A) TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a Patient Monitoring System and more specifically relates to a single touch record key used for recording desired or specified screen data in a medical device such as Patient Monitoring System (PMS) like EGG, BP MONITOR, etc.
B) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
i [0002] Generally the various physiological parameters of an individual are measured
using monitors known as, "vital sign parameter bed side monitor" or " vital sign
monitoring systems", to measure heart rate level, blood pressure, artery pressure etc.
The one of the important vital signs measured by the healthcare providers is
electrocardiography (EGG), impedance cardio vasography, and non-invasive cardiac
output. The monitored parameters are displayed at a central nursing station to enable
medical personnel like doctors, nursing assistants, medical attendants to monitor
patients under critical conditions or under intensive care to take immediate remedial
care during emergency conditions.
[0003] The Patient monitoring system (PMS) has different screens to provide an efficient and convenient way to display the real-time patient related data as well as the trend data of different patients. The Patient monitoring systems (PMS) has different display formats to provide an efficient and convenient way to display the real-time patient related data corresponding to different patients.

[0004] The primary function of the CNS is to enable the constant monitoring of all the patients cormected to the CNS. The CNS is provided with two display windows. The vital parameters such as ECG, heart rate etc., of all the patients under observation are displayed individually in one display window through several split screens. All the measured physiological parameters of a specific selected patient are displayed in the display window. Though some of the patients may be under more critical condition than the rest of the other patients in an intensive care unit, equal care and attention must be given to all the patients under intensive care at all times. The monitored parameters are displayed in graphical trend as well as in tabular trend.
[0005] The Graphical Trend represents the measured physiological parameters acquired from the monitors installed at the bed side of the patient in a graphical format. The physiological parameters collected from the monitors in the past 24 hours are displayed at the CNS in a graphical pattern. The displayed data is made available to the user in different resolutions through 4 zoom modes. It is vital that the user should relate the stored and displayed data with specific alarm condhions to identify or diagnose the cause for the variation in the measured data in the past 24 hours.
[0006] The Tabular Trend on the other hand lists the same physiological parameter
measured in the past 24 hours in the form of digital parameter values. At a given
i alarm condition, the digital parameter values are displayed in red color. It is
important that the user or medical personnel should study and compare the parameter
under alarm condition with respect to other measured parameter values at the same
instant. Based on the comparison of the parameter under alarm limit with the other
measured parameters, the user/ medical persormel estimates the overall condition of

the patient at a given instance to handle an abnormal health condition and to suggest the future treatment methods. Thus the facility for viewing all the parameters related to a particular alarm condition at once will help the medical practitioner to estimate the critical health condition of the patient and the treatment method required to mitigate such an emergency condition of the patient under intensive care unit (ICU).
[0007] The Patient Monitoring System (PMS) gives out the record of different
information in different kinds of formats, on a thermal printer. The record hot key
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present on the keypad panel is generally used to get a standard record of the waveforms and the digital information. The record of a desired screen is obtained by going to the particular screen and by pressing the soft record key present in the specified screen. Thus the user has to go through 3-4 levels of navigation of the menus using an optical encoder (OE) to record the other formats or a desired screen display. For example, when the user wants to record a trend data or wants the record of the trend screen/ desired screen, then the user has to perform the following sequence of operation using several keys to record the desired trend screen display/data.
[0008] The user has to use the Scroll key to move to TREND option menu and to press a SELECT key to display a trend choice window. Then the trend choice window containing plurality of trend choices is displayed to the user. The user has to use a scroll key and enter key again to select a desired trend screen from the list of displayed trend screens. When the user selects a desired trend screen such as, the 'tabular trend' option, then the tabular trend window will be displayed with the most recent set of readings. The User would then have to scroll to the REG option and

select it to get a record of the trend screen. Thus the user performs several key operations to get a record of a desired screen data. In the present circumstances the user has to spend a reasonable amount of time to acquire the record of a desired
screen. The delay in ohtaining the record of a desired screen is unavoidable.
i Sometimes the medical personal may need the specific record of the desired patient
for instant reference in case of emergency.
[0009] Hence there is a need to develop a single touch record key to record any desired display screen data in a medical device like Patient Monitoring System.
C) OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary object of the invention is to develop a single touch record key to record a desired screen data in a medical device such as a Patient Monitoring System.
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[0011] Another object of the invention is to develop a single touch record key which is used along with a trend hotkey to act as a multifunctional key for recording a desired screen data in a medical device such as a Patient Monitoring System.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
I accompanying drawings.

D) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The abovementioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
[0014] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a single touch record hot key and a recording method to select and record a desired record format.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a single touch hotkey is provided to select and print a desired record format. The patient monitoring system is provided with a record hotkey button. The record hot key button together with a trend hotkey, functions as a muhifunctional key to record the data formatted for the particular screen that is being viewed. The one touch record key may be provided in the patient monitoring system or in an infrared remote control device which operates the Patient Monitoring System.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a desired screen data may be printed by using just 2 hot keys on the Remote keyboard. The user has to press the trend key on the Infrared (IR) remote to view the trend window directly and then press the REC key on the IR remote or panel keyboard, to get a record of the trend screen.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the hotkeys are provided on the panel of PMS as well as on the handheld remote keyboard. The user may select the required screen for display using the hot key provided on the panel of the PMS or the trend hotkey on the IR remote controller A micro controller receives the user commands that are input from the panel hot keys installed on the PMS and from a handheld remote keyboard through the IR Remote Port. The micro controller
outputs the data of the particular or desired or selected screen format to a recorder
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such as thermal printer through a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/ Transmitter (UART) for printing. The microcontroller forwards the data of the specified or desired or selected screen format to the TFT display through a TFT controller for display.
[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided to select and record a desired screen format using a single touch hot record
key provided in the panel of the PMS or in the IR remote key controller.
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[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the PMS interfaces a keyboard through read buffers, address bus and data bus to the microcontroller. The Microcontroller polls for the key inputs at the output of the read buffer at regular intervals. Whenever a key is pressed, the respective key scan code is read by the
keyboard driver and queued, so that the queued scan code is read by the application
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software and processed by the microcontroller.
[0020] An IR remote keyboard is also available to the user. The IR receiver placed on the keyboard card, interfaces directly to a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD). Whenever a key is pressed in the remote controller, a corresponding IR data

is transmitted to the PMS. The CPLD provided in the PMS reads the IR data through an IR detector, decodes the code and maps it identical to the keyboard scan code. Then the CPLD generates an interrupt to the microcontroller. The interrupt service routine reads the scan code and queues it for reading by application software. The application software reads this queue at regular intervals to identify the scan code and to execute the sequence of operations for recording a desired or selected or specified screen data.
[0021] The trend hot key press operation is interpreted by the application software and respective trend screen information is written to the TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display through the TFT driver. Based on the screen information and the Record hot key press operation, the screen data is formatted and dumped to the Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART), through the respective device driver so that a desired screen data is recorded using a thermal printer or a TFT display device.
[0022] Thus the present invention provides a single touch key in the panel of a PMS or in a remote controller to select and record a desired screen data in a PMS. A desired screen data from the PMS may be recorded quickly using a single touch key operation.
I [0023] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

F) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0029] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0030] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a single touch record hot key and a recording method to select and record a desired record format.
[0031] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a single touch hotkey is provided to select and print a desired record format. The patient monitoring system is provided with a record hotkey button. The record hot key button together with a trend hotkey, functions as a multifunctional key to record the data formatted for the particular screen that is being viewed. The one touch record key may be provided in the patient monitoring systerh or in an infrared remote control device which operates the Patient Monitoring System.
[0032] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a desired screen data may be printed by using just 2 hot keys on the Remote keyboard. The user has to press the trend key on the Infrared (IR) remote to view the trend window directly and

then press the REC key on the IR remote or panel keyboard, to get a record of the trend screen.
[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the hotkeys are provided on the panel of PMS as well as on the handheld remote keyboard. The user may select the required screen for display using the hot key provided on the panel of the PMS or the trend hotkey on the IR remote controller A micro controller receives the user commands that are input from the panel hot keys installed on the PMS and from a handheld remote keyboard through the IR Remote Port. The micro controller outputs the data of the particular or desired or selected screen format to a recorder such as thermal printer through a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/ Transmitter (UART) for printing. The mibrocontroller forwards the data of the specified or desired or selected screen format to the TFT display through a TFT controller for display.
[0034] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided to select and record a desired screen format using a single touch hot record key provided in the panel of the PMS or in the IR remote key controller.
[0035] According to one embbdiment of the present invention, the PMS interfaces a keyboard through read buffers, address bus and data bus to the microcontroller. The
Microcontroller polls for the key inputs at- the output of the read buffer at regular
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intervals. Whenever a key is pressed, the respective key scan code is read by the keyboard driver and queued, so that the queued scan code is read by the application software and processed by the microcontroller.

[0036] An IR remote keyboard is also available to the user. The IR receiver placed on the keyboard card, interfaces directly to a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD). Whenever a key is pressed in the remote controller, a corresponding IR data IS transmitted to the PMS. The CPLD provided in the PMS reads the IR data through an IR detector, decodes the code and maps it identical to the keyboard scan code. Then the CPLD generates an interrupt to the microcontroller. The interrupt service routine reads the scan code and queues it for reading by application software. The application software reads this queue at regular intervals to identify the scan code and to execute the sequence of operations for recording a desired or selected or specified screen data.
[0037] The trend hot key press operation is interpreted by the application software and respective trend screen information is written to the TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display through the TFT driver. Based on the screen information and the Record hot key press operation, the screen data is formatted and dumped to the Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART), through the respective device driver so that a desired screen data is recorded using a thermal printer or a TFT display device.
[0038] Thus the present invention provides a single touch key in the panel of a PMS or in a remote controller to select and record a desired screen data in a PMS. A desired screen data from the PMS may be recorded quickly using a single touch key operation.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a single touch record key is provided in the panel of the PMS or in the IR remote controller which is used to operate the PMS remotely.
[0040] According to one embodiment of the present invention the single touch record key provided in the panel 'of the PMS is activated to send an input to the micro controller through a read buffer and UART. The key input is read with an optical encoder. The output of the optical encoder is stored in a read buffer. The stored data is polled and queued through ah address bus and data bus for reading with an application software. The stored data is forwarded to an UART through the address bus and the data bus. The stored key data received from the read buffer is passed to the micro controller by the UART. The: received key data is passed to select a screen data and a display format data. The selected screen data and the display format data are forwarded to a recorder such as a thermal printer for recording the selected or specified or desired screen data. The selected screen data and the display format data are forwarded to a display device such as a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display device though a TFT controller and a TFT driver so that the selected or specified or desired screen data is displayed in the desired format in the TFT display device.
[0041] According to one embodiment of the present invention the single touch record key provided in the IR remote controller which is used to operate the PMS. The single touch record key provided in the IR remote controller is activated to send an input IR signal to the micro controller through a read buffer and UART. The IR key input is read with an IR decoder. The IR receiver placed on the keyboard card, interfaces directly to a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD). This CPLD reads the IR

data and decodes the code and maps it identical to the keyboard scan code, whenever a key is pressed from the remote. It then generates an interrupt to the microcontroller. The interrupt service routine reads the scan code and queues it to be read by the application. The application software reads this queue at a regular interval of 16ms identifies the scan code and executes the sequence of operations for recording a desired screen and record format.
[0042] The key data received from the IR decoder is passed to the micro controller for
processing. The received IR key data is processed assed to select a screen data and a
display format data. The selected screen data and the display format data are
forwarded through the UART to a recorder such as a thermal printer for recording the
selected or specified or desired screen data. The selected screen data and the display
format data are forwarded to .a display device such as a Thin Film Transistor (TFT)
display device though a TFT controller and a TFT driver so that the selected or
specified or desired screen data is displayed in the desired format in the TFT display
device. '
[0043] The FIG; 1 indicates a block diagram of a Patient Monitoring System provided with a single touch record key according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention the single touch record key provided in the panel of the PK4S is activated to send an input to the micro controller through a read buffer and UART. The key input is read with an optical encoder. The output of the opfical encoder is stored in a read buffer. The stored data is polled and queued through an address bus and data bus for reading with an application software. The stored data is forwarded to an UART through the address bus and the data bus.

The stored key data received from the read buffer is passed to the micro controller by the UART. The received key data is passed to select a screen data and a display format data. The selected screen data and the display format data are forwarded to a recorder such as a thermal printer for recording the selected or specified or desired screen data. The selected screen data and the display format data are forwarded to a display device such as a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display device though a TFT controller and a TFT driver so that the selected or specified or desired screen data is displayed in the desired format in the TFT display device.
[0044] According to another embodiment of the present invention the single touch record key provided in the IR remote controller which is used to operate the PMS. The single touch record key provided in the IR remote controller is activated to send an input IR signal to the micro controller through a read buffer and UART. The IR key input is read with an JR. decoder. The IR receiver placed on the keyboard card, interfaces directly to a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD). This CPLD reads the IR data and decodes the code and maps it identical to the keyboard scan code, whenever a key is pressed from the remote. It then generates an interrupt to the microcontroller. The interrupt service routine reads the scan code and queues it to be read by the application. The application software reads this queue at a regular interval of 16ms identifies the scan code and executes the sequence of operations for recording a desired screen and record format.
[0045] The key data received from the IR decoder is passed to the micro controller for processing. The received IR key data is processed assed to select a screen data and a display format data. The selected screen data and the display format data are

forwarded through the UART to a recorder such as a thermal printer for recording the selected or specified or desired screen data. The selected screen data and the display format data are forwarded to a display device such as a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display device though a TFT controller and a TFT driver so that the selected or specified or desired screen data is displayed in the desired format in the TFT display device.
[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a fianctional block diagram of a Patient Monitoring System provided with a single touch record key according to one embodiment of the present invention. A single touch hot key is provided in the panel of the PMS and in the IR remote controller that is used to operate the PMS remotely. The single touch record key is activated to input a record signal. The input data corresponding to the activated key is stored in a read buffer and forwarded to a key board driver.
[0047] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a single touch record key provided in the IR remote controller is activated to forward a selected screen data and a.display format to an IR decoder. The received decoded data fi"om the IR decoder is forwarded to a key board driver.
[0048] The received data at the key board driver is forwarded to a micro controller. An application software is executed to process the received key data to select a corresponding screen data and a desired display/record format for the selected screen data.

[0049] The selected screen format and display format are forwarded to a TFT display driver. A TFT display controller regulates a TFT display device to display a screen format and a display format for the received data, based on the data received from the TFT display driver. The selected screen data and the display format are forwarded to a thermal printer through an UART driver and an UART so that the selected screen data are recorded in the selected format.
[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart explaining the sequence of operations for recording a desired screen format using a PMS provided with a single touch record key according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] A single touch record key is provided in the panel of the PMS or in the IR remote controller which is used to operate the PMS remotely. The single touch record key is activated to input a record signal. The input data corresponding to the activated key is stored in a read buffer and forwarded to a micro controller.
[0052] The Microcontroller polls for the key inputs at the output of the read buffer at regular intervals. Whenever a key is pressed, the respective key scan code is read by the keyboard driver and queued, so that the queued scan code is read by the application software and processed by the microcontroller.
[0053] The application software reads this queue at regular intervals to identify the scan code and to execute the sequence of operations for recording a desired or selected or specified screen data.

[0054] The trend hot key press operation is interpreted by the application software and respective trend screen information is written to the TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display through the TFT driver. Based on the screen information and the Record hot key press operation, the screen data is formatted and dumped to the Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART), through the respective device driver so that a desired screen data is recorded using a thermal printer or a TFT display device.
[0055] Thus the present invention provides a single touch key in the panel of a PMS or in a remote controller to select and record a desired screen data in a PMS. A desired screen data from the PMS may be recorded quickly using a single touch key operation.
G) ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0056] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a single touch record hot key and a singled touch method for patient monitoring system. A single touch record hot key is provided in the panel of the PMS and in the IR remote controller to select and record a desired screen data and screen format thereby assisting the doctor to acquire the measured physiological parameter in a desired format to diagnose a critical condition of a patient in the intensive care unit to suggest a suitable and medical care to the patient.

[0057] Although the invention is described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.
[0058] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the present invention described herein and all the statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

E) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a Patient Monitoring System provided
■[ with a single touch record key according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of a Patient Monitoring System provided with a single touch record key according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart explaining the sequence of operations for recording a desired screen format using a PMS provided with a single touch record key according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some
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drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.

CLAIMS
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A single touch recording device for patient monitoring device, the system
comprising;
A single touch record key to input a desired screen data upon activation;
A micro controller to receive and process the input desired screen data; and
A recording device to record the processed input screen data to recorder for recording desired screen data.
2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the single touch record
key is provided in the panel of the patient monitoring device.
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3. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the single touch record key is provided in the infra red remote controller.
4. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein microcontroller process the received key data corresponding to the activated single touch record key.
5. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording device is a thermal printer.

6. The recording device according to claim 1, further comprising a display device
to display the processed screen data to display a desired screen data.
7. The recording device according to claim 6, wherein the display device is a thin
film transistor display device.