Secure patient data recorder for recording monitored vital sign data
First Claim
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1. A method of preserving patient vital sign data in a health care facility, comprising the procedure of:
- defining, in a recording medium in a memory module, an addressable memory space for recording data representing vital sign information from a patient;
based on the size of the defined addressable memory space, determining a minimum period of time that a monitor unit may be operated to continuously and repeatedly gather data representative of vital sign information from one or more patients and to record the repeatedly-gathered data in the defined addressable memory space, when the memory module is communicatively connected to the monitor unit, without exceeding the capacity of the defined addressable memory space;
defining a minimum period of time for recorded vital sign data to be semi-permanently retained after operation of the monitor unit is discontinued, the defined minimum being at least as great as the determined minimum period of time;
initiating a new operational period, the operational period being no more than the determined minimum period of time;
with the memory module communicatively connected to the monitor unit, operating the monitor unit to continuously and repeatedly gather data representative of vital sign information from one or more patients and to record the repeatedly-gathered data in the defined addressable memory space, wherein operating the monitor unit to record the repeatedly-gathered data includes preventing the data recorded previously during the operational period from being overwritten, wherein the beginning of the continuously and repeatedly gathering data step defines the beginning of the operational period;
by the end of the determined minimum period of time, discontinuing the continuously and repeatedly gathering step, wherein the discontinuance defines the end of the operational period; and
after the discontinuing step, semi-permanently retaining, for at least the defined period of semi-permanent retention, substantially all of the vital sign data that has been gathered and stored in the recording medium since the beginning of the operational period; and
thereafter, repeating the initiating, operating, discontinuing and retaining steps.
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Abstract
A monitor and recorder system having a monitor unit for gathering vital sign data from a patient and a memory module for automatically recording the data. Means are provided for protecting the data from accidental or intentional deletion of the data or corruption or damage to the memory module without proper authorization. The data is recorded in a circular memory such that when data must be deleted, the last-recorded data is deleted first. A procedure is disclosed for preserving all data for at least a minimal period of time in case an event such as a patient death occurs.
60 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of preserving patient vital sign data in a health care facility, comprising the procedure of:
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defining, in a recording medium in a memory module, an addressable memory space for recording data representing vital sign information from a patient; based on the size of the defined addressable memory space, determining a minimum period of time that a monitor unit may be operated to continuously and repeatedly gather data representative of vital sign information from one or more patients and to record the repeatedly-gathered data in the defined addressable memory space, when the memory module is communicatively connected to the monitor unit, without exceeding the capacity of the defined addressable memory space; defining a minimum period of time for recorded vital sign data to be semi-permanently retained after operation of the monitor unit is discontinued, the defined minimum being at least as great as the determined minimum period of time; initiating a new operational period, the operational period being no more than the determined minimum period of time; with the memory module communicatively connected to the monitor unit, operating the monitor unit to continuously and repeatedly gather data representative of vital sign information from one or more patients and to record the repeatedly-gathered data in the defined addressable memory space, wherein operating the monitor unit to record the repeatedly-gathered data includes preventing the data recorded previously during the operational period from being overwritten, wherein the beginning of the continuously and repeatedly gathering data step defines the beginning of the operational period; by the end of the determined minimum period of time, discontinuing the continuously and repeatedly gathering step, wherein the discontinuance defines the end of the operational period; and after the discontinuing step, semi-permanently retaining, for at least the defined period of semi-permanent retention, substantially all of the vital sign data that has been gathered and stored in the recording medium since the beginning of the operational period; and thereafter, repeating the initiating, operating, discontinuing and retaining steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification