Medical Device Alarm Offset for Source Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hospital environments, particularly in intensive care units, multiple medical devices generate simultaneous audio and visual alarms, making it difficult for users to quickly identify the source of an alarm among numerous devices, which can lead to delayed attention to critical issues.
Innovation Solution
A medical device system that produces visual and audio alarm signals offset by a predetermined time difference, typically between 5 ms and 100 ms, to enhance user perception and identification of the alarm source, leveraging the 'ventriloquism effect' to associate both signals as coming from the same location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple medical devices generate simultaneous audio and visual alarms, then alarm information is provided to users, but users cannot quickly identify the source of the alarm among numerous devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by offsetting the timing of visual and audio alarm signals with a predetermined time difference. The control unit is configured to control the visual alarm generator and audio alarm generator to produce signals that are offset in time, creating a sequential rather than simultaneous activation pattern. This temporal separation allows users to more easily locate the alarm source among multiple devices.
2Ease of operation
If visual and audio alarm signals are produced simultaneously, then alarm information is conveyed to users, but users experience sensory overload that reduces perception accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by introducing a predetermined time offset between the activation of visual and audio alarm signals. Instead of simultaneous production, the control unit sequences the signal generation, creating a temporal pattern that reduces sensory overload while maintaining effective alarm communication. This approach preserves alarm localization accuracy by preventing the confusion caused by simultaneous multi-sensory input.
3Reliability
If multiple alarm signals are generated at the same time, then comprehensive alarm notification is achieved, but the complexity of identifying which device is alarming increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces identification complexity by applying periodic action through temporal offset of alarm signals. The control unit sequences the visual and audio signal generation with a predetermined time difference, creating a distinctive temporal pattern for each alarming device. This allows users to more easily trace the origin of alarm signals among multiple devices, reducing the complexity of source identification while maintaining reliable notification.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A medical device (2, 3, 20), in particular a medical infusion device (2, 3, 20), comprises a control unit (200) for controlling operation of the medical device (2, 3, 20), a visual alarm generator (201) for generating a visual alarm signal (V), and an audio alarm generator (202) for generating an audio alarm signal (S). Herein, the control unit (200) is constituted to control the visual alarm generator (201) and the audio alarm generator (202), in case of an alarm condition, for producing a visual alarm signal (V1, V2) and an audio alarm signal (S1, S2) which are offset with respect to each other by a predetermined time difference (T1). In this way a medical device is provided which allows to enhance the perception of a user to help the user to quickly identify a medical device on which an alarm condition has occurred.