Pulse Oximeter Wait-Time Indication Prevents Sensor Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Caregivers may prematurely reposition pulse oximeter sensors due to perceived delays in data display, leading to restarts and prolonged acquisition of patient physiological characteristics, as they expect immediate results and are not informed of the necessary wait time for calculation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a wait-time and/or progress indication on the pulse oximeter display to inform caregivers of the time required for data calculation and display, using a graphical user interface that shows an estimated wait time or progress graphic, which can be a countdown or a progress bar, and optionally an audible signal to prevent premature sensor repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the pulse oximeter calculates physiological characteristics after sensor placement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but display delay increases causing caregiver impatience
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback to the caregiver through a progress indication displayed on the screen and/or audible signals that inform them of the data acquisition status and remaining wait time. This feedback mechanism reduces caregiver impatience and prevents premature sensor removal by making the calculation process transparent.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations and data processing as soon as the sensor is placed, continuously updating the progress indication. By starting the calculation process immediately and providing status updates, the system reduces the perceived wait time while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the pulse oximeter provides immediate display of physiological characteristics, then caregiver satisfaction is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to premature display
Solution Approach 1:
The progress indication and audible signals provide continuous feedback about the calculation status, allowing the system to maintain reliability by completing calculations before display while keeping the caregiver informed and satisfied with the process transparency.
3Speed
If the caregiver repositions the sensor before calculation completion, then immediate data acquisition is attempted, but acquisition time increases due to restart
Solution Approach 1:
By providing real-time feedback on calculation progress, the system prevents premature sensor repositioning. The caregiver can see or hear that calculations are ongoing, which eliminates unnecessary restarts and reduces total acquisition time despite the initial wait.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents unnecessary sensor repositioning and delays by keeping caregivers informed of the data acquisition process, ensuring accurate and timely display of patient physiological characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
Pulse oximeters typically utilize a non-invasive sensor that transmits light through a patient's tissue and that photoelectrically detects the absorption and/or scattering of the transmitted light in such tissue.
Implementation Method 2
The light passed through the tissue may be selected to be of one or more wavelengths that may be absorbed or scattered by the blood in an amount correlative to the amount of the blood constituent present in the blood.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a system and method for determination and indication of the time remaining before a patient's physical characteristics are displayed on a monitor. The indication may be a numeric count-down, a progress bar, a clock face, an audible signal, or any other time and/or progress indication. The approximate wait-time may be determined, for example, by adding the known, generally fixed durations of characteristic determination processes to the calculated, variable durations of characteristic determination processes. Exemplary processes which may have generally fixed durations include monitor boot-up, sensor validation, and sensor calibration. Exemplary processes which may have variable durations include sensor location determination and pulsation detection. The sum of the pre-determined and calculated durations may be an approximate wait-time, which is indicated to a caregiver via visual or audible display. If a process takes longer than anticipated or an unexpected event occurs, the wait-time indication may be modified to reflect the longer anticipated wait-time.