SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER INTERACTION WITH MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

• US 20150190208A1
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Silveira, Paulo E.X.
• Application Number:
  US14/553,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20150190208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/252 indicating steps of a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/258 providing specific settings for specific users
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/748 Selection of a region of interest, e.g. using a graphics tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

According to various embodiments, a system may include a user interface configured to detect a first gesture that identifies a specific user. The system may also include a patient monitoring system coupled to user interface that is configured to monitor at least one physiological parameter of a patient. The patient monitoring system may be configured to retrieve and to display one or more event markers for the specific user in response to the detected first gesture. The one or more event markers represent steps of a procedure performed on the patient, and each event marker of the one or more event markers is associated with a respective reimbursement code. The system may convey user identification information associated with the specific user and selected event markers for automatic billing and reimbursement for approved medical procedures.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a user interface configured to detect a first gesture that identifies a specific user; and

a patient monitoring system coupled to the user interface and configured to monitor at least one physiological parameter of a patient;

wherein the patient monitoring system is configured to retrieve and to display one or more event markers for the specific user in response to the detected identifying gesture, the one or more event markers representing steps of a procedure performed on the patient, each event marker of the one or more event markers is associated with a respective reimbursement code;

wherein the patient monitoring system is configured to associate user identification information associated with the specific user with any event marker selected by the specific user during the procedure; and

a billing system configured to receive the user identification information associated with the specific user and any event marker selected by the specific user during the procedure, and the billing system is configured to generate a bill utilizing one or more reimbursement codes associated with one or more respective selected event markers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to detect a second gesture, and wherein the second gesture identifies a corresponding procedure to be performed on the patient.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the patient monitoring system is configured to retrieve and to display specific event markers associated with the corresponding procedure.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient monitoring system is configured to determine if the first gesture is unique relative to other gestures and to associate the first gesture with the specific user if the first gesture is unique.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient monitoring system is configured to retrieve and to display patient monitoring system settings customized for the specific user in response to the first gesture.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the patient monitoring systems settings comprises at least one of how different values of the at least one physiological parameter are displayed, one or more alarm thresholds for the at least one physiological parameter, an order of display for a plurality of physiological parameters, which physiological parameters of the plurality of physiological parameters to display, or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient monitoring system comprises at least one medical device to monitor the at least one physiological parameter, and the at least one medical device comprises the user interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one medical device comprises a pulse oximetry monitor or a regional oximetry monitor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first gesture comprises a touch-based gesture and user interface comprises a touchscreen configured to detect the touch-based gesture.

10. A monitor comprising:

a user interface configured to detect a first gesture that identifies a specific user; and

a processing device coupled to the user interface and configured to retrieve one or more event markers for the specific user in response to the detected first gesture, the one or more event markers representing steps of a procedure performed on a patient, and the processing device is configured to associate user identification information associated with the specific user with any event markers selected by the specific user during the procedure.

11. The monitor of claim 10, comprising a port configured to couple to a sensor applied to the patient, wherein the processing device is configured to receive a signal from the sensor and to calculate at least one physiological parameter from the received signal, and the processing device is configured to associate values of the at least one physiological parameter obtained from the patient with the user identification information and selected event markers.

12. The monitor of claim 10, wherein the user interface is configured to detect a second gesture, and wherein the second gesture identifies a corresponding procedure to be performed on the patient and causes the processing device to retrieve a code for the corresponding procedure identified.

13. The monitor of claim 12, wherein the processing device is configured to retrieve specific event markers associated with the corresponding procedure identified.

14. The monitor of claim 11, wherein first gesture comprises a touch-based gesture, and the user interface comprises a touchscreen configured to detect the touch-based gesture.

15. The monitor of claim 10, wherein the processing device is configured to determine if the first gesture is unique relative to other gestures and to associate the first gesture with the specific user if the first gesture is unique.

16. A method comprising:

detecting, via a user interface, identifying first gesture that identifies a specific user;

retrieving and displaying, via a patient monitor, one or event markers for the specific user in response to the detected first gesture, wherein the one or more event markers represent steps of a procedure performed on a patient; and

associating, via the patient monitor, user identification information associated within the specific user with any event makers selected by the specific user during the procedure.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising detecting, via the user interface, a second gesture that identifies and selects a corresponding procedure to be performed on the patient.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising determining, via the patient monitor, if the first gesture is unique relative to other gestures and to associate the first gesture with the specific user if the identifying gesture is unique.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein each event marker of the one or more event markers is associated with a respective reimbursement code.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising receiving the user identification information associated with the specific user and any event marker selected by the specific user during the procedure, and generating a bill utilizing one or more reimbursement codes associated with one or more respective selected event markers.