Unobtrusive advisors for patient monitor

• US 9,924,908 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Hubert, Volker Manfred, Meier, Wilhelm, Wilm, Bernd Gunter Werner, Bauer, Johannes Marcus Josef Eduard, Greiner, Harald, Latz, Benedikt, Tivig, Gerhard, Lange, Axel Joachim, Vicente Antunes, Vitor Manuel, Frassica, Joseph James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US15/315,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20170095217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/921 Alloys or mixtures with metallic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/926 on carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A patient monitor system (10) includes a signal processor (30) which analyzes signals from physiological parameter sensors (20) to derive physiological data values, plots, and alarms. A display (12) displays physiological values and plots (42). An advisor engine, routine, or processor (34) is connected with the signal processor to analyze at least alarm occurrences, also in combination with user interactions, and provide directly actionable advice for reducing alarm frequency which is displayed unobtrusively on the display. The directly actionable advice includes specific actions or adjustments which are specific to a current patient, a present situation, or a present mode or setting of the patient monitor system. The unobtrusively displayed directly actionable advice is displayed without the use requesting it.

Claims

1. A patient monitor system comprising:

a signal processor configured to analyze signals from physiological parameter sensors and present physiological data values, plots, and alarms;

a display configured to display the physiological data values and plots to a user of the patient monitor system; and

an advisor engine connected with the signal processor to analyze at least alarm occurrences and provide directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences, the directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences comprising adjusting at least one of;

a high heart rate limit;

a low heart rate limit;

a high respiration rate limit;

a low respiration rate limit;

a high SpO2 limit; and

a low SpO2 limit;

wherein the advisor engine is further configured to;

sense user interaction; and

cause the display of directly actionable advice to be delayed based on the sensed user interaction such that the directly actionable advice is displayed unobtrusively.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the directly actionable advice proposes specific actions or adjustments which are specific to a current situation, a current patient, and a current mode setting of the patient monitor system; and

unobtrusively displaying the directly actionable advice includes displaying the directly actionable advice without the user requesting the directly actionable advice.

3. The system according to claim 1, further including:

a display driver connected with the advisor engine, the signal processor, and the display to drive the display to display physiological parameter values and plots and the directly actionable advice from the advisor engine.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the advisor engine is further configured to:

compare a frequency or pattern with which alarms occur and are paused or silenced to preselected alarm standards or rules.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the advisor engine is further configured to:

sense user interactions;

analyze the sensed user interactions relative to preselected optimal use standards and/or common sub-optimal use patterns; and

in response to the sensed user interactions being below the preselected optional use standards or indicating sub-optimal use patterns, displaying advice for improving usage of the patient monitor system on a display device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the advisor engine is further configured to:

receive alarms indicative of system or physiological sensor malfunction; and

generate and display specific instructions how to resolve the malfunction.

7. The system according to claim 1, further including:

an advice memory which stores at least one of;

the directly actionable advice in text format for display on the display,

diagrams to illustrate how to implement the directly actionable advice, and,

an explanation why the advice is given.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences comprising adjusting at least one of:

a high heart rate limit; and

a low heart rate limit.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences comprising adjusting at least one of:

a high respiration rate limit; and

a low respiration rate limit.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences comprising adjusting at least one of:

a high SpO2 limit; and

a low SpO2 limit.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the advisor engine is further configured to display the advice to adjust an alarm limit when the user is silencing an alarm.

12. A method of patient monitoring comprising:

with a signal processor, analyzing signals from physiological parameter sensors and presenting physiological data values, plots, and alarms;

with one or more processors, analyzing at least alarm occurrences and generating directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences, the directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences comprising adjusting at least one of;

a high heart rate limit;

a low heart rate limit;

a high respiration rate limit;

a low respiration rate limit;

a high SpO2 limit; and

a low SpO2 limit;

on a display device, displaying the physiological data values and the plots and unobtrusively displaying the directly actionable advice to a user;

sensing user interaction with a patient monitor system; and

delaying displaying of the directly actionable advice based on the sensed user interaction thereby enabling direct implementation of the advice by the user.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the directly actionable advice proposes specific actions or adjustments which are specific to a present situation, a present patient, and a present mode setting of a patient monitoring system monitoring the patient.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the unobtrusively displayed directly actionable advice is displayed to the user without the user requesting the directly actionable advice.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein analyzing the alarm occurrences includes:

comparing a frequency or pattern with which alarms occur and are paused or silenced to preselected alarm occurrence standards or rules.

16. The method according to claim 12, further including:

sensing user interactions;

analyzing the sensed user interactions relative to preselected optimal and/or sub-optimal use standards or patterns; and

in response to the sensed user interactions being below the optimal use standards or patterns, or indicative of the sub-optimal use standards or patterns, generating advice for improving usage.

17. The method according to claim 12, further including:

receiving alarms indicative of a system or physiological sensor malfunction; and

generating the directly actionable advice in the form of specific instructions how to resolve the malfunction and/or diagrams which illustrate how to implement the directly actionable advice.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying instructions for controlling one or more processors to perform the method of claim 12.

19. A patient monitor system comprising one or more processors configured to:

analyze signals from physiological parameter sensors and present physiological data values;

on a display device, display the physiological data values to a user of the patient monitor system;

analyze at least alarm occurrences and provide directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences, the directly actionable advice for reducing alarm occurrences comprising adjusting at least one of;

a high heart rate limit;

a low heart rate limit;

a high respiration rate limit;

a low respiration rate limit;

a high SpO2 limit; and

a low SpO2 limit;

determine user interaction; and

cause the display of directly actionable advice to be delayed based on the determined user interaction.