Robust alarm system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A patient monitoring device comprising:
- a driving circuit configured to drive one or more emitters;
a front end processing circuit configured to receive a signal from a detector responsive to light from said emitters attenuated by body tissue;
an alarm configured to provide a first alert to a caregiver;
a processor responsive to said front end to process said signal to determine one or more measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of a patient being monitored, said processor also configured to trigger said alarm when one or more of said measurement values should receive caregiver review; and
a malfunction indicator providing a second alert that said alarm was nonresponsive when triggered by said processor, wherein said second alert is configured to indicate at least one of a particular fault type or fault location associated with said nonresponsive alarm, wherein said processor is further configured to deactivate one or more alarm subsystems in response to said indication of said particular fault type or fault location.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robust alarm system has an alarm controller adapted to input an alarm trigger and to generate at least one alarm drive signal in response. Alarm subsystems input the alarm drive signal and activate one or more of multiple alarms accordingly. A subsystem function signal provides feedback to the alarm controller as to alarm subsystem integrity. A malfunction indicator is output from the alarm controller in response to a failure within the alarm subsystems.
998 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A patient monitoring device comprising:
-
a driving circuit configured to drive one or more emitters; a front end processing circuit configured to receive a signal from a detector responsive to light from said emitters attenuated by body tissue; an alarm configured to provide a first alert to a caregiver; a processor responsive to said front end to process said signal to determine one or more measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of a patient being monitored, said processor also configured to trigger said alarm when one or more of said measurement values should receive caregiver review; and a malfunction indicator providing a second alert that said alarm was nonresponsive when triggered by said processor, wherein said second alert is configured to indicate at least one of a particular fault type or fault location associated with said nonresponsive alarm, wherein said processor is further configured to deactivate one or more alarm subsystems in response to said indication of said particular fault type or fault location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of indicating to a caregiver that an alarm system has failed without duplicating said alarm system, the method comprising:
-
driving one or more emitters; processing a signal from a detector responsive to light from said emitters attenuated by body tissue; determining one or more measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of a patient being monitored, triggering an alarm system when one or more of said measurement values should receive caregiver review; providing an alert that said alarm system was nonresponsive when triggered by said processor, said alert comprising an audible alert, wherein said alert is configured to indicate at least one of a particular fault type or fault location associated with said nonresponsive alarm system; and deactivating one or more alarm subsystems associated with said alarm system in response to said indication of said particular fault type or fault location. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification