Abstract: A method for handling sudden and substantial pressure changes in invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring, a blood pressure monitoring apparatus, and a computer program product for a blood pressure monitoring apparatus are disclosed. To provide a user of a patient monitor a possibility to readily adapt the alarm functionality of blood pressure measurement to a clinical task without a need to go through a complicated nullifying process of a high priority alarm, a touchable user interface element is produced onto a touch screen of patient monitor if a sudden and substantial change is detected in measured arterial blood pressure of the subject. The user interface element is indicative of an alarm and configured to enable the user to modify alarm functionality of the patient monitor for an intentional clinical task that caused the sudden and substantial change in the measured arterial blood pressure.

Abstract: A method for controlling alarms in a physiological monitoring apparatus, a physiological monitoring apparatus, and a computer program product for a physiological monitoring apparatus are disclosed. In order to decrease the number of nuisance alarms, the level of a physiological signal obtained from a subject is observed and signal morphology is determined for the physiological signal in response to detecting a change of the level of the physiological signal to a predetermined value range representing low signal values, thereby to obtain reference morphology for the physiological signal. Signal morphology is monitored if the physiological signal remains in the predetermined value range and alarms are suppressed as long as the signal morphology fulfills predefined criteria with respect to the reference morphology and the level of the physiological signal remains in the predetermined value range.

Abstract: A mechanism for authenticating a physiological sensor is disclosed. When a sensor is connected to a monitor, the monitor examines whether a first sensor-specific usage identifier of the connected sensor is consistent with a second sensor-specific usage identifier thereof. The first and second sensor-specific usage identifiers are indicative of the cumulative usage of the connected sensor, but may nevertheless be unequal. The first sensor-specific usage identifier is maintained in the sensor and the second sensor-specific usage identifier in a host memory external to the sensor. The use of the connected sensor is allowed when the examining indicates that the said two identifiers of the connected sensor are consistent, and rejected when the identifiers are inconsistent. The two identifiers are further updated in response to the use of the connected sensor in the patient monitor, thereby to keep the said identifiers consistent and updated for a subsequent use attempt of the sensor.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program for calibration of sensitivity of a subject to a drug. The subject is delivered with the drug at a delivery rate and a signal responsive to the drug is measured from the subject. When determining the sensitivity of the subject to the drug in question, a change in the delivery rate of the drug is initiated. The change in the delivery rate causes a small change in the signal responsive to the drug. The change in the measured signal caused by the drug delivery rate change is detected, and the sensitivity of the patient is determined.

Abstract: A sensor interface configured to adapt analog and digital sensors is disclosed herein. The sensor interface unit includes: a port configured to be coupled to either a digital sensor or an analog sensor and a signal processing circuit for processing an analog sensor output when an analog sensor is coupled to the port. The interface further includes a switching mechanism configured to bypass the signal processing circuitry when a digital sensor is coupled to the port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a probe and a method for use with a probe, which produces signals indicative of the light absorption of arterial blood at least at a first light wave-length and at a second light wavelength. In order to indicate if the probe is not properly attached to a tissue site the method comprises measuring with at a third wave-length. The third wavelength is chosen so that human tissue is less transparent than at the first and second wavelengths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting artifacts in a bioelectric signal, especially in a frontal EEG signal. In order to accomplish an uncomplicated mechanism for detecting artifacts in clinical applications, an impedance signal is measured through a first electrode set attached to the skin surface in a measurement area of a patient's body, the impedance signal being indicative of the impedance of the signal path formed between individual electrodes of the set. Simultaneously with the impedance measurement, a bioelectric signal is acquired through a second electrode set also attached to the skin surface of the measurement area, and the time periods are determined during which the impedance signal fulfills at least one predetermined criterion indicative of the presence of artifact in the bioelectric signal. In one embodiment, the first and second electrode sets are formed by a common set of two electrodes.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for monitoring a subject are disclosed. The subject is provided with a plurality of monitoring units including a fixed monitoring unit at a predetermined location and a mobile monitoring unit attached to the subject, wherein the fixed monitoring unit fails to have separate measurement elements attachable to the subject. First physiological data is acquired from the subject through the fixed monitoring unit and second physiological data through the mobile monitoring unit. A least one state index indicative of the state of the subject is produced based on first selected physiological data.

Abstract: A method of reducing the effect of cross talk in a pulse oximeter is disclosed herein. The method includes: setting an initial pulse width and pulse rate for an LED drive signal and measuring a cross talk generated within the pulse oximeter. Based on the measured cross talk, the pulse width of the LED drive signal is minimized. The pulse width is minimized based on a relationship between the cross talk and a threshold level.

Abstract: A sensor interface configured to adapt analog and digital sensors is disclosed herein. The sensor interface unit includes: a port configured to be coupled to either a digital sensor or an analog sensor and a signal processing circuit for processing an analog sensor output when an analog sensor is coupled to the port. The interface further includes a switching mechanism configured to bypass the signal processing circuitry when a digital sensor is coupled to the port.

Abstract: A method for implementing a patient monitoring system having an alarm is disclosed herein. The method includes providing a plurality of triggering criteria, and overriding a category of the plurality of triggering criteria if an override signal has been received from an input device. The process of overriding a category of triggering criteria is adapted to minimize false alarms. The method for implementing a patient monitoring system having an alarm also includes sounding an alarm if one of the triggering criteria has been met and has not been overridden. A corresponding patient monitoring system is also provided.

Abstract: A method for associating a plurality of patient monitoring sensors with an appropriate patient is disclosed herein. The method includes estimating a sensor location for each of a plurality of sensors that are operatively connected to a patient, transmitting the sensor location estimate from each of the sensors to a wireless device such that the sensor location estimate does not pass through an on-patient hub before reaching the wireless device, and implementing the sensor location estimate to assign each of the sensors that are disposed within a predefined region to a single patient.

Abstract: Method in a patient ventilating system to be used for example in awakening a patient at the end stage of an anesthesia procedure in which a carestation comprising an anesthesia machine is used. The method comprises the steps of setting a target value for the patient end tidal CO2 (EtCO2), and performing increase of the patient end tidal CO2 to the set target value by automatically using a ventilator in the anesthesia machine, and keeping blood oxygenation continuously at a safe level.

Abstract: The invention relates to the determination of a diagnostic index indicative of the clinical state, especially nociceptive state, of a subject. In order to improve the quality of the determination process, desired input signals derived from the subject are monitored and the quality of the process is improved based on the monitoring. This is implemented by increasing user awareness of the reliability of the index or by controlling the measurement set-up. Quality information indicative of the reliability of the current index values may be produced based on the input signals. The quality information may then be employed to give an indication of the current reliability of the index and a warning if the reliability of the diagnostic index becomes compromised.

Abstract: A method for implementing a sensor measurement system is disclosed herein. The method includes providing a plurality of generally identical modular sensor arrays each having a single array connector, applying two of the plurality of modular sensor arrays to a patient such that the two modular sensor arrays can receive biopotential signals from the patient, and coupling the array connector of each of the two modular sensor arrays with a monitor such that the two modular sensor arrays can transmit the biopotential signals to the monitor and the monitor can convey information pertaining to the biopotential signals in a selectable form. A corresponding sensor measurement system is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a patient monitoring device, especially to a pulse oximeter. For suppressing the effects of an interference source causing adverse modulation in one or more blood related signals input to the device, a power spectrum is derived for each blood related signal and the frequency of an interference source causing unwanted modulation in the blood related signal(s) is identified. A weight function is determined, in which the relative weight of at least one frequency is dampened, the at least one frequency depending on the identified frequency. The weight function is applied to the power spectrum(s), thereby to obtain at least one weighted power spectrum. A blood related parameter of the subject is defined based on the at least one weighted power spectrum.

Abstract: A hospital location system is disclosed herein. The hospital location system includes a lighting system adapted for the illumination of the hospital, and a controller operatively connected to the lighting system. The controller is adapted to modulate the illumination from the lighting system in a predetermined manner. The hospital location system also includes a sensor configured to sense the illumination from the lighting system. The hospital location system is adapted to identify the location of the sensor based on the manner in which the illumination is modulated. A corresponding method for locating individuals and objects that are within or in close proximity to a hospital is also provided.

Abstract: A floating physiological data acquisition system with expandable ECG and EEG. The data acquisition system for obtaining electrophysiological signals from a patient comprises a patient monitor and separate patient side acquisition units connectable to the patient monitor. Each of the patient side acquisition units comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a serial interface communicative towards a serial bus connecting the patient side data acquisition unit with the patient monitor, and a serial interface controller processor. Each of the patient side acquisition units further forms a part of a floating patient applied part of the data acquisition system.

Abstract: System for detecting allergic reactions resulting from a chemical substance given to a patient The system comprises a workstation configured to carry out desired proceedings and physiological measurements of the patient, a detection arrangement for detecting the chemical substance given to the patient, a database having information of allergic symptoms, and a warning/information display. The database is configured to operate with the workstation to obtain results of the physiological measurements carried out, and is further configured to operate with the detection arrangement for detecting the chemical substance given to the patient and the warning/information display in order to generate a warning of allergic reactions from the basis of the information obtained from the physiological measurements and the chemical substance given to the patient.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program for calibration of sensitivity of a subject to a drug. The subject is delivered with the drug at a delivery rate and a signal responsive to the drug is measured from the subject. When determining the sensitivity of the subject to the drug in question, a change in the delivery rate of the drug is initiated. The change in the delivery rate causes a small change in the signal responsive to the drug. The change in the measured signal caused by the drug delivery rate change is detected, and the sensitivity of the patient is determined.