Abstract: A system and method for communicating and validating patient information including medication delivery information in a care-giving facility is provided. A medical transaction carrier is used to communicate information regarding medication delivery and other patient information between a control system in communication with the care-giving facility's other information systems and a patient specific asset such as an infusion pump. All information carried by the medical transaction carrier is validated both at the patient specific asset and at the control system. This validation allows for positive control of all transactions even if a medical transaction carrier is lost. The medical transaction carrier may be a smartcard, a FDA such as a Palm™ Pilot, laptop computer, pager, mobile phone, or other device capable of storing and communicating information. The system may use either wired or wireless connections to communicate information between the components of the system.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating and validating patient information including medication delivery information in a care-giving facility is provided. A medical transaction carrier is used to communicate information regarding medication delivery and other patient information between a control system in communication with the care-giving facility's other information systems and a patient specific asset such as an infusion pump. All information carried by the medical transaction carrier is validated both at the patient specific asset and at the control system. This validation allows for positive control of all transactions even if a medical transaction carrier is lost. The medical transaction carrier may be a smartcard, a PDA such as a Palm™ Pilot, laptop computer, pager, mobile phone, or other device capable of storing and communicating information. The system may use either wired or wireless connections to communicate information between the components of the system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating and validating patient information including medication delivery information in a care-giving facility is provided. A medical transaction carrier is used to communicate information regarding medication delivery and other patient information between a control system in communication with the care-giving facility's other information systems and a patient specific asset such as an infusion pump. All information carried by the medical transaction carrier is validated both at the patient specific asset and at the control system. This validation allows for positive control of all transactions even if a medical transaction carrier is lost. The medical transaction carrier may be a smartcard, a FDA such as a Palm™ Pilot, laptop computer, pager, mobile phone, or other device capable of storing and communicating information. The system may use either wired or wireless connections to communicate information between the components of the system.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating and validating patient information including medication delivery information in a care-giving facility is provided. A medical transaction carrier is used to communicate information regarding medication delivery and other patient information between a control system in communication with the care-giving facility's other information systems and a patient specific asset such as an infusion pump. All information carried by the medical transaction carrier is validated both at the patient specific asset and at the control system. This validation allows for positive control of all transactions even if a medical transaction carrier is lost. The medical transaction carrier may be a smartcard, a PDA such as a Palm™ Pilot, laptop computer, pager, mobile phone, or other device capable of storing and communicating information. The system may use either wired or wireless connections to communicate information between the components of the system.

Abstract: A system and method for confirming that a medication administration device has been programmed with the correct medication administration parameters. A medical database carrier is used compare medication delivery parameters entered into a medication administration device to institutionally established guidelines or more widely accepted protocols to ensure that the medication is delivered in accordance to those guidelines. The medical database carrier may also be configured to communicate information regarding medication delivery and other patient information between a control system in communication with the care-giving facility's other information systems and a patient specific asset such as an infusion pump. The medical database carrier may be a smartcard, a PDA such as a Palm™ Pilot, laptop computer, pager, mobile phone, or other device capable of storing, processing and communicating information.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database.

Abstract: A system and method for confirming that a medication administration device has been programmed with the correct medication administration parameters. A medical database carrier is used compare medication delivery parameters entered into a medication administration device to institutionally established guidelines or more widely accepted protocols to ensure that the medication is delivered in accordance to those guidelines. The medical database carrier may also be configured to communicate information regarding medication delivery and other patient information between a control system in communication with the care-giving facility's other information systems and a patient specific asset such as an infusion pump. The medical database carrier may be a smartcard, a PDA such as a Palm™ Pilot, laptop computer, pager, mobile phone, or other device capable of storing, processing and communicating information.

Abstract: An auscultation system aids a clinician's diagnosis of the heart sounds by visually displaying at least an S1 heart sound and an S2 heart sound, and ascertaining an onset of at least one of the heart sounds. A corresponding audio representation of the heart sounds can be provided to the clinician. The auscultation system includes a sensor for sensing heart sounds from at least one chest location of the patient and for transducing the heart sounds into electrical signals. The auscultation system also includes a signal processor for selectively filtering the electrical signals thereby highlighting frequency differences of the heart sounds, and further includes a video display for selectively displaying the selectively filtered electrical heart signals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database.

Abstract: An auscultation system aids a clinician's diagnosis of the heart sounds by visually displaying at least an S1 heart sound and an S2 heart sound, and ascertaining an onset of at least one of the heart sounds. A corresponding audio representation of the heart sounds can be provided to the clinician. The auscultation system includes a sensor for sensing heart sounds from at least one chest location of the patient and for transducing the heart sounds into electrical signals. The auscultation system also includes a signal processor for selectively filtering the electrical signals thereby highlighting frequency differences of the heart sounds, and further includes a video display for selectively displaying the selectively filtered electrical heart signals.

Abstract: A tunable auscultation system includes a heart sound acquirer for sensing heart sounds from at least one chest location of the patient. An initial conditioner then conditions the heart sounds through pre-amplification and anti-aliasing. The heart sounds are transduced into electrical signals by a signal processor. The electric heart signals are then tuned by an analysis tool. The analysis tool includes an interaction tuner, a processing tuner and an output tuner. The interaction tuner includes a preset tuning selector and a dynamic range tuning selector. The processing tuner includes a band pass filter and an algorithmic extraction engine which applies extraction algorithms to the electric heart signals, segments them and extracts signals of interest. Signals of interest may be correlated to specific pathologies. The output tuner includes a signal strength indicator, a diagnosis indicator, an overlapping cardiac cycle display and a display configuration engine. A display module provides output.

Abstract: A method and system for determining systolic time intervals, by analysis of radio frequency (RF) scatter patterns in conjunction with Electrocardiogram (ECG) data, is provided. An RF emitter is placed on the cardiac patient. The emitter includes two or more transmitting antennas which emit RF radiation into the cardiac patient, resulting in an RF scatter pattern. An RF sensor receives the scattered RF signals. The RF emitted from the antennas will differ spatially with regard to the RF sensor, causing the RF scatter patterns to differ from one another. A signal processor analyzes these differences to identify inhomogeneous structures, and to identify aortic valve motion, including aortic valve opening and closure. An electrocardiogram identifies the onset of the cardiac cycle. Systolic intervals are determined using the onset of the cardiac cycle and the aortic valve motion. Cardiac contractility also is determined by correlation to systolic intervals.

Abstract: A method and system of cardiac contractility analysis is provided. Cardiac contractility may include indices such as ejection fraction (EF) and rate of change in pressure (dP/dt) in a heart. Heart sounds may be measured and calibrated by attenuation. Likewise, a first acoustic peak in the first heart sound (S1), and a second acoustic peak of the second heart sound (S2) may be identified. The first heart sound (S1) may be calibrated by the second heart sound (S2). Amplitudes of calibrated heart sounds may be correlated to cardiac contractility. Electrical activity and acoustics of the heart are measured. The pre-ejection period of the cardiac cycle may be calculated. The left ventricular ejection time of the cardiac cycle may likewise be calculated. Then a ratio of pre-ejection period over left ventricular ejection time may be calculated and correlated to cardiac contractility. Pressure on the acoustic sensor may be used to calibrate acoustic data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing care to a patient, comprising a patient care device having a number of configuration databases stored in a memory in the device. Each configuration database preferably includes protocols, operating limits, rule sets and/or operating features that collectively define an operating environment, or personality, of the device. Selection of a specific configuration database preferably is based at least in part upon patient-specific information obtained from any location in a distributed hospital network. Examples of such patient-specific information include patient age or size, patient medical characteristics, a location of the patient or a location of the care device. In a preferred embodiment, programming a patient care device to deliver a drug to a patient entails activating a configuration database and scanning a machine-readable drug label identifying a particular protocol stored in the activated database.

Abstract: An auscultation system includes a transducer for generating an acoustic signal at a transducing location of the subject, and a sensor for receiving an attenuated acoustic signal at a sensing location of the subject. The attenuated signal received at the sensing location is digitized, and may be analyzed in the frequency and/or time domain. The comparison of the digitized attenuated signal against the initial transduced signal allows for the computation of the degree of acoustic attenuation between the transducing and sensing locations. Acoustic attenuation may be utilized to generate an intensity ratio. The ejection fraction of the heart subject may then be computed by correlation to the intensity ratio. Pulse echo methods are also disclosed. The echo transducer is oriented on the subject and generates a series of signal pulses. The return echo on the pulse is then received and a brightness encoded image is produced.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting time-based, comparative, patient-specific ECG data in various presentation formats, wherein color-coding is employed as a visual device to communicate vividly different, selected “changed” characteristics in that patient's current ECG-detected status.