DE102008019104A1 - Detecting faults in sensor units of system monitoring critical physiological data, employs wireless transmission and automatic analysis to alarm on sensor failure - Google Patents

Abstract

Physiological measurement data is gathered (S1) from the body using sensor units. The physiological data and data concerning operational parameters of the sensor units, are transmitted wirelessly (S2) to the analysis unit. Should a sensor unit failure occur, an alarm is generated as a function of historically-measured, transmitted and evaluated physiological data and operating parameters. The data transmitted is stored (S5). Alarm is given in accordance with operational models of the sensor units. Independent claims are included for the following: (A) the corresponding monitoring system; (B) and a computer program product.

Description

The The present invention relates to a method for evaluation and treatment of errors of sensor unit in a monitoring system for physiological measurement data and a corresponding monitoring system.

Of the Use of medical sensors to monitor patient status in emergency and civil protection operations, the survival rate Heavily injured increase significantly, because with such devices a targeted use of emergency physicians can be achieved can. Currently, however, such sensors are rarely used. The insufficient miniaturization currently commercially available Devices require comparatively high costs. In addition, the Dealing with currently available devices difficult there under the conditions of use in case of disaster not always there is sufficient space and they also transport the patients can hamper. The nationwide application However, such sensors would provide much better monitoring allow the patient after the first sighting at the accident or disaster site and the detection of changes in patient status, the facilitate immediate intervention by the doctor.

The Use of wireless miniaturized sensor units allowed the area-wide employment under the given conditions a disaster mission. In this case, the data, the collected by wireless patient sensors, over a distributed Sensor network collected and centrally analyzed respectively provided for further purpose.

The Failure of a sensor unit (for example due to fatigue of the batteries) may not under use conditions to a Disrupt or obstruct the rescue procedures because the benefits of using the technology thus negated would. Maintenance or replacement of a Sensor unit is usually not possible because it is too much would take valuable time. Alarms due the mere failure of a sensor unit without an acute There is danger of injury if more frequent Occurrence of such errors and consequent warnings the Negate the benefits of such a system because they are in this Situation cost valuable time and available staff tie. The occurrence of these problems would be the acceptance prevent the technology by the medical staff.

Known Devices for medical emergency are commercial available and basically offer the necessary functionality for monitoring patients in the ambulance or at collection stations. However, they are for the direct Use on site, that is, at the point of primary discovery of the injured person, as they are proportionate are big, have a high energy consumption and not developed for the special situation of the disaster use were.

Concepts with wireless sensor units for use in civil protection have been discussed for some time and have already been implemented prototypically. There are examples of the articles by Tia Gao et al .: "Participatory User Centered Design Techniques for a Large Scale Ad-Hoc Health Information System," in First International Workshop of Systems and Networking Support for Healthcare and Assisted Living Environments (HealthNet '07), San Juan, Puerto Rico , June 2007 ; David Malan et al .: "CodeBlue: An Ad Hoc Sensor Network Infrastructure for Emergency Medical Care," Proceedings of the MobiSys 2004 Workshop on Applications of Mobile Embedded Systems (WAMES 2004), Boston, MA, June, 2004 ; or Margit Kristensen et al .: IT support for healthcare professionals acting in major incidents, SHI2005, PROCEEDINGS, 3rd Scandinavian conference on Health Informatics, Aalborg University, August 25-26, pp 37-41, 2005, ISBN 87-986264- 5-0 called.

Indeed are provisions for the failure of such sensor units not provided for in these approaches. The aforementioned systems are based on the assumption of the best possible availability. Only the failure of the base station has been discussed. Then the data can no longer be queried centrally, and it was a direct access to the sensor data intended. However, this requires in any case the presence of Staff on site near the injured.

Known Solutions also do not allow remote diagnostics with regard to error conditions of used devices to.

Consequently The object of the present invention is to provide improved monitoring which also reliable in case of failure of individual devices Provides data to provide.

These Task is by a method according to claim 1 and a monitoring system with the features of the claim 13 solved.

Accordingly, a method for evaluating a fault condition of a sensor unit in a monitoring system, which comprises at least one sensor unit for acquiring physiological measurement data and an evaluation device comprises, the steps: acquiring physiological measurement data on a body by the at least one sensor unit and wireless transmission of the physiological measurement data and operating parameters of the sensor unit from the sensor units to the evaluation device. In the event of a failure of the sensor unit, a warning is generated as a function of physiological measurement data and operating parameters acquired in the past and transmitted to the evaluation device.

A monitoring system, which is suitable for carrying out the method has at least one sensor unit for acquiring physiological measurement data and an evaluation device. The sensor unit and the evaluation device are preferably arranged such that a corresponding method is carried out.

For the case that in case of failure of a sensor unit no physiological Measurement data is received more from the evaluation is through the transfer of historical operating parameters a remote diagnostic capability for such sensor units possible. Through the transmission of operating data will shed light on the probable causes of Lack of sensor data given what is essential for the efficient use of these systems in disaster scenarios is. In a corresponding monitoring system, both a diagnosis of likely failure causes of sensor units from the history of operating data allows as well an estimate of the current hazard potential of a patient from the history of patient and environmental data is such a remote diagnosis possible.

wireless Sensor units used to monitor patients Serve emergency and disaster operations, and about ECG, pulse data, oxygen saturation and blood pressure capture, according to the invention with a diagnostic system or an evaluation device coupled, probable Fault causes are determined, without currently a functional connection with the respective sensor unit consists.

These Diagnostic capability is based on the evaluation of operating parameters the sensor unit, which are transmitted during normal operation. Such data may be, for example: a battery condition, a temperature, a current power consumption, a transmission power, Radio link quality parameters (loss-rates, routing paths) or the type of sensors used. In addition, in implementations of sensor unit, which consist of individual components, the are connected by radio only, also the state of Individual components are determined. From the history of this data is the most likely cause of the failure closed. So then can the appropriate error handling system derive appropriate steps to address the failure or one Generate alert for the medical assistant.

additionally Medical data can also be environmental conditions such as temperature, vibration, noise or chemical substances the sensor unit are detected, which is an assessment of the out of the Environment resulting hazard potential allowed. The data collected may be in addition to the central analysis also be analyzed locally on the sensor units; in critical situations In addition, a local alarm can be triggered for example by an optical and / or acoustic signal, or the data may be in the vicinity medical staff can be provided directly.

There the full range of operating data for the sake of limited Bandwidths and energy efficiency in data transmission not always can be transmitted, is in some versions the method or the monitoring system a special mechanism is provided to select the one to be transmitted Data. This is done in such a way that the essential data be available at the evaluation device, even if a fault occurs.

These For example, selection or selection is based on the current one Operating parameters of the sensor unit, the environmental parameters and the decisions of the receiving station or evaluation. A selection unit in the sensor unit selects the one to be transmitted Operating data off. The selection unit works, for example with its own rules, but overruled by requirements of the remote diagnostics system or can be modified.

The The diagnostic system may further include an operating model that not on the sensor unit. The operating model collects and stores current operating data from the sensor unit to the To be able to reconstruct the history in the event of a fault. In addition, the operating model evaluates the operating data in sensor-specific Wise to see based on the history of diagnoses and probabilities to derive for disturbances.

The remote diagnosis system can also control the selection unit of the respective sensor unit by requesting specific operating data from the sensor unit based on its own analyzes, which is needed in the future due to the current situation could, to be able to assess disturbances correctly. In the event of a fault, the remote diagnosis unit can then draw conclusions about the most probable cause of the fault on the basis of the history of the received operating data.

After all the invention provides a computer program product, which the Execution of one of the above-described methods on one program-controlled evaluation device and / or sensor units causes. As a program-controlled device comes, for example a PC in question, on which appropriate software is installed. However, hardware programming is also appropriate, for example Sensors conceivable. The computer program product may be, for example in the manner of a data carrier, such as USB sticks, Floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD can be implemented or even on a Server device implemented as a downloadable program file.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and in the following descriptions surrounded embodiments the invention. Furthermore, the invention will be described by way of example Embodiments with reference to the attached Figures explained in more detail.

It shows:

1 a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a monitoring system;

2 an exemplary flowchart for a method for handling error conditions in a monitoring system;

3 a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a monitoring system; and

4 a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a monitoring system.

In The figures are the same or functionally identical elements with the same Unless otherwise indicated.

The 1 shows a monitoring system 5 with an evaluation device 4 which may be provided, for example, as a remote diagnostic system in an ambulance. Of course it is also conceivable a portable device such as a laptop or notebook, which is equipped with appropriate software and interfaces. There are also exemplary three sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 provided, the measurement and operating data DT1, DT2, DT3 wirelessly to the evaluation 4 to transfer. The sensor unit 1 has three components by way of example 1A . 1B . 1C on, which are coupled together via radio. This is illustrated by the double arrows BT.

Sensor units ( 1 . 2 . 3 ), which are designed to monitor emergency and disaster response patients, detect, for example, the ECG, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure, thereby enabling continuous monitoring of the state of a disaster victim even after the initial assessment during sighting ( the so-called triage). Based on these data, the assessment of the priority of the medical treatment can be reviewed and, if necessary, changed.

The monitoring system 5 is for example arranged such that a method is carried out, which in particular the treatment of error conditions of the sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 rated. For further explanation is in the 2 an exemplary flowchart illustrating the operation of a monitoring system 5 as it is in the 1 is shown, can describe.

In a step S1, initially physiological measurement data are transmitted through the sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 detected. These are the sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 For example, by auxiliary staff in the event of a disaster attached to the injured. In this case, non-invasive but also invasive sensors can be used which detect, for example, blood pressure, body temperature or the pulse. These physiological measurement data are transmitted wirelessly in step S2.

At the same time wireless operating parameters of the sensor units to the evaluation 4 transfer. The operating parameters characterize the operating state of the respective sensor unit 1 . 2 . 3 , For example, as an operating parameter, the state of charge of a power supply, a battery or a battery can be transmitted. The transmission preferably takes place at regular time intervals or on request by the evaluation device 4 ,

There preferably a wireless transmission takes place is it is likely that also errors in the transmission process occur. This can be done, for example, by shading the transmission channels or other disturbances happen.

Consequently In step S3, it is checked whether the transmission the data DT1, DT2, DT3, so the physiological measurement data and the operating parameters were successful.

If the data DT1, DT2, DT3 as expected from the evaluation 4 are received, they are stored in step S5. This results in a history of physiological measurement data and operating parameters for the respective individual sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 , For example, a period of time may be preset, via which the received data DT1, DT2, DT3 are currently being continuously stored. For example, this may be the last 30 seconds period.

in the Subsequent step S7 is a diagnosis due to the physiological Measurement data for the individual sensor units or those patients to whom the sensor units are attached. These include decision-making based on medical models used. For example, by decreasing blood pressure, dwindling Pulse and simultaneous decrease in oxygen saturation of the Blood is a particularly critical health condition of the respective Person to be recognized. This is done in step S8 by the monitoring system for Display brought.

Provided however, in step S3 it is detected that the data transmission not reliable and possibly one Sensor unit fails, in step S4, the previously stored measured data and operating parameters read. Especially on the basis of the operating parameters determined in the past, can be predicted in a subsequent step S6, whether the failure of the respective sensor due to external influences, internal functional problems of the sensor or due to the state change caused by the person monitored by the sensor. It can also generate a forecast using appropriate models which will further calculate the physiological measurement data. Surrender for example, from the operating parameters recorded in the past, the respective short interruptions of data transmission Shadowing may occur in the past updated physiological measurement data are updated. For example For example, a blood pressure or a pulse can be predicted, at least for a short time or extrapolated. This is then used in step S7 of a corresponding Diagnosis, which is displayed in step S8.

The proposed method enables the absence of the signals of a sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ), so that the overall system ( 5 ) can respond appropriately. For example, an indication could be given that the corresponding sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) is inactive. In order for the rescue personnel to be able to react appropriately, however, the evaluation of the current risk potential of the affected patient is additionally provided. This risk potential results from accumulated patient or environmental data, which were collected in the immediate past by the affected sensor unit. Conceivable here would be a particularly critical condition of the patient or particularly dangerous environmental conditions such as outgoing toxic substances.

With knowledge of the hazard potential in the environment failed sensor units ( 1 . 2 . 3 An appropriate prioritization of emergency measures (such as immediate control of the patient's condition by an emergency staff) may be made: for example, a patient whose condition is particularly critical would be promptly controlled, whereas a patient whose condition has been stable in the recent past would be later controlled.

For The decision is also the cause of the lack of sensor data (DT1, DT2, DT3). A temporary failure due to communication problems usually requires no immediate action, as with a recovery the connection can be expected. In case of failure exhausted batteries or a mechanical destruction Devices, on the other hand, can be assumed to have a permanent failure.

The 3 shows an extended remote diagnosis system or monitoring system 105 , The evaluation device, as described for example in the 1 shown in the monitoring system 105 of the 3 a gateway 4A , an error handling system 4B and a remote diagnostics system 4C ,

The gateway 4A serves to couple the sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 to the remote diagnostics system 4C and the error handling system 4B , The sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 transmit measuring and operating data DT1, DT2, DT3 to the gateway and receive control instructions CT1, CT2, CT3 through the gateway 4A , The gateway 4A has a processing unit 9 which handles data aggregation, data filtering, and control tasks. The gateway 4A and the corresponding processing unit 9 For example, they may be implemented as appropriate interfaces and software implementation. The of the sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 recorded measurement and operating data DT1, DT2, DT3 and optionally also environmental data, such as an outside temperature, radiation properties or chemical air constituents are from the gateway 4A as measuring and operating data DT the remote diagnosis system 4C transmitted.

The remote diagnosis system 4C has two processing units 10 . 11 On the one hand, a monitoring, ie a storage and monitoring of the acquired and obtained data DT perform and on the other hand by means of an analysis unit 11 which, for example, in dependence on an operating model BM, in particular for the individual sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 performs an analysis.

An operating model BM is in the 3 for example, as a database or program module and can be designed by means of relevant modeling methods. The fault diagnosis system 4C provides control commands CTC to the gateway 4A , which implements this accordingly and as control instructions CT1, CT2, CT3 to the sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 transfers. For example, it is possible that not all operational or physiological parameters sensed by the sensor unit will be wireless to the gateway 4A and on to the fault diagnosis system 4C be transmitted. In order to save energy in particular, a selection or selection of the existing measurement and / or operating data by a selection unit, which in the sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 with the reference number 6 . 7 and 8th is designated. It is possible, for example, instead of completely transmitting ECG data, which can be detected by a sensor unit, but only essential features. Corresponding control instructions CTC, CT1, CT2, CT3 can also be used to transmit a pre-classified diagnosis, such as "pulse rate is OK" or "increased" or "decreased".

In the event that measurement and / or operating data is no longer from one or more sensors 1 . 2 . 3 be transmitted, this recognizes the fault diagnosis system 4C and performs a corresponding analysis. In particular, depending on the operating model BM, a fault diagnosis FD can be made, which, for example, classifies a non-transmission of measurement data as a shading error. It is also possible to perform a pattern recognition based on the monitored and stored measurement and operating data from the past, with recurrent patterns characterizing certain error conditions.

This fault diagnosis is the error handling system 4B communicates which appropriate control instructions CTB to the gateway 4A transmitted and this finally to the appropriate sensor units 1 . 2 . 3 to get redirected. A processing unit 12 For example, provides certain strategies according to the FD error diagnosis. This can be the measure, for example, when only incomplete data is received from a sensor, which is due to a low battery or charge state, only to request rudimentary data indicating a simple body function. A corresponding processing unit 13 , which may also be implemented as a program module, coordinates implementation of the error handling routines. Finally, the error handling system delivers 48 also a warning message W to appropriate medical support staff 16 ,

A Further improvement of the proposed system consists of Prediction system that is capable of existing information on the state of danger of patients whose sensor units have interference, extrapolate. This makes it possible for the medical staff, a Prioritization of emergency care of patients in particular also if no current measured values are available.

The prognosis capability is based on the evaluation of transmitted medical sensor data as well as measurements of ambient conditions. From the history of these data can be concluded that the probable risk situation of a patient. The execution of a forecasting capability extended system 106 is exemplary in the 4 shown.

The evaluation is doing, compared to in the 3 illustrated embodiment to a medical system 4D and a forecasting system 4E extended. The monitoring system 106 essentially also includes the same components as in the 3 is shown, which will not be discussed here.

The medical system 4D includes processing units 14 . 15 , for each patient or sensor unit 1 . 2 . 3 provides a suitable medical model. The medical system 4D The medical or physiological measurement data MD from the remote diagnosis system 4C fed. Furthermore, medically educated persons, such as doctors 17 to make an additional medical assessment. Thus, a risk potential G can be determined for each treated or monitored patient as a function of the acquired physiological data and in particular the time course thereof. The hazard potential G describes the risk, for example on a scale, for a deterioration of the respective state of health.

The forecasting system 4E receives the measurement and operating data BP through the remote diagnostics system 4C and determined in dependence on the operating model BM on the one hand by analyzing the hazard potentials G, the present from the past measurement and operating data BP and the operating model even then current states of the patient when certain sensors have failed. This is done in a processing unit 10 that the the forecasting system 4E supplied data GBP, BM analyzed and by a processing unit 11 which updates the respective hazard prognoses P for the individual patients via a prognosis algorithm. The hazard prediction P will now be the error handling system 4B fed, which matched alarms or warnings W the auxiliary personnel 16 to play.

The above-described embodiments of monitoring system and method of operating the same result in the following advantages:
Since in emergency and disaster operations usually significantly less medical staff is available than for an immediate care of all the injured is necessary, the use of sensor units for recording life data of the victims with perfect function improves the information situation of the medical staff. Limited control of disaster victims is also possible with physical separation of medical personnel and victims. The medical staff can be used more efficiently.

There the sensor units of the monitoring of the life data of Victims of disasters and accidents larger Extent serve, is the error and cause search with Disturbances during operation excluded. By providing such a diagnostic system as described above, can provide information about the nature of the disorder be gained, so that the staff site this information when making decisions about how to deal with the injured (Prioritizing treatment and transport) can. Disruptions can be adequately countered, so that the impact on care workflows and evacuation of victims are limited.

The Using the history of the operating data allows a significant more accurate diagnosis than if only the last set of operating data transmitted would have been used. From the history can be additional conclusions about the course of use pull the respective sensor unit and it accounts for faulty Diagnoses because the last operational data may be already incorrectly transmitted. In addition, due to the selective transmission of operating data in the current Data information often does not exist for assessment the location needed.

The Possibility of controlling the selection unit from outside During operation, the selection allows the relevant operating data despite limited resources of the sensor unit (computing capability) and in the case of an isolated sensor unit limited Overall view (local view).

The Prognosis capability provides the medical staff one plausible assessment of the risk situation of the Patients even when current data is missing. The thereby possible Prioritization of critical cases leads to a Increase the efficiency of emergency care.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited non-patent literature

• - Tia Gao et al .: "Participatory User Centered Design Techniques for a Large Scale Ad-Hoc Health Information System" at First International Workshop of Systems and Networking Support for Healthcare and Assisted Living Environments (HealthNet '07), San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 2007 [0006]
• - David Malan et al .: "CodeBlue: An Ad Hoc Sensor Network Infrastructure for Emergency Medical Care", in Proceedings of the MobiSys 2004 Workshop on Applications of Mobile Embedded Systems (WAMES 2004), Boston, MA, June, 2004 [0006]
• Margit Kristensen et al .: IT support for healthcare professionals acting in major incidents, in SHI2005, PROCEEDINGS, 3rd Scandinavian conference on Health Informatics, Aalborg University, August 25-26, pp. 37-41, 2005, ISBN 87-986264 -5-0 [0006]

Claims (17)

Method for evaluating a fault condition of a sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) in a surveillance system ( 5 ), which at least one sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) for acquiring physiological measurement data and an evaluation device ( 4 ), comprising: detecting (S1) physiological measurement data on a body by the at least one sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ); wireless transmission (S2) of the physiological measurement data and operating parameters of the sensor units ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) of the sensor units ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) to the evaluation device ( 4 ); whereby in case of failure of the sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) depending on the past recorded and the evaluation device ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) transmitted physiological measurement data and operating parameters a warning is generated. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted Operating parameters and the physiological measurement data stored (S5). Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the warning depends on an operating model (BM) for the sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) is produced. Method according to one of claims 1-3, wherein a selection of physiological measurement data and / or operating parameters from the acquired physiological measurement data and / or operating parameters is made, which to the evaluation device ( 4 ) is transmitted wirelessly. Method according to claim 4, wherein the selection is dependent on from those in the past over a given period of time taken detected physiological measurement data and / or operating parameters becomes. Method according to one of claims 1-5, wherein a probability for possible causes of failure of the sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) is determined. Method according to one of claims 1-6, wherein the physiological measurement data is an oxygen saturation of the blood, a heart rate, an electrocardiogram, a blood pressure, a body temperature or a respiratory or breathing frequency. The method of any of claims 1-7, wherein the operating parameters include a battery condition, a temperature, a transmit power, a current power consumption, radio link quality parameter, or an identification of the type of the sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ). Method according to one of claims 1-8, wherein further environmental parameters, in particular an ambient temperature, a humidity, a brightness and vibrations from the sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) and to the evaluation device ( 4 ) be transmitted. The method of any of claims 1-9, wherein depending on those recorded in the past and transmitted physiological measurement data, operating parameters and / or the environmental parameters future physiological Data predicts (S6). Method according to one of claims 1-10, wherein a pre-classification of the physiological measurement data at the sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) he follows. Method according to one of claims 1-11, wherein the sensor units ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) to patients, injured or accident victims. Monitoring system ( 5 ) with at least one sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) for acquiring physiological measurement data and an evaluation device ( 4 ), wherein the sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) and the evaluation device ( 4 ) are configured such that a method according to any one of claims 1-12 is executed. Monitoring system ( 4 ) according to claim 13, wherein the sensor unit ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) a selection unit ( 6 . 7 . 8th ), which from the acquired physiological measurement data, the operating parameters and / or the environmental parameters, a selection for transmission to the evaluation unit ( 4 ) meets. Monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein the selection unit ( 6 . 7 . 8th ) from the evaluation device ( 4 ) is controlled. Monitoring system ( 4 ) according to any one of claims 13-15, wherein the sensor unit ( 1 ) several wirelessly coupled components ( 1A . 1B . 1C ) having. Computer program product, which carries out the implementation of a method according to one of claims 1-12 by a program-controlled evaluation device ( 4 ) and / or sensor units ( 1 . 2 . 3 ) in a surveillance system ( 4 ).