Patient monitoring system

• US 20040167384A1
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vyaire Medical Consumables LLC
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Brodnick, Don
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

A patient monitoring system is disclosed. The patient monitoring system includes at least one monitoring cable, a plurality of connecting wires, and a plurality of connectors. The plurality of connecting wires are housed within an outer covering and each extend from a first end to a second end of the at least one monitoring cable. The plurality of connectors are arranged in an in-line sequence from the first end to the second end of the at least one monitoring cable and may include at least one ECG connector and at least one non-ECG connector. The patient monitoring system may also be configured to provide strain relief for the at least one cable.

Claims

1. A monitoring cable for use with a patient monitoring system, the monitoring cable comprising:

a first end and a second end;

an outer sheathing extending from the first end to the second end;

a plurality of connecting wires, the plurality of connecting wires each being housed within the outer sheathing; and

a plurality of connectors being arranged along the monitoring cable to correspond with a desired location on the patient, the plurality of connectors each being coupled to at least one connecting wire.

2. The monitoring cable of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connecting wires each extend from the first end to the second end of the monitoring cable, the plurality of connectors being located there between.

3. The monitoring cable of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is an ECG connector.

4. The monitoring cable of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is a non-ECG connector.

5. The monitoring cable of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of sensors arranged in an in-line sequence from the first end to the second end of the monitoring cable, the plurality of sensors including a right leg electrode positioned as a first sensor in the in-line sequence.

6. The monitoring cable of claim 5, wherein the sensors further comprise a plurality of ECG sensors.

7. The monitoring cable of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprise at least one non-ECG sensor.

8. The monitoring cable of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of the following:

(a) a respiration sensor;

(b) a non-invasive blood pressure sensor;

(c) a pulse oxygen sensor;

(d) body position or activity sensor;

(e) a skin galvonic response sensor; and

(f) a skin temperature sensor.

9. The monitoring cable of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include the following:

(a) a respiration sensor;

(b) a non-invasive blood pressure sensor;

(c) a pulse oxygen sensor.

10. The monitoring cable of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sensors further include the following:

(d) a body position or activity sensor;

(e) a skin galvonic response sensor; and

(f) a skin temperature sensor.

11. The monitoring cable of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is internally integrated as part of the monitoring cable.

12. The monitoring cable of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is externally integrated as part of the monitoring cable and has a generally obtuse shape.

13. The monitoring cable of claim 1, further comprising a cable identity resistor coupled to the first sensor so that a first sensor is attached to more than one of the plurality of connecting wires.

14. The monitoring cable of claim 1, wherein the monitoring cable further comprises defibrillation protection resistors for each of a plurality of sensors.

16. The monitoring cable of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connecting wires are electrically insulated from each other.

17. The monitoring cable of claim 1, further comprising an interface located at the first end of the monitoring cable, the interface including a plurality of contact portions each connected to a respective one of the plurality of connecting wires to couple the monitoring cable to monitoring equipment.

15. The monitoring cable of clam 1, wherein the monitoring cable is substantially circular in cross-section.

18. A monitoring cable for use with a patient monitoring system, the monitoring cable comprising:

a plurality of connecting wires housed within an outer covering of the monitoring cable, the plurality of connecting wires each extending from a first end to a second end of the monitoring cable; and

a plurality of sensors arranged in an in-line sequence between the first end and the second end of the monitoring cable, each sensor being coupled to at least one connecting wire, the plurality of sensors including a right leg electrode positioned as a first sensor in the in-line sequence and at least one non-ECG sensor.

19. The monitoring cable of claim 18, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprise a respiration sensor, a non-invasive blood pressure sensor, and a pulse oxygen sensor.

20. The monitoring cable of claim 19, further comprising a cable identity resistor coupled to the first sensor so that the first sensor is attached to more than one of the plurality of connecting wires.

21. The monitoring cable of claim 18, wherein the plurality of sensors are coupled to the plurality of connecting wires by way of a plurality of connectors.

22. The monitoring cable of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is internally integrated as part of the monitoring cable.

23. The monitoring cable of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is externally integrated as part of the monitoring cable and has a generally obtuse shape.

24. The monitoring cable of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is an ECG connector.

25. The monitoring cable of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is a non-ECG connector.

26. A patient monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of connecting wires, the plurality of connecting wires being housed within an outer sheathing of at least one monitoring cable, the plurality of connecting wires each extending from a first end to a second end of the at least one monitoring cable;

an interface located at the first end of the at least one monitoring cable, the interface including a plurality of contact portions each connected to a respective one of the plurality of connecting wires;

a plurality of connectors each coupled to at least one of the plurality of connecting wires; and

monitoring equipment coupled to the interface located at the first end of the monitoring cable.

27. The patient monitoring system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of connectors are integrally formed in the at least one monitoring cable to create a substantially smooth cable surface.

28. The patient monitoring system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is internally integrated as part of the at least one monitoring cable.

29. The patient monitoring system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is externally integrated as part of the at least one monitoring cable.

30. The patient monitoring system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is an ECG connector.

31. The patient monitoring system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is a non-ECG connector.

32. The patient monitoring system of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the plurality of connecting wires by way of the plurality of connectors.

33. The patient monitoring system of claim 32, wherein the sensors further comprise a plurality of ECG sensors.

34. The patient monitoring system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprise at least one non-ECG sensor.

35. The patient monitoring system of claim 34, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of the following:

(a) a respiration sensor;

(b) a non-invasive blood pressure sensor;

(c) a pulse oxygen sensor;

(d) a body position or activity sensor;

(e) a skin galvonic response sensor; and

(f) a skin temperature sensor.

37. The patient monitoring system of claim 34, wherein the plurality of sensors include the following:

(a) a respiration sensor;

(b) a non-invasive blood pressure sensor; and

(c) a pulse oxygen sensor.

38. The patient monitoring system of claim 26, wherein the patient monitoring system comprises a plurality of monitoring cables capable of fitting different sized individuals.

39. The patient monitoring system of claim 26, wherein the at least one monitoring cable further comprises a cable identity resistor coupled to a first sensor so that the first sensor is attached to more than one connecting wire.

36. The patient monitoring system of clam 34, wherein the plurality of sensors include the following:

(a) a respiration sensor;

(b) a non-invasive blood pressure sensor;

(c) a pulse oxygen sensor;

(d) a skin galvonic response sensor; and

(e) a skin temperature sensor.

40. A method of providing data, comprising the steps of:

acquiring data using a plurality of sensors arranged in an in-line sequence from a first end to a second end of a monitoring cable, the plurality of sensors including;

(a) a right leg electrode positioned as a first sensor in the in-line sequence, (b) a left hipbone electrode positioned as a second sensor in the in-line sequence, (c) at least one midsection electrode positioned after the second sensor in the in-line sequence, (d) a right side superior electrode positioned after the at least one midsection electrode in the in-line sequence, and (e) a left side superior electrode positioned after the right side superior electrode in the in-line sequence;

transmitting data acquired from the plurality of sensors to a plurality of connectors coupled with the plurality of sensors; and

transmitting data from the plurality of connectors through a plurality of connecting wires each coupled with at least one of the plurality of connectors, the plurality of connecting wires being housed within an outer cable and each extending from a first end to a second end of the outer cable.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of acquiring data from at least one non-ECG sensor.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of acquiring data from at least one of the following:

(a) a respiration sensor;

(b) a non-invasive blood pressure sensor; and

(c) a pulse oxygen sensor.

43. A system for monitoring a patient comprising:

means for receiving ECG data through ECG data sensors from a patient, the ECG data sensors including a first sensor that is positionable on the patient to provide strain relief for the system; and

means for transferring the ECG data from the ECG data sensors to monitoring equipment.

44. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

means for receiving non-ECG data through non-ECG data sensors from a patient;

means for transferring the non-ECG data from the non-ECG data sensors to monitoring equipment.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising a means for receiving data from different sized patients.

46. The system of claim 44, further comprising a means for coupling a first sensor to multiple wires in the system.