Mobile medical workstation

• US 8,292,807 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Perkins, David G., Linquest, Douglas J., Wawro, Thaddeus J., Metz, Kristin A., Soderberg, Peter H., Labosky, Bonita L., Vivenzio, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, III, Henry M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jian, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US12/873,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20100324380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• 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 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/10 Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

A medical workstation is defined by a supporting structure having at least one medical diagnostic instrument disposed thereupon. A first display is further disposed on a first side of the supporting structure and a second display is disposed on a second side of the supporting structure in a manner substantially opposite from the first display. Each of the first and second displays are interconnected to the at least one medical diagnostic instrument to permit at least one of the displays in order to display diagnostic results and are tandemly or independently controllable.

Claims

1. An integrated apparatus for use in a patient encounter, said apparatus comprising:

at least one medical diagnostic instrument including a vital signs monitoring device for measuring various physiological parameters of a patient, said physiological parameters including blood pressure, glucose, body temperature, pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation; and

a computing device connected to said at least one medical diagnostic instrument, wherein at least one of said computing device and said at least one medical diagnostic instrument are programmed to detect changes in a patient condition based on changes in two or more parameters of said patient and in which said computing device is programmed to alert the user that changes in said patient condition have exceeded at least one predetermined threshold, and

in which the changes in said at least two physiological parameters are used by said computing device to predict the onset of sepsis, wherein said computing device is programmed to calculate a glycemic control score of a patient based on historical data and to determine whether a patient'"'"'s blood sugar level is within a predetermined range.

2. An integrated apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said computing device is programmed to perform an independent determination as to whether the patient has had an infection.

3. An integrated apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the computing device is programmed to make a further determination to whether the patient has at least two signs of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) if the existence of a known or suspected infection has been determined.

4. An integrated apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the computing device is programmed to make a determination as to whether at least one organ of the patient is failing or dysfunctional if at least two signs of SIRS have been identified.

5. An integrated apparatus for use in a patient encounter, said apparatus comprising:

at least one medical diagnostic instrument including a vital signs monitoring device for measuring various physiological parameters of a patient, said physiological parameters including blood pressure, glucose, body temperature, pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation; and

a computing device connected to said at least one medical diagnostic instrument, wherein at least one of said computing device and said at least one medical diagnostic instrument are programmed to detect changes in a patient condition based on changes in two or more parameters of said patient and in which said computing device is programmed to alert the user that changes in said patient condition have exceeded at least one predetermined threshold, and

in which the changes in said at least two physiological parameters are used by said computing device to predict the onset of sepsis, wherein said apparatus is programmed to determine a first control score based on a first parameter and a second alert score based on at least a second parameter.

6. An integrated apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said first control score is based on the patient'"'"'s blood sugar level.

7. An integrated apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said first control score is used to determine said second alert score in which said computing device is programmed to alert a user of said apparatus if the alert score exceeds a predetermined value.