Patient monitoring help video system and method

• US 8,702,606 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wang, Hui, Meng, Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORIANO, BOBBY GILES
• Application Number:
  US12/122,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20080214906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 600/323, 600/324, 715/714
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a patient monitoring help screen system and method. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include a patient monitoring device with an integral help screen system including display of video. The help screen system may provide context-sensitive help, such that the help screen accessed by a help key may relate to a specific display context.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

a patient monitor configured to display physiological information related to vascular parameters of a patient, wherein the patient monitor comprises a processor; and

a user input device in communication with the monitor, wherein the processor is configured to cause the monitor to display a help screen comprising video, wherein the video displayed is context-sensitive to a current status of the patient monitor as determined by the processor based on the current status of the patient monitor and a user input received by the user input device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient monitor is configured to display a plethysmographic waveform, a heart rate, an SpO₂ value, or an alarm indicator, or any combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a first display window configured to display the physiological information and a second display window configured to display the help screen.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the video displayed comprises information related to alarm management, if the current status of the patient monitor relates to an alarm.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the information related to alarm management comprises an explanation related to the alarm, a recommendation for treatment, a recommendation for a response to the alarm, or a combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the video displayed comprises information related to system startup, if the current status of the patient monitor relates to a startup of the system.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the information related to system startup comprises information related to calibration, threshold values, initiation of patient monitoring, or a combination thereof.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the video displayed comprises information related to training a caregiver on how to properly apply a medical sensor.

25. The system of claim 1, comprising a memory configured to store the video.

5. A monitoring system comprising:

a patient monitor comprising a display configured to provide a plurality of output displays of computerized processes, wherein the plurality of output displays are configured to be associated with a respective plurality of contexts related to pulse oximetry readings from a patient, wherein the patient monitor comprises a processor; and

a user input device in communication with the patient monitor, wherein the processor is configured to effect activation of a plurality of help screens on the display, wherein the plurality of help screens are associated with the respective plurality of contexts, wherein at least one of the plurality of help screens comprises video, and wherein the processor is configured to determine a current state of the patient monitor and to effect activation of an appropriate help screen based on the current state of the patient monitor and a user input received by the user input device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the patient monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.

26. The system of claim 5, wherein the current context relates to an alarm and the appropriate help screen provides information related to alarm management.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the help screen provides an explanation related to the alarm, a recommendation for treatment, a recommendation for a response to the alarm, or any combination thereof.

28. The system of claim 5, wherein the current context relates to startup of the system and the appropriate help screen provides information related to system startup.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the information related to system startup comprises information related to calibration, threshold values, initiation of patient monitoring, or a combination thereof.

7. A monitoring system comprising:

a patient monitor configured to display physiological information related to vascular parameters of a patient, wherein the patient monitor comprises a processor; and

a user input device in communication with the monitor, wherein the processor is configured to cause the monitor to display a video, the video comprising a report of patient data, a report of performance of the patient monitor, a warning, an alarm, or a help message, or any combination thereof, and wherein the video displayed is determined by the processor based on the current status of the patient monitor and a user input received by the user input device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the patient monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.

9. A monitoring system comprising:

a patient monitor comprising a display configured to provide a plurality of output displays of computerized processes, wherein the plurality of output displays are configured to be associated with a respective plurality of contexts related to a current operational status of the patient monitor relating to pulse oximetry readings of a patient, wherein the patient monitor comprises a processor; and

a user input device in communication with the patient monitor, wherein the processor is configured to determine a current operational status of the patient monitor and to effect activation of at least one video help message based on the current operational status of the patient monitor and a user input received by the user input device.

10. A patient monitor comprising:

a sensor configured to sense physiological information related to pulse oximetry readings of a patient;

a processor configured to provide video help files for display, wherein the video displayed is context-sensitive to a current status of the patient monitor as determined by the processor based at least in part on the current status of the patient monitor; and

a display configured to display the physiological information and the video help files.

11. The system of claim 10, comprising a memory configured to store the video help files.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to facilitate streaming of the video help files from a server.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the patient monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.

14. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising:

monitoring vascular parameters of a patient with a patient monitoring device;

accessing a help system associated with the patient monitoring device; and

causing the display of a screen of the help system, wherein the screen comprises a video, wherein the video displayed is context-sensitive to a current status of the patient monitoring device as determined by a processor of the patient monitoring device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying the screen comprises displaying the screen comprising the video on a display of the patient monitoring device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein accessing the help system comprises retrieving a help screen in response to the pushing of a key or button associated with the patient monitoring device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein accessing the help system comprises retrieving a screen of the help system from a memory of the patient monitoring device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein accessing the help system comprises retrieving a screen of the help system from a server.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the patient monitoring device comprises a pulse oximeter.