Robust alarm system

摘要

A robust alarm system has an alarm controller adapted to input an alarm trigger and to generate at least one alarm drive signal in response. Alarm subsystems input the alarm drive signal and activate one or more of multiple alarms accordingly. A subsystem function signal provides feedback to the alarm controller as to alarm subsystem integrity. A malfunction indicator is output from the alarm controller in response to a failure within the alarm subsystems.

主权项

1. A patient monitoring device comprising:
a first housing comprising:
a driving circuit configured to drive one or more emitters;a front end processing circuit configured to receive a signal from a detector responsive to light from said emitters attenuated by body tissue;a first alarm comprising an alarm driving circuit, said first alarm configured to provide an audible alert to a caregiver;an alarm detector comprising a piezoelectric sensor mechanically coupled to said first alarm to detect vibrations therefrom, the alarm detector configured to determine whether said first alarm is malfunctioning;a circuit tester comprising an electronic circuit configured to determine whether said alarm driving circuit is malfunctioning; anda processor responsive to said front end processing circuit to process said signal to determine one or more measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of a patient being monitored, said processor also configured to trigger said first alarm when one or more of said measurement values should receive caregiver review; a second housing configured to communicate with said first housing, the second housing comprising a second processor and a second alarm configured to provide an audible alert, wherein said second processor is configured to trigger said second alarm based on a malfunction signal associated with said first alarm from at least one of said alarm detector or said circuit tester.