FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to medical alerts and, more particularly, to audio alerts associated with medical alerts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional hospital patient room10includes a few standard devices: a rolling bed12having an adjustable mattress14and side rails16, an IV pump18secured to a stand20that also supports a IV bag22containing a fluid24, and a vital signs monitor26that is configured to measure at least heart rate, blood pressure, and SpO2. Other devices may be included, depending on the type of care required by the patient and shown exemplarily shown inFIG. 1, may include compression socks device28and a ventilator30. However, this should not be considered to be an exhaustive listing of potential devices found in a hospital room10.

Many of the devices found within the hospital room10incorporate at least one sensor configured to detect a physiological parameter of the patient or an operational parameter of the item itself. For instance, the rolling bed12may include a weight sensor (not shown) for detecting weight, i.e., whether patient is in the bed; the IV pump18may include a sensor for detecting low power supply (whether battery or disconnected from power outlet), a sensor for detecting pump malfunction, and a sensor for detecting low fluid levels within the IV bag22; the vital signs monitor26may include a sensor for detecting lower power supply (whether battery or disconnected from power outlet), a sensor for detecting malfunction of the monitor26, a sensor for detecting blood pressure, a sensor for detecting heart rate, and a sensor for detecting blood oxygen saturation. Some devices within the room may have an alarm that is associated with all sensors of that device—that is, the device will produce one alarm for any triggered sensor. Other devices may have distinct alarms associated with different sensors. For example, the vital signs monitor26may have a first alarm pattern associated with the detection of low power and a second alarm pattern associated with the detection of low blood pressure measurements. Therefore it is possible that each hospital room10can produce tens to hundreds of alarms per hospital staff shift. The sheer number of alarms that can lead to alarm fatigue, which is a sensory overload that occurs when hospital staff is exposed to an excessive number of alarms that result in desensitization.

Conventional solutions to alarm fatigue include the directing of all alarms to a telecommunications system or a portable computing device so that one user can manage alarms. However, the likelihood of false alarms or misinterpretation of alarms exists.

There remains a need for a device or system that can detect alarms, locate and process the type of alarm, facilitate triaging alarms so as to reduce the sensory overload associated with alarm fatigue, and be adaptable for use with any medical device having an alarm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the foregoing problems and other shortcomings, drawbacks, and challenges of managing patient alert systems. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. To the contrary, this invention includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

According to one embodiment of the present invention a system for detecting medical audio alarms includes a detector and a server. The detector further comprises a microphone that is configured to receive a sound of the alarm; a microcontroller configured to determine an alarm pattern from the sound and to compare the determined alarm pattern to a plurality of patterns stored in a memory to identify a cause of the alarm; and a network interface configured to transmit the cause of the alarm. The server is configured to receive the cause of the alarm and to provide notification of the cause of the alarm.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for detecting medical audio alarms and includes a plurality of detectors and a server. Each detector of the plurality includes a microphone that is configured to receive a sound of the alarm; a microcontroller configured to determine an alarm pattern from the sound and to compare the determined alarm pattern to a plurality of patterns stored in a memory to identify a cause of the alarm; and a network interface configured to transmit the cause of the alarm. The server is configured receive the cause of the alarm and to provide notification of the cause of the alarm. The server is also configured to compare the determined alarm pattern of the first detector of the plurality to the determined alarm pattern of the second detector of the plurality.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is for a system for monitoring a medical device alarm. The system includes a detector, a database, a processor, and a server. The detector includes a microphone configured to receive a sound of the alarm; a microcontroller configured to convert the sound of the alarm to a digital waveform; and a network interface configured to transmit the digital waveform. The database includes a library of waveforms, and each of the waveforms of the library corresponds to an alarm waveform of a medical device. The processor compares the digital waveform from the detector to waveforms of the library of the database to identify a cause of the alarm. The server distributes the cause of the alarm, provides notification of the cause of the alarm, or both.

Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

