GB2130776A

GB2130776A - Monitoring apparatus for monitoring medical instruments

Info

Publication number: GB2130776A
Application number: GB08329755A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl Friedrich Wallroth; Rainer Bauerle
Original assignee: Draegerwerk AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Draegerwerk AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 1982-11-13
Filing date: 1983-11-08
Publication date: 1984-06-06
Also published as: DE3302321A1; GB2130776B; GB2167222A; GB8524202D0; GB2167222B; GB8329755D0

Abstract

A monitoring apparatus comprises one or more signal transmitters (6-13) for limiting values which are monitored, connected to a signal converter (14). The signal converter (14) enables a descriptive text in intelligible language to be allocated in each type of signal. Messages from the converter (14) are transmitted to the supervisors by means of an output device (16), such as a one-sided earphone, which can be moved with them and which is restricted to their area. The earphone (16) is connected to the signal convertor (14) by means of wires or e.g. I.R. or radio. Preferred use is in operating theatres or intensive care wards for monitoring one or more instruments or sensors applied directly on the patient. With such an apparatus the signal is limited to the people monitoring the instrument so that those who are not involved and yet are present in the same room are not disturbed during delicate work, and the supervisors' freedom of movement is maintained. Information, which concerns the type of failure and which is easy to understand, reaches the supervisors with the signal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for monitoring medical instruments This invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring medical instruments.

The health and the lives of patients can depend upon the regular functioning of medical instruments, such as, for example, respirators or anaesthesia apparatus. For that reason, monitoring apparatus, which emit a visible or audible signal when irregularities occur, are used for the most important operations of such medical instruments. The signal acts as a call to the staff to introduce corresponding countermeasures.

A known monitoring apparatus for respirators is disclosed in Swiss Patent Specification No.

461 711. This apparatus is equipped with a membrane box which is connected to gas carrying lines of the respirator. A one-arm transmission lever senses the movements of the membrane and bears two contacts at its free end, both of the contacts lying opposite an adjustable contact screw. The contact screws are connected in each case to an alarm relay by way of leads. During the operation of a respirator the membrane box is acted upon intermittently so that the transmission lever moves in an oscillating manner between the two contact screws. If the minimum pressure between the individual gas surges drops to a value which lies below a limiting value set by the contact screws, a contact, which switches on one of the alarm relays by way of a delay unit after a certain number of contacts, is closed in each case for a short time.If, however, when the maximum gas pressure permitted is exceeded, a contact between the transmission lever and the contact screw lying opposite is closed, the other alarm relay is switched on instantaneously. Both alarm relays actuate common output devices consisting of an alarm buzzer and an alarm lamp.

These output devices are not directed specifically at the person monitoring the respirator, but are perceived by all present in the vicinity. They could thus be a source of disturbance, and possible failure, of delicate activities in, for example, the operating theatre. No indication as to which of the two limiting values is exceeded, that is, as to the nature of the present failure, can be inferred from the visible and audible alarm signal emitted. The repair of failures which have been signalled is thus delayed. Another known system for monitoring patients is disclosed in German Offenlegungsschrift No. 25 35 858.

This system may be used for several people, each person who is to be monitored having his own individual monitoring unit which is allocated to him, carrying it for example, on his wrist.

Several individual monitoring units operate together with a central unit having alarms, which central unit is controlled at a place remote from the monitoring units. The individual monitoring unit comprises sensor means for monitoring a selected vital function, such as pulse beat, the sensor means generating a corresponding signal relating to physical condition. In addition the individual monitoring unit comprises signal processing means for editing the signal, means for determining limiting values for the purpose of producing an alarm signal when given limiting values are exceeded and transmitting means for retransmitting the alarm signal to the central unit.

Retransmission takes place, for example, by radio.

The signal then consists of a code which indicates which individual monitoring unit is transmitting.

The central unit comprises means for receiving signals, decoding means and warning means, on which, when the alarm is given, the individual monitoring unit which is transmitting is shown, if necessary accompanied by a sounding alarm.

With this system for monitoring patients only the fact that a limiting value is beginning to be exceeded at an identifiabie monitoring point is signalled to the supervisor. However, he is not informed directly or without disturbance in his vicinity. He is tied to the site of the fixedly installed central unit and receives no more detailed information about the type and extent of the deviation. In addition, the information is limited to one single parameter.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a monitoring apparatus, for monitoring medical instruments, comprising: a sensor for sensing the value of a variable which is to be monitored; a device which outputs a signal in response to said value reaching a threshold level; and a transmission means which receives the signal from the device and outputs a local audio signal in an intelligible language indicative of the fact that the threshold has been reached.

The device conveniently comprises a relay.

Preferably the transmission means comprise a convertor and portable output means, the convertor being arranged to receive the signal from said device, and the output means being such as to output the local audio signal.

The convertor may be connected to the output means by means of a flexible cable. Alternatively the apparatus may further comprise in series, a modulator, a transmitter, a transmission circuit, a receiver, a demodulator, and an amplifier, the modulator being arranged to receive a converted signal from the convertor, and the portable output means being connected to an output of the amplifier.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises: sorting means arranged to receive the converted signals and to sort them in a predetermined manner; coding means arranged to receive signals from the storage means in data blocks and to provide each data block with a receiver address; and more than one receiver, each receiver having a respective decoder connected thereto such that each data block received by the receivers is outputted to the output means only via an appropriate decoder.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a monitoring apparatus, for monitoring medical instruments, comprising: a sensor for sensing the value of a variable which is to be monitored; a device which outputs a signal in response to said value reaching a threshold level; and an output means which receives the signal from said device and which is adapted to be worn by a user of the apparatus and including an element which is disposed to touch the user in response to said signal.

Such elements are hereinafter referred to as tactile elements.

An apparatus in accordance with the one aspect of the present invention has the advantages that, by converting the signals from said device into different texts, which are allocated to the various cases of disturbance and which are in a language which is intelligible to the supervisors, not only the presence, but also the type of failure is easily detectable in a manner which is intelligible to all. The application of countermeasures is thereby accelerated.

Owing to the simple identification process, when several measurable variables are monitored, an output by way of a single output device for each supervisor is sufficient; this is a great help when the surrounding area is not to be disturbed by the signal. At the same time simple identification offers a great deal of freedom during use, as several parameters within an instrument which is to be monitored and also those from various instruments or from sensors applied directly on the patient can be monitored individually or together. The output of spoken texts by way of portable output means makes it possible for the supervisor to carry it, the supervisor thus being able to stop at different distances away from the instrument being monitored.As the output means is of short range, for example, a range of approximately 1 m the signals are only intelligible to the supervisor, that is they are produced locally without disturbing the surrounding area.

The connection in the form of a cable makes possible particularly economical portability over a short distance, while the transmission circuit, which is conveniently wireless, permits increased freedom of movement. A one-sided earphone is a preferred embodiment of the output means, the audibility of ambient noise then being maintained on account of the one-sided arrangement.

The tactile elements which are subsequently connected to the relays according to an embodiment of the other aspect of the present invention are useful wherever the supervisor is disturbed by ambient noise.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made. by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a monitoring apparatus, having a single output device; and Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a monitoring apparatus, having several output devices.

At suitable measuring points, such as leads or units, of a medical instrument 1 there are arranged sensors 2 to 5 for the parameters to be monitored, such as concentration, pressure, volume and frequency. The output signal of each sensor 2 to 5 controls respectively a pair of signal transmitters 6 to to 13, of which in each pair one 6, 8, 10, 12 is adjusted to the upper limiting value to be monitored and the other 7, 9, 11, 13 is adjusted to the lower limiting value. Each output of a signal transmitter 6 to 13 is connected to a respective input of a signal converter 14.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the signal converter 14 for the signals, inputted at its various inputs 15, gives out in each case different frequency sequences of synthetic language, which sequences are coordinated to the input in question and the content of which relates to the connected sensor (for example, sensor 2 for the concentration) and signal transmitter (for example, signal transmitter 7 for the lower limiting value).

The language signal to the output device 16, a one-sided earphone which is worn by the supervisor, is transmitted by way of a modulator 17 which controls an infrared transmitter 18. The radiation of the latter on the transmission circuit 1 9 is picked up by an infrared receiver 20 and is supplied to the output device 16 by way of a demodulator 21 and amplifier 22. The infrared receiver 20, demodulator 21 and amplifier 22, together with a current supply, are thereby assembled with the earphone of the output device 16 and can be easily transported.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the signal converter 14 outputs to a collator 31 a language signal corresponding to each signal arriving at the various inputs 15, via an associated language line 30. In an appropriately programmed processor 32 of the collator 31 the language signals are allocated to one or more memories 33, the output signals of which are then available, already sorted according to the field of interest for the subsequently connected output devices 16 to the respective specialist staff, for example, doctor, nurse and technician.

For the purpose of such sorting, a coder 35 recalls the contents of each memory 33 successively by way of memory lines 34 and supplies the resulting data blocks with the appropriate receiver address. The data blocks are then transmitted to the transmitter 18 via the demodulator 17. From here they are transmitted by way of the transmission circuits 36,37,38 to each receiver, for example A 39 for the doctor, B 40 for the nurse and C 41 for the technician and are outputted only via a respective demodulator/ decoder 42 to 44 and amplifier 22 to the output devices 1 6 for the doctor, nurse or technician.

The apparatus hereinbefore described informs supervisors of the presence of a signal and its designation without causing disturbance in the surrounding area, and also at a distance from the instrument being monitored, in a manner which is easy to understand.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus, for monitoring medical instruments, comprising: a sensor for sensing the value of a variable which is to be monitored; a device which outputs a signal in response to said value reaching a threshold level; and a transmission means which receives the signal from said device and outputs a local audio signal in an intelligible langugage indicative of the fact that the threshold has been reached.

2. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission means comprises a convertor and portable output means, the convertor being arranged to receive the signal from said device, and the output means being such as to output the local audio signal.

3. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the convertor is connected to the output means by means of a flexible cable.

4. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising in series, a modulator, a transmitter, a transmission circuit, a receiver, a demodulator, and an amplifier, the modulator being arranged to receive a converted signal from the convertor, and the portable output means being connected to an output of the amplifier.

5. A monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transmission circuit is wireless.

6. A monitoring apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the output means comprises a one-sided earphone.

7. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 4, comprising more than one sensor, and respective such devices, each of which outputs a signal in response to a respective value reaching the threshold level, the convertor being arranged to receive a signal from each such device and to output in response thereto a respective converted signal, wherein the apparatus further comprises: sorting means arranged to receive the converted signals and to sort them in a predetermined manner; coding means arranged to receive signals from the storage means in data blocks and to provide each data block with a receiver address; and more than one receiver, each receiver having a respective decoder connected thereto such that each data block received by the receivers is outputted to the output means only via an appropriate decoder.

8. A monitoring apparatus for monitoring medical instruments, comprising: a sensor for sensing the value of a variable which is to be monitored; a device which outputs a signal in response to said value reaching a threshold level; and an output means which receives the signal from said device and which is adapted to be worn by a user of the apparatus and includes an element which is displaced to touch the user in response to said signal.

9. A monitoring apparatus, for monitoring medical instruments, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.