Telemetry system and method

• US 8,310,374 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Grubis, Mathew George, Friedman, Bruce Arnold, Alberte, Robert Joseph Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROOKS, ANGELA D
• Application Number:
  US12/397,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539, 340/572.1, 340/870.07
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A telemetry system is disclosed herein. The telemetry system includes a transmitter/monitor configured to provide tracking data and monitoring data, and a receiver adapted to define a coverage area. The receiver is configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the transmitter/monitor when the transmitter/monitor is within the coverage area. The telemetry system also includes a processor configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the receiver, analyze the tracking data and the monitoring data, and identify an alarm condition based on the analysis of the tracking data and the monitoring data.

Claims

1. A telemetry system comprising:

a transmitter/monitor configured to provide tracking data and monitoring data;

a receiver adapted to define a coverage area, said receiver configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the transmitter/monitor when the transmitter/monitor is within the coverage area; and

a processor configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the receiver, said processor further configured to analyze the tracking data and the monitoring data received when the transmitter is within the coverage area; and

to identify an alarm condition based on the analysis of the tracking data and the monitoring data received when the transmitter is within the coverage area, and the processor further configured to trigger an alarm shut off in the tracking data indicates that the transmitter/monitor is in a false alarm region.

2. The telemetry system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter/monitor comprises an electrocardioghraph.

3. The telemetry system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter/monitor comprises a portable device that is adapted for attachment to a patient.

4. The telemetry system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to identify a false alarm region within the coverage area.

5. The telemetry system of claim 4, wherein the false alarm region is a predefined region in which the transmitter/monitor is likely to be disconnected from the patient for purposes of conducting a medical procedure or diagnostic examination.

6. The telemetry system of claim 4, wherein the false alarm region comprises a predefined region in which X-rays;

endoscopies;

CT scans;

MRIs; and

/or PET scans are obtained.

7. The telemetry system of claim 4, wherein the false alarm region comprises a predefined region in which technological limitations may interfere with the operation of the telemetry system.

8. The telemetry system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to identify the alarm condition only if the transmitter/monitor is within the coverage area and outside the false alarm region.

9. The telemetry system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm connected to the processor, said alarm configured to generate a visual and/or audible warning in response to the identified alarm condition.

10. A telemetry system comprising:

a portable transmitter/monitor configured to provide tracking data and monitoring data;

a receiver network adapted to define a coverage area, said receiver network configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the portable transmitter/monitor when the portable transmitter/monitor is within the coverage area; and

a processor configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the receiver network, said processor further configured to identify a false alarm region disposed within the coverage area;

identify an alarm condition based on the monitoring data received when the transmitter is within the coverage area; and

cancel the alarm condition if the tracking data received when the transmitter is within the coverage area indicates that the portable transmitter/monitor is within the false alarm region.

11. The telemetry system of claim 10, wherein the portable transmitter/monitor comprises an electrocardiograph.

12. The telemetry system of claim 10, wherein the false alarm region is a predefined region in which the portable transmitter/monitor is likely to be disconnected from a patient for purposes of conducting a medical procedure of diagnostic examination.

13. The telemetry system of claim 10, wherein the false alarm region comprises a predefined region in which X-rays;

endoscopies;

CT scans;

MRIs; and

/or PET scans are obtained.

14. The telemetry system of claim 10, wherein the false alarm region comprises a predefined region in which technological limitations may interfere with the operation of the telemetry system.

15. The telemetry system of claim 10, further comprising an alarm connected to the processor, said alarm configured to generate a visual and/or audible warning in response to the identified alarm condition.

16. A method comprising;

providing a telemetry system comprising;

a transmitter/monitor configured to provide tracking data and monitoring data; and

a receiver adapted to define a coverage area, said receiver configured to receive the tracking data and the monitoring data from the transmitter/monitor when the transmitter/monitor is within the coverage area;

identifying a false alarm region disposed within the coverage area;

identifying an alarm condition based on the monitoring data received when the transmitter is within the coverage area; and

canceling the alarm condition if the tracking data received when the transmitter is within the coverage area indicates that the transmitter/monitor is within the false alarm region.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said identifying a false alarm region comprises identifying a region in which the transmitter/monitor is likely to be disconnected from a patient for purposes of conducting a medical procedure or diagnostic examination.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said identifying a false alarm region comprises identifying a region in which X-rays;

endoscopies;

CT scans;

MRIs; and

/or PET scans are obtained.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating a visual and/or audible warning in response to the alarm condition.

20. A telemetry system comprising:

a transmitter/monitor configured to provide tracking data, said transmitter/monitor comprising an alarm shutoff feature;

a receiver adapted to define a coverage area, said receiver configured to receive the tracking data from the transmitter/monitor when the transmitter/monitor is within the coverage area; and

a processor configured to receive the tracking data from the receiver, said processor further configured to identify a false alarm region within the coverage area; and

to regulate the status of the alarm shutoff feature based on the false alarm region and the patient tracking data received when the transmitter is within the coverage area.

21. The telemetry system of claim 20, wherein the false alarm region is a predefined region in which the transmitter/monitor is likely to be disconnected from the patient for purposes of conducting a medical procedure or diagnostic examination.

22. The telemetry system of claim 20, wherein the false alarm region comprises a predefined region in which technological limitations may interfere with the operation of the telemetry system.