Noninvasive multi-parameter patient monitor
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a handheld multi-parameter patient monitor capable of determining multiple physiological parameters from the output of a light sensitive detector capable of detecting light attenuated by body tissue. For example, in an embodiment, the monitor is capable of advantageously and accurately displaying one or more of pulse rate, plethysmograph data, perfusion quality, signal confidence, and values of blood constituents in body tissue, including for example, arterial carbon monoxide saturation (“HbCO”), methemoglobin saturation (“HbMet”), total hemoglobin (“Hbt”), arterial oxygen saturation (“SpO2”), fractional arterial oxygen saturation (“SpaO2”), or the like. In an embodiment, the monitor displays a line associated with a patient wellness level.
1. A method comprising:
processing one or more signals with one or more signal processors, said signals responsive to attenuation of light by body tissue of a monitored patient;
noninvasively, electronically determining measured values of oxygen saturation and arterial carbon monoxide saturation, based at least in part on the processed one or more signals;
providing an alarm threshold for the oxygen saturation;
altering the alarm threshold for the oxygen saturation based at least in part on at least one measured value of the arterial carbon monoxide saturation satisfying a threshold value; and
activating a caregiver alert based at least in part on at least one measured value of the oxygen saturation satisfying the altered alarm threshold.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the caregiver alert comprises at least one of an LED activation, an alarm message, and an audible alarm.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the caregiver alert changes as measured values of the oxygen saturation move further from the altered alarm threshold.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the caregiver alert comprises emphasizing on a display the measured values of the oxygen saturation.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the caregiver alert further comprises at least one of altering a size of measured values of the oxygen saturation on a display and alternately displaying and removing from the display the measured values of the oxygen saturation.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying on a display the at least one measured value of the oxygen saturation and;
displaying on the display a prediction indicator corresponding to the oxygen saturation, wherein the prediction indicator indicates a predicted trend of measured values of the oxygen saturation.
7. A patient monitor, comprising:
a sensor port configured to receive one or more signals from a sensor, wherein the signals are responsive to attenuation of light by body tissue of a monitored patient; and
a processor in communication with the sensor port and configured to:
noninvasively, electronically determine measured values of a first blood constituent and a second blood constituent using the one or more signals received from the sensor,
provide an alarm threshold for the first blood constituent,
alter the alarm threshold for the first blood constituent based at least in part on at least one measured value of the second blood constituent satisfying a threshold value, and
activate a caregiver alert based at least in part on at least one measured value of the first blood constituent satisfying the altered alarm threshold.
8. The patient monitor of claim 7 , wherein the caregiver alert comprises an LED activation on a display device.
9. The patient monitor of claim 7 , wherein the caregiver alert comprises at least one of an alarm message and an audible alarm.
10. The patient monitor of claim 7 , wherein the caregiver alert comprises emphasizing on a display measured values of the first blood constituent.
11. The patient monitor of claim 7 , wherein the caregiver alert comprises at least one of altering a size of measured values of the first blood constituent on a display and alternately displaying and removing from the display the measured values of the first blood constituent.
12. The patient monitor of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause a display to display thereon:
the at least one measured value of the first blood constituent, and
a prediction indicator corresponding to the first blood constituent, wherein the prediction indicator indicates a predicted trend of measured values of the first blood constituent.
13. The patient monitor of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause a display in communication with the processor to display thereon a wellness qualitative indication indicative of a patient wellness level based at least in part on a combination of the measured values of the first blood constituent and the second blood constituent.
14. A method comprising:
noninvasively, electronically determining measured values of a plurality of blood constituent including at least a first blood constituent and a second blood constituent, wherein the determining is performed by processing one or more signals with one or more signal processors, said signals responsive to attenuation of light by body tissue of a monitored patient;
providing an alarm threshold for the first blood constituent;
altering the alarm threshold for the first blood constituent based at least in part on at least one measured value of the second blood constituent satisfying a threshold value; and
activating a caregiver alert upon an occurrence of a predetermined event, wherein the predetermined event is based at least in part on at least one measured value of the first blood constituent satisfying the altered alarm threshold.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of blood constituent comprise at least one of carb oxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, and fractional saturation.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the caregiver alert comprises at least one of an LED activation, an alarm message, and an audible alarm.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the caregiver alert changes as measured values of the first blood constituent move further from the altered alarm threshold.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein activating the caregiver alert comprises emphasizing on a display the measured values of the first blood constituent.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein activating the caregiver alert comprises at least one of altering a size of measured values of the first blood constituent displayed on a display and alternately displaying and removing from display the measured values of the first blood constituent.
20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
displaying on a display the at least one measured value of the first blood constituent and;
displaying on the display a prediction indicator corresponding to the first blood constituent, wherein the prediction indicator indicates a predicted trend of measured values of the first blood constituent.
21. The patient monitor of claim 7 , wherein the first blood constituent comprises at least one of oxygen saturation, fractional oxygen saturation, carbon monoxide saturation, methemoglobin saturation, and total hemoglobin, and the second blood constituent comprises a different one of the at least one of oxygen saturation, fractional oxygen saturation, carbon monoxide saturation, methemoglobin saturation, and total hemoglobin.
22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first blood constituent comprises at least one of oxygen saturation, fractional oxygen saturation, carbon monoxide saturation, methemoglobin saturation, and total hemoglobin, and the second blood constituent comprises a different one of the at least one of oxygen saturation, fractional oxygen saturation, carbon monoxide saturation, methemoglobin saturation, and total hemoglobin.