Detecting time periods associated with a surgical procedure

Abstract

Surgical monitoring techniques determine various time periods associated with a surgical procedure based on information received from a patient monitor. The time periods can include start and end times and be determined by comparisons with predetermined data patterns, which can be based on heuristic and/or statistical classifications, as well as in conjunction with information received from other medical equipment. Various monitors and/or detectors and/or controllers can also operate in conjunction therewith.

1 . A surgical monitoring device, comprising:
 a detector operable in electronic communication with a patient monitor to automatedly determine at least one or more time periods associated with a surgical procedure based, at least in part, on information received from said monitor.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said time periods include at least one or more or both of a start time and end time. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said detector is operable to determine said time periods based, at least in part, on one or more comparisons to one or more predetermined data patterns. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said data patterns are based, at least in part, on one or more of a heuristic or statistical classification. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said detector is operable in electronic communication with other medical equipment to determine said time periods based, at least in part, on information received from said other medical equipment. 
   
   
       6 . A surgical monitoring method, comprising:
 automatedly determining at least one or more time periods associated with a surgical procedure based, at least in part, on information received from a patient monitor.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said time periods include at least one or more or both of a start time and end time. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said determining comprises comparing said information with one or more predetermined data patterns. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said data patterns are based, at least in part, on one or more of a heuristic or statistical classification. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said determining comprises determining said time periods based, at least in part, on information received from other medical equipment. 
   
   
       11 . A surgical monitoring system, comprising:
 a patient monitor; and   a detector operable in electronic communication with said monitor to automatedly determine at least one or more time periods associated with a surgical procedure based, at least in part, on information received from said monitor.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said time periods include at least one or more or both of a start time and end time. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said detector is operable to determine said time periods based, at least in part, on one or more comparisons to one or more predetermined data patterns. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said data patterns are based, at least in part, on one or more of a heuristic or statistical classification. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said detector is operable in electronic communication with other medical equipment to determine said time periods based, at least in part, on information received from said other medical equipment. 
   
   
       16 . A surgical monitoring system, comprising:
 a patient monitor;   a detector operable in electronic communication with said monitor to automatedly determine at least one or more time periods associated with a surgical procedure based, at least in part, on information received from said monitor; and   a controller operable to invoke at least one or more responses, based, at least in part, on said time periods.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said time periods include at least one or more or both of a start time and end time. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said detector is operable to determine said time periods based, at least in part, on one or more comparisons to one or more predetermined data patterns. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said data patterns are based, at least in part, on one or more of a heuristic or statistical classification. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said detector is operable in electronic communication with other medical equipment to determine said time periods based, at least in part, on information received from said other medical equipment.