BACKGROUND

The subject matter herein relates generally to patient monitoring systems and methods, and more particularly, to patient monitoring systems and methods that monitor multiple parameters to facilitate identifying alarm conditions.

Patient monitoring systems are configured to receive physiological data from a patient, analyze the physiological data, and communicate information to a healthcare provider so that the healthcare provider may assess a condition of the patient. Monitoring systems may include one or more sensors that detect the physiological data and an operator display that presents the information to the healthcare provider. The information includes recognizable physiological parameters that the healthcare provider may use to determine a health status or condition of the patient. Non-limiting examples of these parameters include heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiographic (ECG) data, auditory evoked potentials, and electroencephalogram (EEG) data. ECG data, in particular, may be used to diagnose certain cardiac conditions, such as complex arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and prolonged QT intervals. EEG data may be used to assess a patient's depth of sedation (or depth of anesthesia). Diagnosing the above conditions often includes simultaneously analyzing multiple parameters. This diagnosis is made more difficult because the values that may be considered problematic depend upon the patient.

Monitoring systems are often particularly configured for monitoring certain conditions. For example, monitoring systems exist for detecting ECG data and analyzing the ST-segments from the ECG data. Changes in ST-segments may indicate myocardial ischemia in which blood flow to the patient's heart is reduced. Traditional ST-segment monitoring systems present a table to the healthcare provider. For example, the healthcare provider may be presented with a table having eleven values that can be positive or negative and are updated in real-time. Although these ST-segment monitoring systems provide useful information for assessing a patient's health, it is often difficult to interpret the information quickly. Because they can be difficult or frustrating to use, some healthcare providers decide not to use the systems.

Another, more recent, ST-segment monitoring system displays two multi-axis portraits or maps of the ST-segment data. In each portrait, six axes intersect one another at a center of the portrait and each axis intersects a perimeter of the portrait. The ends of the axes, which are positioned along the perimeter of the portrait, correspond to the placement of the electrodes used to obtain the ECG data from the patient. While monitoring a patient, colored sections are shown on the portrait that indicate areas of the heart that are ischemic. Again, although this ST-segment monitoring system provides useful information for assessing a patient's status, the portraits are not intuitive and it is often difficult to interpret the information quickly and/or correctly. A substantial amount of education may be necessary so that the healthcare provider will feel comfortable using the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, a monitoring system configured to monitor a condition of a patient is provided. The monitoring system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured to operably couple to a patient to detect physiological data from the patient. The patient monitoring system also includes an operator display that is configured to present a monitoring window that includes viewable information that is based on the physiological data of the patient. The patient monitoring system also includes a processor that is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in memory. The processor, when executing the programmed instructions, performs the following operations. The processor receives the physiological data from the patient and provides a health chart in the monitoring window that includes a plurality of indicators that identify corresponding patient parameters. The plurality of indicators form a column that extends parallel to a first axis. The health chart also includes linear projections that are aligned with respective indicators and extend parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The linear projections represent values of the patient parameters that correspond to the respective indicators. The values are determined by the physiological data obtained from corresponding sensors. The processor determines corresponding lengths of the linear projections based on the physiological data. The corresponding lengths extend from proximal ends of the linear projections to distal ends of the linear projections. The distal ends move parallel to the second axis to change the length of the corresponding linear projection.

Optionally, the lengths of the linear projections may be scaled relative to a maximum length if the patient parameter is less than a designated threshold. Upon one of the patient parameters obtaining the designated threshold, the lengths of the other linear projections may be scaled relative to the value of the patient parameter that obtained the designated threshold.

In certain aspects, the indicators and corresponding linear projections form a plurality of groups in which each group includes multiple indicators and the corresponding linear projections. Each group is visually differentiated from at least one other group. Optionally, at least two of the groups correspond to different anatomical regions of the heart. Optionally, during an alarm event, the linear projections of a first group extend designated distances away from the corresponding indicators in a first direction and the linear projections of a second group extend designated distances away from the corresponding indicators in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

In an embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving physiological data from a patient and determining values for a plurality of patient parameters. The values are a function of the physiological data. The method also includes displaying a health chart on an operator display. The health chart includes a plurality of indicators that identify corresponding patient parameters. The plurality of indicators form a column in the health chart that extends parallel to a first axis. The health chart also includes linear projections that are aligned with respective indicators and extend parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The method also includes determining corresponding lengths of the linear projections. The lengths of the linear projections represent the values of the patient parameters that correspond to the respective indicators. The corresponding lengths extend from proximal ends of the linear projections to distal ends of the linear projections. The distal ends move parallel to the second axis toward or away from the respective indicators to change the length of the corresponding linear projection.

In an embodiment, a monitoring system configured to monitor a condition of a patient is provided. The monitoring system includes a plurality of electrodes configured to couple to a patient to detect electrocardiographic (ECG) data of the patient. The monitoring system also includes an operator display that is configured to present a monitoring window to a user. The monitoring window includes viewable information that is based on the ECG data. The monitoring system also includes a processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in memory. The processor, when executing the programmed instructions, performs the following operations. The processor receives the ECG data from the patient and provides a health chart in the monitoring window that includes a plurality of indicators that identify corresponding ECG leads. The plurality of indicators form a column that extends parallel to a first axis. The health chart also includes linear projections that are aligned with respective indicators and extend parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The linear projections represent ST-segment deviations of the ECG leads that are determined by the ECG data obtained from the corresponding electrodes. The processor also determines corresponding lengths of the linear projections based on the ST-segment deviations. The corresponding lengths extend from proximal ends of the linear projections to distal ends of the linear projections. The distal ends move parallel to the second axis to change the length of the corresponding linear projection.

