Method and apparatus for recording medical information on a strip chart

Abstract

For recording medical information on a strip chart by a strip chart recorder associated with a fetal monitoring device, a communication is initially entered into a data entry system which includes a switching membrane having a plurality of switches forming a switching network underlying the membrane. A microprocessor scans the network to identify the communication and thereafter supplies the same to a liquid crystal display for view by a user of the system prior to transmission of the communication to the recorder for recordation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the recording of medical information by a strip chart recorder and, more particularly, is directed toward a method and apparatus of and apparatus for communicating medical information to a recorder for printing on a strip chart. More particularly, the present invention avoids the need for recording by hand pertinent medical information which is normally required in order to accurately interpret the fetal heart rate determined by device 21. Furthermore, the present invention provides the user of system 30 the freedom to select when and which functions are to be recorded on strip chart 10 by recorder 20.

Having specifically described an illustrative embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. For In a fetal monitoring device including printing by a strip chart recorder and displaying by a display device medical information, a method comprising:

communicating said medical information to switching membrane means in a remote control device while held in the hand of a user located remote from said recorder and display device;

scanning said switching membrane means;

generating one of a plurality of membrane signals in response to each communication and scan;

identifying said one of said plurality of membrane signals;

displaying by said display device said medical information in response to said identification; and

either printing by said recorder said medical information in response to said identification or cancelling said medical information in favor of communicating either corrective or new medical information to said switching membrane means, after said medical information has been displayed.

2. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 1; wherein said switching membrane means comprise a plurality of depressable keys overlying a corresponding plurality of switches and wherein said communicating of said medical information comprises depressing at least one of said plurality of keys so that said corresponding switch is switched to its conductive state.

3. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 2; wherein each of said plurality of membrane signals comprises digital information.

4. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 3, wherein said identifying comprises reading said one of said plurality of membrane signals, counting the number of non-zero bits of information read, fetching a reference value stored in a first memory device and adding the number of said non-zero bits counted to said reference value to produce an accumulator value.

5. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 4; further comprising determining completion of said communication of medical information prior to printing any portion of said medical information.

6. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 5; further comprising storing a display signal and a message signal supplied by said first memory device in a second memory device in response to said accumulator value.

7. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 6; wherein said displaying of said medical information is in response to said display device receiving said display signal and further wherein said printing of said medical information is in response to said recorder receiving said message signal.

8. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 7; wherein said medical information is associated with fetal heart rate and uterine activity.

9. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 8; wherein said medical information is selected from the group of functions consisting of ph, temperature, intravenous rate, oxygen rate, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxytocin rate, effacement, dilation, station of fetus, maternal position change, rupture of membrane, medication, fetal movement and vaginal exam.

10. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 9, wherein initial depression of one of said plurality of keys communicates one of said group of functions to said switching membrane means and subsequent depressions of said plurality of keys communicates numerical data and symbols associated with the communicated function.

11. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 10; wherein identifying of one of said plurality of membrane signals generated in response to said initial depression further comprises fetching an address stored in said first memory device in accordance with said accumulator value and executing a routine beginning at said address representative of said communicated function.

12. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 11; further comprising storing a plurality of flag signals in said second memory device in response to said initial depression of said switching membrane means whereby identifying one of said plurality of membrane signals generated by said subsequent depressions is in response to said plurality of flag signals.

13. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 12; wherein said first memory device is a ROM and said second memory device is a RAM.

14. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 13; wherein said display device includes a liquid crystal display for displaying said medical information.

15. In a fetal monitoring device including printing by a strip chart recorder and displaying by a display device medical information, a method comprising:

communicating said medical information to switching means in a hand-held remote control device located remote from the recorder and display device;

scanning said switching means;

generating one of a plurality of signals in response to each communication and scan;

identifying said one of said plurality of signals;

displaying by said display device said medical information in response to said identification; and

either printing by said recorder said medical information in response to said identification, or cancelling said medical information in favor of communicating either corrective or new medical information to said switching means, after said medical information has been displayed.

16. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 15; wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of depressible keys overlying a corresponding plurality of switches and wherein said communicating of said medical information comprises depressing at least one of said plurality of keys so that said corresponding switch is switched to its conductive state. 17. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 16, wherein each of said

plurality of signals comprises digital information. 18. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 17, wherein said identifying comprises reading said one of said plurality of signals, counting the number of non-zero bits of information read, fetching a reference value stored in a first memory device, and adding the number of said non-zero bits counted to said reference value to produce an accumulator value. 19. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 18, further comprising determining completion of said communication of medical information prior to printing any portion of said medical information. 20. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 19, further comprising storing a display signal and a message signal supplied by said first memory device in a second memory device in response to said accumulator value. 21. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 20, wherein said displaying of said medical information is in response to said display device receiving said display signal and further wherein said printing of said medical information is in response to said recorder receiving said message signal. 22. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 21, wherein said medical information is associated

with fetal heart rate and uterine activity. 23. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 22, wherein said medical information is selected from the group of functions consisting of ph, temperature, intravenous rate, oxygen rate, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxytocin rate, effacement, dilation, station of fetus, maternal position change, rupture of membrane, medication, fetal movement and vaginal exam. 24. A method of printing and displayig medical information as in claim 23, wherein initial depression of one of said plurality of keys communicates one of said group of functions to said switching means, and subsequent depressions of said plurality of keys communicates numerical data and symbols associated with the communicated function. 25. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 24, wherein identifying of one of said plurality of signals generated in response to said initial depression further comprises fetching an address stored in said first memory device in accordance with said accumulator value and executing a routine beginning at said address representative of said communicated function. 26. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 25, further comprising storing a plurality of flag signals in said second memory device in response to said initial depression of said switching means, whereby identifying one of said plurality of signals generated by said subsequent depressions is in response to said plurality of flag signals. 27. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 26, wherein said first memory device is a ROM and said second memory device is a RAM. 28. A method of printing and displaying medical information as in claim 27, wherein said display device includes a liquid crystal display for displaying said medical information.

. For use with fetal monitoring apparatus wherein medical data is recorded on a continuous charge by a strip chart recorder, a hand-held remote control device for enabling an operator at a location remote from said strip chart recorder to record selectively information related to said medical data at preselected locations on the strip chart, said device comprising:

key pad means for enabling the operator to select the information to be recorded on said chart;

processing means responsive to actuation of said key pad means by said operator for producing information signals representative of said selected information;

display means responsive to said information signals for displaying said selected information for verification prior to printing; and

means adapted to be coupled to said strip chart recorder for selectively causing the displayed information to be recorded on said strip chart in a preselected location relative to said recorded medical data.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said key pad means includes:

a plurality of keys each actuable and designated to represent a portion of said information for display and recording; and

a plurality of switching means responsive to selective actuation of said plurality of keys, respectively for coupling said information into said processing means. 31. The device of claim 30, wherein said processing means includes:

means for scanning said plurality of switching means and for producing said information signals dependent upon the particular combination of conductive and non-conductive ones of said plurality of switching means as a result of either selective actuation or successive actuation of either a particular one or ones of said keys; and

storage means for storing said information signals. 32. The device of claim 31, wherein said means for selectively causing the displayed information to be recorded on said strip chart further includes means responsive to depression of an "entry key" of said key pad means for

enabling the former. 33. The method of claim 15, further including in said printing step the printing of said medical information only in areas of a strip chart recording material free of curves being recorded for fetal heartbeat and uterine activity.