Medical device visual management system and method

• US 9,526,459 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Blair, David Michael, Ten Eyck, Lawrence Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US14/143,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20150187196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 340/573.1, 340/691.6, 600/300, 600/301, 600/476, 600/558, 600/559, 600/587, 128/903, 128/904
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/009 with hand insertion windows, e.g. in the walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/90 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A visual management system for a medical device, the system comprises a projection device and a controller to generate control signals based upon parameters associated with use of the medical device. The projection device projects a message onto a surface, upon which the image is viewable, in response to the control signals.

Claims

1. A visual management system for an infant care apparatus, wherein the infant care apparatus is at least one of an incubator and warmer, the system comprising:

a projection device;

a controller to generate control signals based upon parameters associated with use of the infant care apparatus, wherein the projection device projects a message comprising an alarm onto a surface, upon which the message is viewable, in response to the control signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the message comprises alphanumeric symbols and wherein the controller is configured to indicate an importance of the message by generating control signals causing the projection device to vary non-textual attributes of the message based upon the importance of the message.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the non-textual attribute is selected from a group of non-textual attributes consisting of:

color, brightness, font, size and frequency of the alphanumeric symbols.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the projection device is configured to select one of a plurality of available surfaces based on the importance of the message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to vary a brightness of the projection based upon at least one of a timer and a sensed ambient light.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signals generated by the controller are additionally based upon sensed parameters associated with use of a medical device other than the infant care apparatus.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the projection device is configured to project the message onto a surface remote from the infant care apparatus.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising the infant care apparatus, wherein the infant care apparatus comprises a projection surface upon which the message projected by the projection device is viewable.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the infant care apparatus comprises a chamber to receive a patient, wherein the projection surface extends along a wall of the chamber.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the infant care apparatus comprises a bed and rails vertically extending above the bed, wherein the projection surface is supported by the rails.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the projection device is configured to project the message through air external to the infant care apparatus.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the projection device is configured to vary a location upon which the message is projected based upon an importance of the message.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the infant care apparatus comprises an incubator and wherein the message is based upon a sensed level of water in a reservoir of the incubator.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is based upon a sensed temperature of a patient.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display screen, wherein the controller is configured to generate second control signals and wherein the display screen presents a second message in response to the second control signals, the second message comprising the message.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the message has an alphanumeric character size of at least 1 inch.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the message has an alphanumeric character size of at least 3 inches.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the projection device is adjustable to project the message onto a selected one of a plurality of available surfaces.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises a projection surface of the infant care apparatus.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises a sensed parameter sensed during operation of the infant care apparatus.

21. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor associated with the infant care apparatus to sense the parameter associated with use of the infant care apparatus.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameter associated with use of the infant care apparatus comprises a current operational setting of the infant care apparatus.

23. The system of claim 1 further comprising the infant care apparatus, wherein the projection device is incorporated as part of the infant care apparatus.

24. The system of claim 1 further comprising a medical device other than the infant care apparatus, wherein the control signals generated by the controller are additionally based upon sensed parameters associated with use of the medical device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the projection device is incorporated as part of the infant care apparatus, wherein the system further comprises a second projection device incorporated as part of the medical device, wherein the projection device projects a first portion of the message through air external to the infant care apparatus and wherein the second projection device projects a second portion of the message through air external to the medical device.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the message comprises a message portion applicable to each of the infant care apparatus and the medical device.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the projection device is configured to project a first portion of the message onto the surface and a second portion of the message onto a different surface.

28. A method executed by a controller, the method comprising:

receiving signals representing a parameter associated with use of an infant care apparatus, wherein the infant care apparatus is at least one of an incubator and warmer; and

projecting a message comprising an alarm onto a surface upon which the message is viewable, the message based upon the parameter.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing code configured to direct a processor to;

receive signals representing a parameter associated with use of an infant care apparatus, wherein the infant care apparatus is at least one of an incubator and a warmer, and

project a message comprising an alarm onto a surface upon which the message is viewable, the message based upon the parameter.