TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to displaying medical data in chart. More particularly  the subject matter relates to processing the physiological data and representing the physiological data in circular chart at medical monitoring and diagnostic devices.

BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE

The physiological data of the patient has traditionally been represented using linear time vs. amplitude graphs. This has a potential discomfort when the user wishes to view the parameter at some point in the past as he has to scroll back along the graph. Since  the physiological data of the patient is represented in linear time vs. amplitude  more number of pages is consumed in order to take a print of the chart.

Hence  there exists a need to provide a simple and efficient chart for representing the physiological data so that the user can view the parameter at some point in time without scroll back along the graph. Further  number of pages required to take a print of the chart should be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a method and a system as described in the description.

The subject matter disclosed herein solves the limitations of existing arts by representing physiological data in circular chart.

Additional features and advantages are realized through various techniques provided in the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered as part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting exemplary aspect  there is provided a method of processing and displaying physiological data on medical devices  in particularly medical monitoring and diagnostic devices. The method comprises acts of receiving physiological data measured in a predetermined time slot in medical device and displaying the retrieved medical data in a circular chart format over display interface 104 of the medical device  wherein said circular chart comprises plurality of concentric circles spaced apart from each other with a predetermined distance and one or more time slots on circumference of the chart. Once representing the physiological data in circular chart is done  the time slots with angle and magnitude of parameter value of the physiological data with radial distance is mapped on the circular chart  wherein the radial distance (r) is proportional to the magnitude of the parameter value of the physiological data. Finally  one or more highlights on any part of the chart are marked to depict the variation of the parameter in a given period of time.

A medical device 101 for processing and displaying physiological data on medical devices is disclosed as another aspect of the disclosure. The medical device comprises a processor 103 associated with the storage unit 102 for mapping the time slots with angle and magnitude of parameter value of the physiological data with radial distance. The radial distance (r) is proportional to the magnitude of the parameter value of the physiological data to develop a circular chart. Once the chart is developed  one or more color dots on any part of the circular chart are marked for depicting the variation of the parameter in a given period of time. In one embodiment  said circular chart comprises plurality of concentric circles spaced apart from each other with a predetermined distance and one or more time slots on circumference of the chart. The medical device further comprises a display unit to display the circular chart with the one or more color dots.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects and features described above  further aspects  and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the disclosure itself  however  as well as a preferred mode of use  further objectives and advantages thereof  will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described  by way of example only  with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Fig. 1 shows representation of physiological data in linear time vs. amplitude graphs.

Fig. 2 illustrates schematic view of system for processing and displaying physiological data in circular chart  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 3 shows an exemplary circular chart  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific aspect disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure  both as to its organization and method of operation  together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood  however  that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

Fig 1 is a block diagram of a medical device 101 used for processing and displaying physiological data. The medical device 101 includes but are not limiting to medical monitoring and diagnostic device such as mobile phones  computer systems  and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The device 101 receives a medical data to be represented in the circular chart format through an input unit (not shown in figure). Examples of the input unit includes  but are not limited to keypad  touch screen interface  speech/voice recognition device and any other device that can be used to provide input. In an alternative embodiment  the medical data can directly be captured from various medical probes using a communication interface. The communication interface  for example  includes but not limiting to USB interface  Bluetooth interface  WiFi interface or any other communication interface which is capable of transmitting the data over network. The received medical data is stored in storage unit 102 associated with the medical device 101. The stored medical data is later retrieved by a processor 103 for processing the medical data in order to display the retrieved medical data in a circular chart format over display interface 104 of the medical device 101. In an alternative embodiment  the processor 103 is capable of receiving the medical data directly from the medical probes and generate the circular chart on the fly.

In one embodiment  the processor 103 upon generating the circular chart makes plurality of concentric circles which are spaced apart from each other with a predetermined distance in the chart. Also  one or more time slots on circumference of the chart. Once the concentric circles and time slots are created in the circular chart  the processor 103 maps the time slots with angle and magnitude of parameter value of the physiological data with radial distance  wherein the radial distance (r) is proportional to the magnitude of the parameter value of the physiological data. In order to identify whether the patient is suffering from illness or not with the help of the circular chart  one or more highlights on any part of the chart are marked to depict the variation of the parameter in a given period of time. The highlight comprises color dots. This functionality is performed by the processor 103 using the measured medical data of the patient. Upon generation of circular chart and necessary marking on the generated chart  the chart is displayed on the display interface 104 of the medical device. An exemplary circular char for representing physiological data is shown in fig. 3.

In one embodiment  the radial distance is classified into one or more boundaries. The boundaries include but are not limiting to a Parameter Lower bound (RL) radius at a predetermined distance from the centre of the chart  Parameter Upper bound (RU) radius at a predetermined distance from the centre of the chart  and Parameter middle (RMID) radius in between and at equidistance from the Parameter Lower Bound (RL) and the Parameter Upper bound (RU).

The method of processing and displaying physiological data is explained herein below in detail with the help of suitable equations. The method adopts the Polar co-ordinate system (r  ?) to represent the physiological parameter variations with time. The radial distance (r) is proportional to the magnitude of the parameter value. The lower and upper bounds or limits of the parameter are set as RL and RU respectively by the user. Parameter Lower bound is termed as RL and Parameter Upper bound is termed as RU. When value of any parameter falls within the RL and RU  for example  RL < r < RU  then the value of said parameter is identified as Normal parameter value. In any case  if the value of the parameter goes out of said bounds  then it is identified as abnormal parameter value. The limits  normal and abnormal values are highlighted in the graph  in particularly color coded in the graph.

Locating a point on the graph corresponding to the parameter value is calculated as below:
Let RU - RL = 2*dr;
Let this difference maps to ‘k’ units of length on the display.
Hence the scaling factor = (k/2*dr);
RMID = average (RU   RL);
The location of an arbitrary parameter value of RX on the display is calculated as follows:
? = (RX - RMID)* (k/2*dr);
The point located above or below from RMID at a distance of ? based on its sign. Positive values are located above and negative values are located below RMID. In one embodiment  the data of multiple parameters can also be incorporated into the chart by mapping the value of RMID to circles of different radii.

Representing the time slot or time scale is explained in detail below:
The parameter ? is made proportional to the time scale. The angle made by an event is measured from +X-axis in the anti-clock wise direction. Let the total time period of interest is T hrs. Hence  the time elapsed (dt) between two events on the chart at angles ?1 and ?2 (with ?2 > ?1):
((?2 - ?1))/360? x T = dt
Here  by changing the value of T  the data can be zoom-in and zoom-out. Hence  by lowering the value of T  the data captured over a short period of time is shown over the entire chart and hence effectively zoom-in happens and vice versa.

In one aspect of the present disclosure  the circular chart used for representing physiological data simplifies the viewing of previously captured physiological parameter data as the process of scrolling back over the parameter graphs is avoided. Further  since the data is represented in circular chart  more data can be shown than in the case of linear charts as shown in fig. 1 is an exemplary linear chart  where the extent of the chart is limited by the width of the screen  but in this new method  the advantage of both the length and width of the screen are taken into account.

Thus  the invention provides a circular chart for representing the physiological data where the user can view the parameter at some point in time without scroll back along the graph. Further  number of pages required to take a print of the chart is reduced.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention  including the best mode  and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention  including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims  and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims  or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein  those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein  other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting  with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral Numerals;

Reference Number Description
101 Medical Device
102 Storage Unit
103 Processor
104 Display Interface

We claim:

A method of processing and displaying physiological data  said method comprising
receiving physiological data measured in a predetermined time slot into a medical device;
displaying the received medical data in a circular chart format over display interface of the medical device  wherein said circular chart comprises plurality of concentric circles spaced apart from each other with a predetermined distance and one or more time slots on circumference of the chart;
mapping the time slots with angle and magnitude of parameter value of the physiological data with radial distance  wherein the radial distance (r) is proportional to the magnitude of the parameter value of the physiological data; and
marking one or more highlights on any part of the chart for depicting the variation of the parameter in a given period of time.

The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising storing the measured physiological data in a storage unit associated with the medical device.

The method as claimed in claim 1  wherein the radial distance is classified into one or more boundaries selected from a group comprising Parameter Lower bound (RL) radius at a predetermined distance from the centre of the chart  Parameter Upper bound (RU) radius at a predetermined distance from the centre of the chart  and Parameter middle (RMID) radius in between and at equidistance from the Parameter Lower Bound (RL) and the Parameter Upper bound (RU).

The method as claimed in claim 3  wherein data of multiple parameters are displayed in the chart by mapping value of RMID to circles of different radii.

The method as claimed in claim 3  wherein the radius of the parameter upper bound (RU) and the radius of the parameter lower bound (RL) is customizable by a user.

The method as claimed in claim 1  wherein the highlights comprises color dots.

A medical device for displaying physiological data  comprising
a processor for mapping the time slots with angle and magnitude of parameter value of the physiological data with radial distance  wherein the radial distance (r) is proportional to the magnitude of the parameter value of the physiological data to develop a circular chart  and marking one or more highlights on any part of the circular chart for depicting the variation of the parameter in a given period of time  and
a display unit to display the circular chart with the one or more highlights.

The device as claimed in claim 7  wherein said circular chart comprises one or more concentric circles spaced apart from each other with a predetermined distance and one or more time slots on circumference of the chart.

The device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a storage unit to store physiological data measured in a predetermined time slot  said storage unit is associated with the medical device.

The device as claimed in claim 7  wherein the highlights comprises color dots.

Dated this 30th Day of September  2011
Madhusudan S. T
IN/PA 1297
OF K&S PARTNERS
AGENT FOR THE APPLICANT