Systems and methods for providing sensor fusion

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system that incorporates the natural relationships of patient parameters into a medical monitoring system in order to increase monitoring specificity by reducing false positive alarms resulting from spurious data and inconclusive data. The invention also comprises a system that incorporates the natural relationships of patient parameters in order to use the data obtained from those parameters to non-invasively monitor a patient parameter that typically precludes direct monitoring.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation application of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 677,481, filed Oct. 3, 2003, which further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 415,523, filed Oct. 3, 2002, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”[0003]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The present invention relates, in general, to sensor fusion and, more particularly, to sensor fusion in medical devices incorporating multiple monitors of multiple patient parameters.[0006]2. Description of the Related Art[0007]Spurious monitored data may cause systems that rely on them to take potentially hazardous action, to fail to take action in critical situations, or to alarm unnecessarily. For example, a sedation and analgesia system may be ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The present invention comprises a system that incorporates the natural relationships of patient parameters, such as heart rate and pulse oximetry, into a medical monitoring system in order to increase monitoring specificity by reducing false positive alarms resulting from spurious data and inconclusive data. The invention also comprises a system that incorporates the natural relationships of patient parameters in order to use the data obtained from those parameters to non-invasively monitor a patient parameter that typically precludes direct monitoring. This system includes a controller programmed to automatically control the monitoring and comparison of the parameters in order to increase system specificity and reduce clinician workload.

[0016]The present invention thus comprises a monitoring system that has increased specificity by detecting data artifacts from monitors, such as capnometers, while still retaining sensitivity in detecting the incidence of conditions such as hypoventilation. The system of the present invention incorporates the natural relationship between patient parameters in order to increase the specificity of the system and to decrease the probability of false positive alarm responses. The invention also comprises the monitoring of patient parameters that generally precludes direct monitoring, such as SVR, in a way that is both accurate and comfortable for the patient.

Problems solved by technology

Spurious monitored data may cause systems that rely on them to take potentially hazardous action, to fail to take action in critical situations, or to alarm unnecessarily.

Based on the single monitor, the sedation and analgesia system may signal an alarm indicating, for example, a dangerously low heart rate, when the erratic ECG data is actually spurious.

A high frequency of these false positive alarms may annoy clinicians and may result in less attention being given to truly life-threatening conditions.

Providing a single monitor, such as an ECG, to monitor heart rate may result in a sedation and analgesia system having a low specificity where, for example, a clinician's motion in the surgical field can add disruptive electrical activity that the ECG may interpret as ventricular fibrillation.

Without any means of verifying the data presented by the ECG, the monitor would alarm to alert the attending clinician of a potentially life threatening situation even though the data may be spurious.

Monitoring problems may also arise when monitors such as, for example, capnometers, provide inconclusive evidence regarding patient condition.

Though capnometers are commonly used and are useful in ascertaining the above-mentioned patient parameters, it may be difficult to differentiate, using only capnometry, between hyperventilation (often a non-critical issue) and hypoventilation (a highly critical and potentially life-threatening condition.)

In the case of hypoventilation, the diminished capnography waveforms are caused by inadequate exhalation of air past the airway obstruction.

However, such a system may also result in frequent false positive alarms based on the benign condition of hyperventilation.

Furthermore, if the ECG becomes erratic due to, for example, clinician motion in the surgical field, the plethysmogram will likely remain regular, whereupon it may be inferred that the irregular ECG is spurious and not the result of a truly life-threatening patient event.

For example, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), if measured directly, may require the insertion of an uncomfortable monitoring device into the patient's blood vessels.

Such an invasive procedure may preclude clinicians from using such a monitoring device, where potentially important information related to a patient's cardiovascular or hemodynamic condition will go unmonitored.

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