BODY-WORN VITAL SIGN MONITOR
The invention provides a body-worn vital sign monitor that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, SpO2, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) while simultaneously characterizing their activity state (e.g. resting, walking, convulsing, falling) and posture (upright, supine). The monitor processes this information to minimize corruption of the vital signs and associated alarms/alerts by motion-related artifacts. It also features a graphical user interface (GUI) rendered on a touchpanel display that facilitates a number of features to simplify and improve patient monitoring and safety in both the hospital and home.
1 . A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:
a vital sign monitor configured to be worn on the patient's body and comprising at least one vital sign sensor configured to measure a vital sign value; a graphical user interface comprising a touchpanel display configured to render a set of input fields, with each input field in the set indicating a different level of pain and configured to generate a unique pain signal once activated; a processing component comprising a microprocessor and a first interface to the vital sign sensor configured to receive the vital sign value, and a second interface to the graphical user interface configured to receive the pain signal; and a wireless transmitter configured to receive the vital sign value and the pain signal from the processing component and transmit them over a wireless interface; and,
a remote computer configured to receive the vital sign value and the pain signal from the vital sign monitor.
2 . A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:
a vital sign monitor configured to be worn on the patient's body, comprising:
connecting means for attaching the vital sign monitor to the patient's body;
at least one vital sign sensor configured to be worn on the patient's body and continuously measure a vital sign value;
a graphical user interface comprising a touchpanel display configured to render a set of input fields, with each input field in the set indicating a different level of pain and configured to generate a unique pain signal once activated;
a processing component comprising a microprocessor and a first interface to the vital sign sensor configured to receive the vital sign value, and a second interface to the graphical user interface configured to receive the pain signal; and
a wireless transmitter configured to receive the vital sign value and the pain signal from the processing component and transmit them over a wireless interface to a network; and,
a remote computer comprising:
an interface to the network configured to receive the vital sign value and the pain signal from the vital sign monitor; and
a display configured to display the vital sign value and a pain indicator determined from the pain signal.
3 . A patient monitor configured to be worn on the patient's body and comprising a sensor for continuously measuring blood pressure values; a graphical user interface comprising a touchpanel display configured to render a set of icons, each icon in the set indicating a different level of pain; and a wireless transmitter configured to receive a blood pressure value and a signal generated after an icon in the set of icons is activated, and transmit the blood pressure value and the signal over a wireless interface to a remote computer.
4 . A patient monitor configured to be worn on the patient's arm and receive signals from a sensor configured to be worn on the patient's torso, the patient monitor comprising a processor that receives and processes the signals to continuously measure at least one vital sign value; a graphical user interface comprising a touchpanel display configured to render a set of icons, each icon in the set indicating a different level of pain; and a wireless transmitter configured to receive a vital sign value and a signal generated after an icon in the set of icons is activated, and transmit the vital sign value and the signal over a wireless interface to a remote computer.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the touchpanel display comprises a touch-sensitive area associated with each input field.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the touch-sensitive area is configured to generate a digital signal after being contacted.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the digital signal represents a number.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein each input field comprises a unique graphical icon.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein each graphical icon comprises a cartoon indicating a level of pain.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each input field comprises a numerical value.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vital sign monitor further comprises a communication system configured to receive audio information from the patient describing a pain level.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the communication system comprises a microphone.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the communication system comprises a speech-to-text converter configured to convert audio information received by the microphone into digital information.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the microprocessor comprises a third interface to the communication system, the third interface configured to receive the digital information.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit the digital information to the remote computer.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote computer comprises a display device.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the remote computer is further configured to render both the vital sign value and a parameter determined from the pain signal on the display device.
18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote computer comprises an alarming system.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the alarming system is configured to generate an alarm if the pain signal or a parameter calculated therefrom exceeds a pre-determined threshold.
20 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible strap configured to attach the vital sign monitor the patient's arm.
21 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display the vital sign value.