The invention relates generally to monitors or displays connected to monitoring or diagnostic equipment for illustrating data about an object to which the equipment is connected, and more particularly to devices and methods for graphically displaying the data.
In monitoring or diagnostic devices that are currently utilized, the data obtained by the devices is often shown on a display connected to the device that provides a visual representation of the data in manner that can be readily assimilated by an individual viewing the data.
These types of devices are utilized in many different environments, such as in hospitals and other medical environments where patients are continuously monitored by these devices, as well as in various other manufacturing and industrial environments where the operation of various types of equipment is continuously monitored. In the example of those devices utilized in medical environments, the data obtained and displayed on the monitoring or diagnostic devices is often shown as a waveform or trends displayed on a screen of the device. For example, on a screen 102 associated with a bedside cardiac monitoring device 100 (
In collecting and formatting the data from the patient for display in the waveforms 18,20 on the associated screen 102, the monitoring device 100 also generate alarms based on sensed cardiac events based on the inbuilt algorithms and set limits regarding the data represented in the waveforms 18,20. In many situations, the algorithm utilized within the monitoring device 100 is designed to graphically reflect the cardiac event 22, e.g., arrhythmia, in the ECG waveform 18, as well as in any other relevant waveform, such as the ABP waveform 20, and generate a corresponding alarm. In most situations, the alarms corresponding to the arrhythmia events 22 represented in the data in the displayed waveforms 18,20 are various types of audio and/or visual indicators generated from the monitoring device 100.
The visual alarm indicators normally include a flashing alarm icon on the screen 102 of the device 100 in or associated with bright, easily noticeable colors (usually red) adjacent to the waveform(s) 18,20 to indicate which waveform 18,20 or associated parameter has to be reviewed by the individual on an urgent basis. Most often these visual indicators of alarms are limited to highlighting numerical values which are abnormal or the name of any critical cardiac event, e.g. ASYSTOLE.
However, other diagnostic and monitoring devices have been developed that provide information in addition to the alarm condition and the numerical values and/or name of the critical cardiac event that created the alarm. Examples of these types of devices and methods are shown in US Patent Application Publication No. US2011/0138323, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,269,620 and 8,396,544.
However, while these devices provide displays and methods of operating the displays that are capable of organizing information relating to various cardiac alarm events or conditions for review by an individual, due to the large number of the alarm events which may be occurring at a given time, certain highly important clinical cardiac events could inadvertently be overlooked or missed. This is often referred to as alarm fatigue and results from the constant representation of the alarm events in a similar manner that can cause certain events to become “lost” in the flood of alarms and associated information represented on the display screen of the particular device. Thus, when studying the waveforms 18,20, the individuals are using their past experience to detect any anomaly in the waveforms 18,20 in a manual fashion by directly observing the waveforms 18,20. As such, when the waveforms 18,20 are viewed along with other alarms and information provided on the display, and in conjunction with any other potential distraction(s) in the immediate vicinity, there is the potential that significant clinical data present in one or more of the waveforms 18,20 can be missed.
Therefore, it is desirable to develop a monitoring or diagnostic device and display, as well as an associated method for displaying information relating to a particular alarm condition that provides the information about the alarm event or condition in a form that can be readily and easily assimilated by an observing individual and that reduces the potential for the alarm event to become lost in other alarm event data.
In the present invention, a monitoring or diagnostic device includes a display screen on which data concerning item or object being monitored by the device is illustrated. The incoming data sensed by the device is represented on the display screen to enable an individual viewing the display screen to determine the current operating condition or parameters of the object, such as a patient. The device and display screen can also illustrate various alarm conditions or events, as determined by the device from the incoming data signals received by the device from sensors attached to the item being monitored. The alarm conditions or events are triggered by the comparison or application of preset value or parameter ranges for the incoming data signals and/or inbuilt algorithms stored within the device to the incoming data signals from the sensors. The stored ranges and/or algorithm can relate to various aspects or attributes of the incoming data signals from the sensors, including but not limited to predetermined maximum and minimum values for the data signals, frequency ranges for the incoming data, as well as correlations between one set of incoming data from one sensor and another set of incoming data from another sensor, such a temporal correspondence, among others. When an alarm event or condition is determined in this manner by the device, the device modifies the operation of the display concerning the sensed data that created the alarm event or condition to draw the attention of the monitoring individual to those particular data signals. To assist in this function, the device represents the data giving rise to the alarm condition or event on the display in a visually different or distinct manner from the rest of the data outside of the alarm condition or event, such as in a different color, to visually indicate or identify to the observing individual the data displayed on the screen that directly relates to the determined alarm condition or event. In this manner, the device and display can quickly provide the individual with the required information concerning the alarm event in order for the individual to determine and address the condition which caused the alarm event to be triggered.
The device also alters the representations of other sensed parameters on the display that correspond, e.g., in time and duration, to the sensed alarm condition in a visually distinct manner as well, regardless of whether those other sensed parameters also give rise to an alarm event or condition. In this manner, the device can visually distinguish all incoming data signals relating to the sensed alarm condition or event from the remainder of the incoming data signals being displayed to enable the observing individual to quickly locate and view all data that may be relevant to the identified alarm condition or event.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
In the exemplary embodiment of
“Definitions” Means
The medical monitoring device 106 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 112 operably connected to the sensors 108 in order to receive and process data from the sensors 108 on the various vital statistics or parameters of specified bodily functions of the patient 110, which in the exemplary embodiment of
The device 100 also includes memory module 114, which can take the form of any suitable computer-readable storage media, for example a RAM module, and an electronic storage medium, component or database 116, each of which are operably connected to the CPU 112 in order to assist in the monitoring function of the device 100 using the data signals 104 supplied to the CPU 112 via the sensors 108. The device 100 also includes an audio speaker 117 for enabling the device 100 to provide audible indications of various operating characteristics of the device 100.
In addition, storage component 116 can include certain information regarding the predetermined normal or acceptable ranges for the operating parameters, vital statistics or physiological parameters for the patient 110 to which the device 100 is connected. These stored ranges can be utilized by the CPU 112 in conjunction with the incoming data signals 104 from the sensors 108 and the personal statistics of the patient 110 to determine the current vital statistics or physiological parameters of the patient 110 and whether those vital statistics or physiological parameters are outside of the predetermined normal ranges for those particular vital statistics or physiological parameters. The stored ranges for the incoming data signals 104 on the different physiological parameters and vital statistics received by the CPU 112 from the various sensors 108 can include ranges for minimum and maximum absolute values of the sensed parameters, minimum and maximum frequency ranges for the sensed physiological parameters, or any other suitable aspect of the incoming data signals 104 to be used in the determination of an alarm event or condition, such as an arrhythmia. If any sensed vital statistic or physiological parameter is outside of the stored predetermined normal ranges associated with that vital statistic or parameter, the CPU 112 determines that an alarm condition or event, such as a cardiac alarm condition or event, is occurring/has occurred, and can operate the display 100 in manner to be described to alert the individual monitoring the display 102 of the alarm condition or event, and to provide the individual with an identification of the incoming data signals 104 particularly relating to the cardiac alarm event. In addition, in association with a suitable inbuilt algorithm or other operating characteristic present within the device 100, the CPU 112 can determine the relationship between any cardiac alarm condition or event as determined by abnormal signals received from one set of incoming data signals 104, e.g., the data signals from the ECG sensors 109, with the corresponding data signals 104 received over the same time frame from one or more additional sensors 108, such as the invasive pressure catheter 130 or pulse oximeter sensor 121, to identify the sections of each of the respective data signals 104 corresponding to the cardiac alarm condition/event sensed from one or more of the incoming data signals 104 from the ECG sensors 109, catheter 130 and/or pulse oximieter sensor 121.
In the exemplary embodiment of
Further, in a device 100 that provides data on multiple aspects or types of vital functions of the patient 110 in a side-by-side manner on the display 102, the visually distinct manner of indications made in each corresponding section 122,124 of the waveforms 118,120 can also help in studying and comparing related multiple waveform/trend data. For example, in the ECG and ABP data 104 illustrated in waveforms 118,120 of
In addition, by being able to identify the clinically significant data signals 104 in the highlighted visually distinct sections 122,124 of the waveforms 118,120, among other benefits the individual viewing the display 102 is able to see a clear demarcation of the alarm event, e.g., arrhythmia, across the various comparative data signals 104 in each of the waveforms 118,120 from the start to finish of the event, and is able to the study of the variations in the each of the waveforms/trends 118,120 during, before and after the alarm event. As a result, the highlighted sections 122,124 of each of the waveform/trend 118,120 can be used for further investigations and drill-downs into the causes of the event, as well as for inclusion in relevant electronic or printed documentation on the patient 110 and for further communications such as annotations, specialist referrals etc., regarding the further treatment of the patient 110.
Referring now to
In still another exemplary embodiment shown in
In alternative embodiments, the enhanced visual identification provided to the sections 122,124 of the waveforms 118,120 shown on the display 102 can be utilized in conjunction with any other alarm notifications, such as audio or other visual notifications to further increase the efficiency and effectiveness of diagnostic systems in manufacturing, medical and other industries which include the diagnostic and/or monitoring devices 100. Also, the device 100 can display any number or combination of incoming data signal representations or waveforms 118,120,126, as desired, including but not limited to two or more waveforms 118,120,126, such that the incoming data signals 104 represented by the waveforms 118,120,126 can be shown side-by-side for a direct comparison of the waveforms 118,120,126 and the sections 122,124,128 that may be present therein.
The written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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6498/CHE/2014 | Dec 2014 | IN | national |