Physiological Monitor Transport Indicators for Undocking Context Switch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods lack an efficient way to utilize transport information on physiological monitoring devices, increasing cognitive load on clinicians during patient transport and hindering rapid patient assessment and accurate clinical documentation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for switching a physiological monitoring device from a non-transport mode to a transport mode upon undocking, displaying transport context information, including location and estimated time of arrival, to reduce cognitive load and support rapid assessment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If transport information is displayed on the physiological monitoring device, then clinicians can quickly access transport indicators and reduce cognitive load, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecognitive load on cliniciansVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into different operational modes (transport mode and non-transport mode), with transport indicators only appearing when needed during patient transport. This segmentation allows the device to provide necessary information without permanently increasing visual complexity or cluttering the interface with unused features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device dynamically switches between display modes based on operational context. When the physiological monitoring device is docked at a patient care area, it displays non-transport information. When undocked during transport, it automatically switches to transport mode and displays transport indicators including elapsed time and location. This dynamic adaptation provides information only when needed, avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the device automatically switches to transport mode upon undocking, then rapid patient assessment is supported, but the automation extent increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverapid patient assessmentVSAvoidautomation extent

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is pre-configured with docked/undocked state detection capability and automatic mode switching logic. When undocking occurs, the system has already prepared the transport mode interface, allowing immediate transition without requiring clinician intervention to configure display settings or activate transport tracking. This preliminary preparation enables rapid patient assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The physiological monitoring device automatically detects its own operational state (docked or undocked) and self-adjusts its display mode accordingly. The device serves itself by monitoring its own physical state through dock detection mechanisms and autonomously switching between non-transport and transport modes, eliminating the need for manual mode selection by clinicians.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If transport indicators are displayed during patient transport, then accurate clinical documentation is supported, but the loss of time for information management increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of clinical documentationVSAvoidtime for information management

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transport indicators are continuously displayed throughout the entire transport process, providing uninterrupted tracking of elapsed time and location information. This continuous display eliminates the need for clinicians to manually record transport data at intervals or retrieve information from separate sources, maintaining measurement precision while reducing time loss through automated continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12592315B2Apparatus, system, method, and computer-readable recording medium for displaying transport indicators on a physiological monitoring device

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 DRAGERWERK AG

AI summary

A physiological monitoring device includes: a sensor interface, a display configured to display information related to the patient, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: operate the physiological monitoring device into a non-transport mode while docked to one of at least one monitor mount; display first location context information corresponding to a first patient care area on the display while the physiological monitoring device is operating in the non-transport mode in the first patient care area; detect an undocking event in response to undocking the physiological monitoring device from a first monitor mount of the at least one monitor mount, wherein the first monitor mount is located in the first patient care area; and in response to detecting the undocking event, operate the physiological monitoring device in a transport mode, including changing the first location context information to transport context information on the display.