digital signals, analog signals, and combinations thereof.

33. The system as defined in claim 23 wherein the electronic device is configured to template the predetermined cardiac signals for signal compression.

34. A method for differentiating between a user and a new user of a patient monitor, the method comprising:

measuring predetermined signals from the user;

from the predetermined signals of the user, generating a substantially unique first signature of the user, the substantially unique first signature including a signature confidence value that is based on the predetermined signals of the user;

measuring predetermined signals from a then-current user of the patient monitor;

from the predetermined signals of the then-current user, generating a second signature including a signature confidence value that is based on the predetermined signals of the then-current user; and

comparing the substantially unique first signature and the second signature to determine if the second signature substantially matches the substantially unique first signature;

wherein substantially similar first and second signatures indicate that the then-current user is the user and wherein different first and second signatures indicate that the then-current user is the new user.

35. The method as defined in claim 34 wherein generating the first and second signatures is accomplished by an electronic device that is adapted to measure the predetermined signals from at least one of the user and the then-current user, and generate from the predetermined signals the first and second signatures.

36. The method as defined in claim 35 wherein the electronic device stores the substantially unique first signature therein and is adapted to compare the second signature to the substantially unique first signature and to at least one of distinguish between the user and the new user and to recognize the user.

37. The method as defined in claim 34 wherein generating at least one of the first and second signatures is accomplished by measuring the predetermined signals of at least one of the user and the then-current user, respectively, and deriving at least one character from the predetermined signals of at least one of the user and the then-current user.

38. The method as defined in claim 37 wherein the at least one character is at least one of a linear combination and a non-linear combination of the predetermined signals of at least one of the user and the then-current user.

39. The method as defined in claim 38 wherein the at least one of the linear combination and the non-linear combination of the predetermined signals of at least one of the user and the then-current user is based on at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range derived from the predetermined signals of at least one of the user and the then-current user.

40. The method as defined in claim 37 wherein at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range is derived from the predetermined signals of at least one of the user and the then-current user, and the at least one character is generated from a combination of the at least one of the numerical value and the numerical range and a predetermined value for a user population.

41. The method as defined in claim 35 wherein the predetermined signals of at least one of the user and the then-current user comprise at least one of respiration rate, body temperature, electrocardiogram waveforms, transformed vectorcardiograms waveforms, vectorcardiogram waveforms, heart sounds, accelerometer measurements, physiological measurements, blood pressure, aortic ejection velocity, fingerprint scans, retinal scans, atomic clock data, positional data, voice analysis, data from a microfluidic device, weight, hemoglobin counts, blood oxygen levels, and combinations thereof.

42. The method as defined in claim 34 wherein at least one of unconditional sensitivity values, conditional sensitivity values, and multi-level conditional sensitivity values are derived from the predetermined signals of at least one of the user and the then-current user.

43. A method for monitoring a user'"'"'s identity, the method comprising:

generating a substantially unique first signature of the user, the substantially unique signature including a signature confidence value that is based on measurements of predetermined signals;

recognizing a lapse in predetermined signal measurements;

generating a second signature, the second signature including a signature confidence value that is based on measurements of predetermined signals taken after the lapse; and

comparing the substantially unique first signature and the second signature to determine if the second signature substantially matches the substantially unique first signature;

wherein substantially similar first and second signatures identify the user and wherein different first and second signatures identify a new user,

wherein generating the first and second signatures is accomplished by an electronic device that is adapted to measure predetermined signals from at least one of the user and the new user, and generate from the predetermined signals of the first and second signatures.

44. The method as defined in claim 43 wherein the electronic device stores the substantially unique first signature therein and is adapted to compare the second signature to the substantially unique first signature and to at least one of distinguish between the user and the new user and to recognize the user.

45. The method as defined in claim 43 wherein generating at least one of the first and second signatures is accomplished by measuring predetermined signals, and deriving at least one character from the predetermined signals.

46. The method as defined in claim 45 wherein the at least one character is at least one of a linear combination and a non-linear combination of the predetermined signals.

47. The method as defined in claim 46 wherein the at least one of the linear combination and the non-linear combination of the predetermined signals is based on at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range derived from the predetermined signals.

48. The method as defined in claim 45 wherein at least one of unconditional sensitivity values, conditional sensitivity values, and multi-level conditional sensitivity values are derived from the predetermined signals and are used to determine the at least one character.

49. The method as defined in claim 45 wherein at least one of a numerical value and a numerical range is derived from the predetermined signals, and the at least one character is generated from a combination of the at least one of the numerical value and the numerical range and a predetermined value for a user population.

50. The method as defined in claim 43 wherein the predetermined signals comprise at least one of respiration rate, body temperature, electrocardiogram waveforms, transformed vectorcardiograms waveforms, vectorcardiogram waveforms, heart sounds, accelerometer measurements, physiological measurements, blood pressure, aortic ejection velocity, fingerprint scans, retinal scans, atomic clock data, positional data, voice analysis, data from a microfluidic device, weight, hemoglobin counts, blood oxygen levels, and combinations thereof.

51. The method as defined in claim 43 wherein if the new user is identified, the method further comprises:

generating a new substantially unique first signature of the new user based on measurements of predetermined signals; and

replacing the substantially unique first signature with the new substantially unique first signature.

52. The method as defined in claim 43 wherein if the user is identified, the method further comprises:

updating the substantially unique first signature; and

saving the updated substantially unique first signature in the electronic device.

53. The method as defined in claim 43 wherein if the user is identified, the method further comprises:

transforming the second signature to the substantially unique first signature; and

saving the substantially unique first signature in the electronic device.