Monitoring device for a therapy device and process

Abstract

A monitoring device for monitoring a therapy device, for example, an anesthesia device or a respirator, is provided by which an alarm device for triggering an alarm when the value drops beyond a warning limit ( 4 ) is automatically activated when a determined therapy parameter drops beyond this warning limit ( 4 ). The warning limit ( 4 ) is set automatically in this case. In addition, a therapy device monitored by the monitoring device and especially an anesthesia device as well as a respirator are provided. A process for triggering an alarm as well as a process for treating a patient is also provided.

1 . A monitoring device for a therapy device for a patient, the monitoring device comprising:
 determination means for determining a therapy parameter;   alarm means that can be activated to an activated state for triggering an alarm when said therapy parameter is beyond a warning limit in the activated state of said alarm means;   automatic alarm means for automatically activating the alarm means when the therapy parameter is beyond a threshold value.   
     
     
         2 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a means for setting a maximum value for said warning limit. 
     
     
         3 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a means for filtering the therapy parameter over a time period. 
     
     
         4 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a means for filtering by means of a sliding mean value. 
     
     
         5 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a means for setting and/or correcting said warning limit in case of changes in set values by means of a model calculation. 
     
     
         6 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a means for deactivating the alarm means when a therapy parameter taken into account for setting said warning limit assumes a value equal to or lower than said threshold value. 
     
     
         7 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a means for automatically setting said warning limit during anesthesia by means of a gas when a minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) value of the gas is above a lower threshold value. 
     
     
         8 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising a means for automatically setting said warning limit at a value that equals a predeterminable percentage of the lowest of the MAC values taken into account for setting said warning limit, an inspiratory MAC value and/or expiratory MAC value and/or a MAC value filtered as a function of the action time and/or another MAC value, of the gas. 
     
     
         9 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said alarm means is activated for triggering an alarm when said inspiratory MAC value and said expiratory MAC value drop beyond said threshold value. 
     
     
         10 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said alarm means has an alarm intensity increasing over the course of time and/or for calculating a point in time at which said MAC value filtered as a function of the action time of the gas will drop beyond said lower threshold value. 
     
     
         11 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising a means for calculating the point in time of the alarm as a function of an action time constant of the particular, fastest acting gas in case of the use of two or more gases. 
     
     
         12 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising a means for determining a MAC value of each gas in case of the use of two or more gases and a means for determining a respective corresponding total MAC value. 
     
     
         13 . A monitoring device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is in combination with therapy device components to form a therapy device. 
     
     
         14 . A process for triggering an alarm during the treatment of a patient via a monitoring device, the process comprising the steps of:
 determining a therapy parameter;   triggering an alarm by an alarm device that can be activated in an activated state of the alarm means when the therapy parameter passes beyond a warning limit;   automatically activating the alarm means when the therapy parameter exceeds a threshold value.   
     
     
         15 . A process in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein a maximum value is determined for said warning limit. 
     
     
         16 . A process in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein a therapy parameter is filtered over a time period. 
     
     
         17 . A process in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein a filtering of the therapy parameter is performed by means of a sliding mean value. 
     
     
         18 . A process in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein changes in set values are taken into account by means of a model calculation for setting and/or correcting said warning limit. 
     
     
         19 . A process in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said warning limit is set during anesthesia by a gas when a MAC value of the gas exceeds a lower threshold value. 
     
     
         20 . A process in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said warning limit is set at a value that equals a predetermined percentage of the lowest of the values taken into account for setting said warning limit from a group of MAC values, which comprises an inspiratory MAC value and/or an expiratory MAC value and/or a MAC value filtered as a function of the action time of the gas and/or another MAC value. 
     
     
         21 . A process in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein an alarm is triggered when said inspiratory MAC value and said expiratory MAC value drop beyond said threshold value. 
     
     
         22 . A process in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the alarm takes place with an intensity increasing over the course of time and/or a point in time at which said MAC value, filtered as a function of the action time, will drop beyond said lower threshold value is calculated. 
     
     
         23 . A process in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein a calculation of the point in time of the alarm is performed as a function of an action time constant of the particular, fastest acting gas if two or more than two gases are used. 
     
     
         24 . A process in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the alarm device is deactivated when a value taken into account for setting said warning limit assumes a value equal to or lower than said lower threshold value. 
     
     
         25 . A process in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a MAC value of each gas in case of the use of two or more gases; and   determining a respective corresponding total MAC value.   
     
     
         26 . A process in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising using the monitoring device as part of a therapy device. 
     
     
         27 . A process in accordance with  claim 26 , further comprising using the therapy device for treating a patient based on at least one therapy parameter. 
     
     
         28 . A therapy device for a patient, the therapy device comprising:
 therapy means for treating a patient based on at least one therapy parameter;   a monitoring device including determination means for determining the value of one of the therapy parameters, an alarm device in one of an activated state and a none activated state, said alarm triggering an alarm when the one of the therapy parameters has a value beyond a warning limit in the activated state of said alarm device;   automatic alarm means for automatically activating the alarm means when the therapy parameter is beyond a threshold value.