DE202005014556U1 - Patient monitoring instrument e.g. for heartbeat, selects map that causes display of bright bodily function measure against dark background, or map causing display of dark measure against bright background, for displaying measure - Google Patents

Abstract

A display displays bodily function measure that is measured by a measuring circuit, in numeric or graphical form. A user control selects a display map that causes display of a bright bodily function measure against dark background, or map causing display of dark measure against a bright background. A display controller sets a display to display the bodily function measure in accordance with a selected display map. An independent claim is also included for method for operating portable patient monitor, defibrillator instrument.

Description

The The present invention relates to medical instruments and in particular to patient monitoring and resuscitation instruments for use in a variety of ambient lighting conditions.

Patient monitoring instruments how patient monitors and defibrillators are used in hospitals and of emergency medical personnel on a large scale for monitoring vital functions of patients and the response to it by example Defibrillating used by ventricular fibrillation. Previously, these monitors had a significant Size and corresponding Weight and a CRT monitor was used to vital functions of the patient, such as heartbeat, respiration, blood oxygen and other body function parameters play. These monitors are getting smaller and smaller nowadays easier, being often called portable or mobile devices be designed. Due to this portability, it is possible to Monitors in their conventional settings in emergency rooms and Use intensive care units or hang them on the bed frame, if a patient is moved from one location in the hospital to another becomes. Also can By doing so, the monitors and defibrillators in ambulances and other ambulances used and even at the place of an accident or another medical Be used if necessary. Such a portable instrument can even be set up for outdoor use, making it possible to that emergency personnel directly with the monitoring of vital functions a patient starts and life-saving treatments with the Instrument performs.

patient monitors and defibrillators typically include a display on which the aforementioned Patient life signs are graphically and numerically reproduced. Due to the portability of the instrument, it can happen that the display under very different ambient lighting conditions becomes. For example, the instrument may temporarily be in a weak state illuminated laboratory or clinic where the ambient lighting is kept low to the images on diagnostic imaging equipment to be able to look at it optimally. As well A portable instrument can be used in bright sunlight. Regardless of the ambient lighting conditions, the monitor display must easy to look at on bright or dimly lit background be. In sunlight, where the ambient light is the contrast and the apparent brightness of the display decreases a user has the immediate tilt, the display brightness, or the contrast to increase. Such higher Display control levels can but need more energy and shorten the life of the battery powered instrument. Therefore it is desirable to look at the display under different lighting conditions, without, however, a mode with excessively shortened battery life to use.

According to the invention is a Patient monitor / defibrillator provided with a display that selectively the contrast of reproduced numerical and graphical information elevated, without unduly shortening the battery life. This is reached with a display, the colored numbers and lines in dimly lit surroundings or in normal room lighting showing brightly on a dark background. When the monitor is in sunlight or brighter lighting is used, the picture elements become reassigned to dark numbers and lines to play a light background. Although such a renewed Assignment of the reproduction at normal interior light levels undesirable - and actually too unpleasant - is, reassignment under bright lighting provides an acceptable Display contrast. Remapping can avoid having one bright ambient lighting by significantly increasing the power supplied to the display must be compensated. In one embodiment, the rendering is of colored numbers and lines on a black or gray Background new in black lines and numbers on a yellow Background has been assigned, resulting in a contrast enhancement when operating in bright daylight without setting the brightness or contrast control for the display leads.

It demonstrate:

1 a block diagram of a portable patient monitor / defibrillator constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

2 a patient monitor / defibrillator display of the present invention having colored numerals and lines on a black and gray background for room lighting operating conditions;

3 the patient monitor / defibrillator display of 2 after reassignment for outdoor playback with black numbers and lines on a yellow background;

4A and 4B the menu of a patient monitor / defibrillator constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing selection of normal operation and high contrast operation;

5 as a block diagram a process for switching between normal operation and high-cont latch operation in response to the menu settings of 4A and 4B ,

With reference to first 1 a patient monitor / defibrillator according to the invention is shown in the form of a block diagram. This in 1 The illustrated instrument is capable of performing defibrillation on a patient suffering from ventricular fibrillation. It is also capable of ECG monitoring, including cardiac monitoring, necessary for automatic defibrillation decision making. The monitor shown is also capable of SpO ₂ oxygen measurement, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring and end-tidal CO ₂ monitoring. Other functions, such as invasive blood pressure monitoring and patient temperature monitoring, are also possible in such a multifunctional instrument. The monitor has a plurality of patient front-ends that form input circuits for the sensors mounted on the patient. These circuits include, among others, conventional measuring and amplifying circuits for ECG electrodes, for optical oxygen sensors, for pressure measurement and for carbon dioxide measurement. Those received by the patient sensors and by the front-end circuits 10 Processed information is provided by front-end A / D converters 12 digitized. The digitized information is via a communication bus 60 , which connects data between the various modules of the instrument, coupled to processing circuits of the instrument.

The instrument contains high voltage circuits 16 for defibrillator operation. The high voltage circuits generate the necessary for defibrillation high voltage pulse, the appropriate time from the switching logic 14 applied to patient-coupled defibrillator electrodes. This circuit provides the high voltage shock necessary to break the ventricular fibrillation and return the heart to a normal rhythm. The shock magnitude and waveform delivered for defibrillation may be automatically calculated by a processor in the monitor or adjusted by an experienced medical technician or physician.

Power for the modules within the instrument is provided by power circuits 20 distributed. The power circuits 20 distribute power from batteries 22 , from an AC power supply 24 or from a DC power supply 26 , The AC and DC power supplies are also coupled to circuits that charge the batteries when the monitor is powered from these external power sources.

The information obtained by the instrument can be determined by means of communication circuits 30 be sent to other instruments or bodies. This may include a network connection, an RS232 connection or a wireless connection (eg Bluetooth, WiFi or Infrared etc.).

The instrument is made using a keypad and controls 32 operated and set. In one embodiment, the keypad is a membrane keypad that provides environmental protection. Controls such as an on / off switch, power level and defibrillation shock control, a printer, and other functions may also be provided.

The monitor is powered by a central processing unit (CPU) 40 controlled. Software running in a read only memory (ROM) is running on the CPU 38 is stored. A flash ROM is also provided for the control of feature settings and new or special features such as waveform information. An exchangeable memory 36 is intended to store information generated during a patient event, such as ventricular fibrillation. Patient information such as heart waveforms before and after defibrillation are also stored in the removable memory 36 which can be taken out and given to a professional for checking, file maintenance and subsequent diagnosis. The removable memory 36 could also record voice information that a user put into a microphone 48 speaks.

beeper 34 are used to drive a solid state sound source that produces short "chirp" sounds. These sounds indicate that the instrument's built-in self-test detected a low battery level or malfunction in a patient-critical circuit group. Also on the front of the instrument is a dedicated display that presents a large, flashing, red X to indicate a low battery level, or a large, fixed, red X to detect a circuit defect.

The software will sound 46 and then to drive the speaker 42 used. This feature is used in certain monitoring functions, such as a short tone in response to each cardiac cycle. Combinations of tones are used to deliver audible alarms when vital measurements for a patient are outside the selected alarm limits.

The speaker 42 can record previously recorded voice commands and stored and from a Speech circuit 44 reproduce reproduced information.

According to the invention is a display 50 intended for the reproduction of patient parameters and waveforms, as will be discussed in particular below. The information to be reproduced becomes a display controller 52 supplied, which supplies the information necessary for reproducing the information on the display drive signals. In one embodiment, the display is a color LCD screen, although other types of displays, such as a CRT screen, may be used in a particular embodiment. The display controller 52 gives information according to one of the color card memory 54 supplied color card again. In one embodiment, the color map is stored in tabular form. In other embodiments, the color map may be stored as an algorithm or other programmed information. In the mentioned embodiment, the information to be reproduced is coupled to the display by a color code, the display controller selecting the picture elements for displaying the desired information and the background colors on the basis of the color code, as will be explained in more detail below.

2 illustrates the display constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention 70 a monitor in normal operation, as it can be found in a hospital. Under such room lighting conditions is the background of the display 70 black or gray as indicated by the reference numeral 78 specified. The graphic information at the top of the display 70 is rendered in white on the black background. In order to easily distinguish and assign the reproduced different kinds of information, the numerical and graphic information is reproduced in color. The numeric heart rate 80 and the heart curves below, as indicated at 72, are rendered in green, for example. The numerical CO ₂ reading of 28 and at 74 indicated CO ₂ curve are shown in light blue. The plethysmograph curve 76 is reproduced in violet. It has been found that such a color rendering on a black or gray background in an indoor environment where the ambient lighting is not high is perceived as pleasant.

3 illustrates the information from 2 when playing according to the present invention on a high-contrast display 80 in bright lighting or in sunlight. In 3 the rendering colors have all been reassigned, leaving the background color 86 yellow instead of black. In the illustrated embodiment, some of the information lines, such as those at 88 indicated, with other lines, by being offset by a somewhat greyish yellow color. The graphic information 82 at the top of the display and the lines and numbers in other areas of the display are all in black. Although this type of rendering may be irritating and inappropriate in the indoor environment, it has been shown to provide a satisfactory, high-contrast and easy-to-read reproduction in sunlight and bright lighting. Other contrasting color combinations such as dark gray or green on an orange or white background can be used for the high-contrast display 80 also be suitable.

4a and 4b illustrate the selection of normal and high contrast viewing modes in a fabricated embodiment of the present invention. The user presses a "menu" button on the keypad, creating a pop-up menu 90 is reproduced as in 4a shown. The user then presses the "up" or "down" arrow keys to go to the "high contrast on" menu line 92 in 4a to light up. When the "Enter" key is pressed, the menu disappears and playback will be the same as in 3 associated high contrast mode. If the user wishes to return to the normal playback mode, the "menu" key is pressed again and, if necessary, the arrow keys are used to change the in 4b shown "High Contrast Off" menu bar 94 to light up. When the "Enter" button is pressed, the menu disappears and playback will be the same as in 2 associated conventional format.

5 illustrates a process for changing the playback mode in more detail. The user selects the new playback mode as with the menu selection 102 shown. The user interface software 100 responds to this selection by setting a new color chart 106 from those in the color card memory 54 stored color maps for normal and bright light level. A new graphic request is sent to a graphics library 104 issued to the display controller 52 feed new playback commands for the new color chart. The newly selected color card becomes the active color image buffer 108 loaded so that the colors of the new image are available to the display controller. The display controller will show the display 50 to play the information currently being played according to the new color chart.

5 illustrates two other alternative embodiments of the present invention. Instead of selecting the display image from a Pop-up menu, as in 4a and 4b shown, the keypad can be a dedicated button 110 to change the display contrast. Each time the user presses the dedicated key, a key processing unit responds 112 by switching the display to the other playback mode. Another possibility is to use an ambient light sensor on the instrument 120 providing the ambient light level at which the monitor operates. The user interface software responds to a change in the light level to a value above or below a preset or user settable threshold with automatic change of playback. In one embodiment, the user may be left to choose between automatic or manual selection of the playback mode.

Although the above embodiments the use of color images for The playback has clearly shown that even a monochrome display by adjusting and switching the playback brightness levels for normal and high-contrast reproduction can be set.

Claims (26)

Patient monitoring instrument used in different ambient lighting conditions can be with: • circuits, which is a measure of one or several body functions create a patient; • one with the circuits coupled display unit, this measure of the body function in numerical or graphical form; • a user control to choose a display card from a variety of display cards for different Contrast; • one with the display unit coupled display control unit on the user control responds to set the display that it is the measure of body function according to a selected one Display card plays, with one of the display cards to do so serves, the rendering of a body function measurement bright to effect on a dark background, and another of the display cards this serves to darken the rendering of a body function measure effect on a light background. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 1, wherein one of the display cards is for the purpose of Rendering of a colored body function measurement to effect a black or gray background, and another the display pictures serves to play a black or gray body function measurement to effect a light background. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 1, wherein one of the display cards is for the purpose of Play a brightly rendered body function measure on to effect a black or gray background, and another the display pictures serves to play a black or gray body function measurement to effect a light background. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the user control menu selection the display unit comprises. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the user control is a dedicated key for contrast control. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the display card in the instrument in tabular Form is saved. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the display card in the instrument in more algorithmic Form is saved. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a light sensor, which with the display control unit is coupled and to ambient light responds. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a battery for food the display unit is coupled to the display unit. Patient monitoring instrument used in different ambient lighting conditions with a display unit designed to • Body function information represent heart information in numerical and / or graphical Be reproduced form and • the numerical and / or graphic Heart information selectively as brighter information on a darker Background or as darker information on a lighter background play. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 10, wherein the darker background is a black one or gray background and the darker information black numeric and / or graphic information. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 11, wherein the lighter numeric and / or graphic Heart information includes a color that is a yellow color component contains and the lighter background comprises a color that is a yellow color component contains. Patient monitoring instrument after An Claim 11, wherein the lighter numerical and / or graphic heart information includes a near-white color and the lighter background of a nearly white color. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 10 with a user-operable user control for controlling the display unit such that lighter numerical and / or graphic heart information on a darker background or displayed as darker information on a lighter background become. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 14 with a defibrillator, wherein the body function information information about include a defibrillation patient. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 15, wherein the body function information at least either heart rate information or ECG information. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the heart rate information or the ECG information by the display unit in graphical Form is reproduced. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 15, comprising a memory adapted to store one Defibrillation event of the patient-derived data provided is. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 18, wherein the memory for storing at least serves some of the body function information, by the display unit in numeric and / or graphical Form are reproduced. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 15, wherein the patient monitoring instrument comprises a portable, battery-powered instrument. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 15, wherein the display unit comprises an LCD display. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 21, wherein the LCD display comprises a color display. Patient monitoring instrument according to claim 21, wherein the LCD display comprises a monochrome display. Patient Monitor / Defibrillator with: Defibrillator circuits, which are designed defibrillation energy to a patient leave; • one Patient sensor used to record patient ECG information is trained; • one Display unit intended for the patient ECG information to render in graphical form; • a display control, which is designed to selectively control the display unit in such a way that the graphical ECG information for brighter information a darker background or darker information on one brighter background is reproduced. A patient monitor / defibrillator according to claim 24 with a memory used to store out a defibrillation event provided data from the patient, which data at least some of the graphic represented by the display unit Include ECG information. A patient monitor / defibrillator according to claim 24, where the darker background and the darker information one black or gray shading, and where the display includes an LCD display.