Modular patient monitor

• US 9,161,696 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar, Jansen, Paul, Kiani, Massi Joe E., Sampath, Anand
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US12/641,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20100261979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 361/679, 361/681
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular 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 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• 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 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A modular patient monitor has a docking station configured to accept a handheld monitor. The docking station has standalone patient monitoring functionality with respect to a first set of parameters. At least some of the first parameter set are displayed simultaneously on a full-sized screen integrated with the docking station. The handheld monitor also has standalone patient monitoring functionality with respect to a second set of parameters. At least some of the second set of parameters are displayed simultaneously on a handheld-sized screen integrated with the handheld monitor. The docking station has a port configured to accept the handheld monitor. While the handheld monitor is docket in the port, the docking station functionally combines the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters, and at least some of the combined first and second sets of parameters are displayed simultaneously on the full-sized screen.

Claims

1. A modular patient monitor comprising:

a docking station having a housing, the docking station including an integrated first display, a docking station processor, and a handheld port, the docking station processor configured to provide patient monitoring functionality with respect to a first set of physiological parameters; and

a handheld monitor removably attachable both mechanically and electrically to the docking station via the handheld port, the handheld monitor including a second display and a handheld monitor processor, the second display having a display area smaller than the first display, the handheld monitor processor configured to provide patient monitoring functionality with respect to a second set of physiological parameters,

wherein if the handheld monitor is not docked to the docking station;

the docking station processor is configured to cause at least some measurements of the first set of physiological parameters to be displayed on the first display, and

the handheld monitor processor is configured to cause at least some measurements of the second set of physiological parameters to be displayed on the second display including a numerical portion at a first display size and a waveform portion extending through a first time period,

wherein, in response to the handheld monitor being docked to the docking station;

the handheld monitor processor is configured to automatically transmit measurements of the second set of physiological parameters to the docking station processor,

the docking station processor is configured to automatically cause at least some measurements of the second set of physiological parameters to be displayed on the first display including the waveform portion extending through a second time period longer than the first time period, and

the handheld monitor processor is configured to automatically cause the second display to display at least the numerical portion at a second display size larger than the first display size, and remove the waveform portion from the second display.

2. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein when the handheld monitor is docked to the docking station, the handheld monitor processor is further configured to automatically cause at least one measurement displayed on the first display to mirror a measurement on the second display.

3. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein when the handheld monitor is docked to the docking station, the handheld monitor processor is further configured to automatically cause at least one measurement displayed on the first display or second display to be unique to that respective display.

4. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein the first set of physiological parameters and the second set of physiological parameters have at least some common parameters.

5. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein the first set of physiological parameters provides a different measurement than the second set of physiological parameters.

6. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein the measurements of the first set of physiological parameters are displayed in at least one of a waveform or a numerical value.

7. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein the handheld port is integrated to the docking station.

8. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein the handheld port is integrated to a docking base connected to the docking station.

9. The modular patient monitor according to claim 8, wherein the docking base is connected to the docking station through a communication medium.

10. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein:

the first set of physiological parameters is blood constituent related; and

the second set of physiological parameters is non-blood related.

11. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein the docking station further includes a second handheld port, and wherein the modular patient monitor further comprises:

a second handheld monitor removably attachable both mechanically and electrically to the docking station via at least one of the handheld port or the second handheld port, the second handheld monitor including a second handheld monitor processor and a third display, the third display having a display area smaller than the first display, the second handheld monitor processor configured to provide patient monitoring functionality with respect to a third set of physiological parameters,

wherein if the second handheld monitor is not docked to the docking station, the second handheld monitor processor is configured to cause at least some measurements of the third set of physiological parameters to be displayed on the third display including a second numerical portion at a third display size and a second waveform portion extending through a third time period,

wherein, in response to the second handheld monitor being docked to the docking station;

the second handheld monitor processor is configured to automatically transmit measurements of the third set of physiological parameters to the docking station processor,

the docking station processor is configured to automatically cause at least some measurements of the third set of physiological parameters to be displayed on the first display including the second waveform portion extending through a fourth time period longer than the third time period, and

the second handheld monitor processor is configured to automatically cause the third display to display at least the second numerical portion at a fourth display size larger than the third display size, and remove the second waveform portion from the third display,

wherein the handheld monitor is further removably attachable both mechanically and electrically to the docking station via at least one of the handheld port or the second handheld port.

12. The modular patient monitor according to claim 11, wherein the display area of the third display is the same as the display area of the second display.

13. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein further in response to the handheld monitor being docked to the docking station:

the handheld monitor processor is further configured to automatically transmit measurements of a second parameters to the docking station processor, the second parameter being one of the second set of physiological parameters the handheld parameter is capable of monitoring,

the handheld monitor processor is further configured to automatically cause display of the measurements of the second parameter on the second display at a first level of detail, the docking station processor not being configured to monitor the second parameter when the handheld monitor is not docked, and

the first display of the docking station is changed by the docking station processor so as to display the measurements of the second parameter at a second level of detail greater than the first level of detail.

14. The modular patient monitor according to claim 1, wherein, further in response to the handheld monitor being docked to the docking station, the docking station processor is further configured to automatically auto-scale the at least some measurements of the first set of physiological parameters displayed on the first display to make room for the displayed measurements of the second set of physiological parameters.

15. The modular patient monitor according to claim 14, wherein the second display size substantially fills the display area of the second display.

16. A method for displaying measurements of physiological parameters, the method comprising:

receiving first patient data at a docking station and second patient data at a handheld monitor, the docking station including a first display and a docking station processor, the handheld monitor including a handheld monitor processor and a second display having a display area smaller than the first display, the docking station processor configured to provide patient monitoring functionality with respect to at least a first parameter of the first patient data, the handheld monitor processor configured to provide patient monitoring functionality with respect to at least a second parameter of the second patient data, the docking station and the handheld monitor configured such that the handheld monitor may be docked to, or undocked from, the docking station;

if the handheld monitor is undocked from the docking station;

automatically displaying, by the docking station processor, at least some measurements of the first parameter on the first display, and

automatically displaying, by the handheld monitor processor, at least some measurements of the second parameter on the second display, the at least some measurements of the second parameter including a numerical portion at a first display size and a waveform portion extending through a first time period; and

in response to the handheld monitor being docked to the docking station;

automatically transmitting, by the handheld monitor processor, measurements of the second set of physiological parameters to the docking station processor,

automatically displaying on the first display, and by the docking station processor, at least some measurements of the second parameter including the waveform portion extending through a second time period longer than the first time period, and

automatically displaying on the second display, and by the handheld monitor processor, at least the numerical portion at a second display size larger than the first display size, and

automatically remove, by the handheld monitor processor, the waveform portion from the second display.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the docking station does not monitor the second parameter when the handheld monitor is not docked.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the measurements of the first parameter are displayed in at least one of a waveform or a numerical value.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein when the handheld monitor is docked to the docking station, at least some measurements of the second parameter are at least partially displayed simultaneously on the second display and the first display.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein when the handheld monitor is docked to the docking station, at least a portion of the measurements of the second parameter are displayed uniquely on the second display or the first display.