Variable Alert Thresholds for Clearer Patient Event Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient monitoring systems for heart failure generate frequent and misleading alerts due to fluctuating physiologic parameter values near threshold levels, complicating timely intervention and increasing healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
A patient monitoring system using variable thresholds to define a patient alert period, with a first threshold for alert initiation and a second, lower threshold for period termination, reducing false alarms and improving alert clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed threshold is used to detect patient events, then the detection simplicity is maintained, but frequent false alerts occur when physiologic parameters fluctuate near the threshold level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed threshold to a variable threshold system that adapts based on the patient's baseline physiologic parameters. The threshold dynamically adjusts upward when parameters exceed the baseline by a certain amount, preventing false alerts during temporary fluctuations while maintaining sensitivity to true events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the threshold from a constant value to a variable value that depends on the relationship between current and baseline physiologic parameters. This parameter change allows the threshold to adapt to different patient states and reduce false alerting while maintaining detection reliability.
2Loss of time
If alerts are generated for every threshold crossing, then timely detection of events is achieved, but short-lived misleading alerts complicate timely intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by comparing the current physiologic parameter against the baseline parameter before generating an alert. This preliminary comparison determines whether to adjust the threshold upward, preventing alerts for temporary fluctuations that would not represent true clinical events, thereby improving alert quality without delaying response to genuine events.
3Measurement precision
If monitoring sensitivity is increased to detect early events, then event detection capability is improved, but false alert frequency increases due to parameter fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different threshold levels for different situations: a baseline threshold for normal conditions and an elevated threshold when parameters exceed the baseline. This local differentiation allows high sensitivity for detecting true events while maintaining reliability by filtering out fluctuations that occur during transitional states.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Devices and methods for detecting an event using a variable threshold. A patient monitoring system can receive physiologic information and compare the information to an onset threshold. When the onset threshold is exceeded, the system shifts to a reset threshold that is different than the onset threshold. When the reset threshold is crossed, the system shifts back to the onset threshold.