Method and apparatus for providing patient care

• US 6,579,242 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur Schulze, Clint Deckert, Doron Levitas, Emil S. Macha, Shan Padda, Thomas G. Cooper, Tuan Bui
• Original Assignee: Arthur Schulze, Clint Deckert, Doron Levitas, Emil S. Macha, Shan Padda, Thomas G. Cooper, Tuan Bui
• Inventors: Cooper, Thomas G., Macha, Emil S., Schulze, Arthur, Padda, Shan, Deckert, Clint, Levitas, Doron, Bui, Tuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/035,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 600/537, 600/538, 600/529, 600/549
• US Class Current: 600/537
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• 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 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/165 for application in zero heat flux sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

A patient management system includes a programmable patient monitor for monitoring and recording a plurality of physiological conditions of a patient, a plurality of physiological condition sensors and a communications unit. The plurality of patient monitoring sensors are electrically coupled to the programmable patient monitor. Each sensor detects a particular physiological condition of the patient, such as core temperature, ECG electrodes for providing an electrocardiogram and blood oximetry sensors. The patient monitor is small and compact and easily worn by the patient during his normal at home activities. To provide communication with a caregiver via a remote controller at the caregiver'"'"'s location, a communications unit is disposed in the facility. The communications unit may be selectively coupled to the programmable patient monitor for receiving, storing and transmitting to the remote controller patient physiological condition data and for transmitting instructions from the remote controller to the programmable patient monitor. When the patient connects the patient monitor to the communications unit, the patient can communicate with the caregiver at the remote location.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a respiration rate of a patient, comprising:

detecting temperature at the patient'"'"'s nostrils, as a function of time, resulting from air flow over a temperature sensor;

periodically sampling peak temperature during a first detection window;

if no peak temperature is found during the first detection window, sampling peak temperature during a second detection window, wherein the second detection window is of a shorter duration than the first detection window;

if a peak temperature is found in either the first or second detection windows, sampling for a decrease in temperature from the peak temperature in a third detection window, wherein the third detection is of a shorter duration than the second detection window; and

calculating the time difference between successive peak temperatures to obtain a breath rate per minute.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a weighted respiratory rate in accordance with the relationship: