Patient monitoring apparatus

Abstract

A patient monitoring system including a sensing-recording device that attaches to a patient and a probe utilized by attending personnel at a trauma site. After an initial interaction between the probe and the sensing-recording device, the sensing-recording device samples one or more physiological parameters and stores time stamped readings in a first memory. The probe is adapted to take other measurements, download the data from the first memory of the sensing-recording device, manipulate the collective data and return data to a second memory in the sensing-recording device. The sensing-recording device continues to accumulate data in the first memory during transport of the patient from a trauma site to a medical facility.

1 . A sensing-recording device for providing to an output device a history of a medical parameter of a patient comprising: 
 A) a housing,    B) means for attaching said housing to a patient,    C) a sensor carried by said housing for generating a signal that represents the medical parameter,    D) a memory in said housing,    E) a control in said housing that stores samples of the output of the sensor in the memory, and    F) communications means for transferring the data in said memory to the output device.    
   
   
       2 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 1  wherein attaching means includes a clip arm attached at one end to said housing and extending in a spaced, essentially parallel relationship to said housing.  
   
   
       3 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 2  wherein said clip arm carries at least one sensor.  
   
   
       4 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 2  wherein said clip arm carries a plurality of sensors for measuring a plurality of medical parameters.  
   
   
       5 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 2  wherein said clip arm carries a dermal phase meter sensor.  
   
   
       6 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 2  wherein said clip arm carries a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       7 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 2  wherein said clip arm carries a sensor and conductors for connecting said sensor to said control.  
   
   
       8 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 2  wherein said clip arm and said housing carry, at corresponding locations, pulse oximetry sensing means.  
   
   
       9 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 8  wherein said housing carries an LED and said clip arm carries a photocell.  
   
   
       10 . A sensing-recording device as recited in  claim 2  wherein said control includes clock means for time-stamping each sample stored in said memory.  
   
   
       11 . A patient monitoring apparatus including a sensing-recording device and a probe wherein each of said sensing-recording device and said probe include means for establishing communications therebetween and wherein: 
 A) said probe comprises:    i) a memory,    ii) means for processing data in the memory, and    iii) a probe controller for generating commands to and for storing data from a sensing-recording device over the communications means, and    B) said sensing-recording device comprises:    i) a housing,    ii) means for attaching said housing to a patient,    iii) a sensor carried by said housing for generating a signal that represents the medical parameter,    iv) a memory in said housing, and    v) a control in said housing that stores samples of the output of the sensor in the memory and responds to commands from said probe by transferring data in said memory to said probe.    
   
   
       12 . A patient monitoring apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein said communication means comprises transceivers in said probe and said sensing-recording device and each of said transceivers establishes an optical communications path between said probe and said sensing-recording device.  
   
   
       13 . A patient monitoring apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein said communications means comprises transceiver means in said probe and said sensing-recording device.  
   
   
       14 . A patient monitoring apparatus as recited in  claim 13  wherein said probe includes input means for entering data into said memory for controlling the operation of said probe and includes an operation control for responding to the initiation of recording for a new patient by clearing said memory in said probe.  
   
   
       15 . A patient monitoring apparatus as recited in  claim 14  wherein said sensing-recording device includes a clock and means for time-stamping each sample recorded in said device memory and said probe includes a clock, said operation control further responding to the initiation of recording for a new patient by synchronizing the clock in said device to the clock in said probe whereby said memory in said device stores a continuum of data for the patient.  
   
   
       16 . A patient monitoring apparatus as recited in  claim 14  wherein said probe includes means for sensing medical parameters and means for storing the samples of said parameter in the probe memory, said probe controller processing the data from the memories in the probe and device.  
   
   
       17 . A patient monitoring apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said memory in said device constitutes a first of two memories and said probe controller transfers the processed data to said second memory while the first memory continues to record patient data.  
   
   
       18 . A patient monitoring apparatus as recited in  claim 11  wherein said probe includes: 
 i) at least one sensor for monitoring physiological parameters for storage in said probe memory,    ii) display means,    iii) means in said processing means for generating a display for viewing on said display means.    
   
   
       19 . A patient monitoring apparatus as recited in  claim 18  wherein said memory in said device constitutes a first of two memories and said probe controller transfers the processed data to said second memory while the first memory continues to record patient data.  
   
   
       20 . A patient monitoring system adapted for use by medical personnel at a trauma site comprising: 
 A) a plurality of sensing-recording devices, each of said devices including:    i) a housing,    ii) means for securing said housing to a patient,    iii) a plurality of sensors, each sensor generating a signal that represents a medical parameter,    iv) first and second memories,    v) a controller for storing time-stamped data sample entries for each sensor in said first memory,    vi) transceiver means for establishing communications over an optical communications path, and    vii) means for conveying information from said transceiver means to said second memory, and    B) a probe including:    i) a plurality of sensors, each sensor generating a signal that represents a medical parameter,    ii) a memory,    iii) means for generating time-stamped data entries representing samples of the signal from each sensor in said memory,    iv) display means,    v) means for processing the data in said memory for viewing on said display means,    vi) a keypad,    vii) a probe operation control that processes a plurality of tasks,    viii) means for responding to said keyboard for initiating processing of a task from said probe operation control,    ix) transceiver means for establishing communications over an optical communications path, and    x) means for conveying information from said memory in said probe to said second memory in one of said sensor-recording devices.