Alarm generation method for patient monitoring, physiological monitoring apparatus and computer program product for a physiological monitoring apparatus

• US 8,456,295 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Rantala, Brje
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US12/787,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20110291837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• 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: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A method for managing alarms in a physiological monitoring apparatus, a physiological monitoring apparatus, and a computer program product for a physiological monitoring apparatus are disclosed. A plurality of averages of a physiological parameter are derived, wherein the parameter is derived from at least one physiological signal acquired from a subject and wherein the averages represent a corresponding plurality of averaging periods. Respective alarm limits are assigned to the plurality of averages and at least one alarm indicator is defined, each alarm indicator being defined based on respective average and alarm limit. An alarm is detected based on the at least one alarm indicator.

Claims

1. A method for managing alarms in a physiological monitoring apparatus, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of averages of a physiological parameter derived from at least one physiological signal acquired from a subject, wherein the averages represent a corresponding plurality of averaging periods;

assigning respective alarm limits to the plurality of averages;

defining at least one alarm indicator, wherein each alarm indicator is defined based on at least one of the respective averages and corresponding alarm limits; and

detecting an alarm based on the at least one alarm indicator;

wherein the assigning includes assigning a basic alarm limit to a first average of the plurality of averages, wherein the first average represents the longest averaging period of the plurality of averages; and

wherein the assigning further includes determining an ultimate alarm limit based on the basic alarm limit and assigning the ultimate alarm limit to a second average of the plurality of averages, wherein the second average represents the shortest averaging period of the plurality of averages.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning includes assigning dedicated alarm limits for averages between the first average and the second average, wherein the order of the dedicated alarm limits corresponds to length order of the averaging periods.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the assigning includes assigning the dedicated alarm limits, in which the dedicated alarm limits are evenly spaced between the basic alarm limit and the ultimate alarm limit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defining includes defining a plurality of alarm indicators, in which each alarm indicator is an alarm truth value defined based on respective average/alarm limit pair.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the detecting includes one of

forming a logic combination of the alarm truth, values;

and

detecting the alarm if at least a predetermined number of the alarm indicators indicate an alarm.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining, based on the at least one alarm indicator, an initial priority level for the alarm.

7. The method according to claim 1, where the determining rule is L1=P×

L6+F, where P is a predetermined coefficient and F a predetermined constant.

8. The method according to claim 7 where P and F are predetermined by the clinical user.

9. A physiological monitoring apparatus for monitoring a subject, the apparatus comprising:

an averaging unit configured to determine a plurality of averages of a physiological parameter derived from at least one physiological signal acquired from a subject, wherein the averages represent a corresponding plurality of averaging periods and each average is assigned a respective alarm limit;

an analysis unit configured to define at least one alarm indicator, wherein each alarm indicator is defined based on at least one of the respective averages and corresponding alarm limits; and

a detection unit configured to detect an alarm based on the at least one alarm indicator

wherein a basic alarm limit is assigned to a first average of the plurality of averages, and wherein the first average represents the longest averaging period of the plurality of averages; and

wherein the apparatus is further configured to determine an ultimate alarm limit based on the basic alarm limit and to assign the ultimate alarm limit to a second average of the plurality of averages wherein the second average represents the shortest averaging period of the plurality of averages.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein dedicated alarm limits are assigned to averages between the first average and the second average, in which the order of the dedicated alarm limits corresponds to length order of the averaging periods.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the dedicated alarm limits are evenly spaced between the basic alarm limit and the ultimate alarm limit.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the analysis unit is configured to define a plurality of alarm indicators, in which each alarm indicator is an alarm truth value defined based on respective average/alarm limit pair.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the detection unit is configured to perform one of the following

form a logic combination of the truth values and

detect an alarm if at least a predetermined number of the alarm indicators indicate an alarm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ultimate alarm limit corresponds to a value obtained by multiplying the basic limit by a predetermined coefficient and adding a predefined fixed constant.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detection unit is further configured to determine, based on the at least one alarm indicator, an initial priority level for the alarm.

16. A computer program product for a physiological monitoring apparatus, the computer program product comprising:

a first program product portion configured to determine a plurality of averages of a, physiological parameter of a subject, wherein the averages represent a corresponding plurality of averaging periods and each average is assigned a respective alarm limit;

a second program product portion configured to define at least one alarm indicator, each alarm indicator being defined based on at least one of the respective averages and corresponding alarm limits; and

a third program product portion configured to detect an alarm based on the at least one alarm indicator

wherein the first program product portion assigns a basic alarm limit to a first average of the plurality of averages, wherein the first average represents the longest averaging period of the plurality of averages; and

wherein the first program product portion further determines an ultimate alarm limit based on the basic alarm limit and assigns the ultimate alarm hunt to a second average of the plurality of averages, wherein the second average represents the shortest averaging period of the plurality of averages.

17. A method for managing alarms in a physiological monitoring apparatus, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of averages of a physiological parameter derived from at least one physiological signal acquired from a subject wherein the averages represent a corresponding plurality of averaging periods;

assigning respective alarm limits to the plurality of averages;

defining at least one alarm indicator, wherein each alarm indicator is defined based on at least one of the respective averages and corresponding alarm limits;

detecting an alarm based on the at least one alarm indicator; and

determining, based on the at least one alarm indicator, an initial priority level for the alarm, wherein the detecting includes employing an alarm decision rule, in which the detecting further includes changing the alarm decision rule based on the plurality of averages.

18. The method according to claim 17 comprising the additional step of de-escalating an existing alarm when the alarm indicator associated with the shortest averaging period indicates no alarm.

19. A physiological monitoring apparatus for monitoring a subject, the apparatus comprising:

an averaging unit configured to determine a plurality of averages of a physiological parameter derived from at least one physiological signal acquired from a subject, wherein the averages represent a corresponding plurality of averaging periods and each average is assigned a respective alarm limit;

an analysis unit configured to define at least one alarm indicator, wherein each alarm indicator is defined based on at least one of the respective averages and corresponding alarm limits; and

a detection unit configured to detect an alarm based on the at least one alarm indicator,

wherein the detection unit is configured to employ an alarm decision rule, in which the detection unit is further configured to change the alarm decision rule based on the plurality of averages.

20. A method for managing alarms in a physiological monitoring apparatus, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of averages of a physiological parameter derived from at least one physiological signal acquired from a subject, wherein the averages represent a corresponding plurality of averaging periods;

assigning respective alarm limits to the plurality of averages;

defining at least one alarm indicators, wherein each alarm indicator is defined based on at least one of the respective averages and corresponding alarm limits;

detecting an alarm based on the at least one alarm indicator; and

de-escalating an existing alarm when the alarm indicator associated with a shortest averaging period of the plurality of averages indicates no alarm.

21. The method according to claim 20 where the alarm de-escalation includes terminating the alarm.

22. The method according to claim 20 where the alarm de-escalation does not terminate the alarm, but reduces the priority.

23. The method according to claim 22 where the alarm de-escalation does not terminate the alarm, and keeps silencing continuity.