Alarm Information Processing Apparatus Associating Recurring Medical Alarms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical alarm systems fail to effectively associate and analyze alarm contents over time, making it difficult to identify recurring conditions or patterns, thus limiting the ability to statistically process and understand the relevance between alarms generated in a medical environment.

Innovation Solution

A biological information monitoring system that includes a central monitoring apparatus capable of processing and associating alarm contents from multiple sources, allowing for the aggregation and display of alarm data in a format that highlights correlations and recurring patterns, enabling better comprehension of alarm occurrences and improving medical treatment strategies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If alarm contents are stored chronologically in a list form, then the generation time of each alarm can be clearly seen, but the relevance between alarm contents generated at different times cannot be associated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime clarityVSAvoidrelevance association
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a one-dimensional chronological list to a two-dimensional display structure where alarm contents are organized both by time and by associative relationships. The display shows alarm contents in chronological order while simultaneously presenting associated alarm contents from different time periods, creating a multi-dimensional view that preserves temporal clarity while adding relational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If alarm contents are merely listed chronologically, then the data can be simply stored and displayed, but statistical processing and pattern recognition become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing simplicityVSAvoidstatistical value
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary association processing of alarm contents during storage, establishing relationships between alarms before they are displayed or analyzed. By pre-associating alarm contents based on their relationships (such as causal links or recurring patterns), the system prepares the data structure in advance to enable efficient statistical processing and pattern recognition without requiring complex real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If alarm contents from different times are not associated, then the storage and display process is simple, but the ability to comprehend recurring conditions is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidcomprehension accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary association mechanism that connects alarm contents across different time periods. This intermediary structure identifies and links recurring alarm patterns, allowing the system to maintain simple operation while improving comprehension accuracy. The association function acts as a mediator that automatically connects related alarms without requiring complex user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2505130B1Alarm information processing apparatus and alarm information processing program
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 NIHON KOHDEN CORP
  • EP2505130B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2505130B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2505130B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a reading unit configured to read a plurality of alarm information about alarms generated based on abnormalities of biological information of a patient or abnormalities of a medical apparatus; and a control unit configured to associate same alarm contents that are included in the different alarm information in terms of the alarm contents that indicate contents of abnormalities causing the generation of the alarms.