Method, arrangement and apparatus for monitoring fluid balance status of a subject

• US 8,246,546 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Huiku, Matti
• Primary Examiner(s): Foley, Shanon A
• Application Number:
  US12/241,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20100081942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/483
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/168 Means for controlling media flow to the body or for metering media to the body, e.g. drip meters, counters ; Monitoring media flow to the body flow control in general G05D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring fluid balance status of a subject are disclosed. A hemoglobin measure indicative of hemoglobin concentration in the blood of a subject and at least one physiological parameter responsive to blood volume changes in the subject are determined and concurrent behavior of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter is indicated to a user, thereby to give an indication of fluid balance status of the subject. The cause and/or reliability of the fluid balance status may also be indicated.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring fluid balance status of a subject, the method comprising:

non-invasively determining in-vivo a hemoglobin measure indicative of hemoglobin concentration in blood of a subject, wherein the determining includes determining successive values of the hemoglobin measure;

defining at least one physiological parameter responsive to blood volume changes in the subject, wherein the defining includes defining successive values for the at least one physiological parameter; and

indicating concurrent behavior of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter, thereby to give an indication of fluid balance status of the subject.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defining the at least one physiological parameter includes defining a cardiovascular parameter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating includes displaying prevailing trends of the hemoglobin measure and the at least one physiological parameter graphically.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating includes

selecting, based on the concurrent behavior, a message indicative of the fluid balance status of the subject;

and

displaying the message to a user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the indicating includes selecting the message, in which the message indicates at least one of a cause of the fluid balance status and a suggestion of a fluid therapy form.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the selecting includes selecting the message based on current values of the at least one physiological parameter and the hemoglobin measure.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the non-invasively determining the hemoglobin measure includes acquiring measurement signals from the subject substantially continuously through a multi-wavelength pulse oximeter;

and

the at least one physiological parameter is defined from the measurement signals.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating includes a administering a fluid bolus to the subject.

9. The method according to claim 4, further comprising determining a quality index indicative of reliability of the fluid balance status indication.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a quantitative estimate of blood volume of the subject.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one physiological parameter includes a pulse pressure variation and/or a blood pressure variation.

11. An in-vivo method for monitoring fluid balance of a subject, the method comprising:

non-invasively determining a hemoglobin measure in a hemoglobin measurement unit that is indicative of hemoglobin concentration in blood of a subject, wherein the determining includes determining successive values of the hemoglobin measure;

defining at least one cardiovascular parameter in a physiological parameter unit that is responsive to blood volume changes in the subject, wherein the defining includes defining successive values for the cardiovascular parameter; and

indicating concurrent behavior of the hemoglobin measure and the cardiovascular parameter with an indicator unit to give an indication of fluid balance status of the subject.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the indicating includes displaying prevailing trends of the hemoglobin measure and the cardiovascular parameter graphically.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the indicating includes

selecting, based on the concurrent behavior, a message indicative of the fluid balance status of the subject;

and

displaying the message to a user.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the indicating includes selecting the message, in which the message indicates at least one of a cause of the fluid balance status and a suggestion of a fluid therapy form.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the non-invasively determining the hemoglobin measure includes acquiring measurement signals from the subject substantially continuously through a multi-wavelength pulse oximeter;

and

the defining includes deriving the at least one physiological parameter from the measurement signals.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the indicating includes a administering a fluid bolus to the subject.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising determining a quality index indicative of reliability of the fluid balance indication.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising determining a quantitative estimate of blood volume of the subject.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the physiological parameter unit further defines a respiratory variation for the cardiovascular parameter.