Apparatus and method for monitoring a system

• US 5,772,599 A
• Filed: 05/09/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert Einstein Healthcare Network (Main Line Health System)
• Original Assignee: Albert Einstein Healthcare Network (Main Line Health System)
• Inventors: Salah, Maher, Nevo, Igal, Dagalur, Srinivas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUANG, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/647,396
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 128/668, 128/670, 128/671, 128/700, 128/716, 128/718, 128/731, 128/732, 128/500
• US Class Current: 600/483
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

An apparatus and method for monitoring a system or patient to provide information regarding the status of the system. The apparatus transforms measured values of more than one parameter of the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameters. The apparatus further includes mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter. The deviation indicators are analyzed by an analyzer to generate information concerning the status of the system or patient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring a system comprising:

a. means for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. transformation means for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the transformation means employs a function which exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the parameter of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=1/2{1-exp(-M(x-x.sub.b1).sup.2)},

wherein y represents a value of the function, x represents a measured value of the parameter, x_b1 represents the baseline value for the parameter, and M represents a mapping parameter such that ##EQU6## and ##EQU7## wherein y'"'"' represents a value of the function at x_min, x_min represents a minimum value of the parameter, y" represents a value of the function at x_max, and x_max represents a maximum value of the parameter;

c. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter; and

d. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator.

2. An apparatus for monitoring a system comprising:

a. means for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. transformation means for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the transformation means employs a sigmoid function;

c. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter; and

d. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator.

3. An apparatus for monitoring a system comprising:

a. means for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. transformation means for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter;

c. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter, wherein the mapping means comprises a means for determining the deviation indicators employing a function of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">DI=.left brkt-bot.K×

y.right brkt-bot.

wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, y represents a value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot. .right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns a largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols; and

d. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator.

4. An apparatus for monitoring a system comprising:

a. means for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. transformation means for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the transformation means employs a function which exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the parameter of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=1/2{1-exp(-M(x-x.sub.b1).sup.2)},

wherein y represents a value of the function, x represents a measured value of the parameter, x_b1 represents the baseline value for the parameter, and M represents a mapping parameter such that ##EQU8## and ##EQU9## wherein y'"'"' represents a value of the function at x_min, x_min represents a minimum value of the parameter, y" represents a value of the function at x_max, and x_max represents a maximum value of the parameter;

c. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter; and

d. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating a system criticality indicator.

5. An apparatus for monitoring a system comprising:

a. means for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. transformation means for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the transformation means employs a sigmoid function;

c. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter; and

d. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating a system criticality indicator.

6. An apparatus for monitoring a system comprising:

a. means for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. transformation means for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter;

c. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter, wherein the mapping means comprises a means for determining the deviation indicators employing a function of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">DI=.left brkt-bot.K×

y.right brkt-bot.

wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, y represents a value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot. .right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns a largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols; and

d. analysis means for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating a system criticality indicator.

7. An apparatus for monitoring a system comprising:

a. means for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. transformation means for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the function exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the parameter, wherein the transformation means employs a function of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=1/2{1-exp(-M(x-x.sub.b1).sup.2)},

wherein y represents a value of the function, x represents a measured value of the parameter, x_b1 represents the baseline value for the parameter, and M represents a mapping parameter such that ##EQU10## and ##EQU11## wherein y'"'"' represents a value of the function at x_min, x_min represents a minimum value of the parameter, y" represents a value of the function at xmax, and x_max represents a maximum value of the parameter; and

c. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter.

8. An apparatus for monitoring a system comprising:

a. means for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. transformation means for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the function exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the parameter; and

c. mapping means for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter, wherein the mapping means comprises a means for determining the deviation indicators employing a function of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">DI=.left brkt-bot.K×

y.right brkt-bot.

wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, y represents a value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot. .right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns a largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols.

9. A method for monitoring a system comprising:

a. a sensing step for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. a transformation step for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the transformation step employs a function which exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the parameter of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=1/2{1-exp(-M(x-x.sub.b1).sup.2)},

wherein y represents a value of the function, x represents a measured value of the parameter, x_b1 represents the baseline value for the parameter, and M represents a mapping parameter such that ##EQU12## and ##EQU13## wherein y'"'"' represents a value of the function at x_min, x_min represents a minimum value of the parameter, y" represents a value of the function at x_max, and x_max represents a maximum value of the parameter;

c. a mapping step for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter; and

d. an analysis step for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator.

10. A method for monitoring a system comprising:

a. a sensing step for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. a transformation step for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the transformation step employs a sigmoid function;

c. a mapping step for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter; and

d. an analysis step for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator.

11. A method for monitoring a system comprising:

a. a sensing step for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. a transformation step for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter;

c. a mapping step for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter, wherein the mapping step comprises the step of determining the deviation indicators employing a function of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">DI=.left brkt-bot.K×

y.right brkt-bot.

wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, y represents a value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot. .right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns a largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols; and

d. an analysis step for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating an average deviation indicator.

12. A method for monitoring a system comprising:

a. a sensing step for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. a transformation step for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the transformation step employs a function which exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the parameter of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=1/2{1-exp(-M(x-x.sub.b1).sup.2)},

wherein y represents a value of the function, x represents a measured value of the parameter, x_b1 represents the baseline value for the parameter, and M represents a mapping parameter such that ##EQU14## and ##EQU15## wherein y'"'"' represents a value of the function at x_min, x_min represents a minimum value of the parameter, y" represents a value of the function at x_max, and x_max represents a maximum value of the parameter;

c. a mapping step for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter; and

d. an analysis step for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating a criticality indicator.

13. A method for monitoring a system comprising:

a. a sensing step for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. a transformation step for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter;

c. a mapping step for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter, wherein the mapping step comprises a step of determining the deviation indicators employing a function of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">DI=.left brkt-bot.K×

y.right brkt-bot.

wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, y represents a value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot. .right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns a largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols; and

d. an analysis step for analyzing the deviation indicators and generating a criticality indicator.

14. A method for monitoring a system comprising:

a. a sensing step for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. a transformation step for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the function exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the parameter, wherein the transformation step employs a function of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=1/2{1-exp(-M(x-x.sub.b1).sup.2)},

wherein y represents a value of the function, x represents a measured value of the parameter, x_b1 represents the baseline value for the parameter, and M represents a mapping parameter such that ##EQU16## and ##EQU17## wherein y'"'"' represents a value of the function at x_min, x_min represents a minimum value of the parameter, y" represents a value of the function at x_max, and x_max represents a maximum value of the parameter and

c. a mapping step for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter.

15. A method for monitoring a system comprising:

a. a sensing step for sensing a plurality of parameters associated with the system;

b. a transformation step for transforming each value of said plurality of parameters associated with the system using a function dependent on at least baseline and critical values of the parameter, wherein the function exhibits a minimum sensitivity for deviations close to the baseline value of the parameter; and

c. a mapping step for mapping the function to a sequence of reference values and generating a deviation indicator for each parameter, wherein the mapping step comprises a step of determining the deviation indicators employing a function of a form;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">DI=.left brkt-bot.K×

y.right brkt-bot.

wherein DI represents the deviation indicator, K represents a constant, y represents a value of the function, and ".left brkt-bot. .right brkt-bot." represents a floor function that returns a largest integer value of an expression contained between the ".left brkt-bot." and the ".right brkt-bot." symbols.