Ambulatory Physiological Monitor Having A Patient-Activated Emergency Alert Cancellation Feature

• US 20080234565A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Russell, James Knox, Lyster, Thomas Dean
• Application Number:
  US10/598,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20080234565A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/382
• 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 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02455 provided with high/low alarm devices

Abstract

An ambulatory physiological monitor (10) is provided. The monitor includes at least one sensor for detecting at least one physiological parameter of a patient and a housing (42) adapted to be secured to the patient. A circuit (50) is located in the housing for receiving and processing a signal representative of the physiological parameter from the sensor to generate recordable physiological data and for determining if the data exceeds a preestablished alarm limit. An event indicator (12) is coupled to the housing for notifying the patient when the alarm limit has been exceeded. A wireless transmitter (28), operationally coupled to the circuit, is located in the housing for transmitting an emergency notification when the alarm limit has been exceeded. A patient-operable actuator (22) is coupled to the housing for preventing transmission of the emergency notification by the wireless transmitter upon activation by the patient within a predetermined time after the alarm limit has been exceeded.

Claims

1. An ambulatory physiological monitor, comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting at least one physiological parameter of a patient;

a housing adapted to be secured to the patient;

a circuit located in said housing for receiving and processing a signal representative of the physiological parameter from the at least one sensor to generate recordable physiological data and for determining if said data exceeds a pre-established alarm limit;

an event indicator coupled to said housing for notifying the patient when the alarm limit has been exceeded;

a wireless transmitter operationally coupled to the circuit and located in said housing for transmitting an emergency notification when the alarm limit has been exceeded; and

a patient-operable actuator coupled to said housing for preventing transmission of the emergency notification by the wireless transmitter upon activation by the patient within a predetermined time after the alarm limit has been exceeded.

2. The monitor of claim 1 wherein said event indicator is an audio transducer.

3. The monitor of claim 1 wherein said event indicator is a mechanical transducer.

4. The monitor of claim 2 wherein said event indicator generates a physical stimulus that increases in intensity over a predetermined period of time after the alarm limit has been exceeded.

5. The monitor of claim 4 wherein said patient-operable actuator is a button.

6. The monitor of claim 4 wherein said patient-operable actuator is pressure activated.

7. A method of transmitting an emergency notification from an ambulatory monitor upon detection of a physiological parameter of a patient that deviates by a pre-established amount from an acceptable value, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one physiological parameter of the patient;

receiving and processing a signal representative of the physiological parameter to generate recordable physiological data;

determining if said data exceeds a pre-established alarm limit;

notifying the patient when the alarm limit has been exceeded; and

transmitting an emergency notification after the alarm limit has been exceeded for a predetermined period of time unless canceled by the patient within said predetermined period of time.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the transmitting step is performed with a patient-operable actuator located on the monitor.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the notification step is performed by an event indicator located on the monitor.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said event indicator is an audio transducer.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said event indicator is a mechanical transducer.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said event indicator is an audio transducer.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said event indicator generates a physical stimulus that increases in intensity over a predetermined period of time after the alarm limit has been exceeded.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein said patient-operable actuator is a button