System and method for augmenting presentation of patient-related medical information

• US 20060085398A1
• Filed: 10/19/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Meyers, Susan Ann
• Application Number:
  US10/967,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085398A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system and method for augmenting presentation of patient-related medical information is provided. In one example, the medical information is displayed on a display according to predetermined formal display characteristics. A signal transmitter is operable by a caregiver to propagate a remote control signal when the caregiver desires to augment at least one of the predetermined formal display characteristics of the medical information. A receiver receives the remote control signal and control means are coupled to the receiver and control the display to augment the formal display characteristics of the medical information and thereby enhance the caregivers ability to view the medical information.

Claims

1. A system for augmenting presentation of patient-related medical information, which medical information is displayed on a display according to predetermined formal display characteristics, the system comprising:

a signal transmitter operable by a caregiver to propagate a remote control signal when the caregiver desires to augment at least one of the predetermined formal display characteristics of the medical information;

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal; and

a controller coupled to the receiver and controlling the display based on the remote control signal to augment the formal display characteristics of the medical information and thereby enhance the caregiver'"'"'s ability to view the medical information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the formal display characteristics is the size of the medical information and the controller controls the display to increase the size of the medical information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical information is alarm information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control signal is receivable by a desired receiver coupled to and controlling the display of one or more monitors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the formal display characteristics is the color of the medical information and the control means controls the display to change the color of the medical information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the augmented medical information is displayed for a predetermined amount of time before returning to the predetermined formal display characteristic.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter propagates an electromagnetic remote control signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitter propagates a directional electromagnetic signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the signal transmitter propagates an infrared (IR) electromagnetic signal and the receiver is an infrared (IR) receiver.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal transmitter has an IR emitting diode.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter comprises an activator for activating the signal transmitter.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter has means for attaching the signal transmitter to the clothing or equipment of a caregiver.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter comprises part of an identification badge for a caregiver.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is a monitor.

15. A method for conveying patient-related medical information, which medical information is displayed on a display according to predetermined formal display characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a signal transmitter to propagate a remote control signal to change one of the formal display characteristics of the medical information;

providing a receiver which receives the remote control signal; and

controlling the display based on the remote control signal received by the receiver to augment the formal display characteristics of the medical information and thereby enhance a caregiver'"'"'s ability to view the medical information.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of displaying the augmented display of medical information for a predetermined time period before returning to the predetermined formal display characteristics.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the remote control signal is received by at least one receiver to augment the formal display characteristics of medical information on a plurality of displays.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the size of the display of medical information is increased.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the medical information comprises alarm information.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal transmitter comprises an activator for activating the signal transmitter.

21. A system for modifying a presentation of patient-related medical information, the system comprising:

communication means capable of communicating the medical information in a predetermined form and in an augmented form that is more easily received by the clinician than the predetermined form;

a signal transmitter operable by a caregiver to propagate a remote control signal when the caregiver desires to augment the presentation of the medical information;

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal; and

control means coupled to the receiver and controlling the communication means to selectively communicate the medical information in the predetermined form and in the augmented form.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the communication means comprises a display and the medical information is provided on the display.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the augmented form of medical information is larger than the predetermined form of medical information.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the augmented form of medical information is a different color than the predetermined form.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the medical information comprises alarm information.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the augmented form of medical information is displayed for a predetermined amount of time before returning to the predetermined form.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the signal transmitter propagates an electromagnetic remote control signal.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the communication means is a monitor.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the signal transmitter comprises an activator for activating the signal transmitter.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the signal transmitter comprises part of an identification badge for a caregiver.