Medical ventilator with integrated oximeter data

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for managing the ventilation of a patient being ventilated by a medical ventilator. The disclosure describes a novel approach of displaying ventilator information integrated with oximeter information. The disclosure further describes a novel approach of alarming based on the integration of ventilator information with oximeter information.

1 . A method for managing the ventilation of a patient being ventilated by a medical ventilator, the method comprising:
 monitoring a patient during ventilation with an oximeter;   monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in the patient during ventilation;   monitoring a PEEP level of the patient;   graphing a function of the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient and the PEEP level versus time; and   displaying a graph of the function versus time on a display.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graph is displayed by an oximeter display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graph is displayed by a ventilator display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying at least one preset threshold on the graph. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the function is outside a preset threshold;   determining that the PEEP level of the patient dropped prior to a drop in the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient; and   executing an alarm.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the function is outside a preset threshold; and   executing an alarm.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that the function is outside a preset threshold;   determining that a drop in the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient is independent of a change in the PEEP; and   executing an alarm.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of graphing the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient as a function of the PEEP level versus time comprises converting raw PEEP data and raw oxygen saturation level data into a plotted graph and into displayable information. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a fractional inspired oxygen level of the patient;   graphing the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient as a function of the fractional inspired oxygen level versus time; and   displaying on the graph the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient as a function of the fractional inspired oxygen level versus time.   
     
     
         10 . A method for managing the ventilation of a patient being ventilated by a medical ventilator, the method comprising:
 monitoring a patient during ventilation with an oximeter;   monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in the patient during ventilation based on readings from the oximeter;   monitoring a PEEP of the patient;   graphing the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient versus time;   graphing the PEEP level of the patient versus time; and   displaying on a display both the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient versus time and the PEEP level of the patient versus time on one graph.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graph is displayed by an oximeter display. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graph is displayed by a ventilator display. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying at least one preset threshold on the graph. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining that at least one of the PEEP level and the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient is outside of a preset threshold; and   executing an alarm.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining that at least one of the PEEP level and the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient is outside of a preset threshold;   determining that a drop in the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient is independent of a change in the PEEP; and   executing a first oxygen saturation alarm.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining that at least one of the PEEP level and the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient is outside of a preset threshold;   determining that the PEEP level of the patient dropped prior to a drop in the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient; and   executing a 2 nd  type SpO 2  alarm.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of graphing the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient versus time comprises converting oxygen saturation level data into a plotted graph and into displayable information. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of graphing the PEEP level of the patient versus time further comprises converting PEEP data into the plotted graph and into displayable information. 
     
     
         19 . A method for managing the ventilation of a patient being ventilated by a medical ventilator, the method comprising:
 monitoring a patient during ventilation with an oximeter;   monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in the patient during ventilation based on readings from the oximeter;   monitoring the PEEP of the patient;   monitoring the fractional inspired oxygen level of the patient;   graphing the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient versus time;   graphing the PEEP level of the patient versus time;   graphing the fractional inspired oxygen level of the patient versus time; and   displaying on a display the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient versus time, the fractional inspired oxygen level of the patient versus time, and the PEEP level of the patient versus time on one graph.   
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions executed by a processor of a controller for managing the ventilation of a patient being ventilated by a medical ventilator, the controller comprising:
 instructions for repeatedly monitoring a patient during ventilation with an oximeter;   instructions for repeatedly monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in the patient during ventilation;   instructions for repeatedly monitoring a PEEP level of the patient;   instructions for repeatedly graphing a mathematical relationship of the oxygen saturation level of the blood and the PEEP level versus time; and   instructions for displaying a graph of the mathematical relationship versus time.   
     
     
         21 . A medical ventilator system, comprising:
 means for repeatedly monitoring a patient during ventilation with an oximeter;   means for repeatedly monitoring an oxygen saturation level of blood in the patient during ventilation;   means for repeatedly monitoring a PEEP level of the patient;   means for repeatedly graphing the oxygen saturation level of the blood in the patient in a as a mathematical relationship to the PEEP level versus time; and   means for repeatedly displaying a graph of the mathematical relationship versus time.