Patient monitoring help screen system and method
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a patient monitoring help screen system and method. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include a patient monitoring device with an integral help screen system. The help screen system may provide context-based help, such that the help screen accessed by a help key may relate to a specific display context.
1 . A monitoring system, comprising:
a patient monitor adapted to display physiological information related to a patient; and
a user input device in communication with the monitor, wherein the user input device is configured to cause the monitor to display a help screen.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the user input device comprises a key or button.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the user input device comprises a help icon.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein monitor is configured to display a plethysmographic waveform, a heart rate, an SpO 2 value, an alarm indicator, or any combination thereof.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the help screen comprises a help menu.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the help menu comprises at least one help topic.
7 . The system of claim 5 , comprising a second user input device adapted to cause the monitor to display a help subscreen.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the help screen comprises at least two pages of help screens.
9 . The system of claim 8 , comprising a second user input device adapted to effect a switch between the at least two pages of help screens.
10 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a second user input device adapted to close the help screen.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first-user input device is adapted to effect a switch from the display of the physiological information to the help screen.
12 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a first display window adapted to display the physiological information and a second display window adapted to display the help screen.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the patient monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.
14 . A monitoring system, comprising:
a patient monitor comprising a display adapted to provide a plurality of output displays of computerized processes, wherein the plurality of output displays are adapted to be associated with a respective plurality of contexts; and
a user input device in communication with the monitor, wherein the user input device is configured to effect activation of a plurality of help screens on the display, wherein the plurality of help screens are adapted to be associated with the respective plurality of contexts.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the user input device comprises a key or button.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the user input device comprises a help icon.
17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the output displays comprises a main display associated with a main display context.
18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of output displays comprise a plethysmographic waveform display associated with a main display context.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the help screen associated with the plethysmographic waveform display context comprises a help screen main menu.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the help screen main menu comprises at least one help topic.
21 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of output displays comprise a sensor signal condition display associated with a signal condition display context.
22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the help screen associated with the sensor signal condition display context comprises a sensor help screen.
23 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the patient monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.
24 . A method comprising:
receiving one or more input signals related to a physiological state of a patient;
generating information related to the input signals;
displaying the information using a display;
receiving one or more input signals from a user-input device; and displaying a help screen associated with the information.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the information comprises a plethysmographic waveform display.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the help screen associated with the plethysmographic waveform display comprises a help screen main menu.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the information comprises a sensor signal condition display.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the help screen associated with the sensor signal condition display comprises a sensor help screen.
29 . A monitor configured to display physiological data from a patient, the monitor comprising:
a first help screen related to a first displayed physiological information; and
a second help screen related to a second displayed physiological information.
30 . The monitor of claim 29 , wherein the first help screen comprises a help menu.
31 . The monitor of claim 29 , wherein the first help screen comprises at least two pages of help screens.
32 . The monitor of claim 29 , wherein the first help screen and the second help screen are not displayed at the same time.
33 . The monitor of claim 29 , wherein the monitor comprises a pulse oximeter.
34 . A computer-readable medium comprising:
code adapted to generate information related to the physiological state of a patient;
code adapted to receive one or more input signals from a user-input device; and
code adapted to display a help screen related to the information upon receipt of the input signal from the user-input device.
35 . The computer readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the help screen comprises a help menu.
36 . The computer readable medium of claim 35 , wherein the help menu comprises at least one help topic.
37 . The computer readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the help screen comprises a series of help screens.
38 . The computer readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the series of help screens is hierarchical.