Abstract:
Disclosed is a patient monitoring and drug delivery system and associated methods for use during diagnostic, surgical or other medical procedures. The functionality of the invention enables many time consuming and laborious activities to be minimized or moved to a part in the procedure where time is not as critical. The invention is capable of increasing practice efficiency in patient care facilities through system architecture and design into two separate units. A patient unit receives input signals from patient monitoring connections and outputs the signals to a procedure unit. The procedure unit is operational during the medical procedure and controls the delivery of drugs to the patient.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/791,959 filed on Mar. 3, 2004, presently allowed, and claims the benefit and priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/451,860, filed on Mar. 4, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to patient monitoring and drug delivery systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for providing increased practice efficiency throughout medical procedures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Patient monitoring systems are typically used to monitor physiological parameters of patients undergoing diagnostic or surgical procedures. A variety of patient monitoring systems have been employed for the sole purpose of monitoring a patient under the influence of analgesic or amnestic drugs that are administered during painful or anxiety-causing procedures. A monitoring system capable of accurately and reliably monitoring a patient as well as being easy to use is desired. 
         [0004]    Unfortunately, known monitoring system suffer from several disadvantages. Monitoring systems in the related art fall generally into two categories: high end, multi-function monitors which collect a multitude of data and are typically used in the procedure, and smaller, limited function monitors which gather only basic physiological data that are typically used in pre-procedure and recovery areas. Inefficiencies occur when the patient must be disconnected from one monitoring system and then, once in the procedure room, connected to a more robust monitoring system that will provide additional critical information during a surgical procedure. The process of connecting and disconnecting multiple physiological data acquisition probes from the patient causes practice inefficiencies by adding time consuming activities, resulting in an overall lengthier medical or surgical procedure. 
         [0005]    A patient care system that increases practice efficiency is needed in many patient care facilities. A patient care facility desires to maximize efficiency and perform as many cases as safely possible in a given day. Many patient care facilities find the largest obstacle to increasing practice efficiency relates to minimizing the amount of clinician time that is required in the procedure room. The number of cases a doctor may perform in a given day is limited in part to the amount of time the patient is in the procedure room. The amount of time required to complete a particular procedure is somewhat fixed and based upon the skill and experience level of the clinician. However, much can be done to improve upon clinic practice pre-procedure and post procedure. 
         [0006]    Typically in a pre-procedure room, a nurse or technician prepares the patient for the upcoming procedure. This preparation may include connecting monitors to the patient for the purpose of obtaining baseline data to be used in the procedure. Monitors that are commonly used include blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure), and pulse oximetry, which measures a patient&#39;s arterial oxygen saturation and heart rate typically via an infrared diffusion sensor. Blood pressure readings are generally taken by a blood pressure cuff. A nurse or technician must secure the cuff around a patients arm and use a bulb type device to pump air into the cuff. Once the reading from the cuff stabilizes, the nurse or technician must manually record the data, usually handwritten on a sheet of paper, and save this information for later reference during the procedure and eventually, for the patient report. For the nurse or technician to take a pulse oximeter reading, he or she must boot up the pulse oximeter module, secure a pulse oximeter probe upon the patient and take a reading of the patient. This reading is also written down on paper to be saved for later use. Once it is determined the patient is ready for the procedure, the nurse or technician must disengage the blood pressure cuff and pulse oximetry probes from the patient, so the patient can be transported from the pre-procedure room to the procedure room. 
         [0007]    After the patient enters the procedure room and before the procedure may begin, several tasks are needed to prepare the patient for the procedure. The nurse or technician must reconnect both blood pressure and, pulse oximetry before the procedure can begin. In addition to blood pressure and pulse oximetry other connections such as, for example, capnography, supplemental oxygen, and electrocardiogram are required. A great deal of time is required to connect the physiological monitors to the patient and to connect the physiological monitors to the monitoring system. The nurse or technician must spend time reconnecting physiological monitors that were connected to the patient in the pre-procedure room. The time it takes to make these connections occupies valuable procedure room time, thus decreasing practice efficiency. Clearly a need exists to minimize or eliminate these monitor connections and reconnections while their patient is in the procedure MOM. 
         [0008]    Besides the time delays which may be encountered when adding sensors to the monitors, monitoring systems in the prior art leave much to be desired with respect to cable management. A large number of cables extend between the patient and the monitor. In the past there has been at least one cable for every parameter monitored. This array of cables and hoses interferes with the movement of personnel around the patient&#39;s bed. The greater the number of cables and hoses, the greater the risk that someone will accidentally disrupt one of them. In the course of a procedure, many people including nurses, technicians, and physicians must be able to move around the room and access the patient without, having to navigate around cables. This invention addresses cable management, by minimizing the number of cables between patient and monitor. 
         [0009]    An additional focus of this invention is the use of fast acting analgesic or amnestic drugs to decrease the length of most procedures and the time needed to recover from procedures, thus increasing practice efficiency. Current solutions for providing patient relief from pain and anxiety require the use of drugs that require a relatively long time to take peak effect and, take a relatively long time for the effect to pass from patient. Physicians must wait for drugs to take full effect for the procedure to begin. The time spent waiting for the drug to take affect is wasted time that hinders practice efficiency. This invention provides means for safely and reliably delivering fast acting drugs in an effort to increase practice efficiency. 
         [0010]    An additional focus of this invention is to automate several functions currently performed by clinicians to increase practice efficiency. In current practice, prior to IV drug delivery, nurses must manually purge the IV line of any air that may be trapped in the line before connecting the line to a patient. Failure to do so will result in harmful effect on the patient from air entering the patient&#39;s blood stream. The process of purging this line takes a significant amount of time and hinders practice efficiency. This invention provides means for automating the line purging process. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0011]    Other objects and many of the intended advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a one embodiment of a care system apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, depicting a bedside or patient unit and a procedure unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a care system apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention depicting a mobile patient unit. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a care system apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention depicting the patient unit connected with various patient sensors, and other patient interfaces. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3-A  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a patient unit. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3-B  is a perspective view of the patient unit of  FIG. 3-A  connected to a procedure unit. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3-C  is an exploded view of the patient unit of  FIG. 3-A . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3-D  is a perspective view of the patient unit of  FIG. 3-A  illustrating the cable connection and bedside connection. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3-E  is exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the patient unit of  FIG. 3-A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the procedure unit. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4-A  is a flow diagram depicting the auto priming aspect of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4-B  is a partial cut-away view of a drug cassette for use with the procedure unit. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4-C  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a drug cassette and pump module for use with the procedure unit. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the communication cable. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram overview of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is an overview data-flow diagram depicting the pre-medical procedure aspect of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is an overview data-flow diagram depicting the medical procedure aspect of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is an overview data-flow diagram depicting the post-medical procedure aspect of the invention. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The invention provides apparatuses and methods to efficiently deliver a pharmaceutical drug, for example and not limited to, a sedative, analgesic or amnestic drug, to a patient during a medical procedure as exemplarily described in U.S. patent publications US2002/0017296, US2002/0017300 and US2002/0188259. 
         [0030]    The functionality of the invention allows for, but is not limited to, enabling many time consuming and laborious activities to be minimized or moved to a part in the procedure where time is not as critical. To these ends, the invention is capable of physically separating through system architecture and design into two separate monitoring units which, when used as described herein, will increase practice efficiency in patient care facilities. 
         [0031]    In general, the invention is a micro-processor based patient monitoring system and drug delivery system having a patient unit that receives input signals from patient monitoring connections. The patient unit outputs patient parameters to a procedure unit and also includes a display screen for displaying patient parameters. The procedure unit is operational during the medical procedure and receives patient parameters from the patient unit. The procedure unit controls the delivery of drugs to the patient. 
         [0032]    An additional aspect of this invention is directed to the facilitation of creating a patient record of the procedure. Current techniques for creating a patient record involve manual note taking by a nurse during the course of a patients stay. This technique is time consuming and may lead to errors in record keeping. This invention provides mean for monitoring patient parameters throughout a procedure, electronically capturing data and giving the nurse or technician the option of printing a copy of this data for the purpose of record keeping. 
         [0033]    A further aspect of this invention is a method for monitoring a patient and delivering at least one drug during a medical procedure that comprises the steps of connecting to the patient at least one sensor for monitoring at least one physiological parameter of the patient; providing a microprocessor-based patient unit having at least one first connection point and receiving input signals from the at least one sensor through the at least one first connection point and at least one second connection point for outputting patient physiological parameters; inputting to the patient unit physical attributes of the patient; and creating a patient record. 
         [0034]    A further expression of the method for monitoring a patient and delivering at least one drug during a medical procedure includes connecting the at least one second connection point to a micro processor-based procedure unit; connecting a drug cassette containing a drug vial to an infusion pump; delivering the drug to the patient and performing a medical procedure; and disconnecting the at least one second connection point from the procedure unit. 
         [0035]    A still further expression of the method includes monitoring the at least one physiological condition of the patient; disconnecting the input signals from the at least one sensor from the at least one first connection point; and terminating the creation of the patient record. 
         [0036]    Other focuses of the invention are apparent from the below detailed description of preferred embodiments. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    Before explaining the present invention in detail, it should be noted that the invention is not limited in its application or use to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and description. The illustrative embodiments of the invention may be implemented or incorporated in other embodiments, variations and modifications, and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the terms and expressions employed herein have been chosen for the purpose of describing the illustrative embodiments of the present invention for the convenience of the reader and are not for the purpose of limiting the invention. 
         [0038]    It is further understood that any one or more of the following-described embodiments, expressions of embodiments, examples, methods, etc. can be combined with any one or more of the other following-described embodiments, expressions of embodiments, examples, methods, etc. 
         [0039]    The system block diagram of  FIG. 6  depicts the system architecture of one embodiment of the invention. This diagram illustrates the relationships between the components of a patient care system  5 , which are described in more detail below. Procedure unit  12  has several integrated components including ECG module  36 , cannula module  38 , battery  82  and peristaltic infusion pump  72 . External oxygen  16  and external power  78  are not integrated into procedure unit  12  however; they do have connections to procedure unit  12 . Peristaltic infusion pump  72  interfaces with drug cassette  64  to pump analgesic or sedative drugs. These analgesic or sedative drugs are then pumped through IV tubing  76  and into the patient. In addition to the displays incorporated into bedside unit  10  and procedure unit  12 , an optional display  20  is available for use by the clinician, and could display information such as, for example, patient physiological parameters and, warning alarms. Procedure unit  12  may use a wireless transmitter device such as, for example, “Blue Tooth” to send signals to a wireless receiver device located on optional display  20 . Communication cable  14  serves as a data link between procedure unit  12  and bedside unit  10 . Bedside unit  10  has a plurality of integrated devices including, NIBP module  34 , pulse oximeter module  26 , ART modules  30 ,  32 , and bedside unit battery  24 . Bedside unit  10  allows for several connections between bedside unit  10  and the patient being monitored including but not limited to oral nasal cannula  48 , ECG pads  50 , NIBP cuff  58 , pulse oximeter probe  60 , ART earpiece  55 , and ART handpiece  57 . Bedside unit  10  is designed to function independent of, or connected to procedure unit  12 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , patient care system  5  comprises two monitoring units; a bedside unit  10  and a procedure unit  12 . One exemplary use of patient care system  5  is to monitor patient parameters and deliver sedative, analgesic and/or amnestic drugs to a conscious, non-intubated, spontaneously-ventilating patient undergoing a diagnostic or surgical procedure by a physician. This use is not exhaustive of all of the potential uses of the invention but will be used to describe the invention. 
         [0041]    Bedside unit  10  and procedure unit  12  are connected via communication cable  14 . Communication cable  14  provides means for transmitting electronic data as well as various hydraulic signals and gases between beside unit  10  and procedure unit  12 . Communication cable  14  may be removed from both bedside unit  10  and procedure unit  12  to facilitate practice efficiency and user convenience. Bedside unit  10  and procedure unit  12  are free to move independently of each other if communication cable  14  is not in place. This allows for mobility of each unit independent of the other; this feature is especially important in hospitals that have a great deal of medical procedures and there is little time to connect patients to monitors. Bedside unit  10  and procedure unit  12  preferably accommodate an external oxygen source that is intended to provide supplemental oxygen to the patient during the course of a surgical procedure if the clinician so desires. An IV tube set  76  is shown connected to procedure unit  12  and delivers sedative or amnestic drugs to a patient during a surgical procedure. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , beside unit  10  is compact and portable so it requires little effort to move from one room to another. In the one embodiment, bedside unit  10  could mount upon either an IV pole or a bedrail; this would free the clinician from the burden of carrying the unit wherever the patient needs to be transported. Bedside unit  10  is small and light enough to be held in the hand of a nurse or technician. Bedside unit  10  allows the user to input information via the bedside touch screen assembly or a simple keypad  22 . Bedside touch screen assembly  22  is a display device that is integrated into one surface of bedside unit  10 , and displays patient and system parameters, and operational status of the apparatus. An exemplary bedside touch screen assembly  22  is a 5.25″ resistive touch screen manufactured by MicroTech mounted upon a 5.25″ color LCD manufactured by Samsung. An attending nurse or physician may enter patient information such as, for example, patient weight and a drug dose profile into bedside unit  10  by means of bedside touch screen assembly  22 . Bedside unit battery  24  is fixedly attached to the bedside unit  10  and is a standard rechargeable battery such as, for example, Panasonic model no. LC-T122PU, that is capable of supplying sufficient power to run bedside unit  10  for an extended period of time. In one embodiment, bedside unit battery  24  can be recharged while bedside unit  10  is connected to procedure unit  12  via communication cable  14  or can be charged directly from an independent power source. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 3  bedside unit  10  may be connected to a plurality of patient sensors and peripherals used to monitor patient vital signs and deliver supplemental oxygen to the patient. One aspect of the invention integrates drug delivery with one or more basic patient monitoring systems. These systems interface with the patient and obtain electronic feedback information regarding the patient&#39;s physiological condition. Oral nasal cannula  48  delivers oxygen from an external oxygen source and collects samples of exhaled gas. Oral nasal cannula  48  is removably attached to cable pass-through connection  15 . Cable pass-through connection  15  sends the signal obtained by oral nasal cannula  48  directly to a capnometer (e.g., a CardioPulmonary Technologies CO2WFA OEM) in procedure unit  12  and preferably via communication cable  14  ( FIG. 1 ). The capnometer measures the carbon dioxide levels in a patient&#39;s inhalation/exhalation stream via a carbon dioxide-sensor as well as measuring respiration rate. Also attached to the cable pass-through connection  15  is a standard electrocardiogram (ECG)  50 , which monitors the electrical activity in a patient&#39;s cardiac cycle. The ECG signals are sent to the procedure unit  12  where the signals are processed. 
         [0044]    Also connect to bedside unit  10  is a pulse oximeter probe  60  (e.g., Dolphin Medical) and a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) cuff  58 . Pulse oximeter probe  60  measures a patient&#39;s arterial saturation and heart rate via an infrared diffusion sensor. The data retrieved by pulse oximeter probe  60  is relayed to pulse oximeter module  26  (e.g., Dolphin Medical) by means of Pulse Oximeter Cable  61 . The non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) cuff  58  (e.g., a SunTech Medical Instruments PN 92-0011-00) measures a patient&#39;s systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure by means of an inflatable cuff and air pump (e.g., SunTech Medical), also incorporated as needed. NIBP cuff  58  is removably attached to NIBP module  34  located on bedside unit  10 . 
         [0045]    A patient&#39;s level of consciousness is detected by means of an Automated Response Tester System (ART). An exemplary ART system is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/674,160 and filed on Sep. 29, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein. The ART system comprises a query initiate device and a query response device. The ART system operates by obtaining the patient&#39;s attention with the query initiate device and commanding the patient to activate the query response device. The query initiate device may be any type of stimulus such as a speaker via an earpiece  55 , which provides an auditory command to a patient to activate the query response device. The query response device is a handpiece  57  that can take the form of, for example, a toggle or rocker switch or a depressible button or other moveable member hand held or otherwise accessible to the patient so that the member can be moved or depressed by the patient upon the patient&#39;s receiving the auditory or other instruction to respond. Alternatively, a vibrating mechanism may be incorporated into the handpiece  57  that cues the patient to activate the query response device. In one embodiment, the query initiate device is a cylindrical handheld device  57 , containing a small 12V dc bi-directional motor enabling the handheld device to vibrate the patient&#39;s hand to solicit a response. 
         [0046]    After the query is initiated, the ART system generates signals to reflect the amount of time it took for the patient to activate the query response device in response to the query initiate device. These signals are processed by the main logic board located inside bedside unit  10  and are displayed upon either bedside touch screen assembly  22 , procedure touch screen assembly  62  ( FIG. 4 ) or an optional monitor  20  ( FIG. 6 ). The amount of time needed for the patient to respond to the query gives the clinician an idea as to the sedation level of the patient. The ART System has two modules, the query response module  32  and the query initiate module  30 , collectively referred to as the ART system modules  30 , 32 . ART system modules  30 , 32  have all the necessary hardware to operate and connect the query response device  57  and the query initiate device  55  to bedside unit  10 . 
         [0047]    In one embodiment monitoring modules  26 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34  are easily replaceable with other monitoring modules in the event of malfunction or technological advancement. These modules include all the necessary hardware to operate their respective peripherals. The above-mentioned patient modules are connected to a microprocessor-based electronic controller or computer (sometimes also referred to herein as main logic board, MLB) located within each of the procedure unit  12  and bedside unit  10 . The electronic controller or main logic board comprises a combination of available programmable-type microprocessors and other “chips,” memory devices and logic devices on various board(s) such as, for example, those manufactured by Texas Instruments (e.g., XK21E) and National Semiconductor (e.g., HKL72), among others. 
         [0048]    Once bedside unit  10  and procedure unit  12  are connected via communication cable  14 , ECG and capnography will be monitored, and supplemental oxygen will be delivered to the patient. Preferably, however, these connections are made in the pre-procedure room to increase practice efficiency. By making these connections in the pre-procedure room, less time is required in the procedure room connecting capnography, ECG and supplemental oxygen to procedure unit  12 . Oral nasal cannula  48  and ECG leads  51  are connected directly to cable pass-through connection  15 . Cable pass-through connection  15 , located on bedside unit  10 , is essentially an extension of communication cable  14 , which allows the signals from ECG leads  51  and oral nasal cannula  48  to bypass bedside unit  10  and be transferred directly to procedure unit  12 . It will be evident to those skilled in the art, however, that the bedside unit  10  could be configured to accept the ECG  50  and oral/nasal cannula  48  signals and process the signals accordingly to provide the information on screen  22  and supplemental oxygen to the patient in the pre-procedure room. As more features are added to the bedside unit  10 , however, the portability may be limited. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 3-A  there is shown a console assembly  410  of the present invention in connection with procedure unit  12 . In this embodiment, console assembly is a simpler version of the bedside unit  10 . As used herein, the term “proximal” refers to a location on the console assembly  410  closest to the device using the console assembly  410  and thus furthest from the patient connected to the console assembly  410 . The term “distal” refers to a location farthest from the device using the console assembly  410  and closest to the patient. 
         [0050]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-D , console assembly  410  comprises mounting  412 , console box  420 , and console connector cable  450 . Mounting  412  allows console assembly  410  to easily mount horizontally or vertically on, for example a patient&#39;s bed rail or IV pole, and is preferably made of a rigid thermoplastic such as, for example, polycarbonate. Mounting  412  is attached to the proximal end of Console Box  420  and includes mounting posts  414  thereon. Mounting posts  414  help secure mounting  412  on a patient&#39;s bed rail or IV pole. 
         [0051]    Console box  420 , with an outer casing preferably made of a rigid thermoplastic such as, for example, polycarbonate, includes faceplate  419  and hub  421 . Faceplate  419  can be fixedly attached to hub  421  using any attachment means including, but not limited to, glue, mechanical fasteners, screws, and ultrasonic welding. Console box  420  further includes receptacles  432  therein. Receptacles  432  include, but are not limited to, pulse oximeter port  434 , ECG monitor port  436 , NIBP monitor port  438 , ART earpiece jack  440 , ART handpiece port  442 , and oral nasal cannula port  444  that includes supplemental oxygen delivery. Receptacles  432  can be standard medical device connections, well known in the medical art, or custom device connections for use with medical devices custom designed to connect to console box  420 . Console box  420  further includes a plurality of electrical wires  422 , air lines  424  and oxygen delivery tubes  426  therein which connect from the respective receptacle  432  through console box  420  and to corresponding wires  452 , tubes  454  and power lines  456  in connector cable  450 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 3-A , Console assembly  410  further includes a plurality of cables  430 . Cables  430 , which connect to receptacles  432 , attach to any number of devices during a surgical procedure to monitor a patient, among other things. These devices can include, but are not limited to, an oral nasal cannula, a blood pressure cuff, ECG leads and a pulse oximeter monitor, among others. 
         [0053]    Connector cable  450 , which is covered with insulation, such as, for example mil-ene or silicon, includes a plurality of wires  452 , tubes  454  and power lines  456  that supply electrical signals, hydraulic signals, and oxygen delivery integrated into one cable and allow console box  420  to be hardwired to procedure unit  12 . Connector cable  450  further includes strain relief  451  at its distal end. Strain reliefs are well known in the art and play an important role in helping to prevent flexing, which causes wires to break after prolonged use, at the connection between connector cable  450  and console box  420 . 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 3-E , Console box  420  further includes circuit board  459 , microprocessor  460 , removable flash memory reader  461 , removable flash memory  462 , battery  464 , and at least one computer interface  466 . Circuit board  459  can be a multi-layered printed circuit board. Copper circuit paths called traces that resemble a complicated roadmap carry signals and voltages across circuit board  459 . Layered fabrication techniques can be used so that some layers of circuit board  459  can carry data for microprocessor  460  and removable flash memory  462  while other layers carry voltages and ground returns without the paths short-circuiting at intersections. The insulated layers can be manufactured into one complete, complex sandwich. Chips and sockets can be soldered onto circuit board  459 . Mounted to circuit board  459  is microprocessor  460 . Microprocessor  460  is the computational engine of the data received by console box  420  from the external monitors. Microprocessors are well known in the computer field and one of many suitable microprocessors such as, for example, a Pentium, a K6, a PowerPC, a Sparc, a Motorola Dragonball™, among others, may be used for microprocessor  460 . Microprocessor  460  can be run by a software application. The software application can be written in one of many formal programming languages, which can include, but is not limited to Java, C++, Visual Basic, and Fortran. The software application and microprocessor  460  together create a data log of all the physiological parameters gathered from the patient via console box  420  and procedure unit  12 . Circuit board  459  also has removable flash memory reader  461  electrically attached thereto. Removable flash memory reader  461 , which includes a slot in the outer casing of console box  420 , more specifically hub  421 , allows removable flash memory  462  to be inserted and removed from circuit board  459 . When removable flash memory  462  is inserted in removable flash memory reader  461 , removable flash memory  462  is in digital communication with microprocessor  460 , circuit board  459 , and computer interface  466 . Removable flash memory  462  is a solid-state storage device used for easy and fast information storage of the data log generated by microprocessor  460  running its corresponding software application. Removable flash memory  462  is well known in the computer field and one of the many suitable flash memory cards such as, for example, a SmartMedia Card, a MultiMedia Card, or a CompactFlash Card along with others may be used for removable flash memory  462 . The data is stored so that it may be retrieved from removable flash memory  462  at a later time. 
         [0055]    When console assembly  410  is removed from procedure unit  12  or another external monitor, battery  464 , which can be comprise lithium ion, supplies power to the components in console box  420  including microprocessor  460 . Microprocessor  460  along with its software application and removable flash memory  462  can digitally communicate its data through computer interface  466 . Computer interface  466  can include, but is not limited to, a standard serial port, a USB port, an IEEE1394 port, a RS232 port, or an Ethernet port. Computer interface  466  sends data formatted by the software application to be printed as a patient report. In addition, removable flash memory  462  can be removed from console box  420  and inserted in one of many compatible flash memory card readers so that the data may be downloaded on a personal computer or handheld device. 
         [0056]    During a surgical procedure using console assembly  410  of the present invention, the patient is first admitted and prepped for the procedure. During this stage, a health care clinician or surgeon connects various vital monitors such as, for example, a pulse oximeter monitor on the patient. Cables  430  associated with these monitors are connected to the respective receptacle  432  on console box  420 . A patient record is then initiated through microprocessor  460  and its software application in flash memory  462  and data from the patient such as vitals from cables  430  can now be stored in flash memory  462 . Next, the patient is moved to the procedure room and console assembly  410  connects to procedure unit  12  or other medical monitoring devices. Flash memory  462  continues to collect data for the patient record gathering information via microprocessor  460  from cable  430  and procedure unit  12  including, but not limited to, vital signs, drugs delivered, and other physiological parameters. After the procedure is complete console box  420  is disconnected from procedure unit  12 , and the patient is moved to a recovery and discharge stage. During this stage, flash memory  462  continues to gather data from cable  430  including, but not limited to vitals and post-op drugs. When the patient is ready for discharge, flash memory  462  stops taking data and closes the patient record. 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , procedure unit  12  allows a physician to safely deliver drugs, such as a sedative or analgesic drug to a patient and monitor the patient during the medical procedure. Procedure touch screen assembly  62  is a display device that is integrated into the surface of procedure unit  12 , which displays patient and system parameters, and operation status of the apparatus. In one embodiment, procedure touch screen assembly  62  consists of a 15″ resistive touch screen manufactured by MicroTech mounted upon a 15″ color LCD manufactured by Samsung. It should be noted that procedure touch screen assembly  62  is the primary display and input means, and is significantly larger than the bedside touch screen assembly  22  and capable of displaying more detailed information. In addition to procedure touch screen assembly  62 , the user may input information into procedure unit  12  by means of drug delivery controls  80 . Drug delivery controls  80 , such as buttons or dials, are located on one side of procedure unit  12  and preferably, allow the clinician to change various system parameters and bypass procedure touch screen assembly  62 . Printer  70  is integrally attached to the top of procedure unit  12 . Printer  70  allows the clinician to print a patient report that includes patient data for pre-op and the procedure itself. The combination of printing a patient report and the automatic data logging features decrease the amount of time and effort a nurse or technician must spend regarding patient condition during the course of a procedure. Printer  70  receives data signals from a printer interface (e.g., Parallel Systems CK205HS), which is located on the main logic board. Printer  70  may be a thermal printer (e.g., Advanced Printing Systems (APS) ELM 205HS). 
         [0058]    Memory card reader  85 , which includes a slot in the outer casing of procedure unit  12 , allows flash memory card  84  to be inserted and removed from procedure unit  12 . Flash memory card  84  is a solid-state storage device used for easy and fast information storage of the data log generated by procedure unit  12 . Flash memory card  84  is well known in the computer field and one of the many suitable removable flash memory cards as for example, a SmartMedia Card, a MultiMedia Card, or a CompactFlash Card, may be used with memory card reader  85 . The data is stored so that it may be retrieved from flash memory card  84  at a later time. In one embodiment, memory card reader  85  accepts flash memory card  84  containing software to upgrade the functionality of patient care system  5 . Data port  88  can include, but is not limited to, a standard serial port, a USB port, a RS232 port, or an Ethernet port. Data port  88  is useful to link procedure unit  12  to an external printer to print a patient report or to transfer electronic files to a personal computer or mainframe. In an alternate embodiment, data port  88  can be a wireless transmitter interacting with a wireless receiver connected to a printer or an external computer or mainframe. 
         [0059]    Referring also to  FIGS. 4-B  and  4 -C, procedure unit  12  delivers fluid to a patient via an infusion pump, such as a peristaltic infusion pump  72  (e.g., B-Braun McGaw). Peristaltic infusion pump  72  is integrally attached to procedure unit  12 . A peristaltic infusion pump uses peristaltic fingers to create a wavelike motion to induce fluid flow inside a flexible tube connected to a fluid reservoir. Drug cassette  64  is a generally rectangular shaped structure that is placed adjacent to peristaltic infusion pump  72 . Drug cassette  64  is preferably made of a rigid thermoplastic such as, for example, polycarbonate. Drug cassette  64  has an internal cavity that houses IV tubing  76 , preferably made of a flexible thermoplastic such as, for example, polypropylene (e.g., Kelcourt). Drug cassette  64  accurately and reliably positions exposed IV tubing  76  in contact with the peristaltic fingers of peristaltic infusion pump  72 . IV tube set  76  attaches to fluid vial  68 , and the majority of the length of IV tube set  76  is contained within drug cassette  64 . A small portion of IV tube set  76  lies external to drug cassette  64  to facilitate the interaction with peristaltic pump  72 . IV tubing  76  is coiled within drug cassette  64  and has a length to reach a patient removed from the procedure unit  12 . Mounted upon one inner wall of drug cassette  64  is fluid detection sensor  302 . Fluid detection sensor  302  may be any one of known fluid sensors, such as the MTI-2000 Fotonic Sensor, or the Microtrak-II CCD Laser Triangulation Sensor both by MTI Instruments Inc. Fluid detection sensor  302  can be fixedly attached to drug cassette  64  using an attachment means including, but not limited to, glue, mechanical fasteners, screws, and ultrasonic welding. Preferably, IV tube set  76  runs through fluid detection sensor  302  before exiting drug cassette  64 . 
         [0060]    In one embodiment of a method of operation, procedure unit  12  in combination with drug cassette  64  and peristaltic infusion pump  72  “auto prime” IV tubing  76  so the clinician does not have to take the time to manually prime IV tubing  76 . Drug cassette  64  provides interlocks during the “auto prime” process to prevent the clinician from accessing the IV tubing  76  and inadvertently connect IV tubing  76  to the patient. After the auto prime feature is complete, however, the interlock is disabled and the user is able to access the IV tubing  76 , through, for example an access door, which during the auto prime feature is locked in a closed position. 
         [0061]    Referring also to  FIG. 4-A , a nurse or clinician initiates the auto priming system by pressing a button on either bedside touch screen assembly  22  or procedure touch screen assembly  62 , step  350 . Upon receiving the command to initiate the auto priming system, peristaltic pump  72  activates and begins a new pump cycle, step  352 . Peristaltic pump  72  displaces fluid from fluid vial  68  through the length of IV tube set  76 , step  354 . Fluid detection sensor  302  monitors the extreme end of the IV tube set  76  for the presence of fluids, step  356 . 
         [0062]    Fluid detection sensor  302  continuously monitors for the presence of fluid within IV tube set  76 , step  356 . If no fluid is detected, the nurse or technician is notified by either auditory or visual alert indicating that the auto priming process is not complete, step  358 . After the alert stating that priming is not complete is given, the main logic board commands peristaltic infusion pump  72  to continue operating, step  352 . This process continues through steps  352 - 356  until fluid detection sensor  302  detects the presence of fluid and the main logic board commands peristaltic infusion pump  72  to stop until further notice, step  360 . After the pump cycle ceases, the nurse or technician is notified by either a visual alert on either bedside unit  10  or procedure unit  12 , or by an auditory alert indicating the auto priming system has successfully primed the pump, step  362 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 4-C  shows an alternate embodiment of the automatic priming system. Fluid detection sensor  302  is integrated with peristaltic pump  72  or another stable structure adjacent to drug cassette  64 . In this embodiment, drug cassette  64  contains two exposed portions of IV tube set  76 , a first portion  320 , and a second portion  322 . First portion  320  allows peristaltic pump  72  to manipulate IV tube set  76  in order to pump fluid through the line. Second portion  322  is placed adjacent to fluid detection sensor  302 . Upon detection of fluid in second portion  322 , peristaltic pump  72  continues to operate for a short time to ensure that no air remains in IV tube set  76 . This time is determined by the main logic board located inside procedure unit  12  calculating the length of IV tube set  76  downstream second portion  322  and the speed at which peristaltic pump  72  is operating. Upon the allotted time has expired, peristaltic pump  72  will cease the pump cycle and IV tube set will be fully primed. 
         [0064]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , communication cable  14  contains a plurality of centralized pneumatic tubes surrounded by a plurality of electrical wires. Oxygen conduit  100  is a pneumatic tube that delivers oxygen traveling from an external oxygen source through procedure unit  12  to bedside unit  10 . Oxygen conduit  100  runs the length of communication cable  14  and terminates at oral nasal cannula  48 . Exhaled gas conduit  102  is also a pneumatic tube that transports a patient&#39;s exhaled respiratory gases from oral nasal cannula  48  through cable pass-through connection  15  and terminates in procedure unit  12 . ECG conduit  104  contains a plurality of electrical wires known as ECG leads  51 . ECG leads  51  receive electrical signals from ECG pads  50  that are communicated to procedure unit  12  for data processing. NIBP conductor  106  transmits processed information of a patient&#39;s blood pressure from bedside unit  10  to procedure unit  12 . Pulse oximeter conductor  108  transmits processed information of a patient&#39;s oxygen saturation level from bedside unit  10  to procedure unit  12 . ART response conductor  110  transmits processed information regarding a patient&#39;s response to ART stimuli from bedside unit  10  to procedure unit  12 . 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , a data flow diagram outlines the typical process of the pre-procedure room. As shown, the patient arrives in the pre-procedure room, step  200 . A nurse or technician mounts bedside unit  10  to either the bedrail or IV pole, step  201 . Bedside unit  10  is equipped with an IV pole clamp or a quick connect to quickly and easily mount the unit on either the bedrail or IV pole. Once bedside unit  10  is in place, the nurse or clinician may connect NIBP cuff  58  and pulse oximeter probe  60  to the patient, step  202 . These connections are made between the patient and bedside unit  10 . Bedside unit  10  will automatically begin monitoring parameters such as, for example, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse rate, oxygenation plethysmogram, and oximetry value, steps  203 , 204 . The readings taken by bedside unit  10  will be displayed for the nurse or technician on bedside touch screen assembly  22 . While patient parameters are being monitored, the nurse or technician is free to perform other tasks. As is customary with current practice, the nurse or technician may need to complete a pre-procedure assessment, step  206 . The pre-procedure assessment may include recording patient vital signs, determining any known allergies, and determining patient&#39;s previous medical history. Once the nurse or technician has completed the pre-procedure assessment, step  206 , the nurse or technician may start the peripheral IV by placing a catheter in the patient&#39;s arm, step  207 . The IV catheter is connected to the primary IV drip device such as, for example, a 500 mL bag of saline fluid. Upon completion of the above activities, the nurse or technician begins to attach ECG pads  50 , ART handpiece  57 , ART earpiece  55  and oral nasal cannula  48  to the patient, step  208 . Preferably, patient care system  5  has the capability to automatically detect and recognize the proper connection of the monitors when they are connected from the patient to bedside unit  10 . 
         [0066]    Once the patient is connected to the above-mentioned items, the nurse or technician may explain ART system  52  to the patient. This explanation may involve the nurse or technician instructing the patient to respond to auditory stimulation from ART earpiece  55  and/or tactile stimulation from ART handpiece  57  by squeezing ART handpiece  57 . If the patient fails to respond to either auditory or tactile stimulation, the intensity of the stimulation will increase until the patient responds successfully. At this point, the nurse may initiate an automated ART training, step  209 . Automated ART training is a program run by bedside unit  10  that teaches the patient how to detect an ART stimulus and how to respond to that stimulus and sets a baseline patient response to the stimulus as disclosed in the previously referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/674,160. The nurse or technician is free to perform other patient related tasks while the patient is participating in the automated ART training Bedside unit  10  will display the automated ART training status so the nurse or technician can quickly determine if the patient is participating in the automated training. The patient must successfully complete the automated ART training to proceed, step  210 ; if the patient fails to complete the training a nurse or other clinician must intervene and determine if the patient may continue, step  210 -A. If the clinician decides the user may proceed, then the patient will proceed to step  211 ; if the clinician decides the patient is unable to continue, then the procedure will be canceled, step  213 . The user may customize the automated ART training to automatically repeat at specified intervals (i.e. 10 minutes) if the patient is required to wait to enter the procedure room. This will help to instill the newly learned response. 
         [0067]    In addition to successfully completing automated ART training, the patients parameters must be in an acceptable range, step  205 . The clinician may decide upon what an acceptable range is by inputting this information into bedside unit  10  by means of bedside touch screen assembly  22 . If any one of the parameters being monitored falls outside a given range, the patient will not be permitted to undergo a procedure until a nurse or other clinician examines the patient to determine whether or not the patient may continue, step  205 -A. If the clinician decides the patient is able to continue, the patient will proceed to step  211 , if the clinician decides the patient is unable to continue, then the procedure will be cancelled, step  213 . Just prior to leaving the pre-procedure room for the procedure room, the nurse administers a predetermined low dose of an analgesic drug, step  211  such as, for example, a 1.5 mcg/kg of Fentanyl. After the injection of the analgesic drug, the patient is ready to be moved to the procedure room, step  212 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating the implementation of the invention while the patient is in the procedure room. As shown, the patient and bedside unit  10  are moved into the procedure room, step  220  and is received by the physician and procedure nurse. Bedside unit  10  may be connected to procedure unit  12  upon the patient entering the procedure room, step  221 . Upon connection, the NIBP, pulse and oximetery history from the patient will automatically up-load to procedure unit  12  displaying patient history for the last period of monitoring. In addition to NIBP and pulse oximeter history, a record verifying the patient has completed ART training will also be uploaded. Upon connection of bedside unit  10  to procedure unit  12 , the small display on bedside unit  10  changes immediately from a monitoring screen to a remote entry screen for procedure unit  12 . Display information form bedside unit  10  is automatically transferred to procedure unit  12 . 
         [0069]    At this point, the procedure nurse may secure oral nasal cannula  48  to the patient&#39;s face, step  222 . Procedure unit  12  may begin monitoring patient parameters such as, for example, ART, ECG, and capnography now that all connections between the patient and procedure unit  12  are complete, step  223 . Procedure unit  12  will continue monitoring patient parameters such as, for example, NIBP, pulse, and oximetery, step  224 . Next the procedure nurse may place and spike a standard drug vial, step  225  onto drug cassette  64 . Drug cassette  64  has an integrated drug vial spike that serves to puncture the rubber vial stopper as well as to allow fluid from the drug vial to enter drug cassette  64 . Next the procedure nurse needs to place drug cassette  64  adjacent to peristaltic infusion pump  72  making sure that the exposed portion of IV tubing  76  lines up with the peristaltic fingers, step  226 . Once the fluid vial and drug cassette  64  are loaded correctly, the nurse may autoprime IV tubing  76 . In one embodiment, the procedure nurse would press a button located upon procedure unit  12  to initiate the autopriming, step  227 . Autopriming is the automatic purging of air from IV tubing  76 . procedure unit  12  continuously monitors the autopriming process to determine the overall success of the autopriming. If procedure unit  12  fails to properly purge IV tubing  76 , a warning notification is made to the user so that the procedure nurse may repeat the autopriming sequence until IV tubing  76  is successfully purged, step  227 . 
         [0070]    Upon successful completion of the autopriming sequence, the procedure nurse may enter the patient weight in pounds while the physician may enter the initial drug maintenance dose rate as well as dose method; normal or rapid infusion, step  229 . After the patient weight and dose rate have been inputted, the physician or procedure nurse may initiate drug infusion, step  230 . While the drug is taking effect upon the patient, the physician may perform standard procedure related activities such as, for example, test the scope, and apply any topical anesthetic. Once the drug has taken the desired effect upon the patient, the physician and procedure nurse are free to conduct the procedure, step  231 . Upon completion of the procedure, the clinician may disconnect the drug delivery cassette from the catheter, step  232  and disconnect the bedside unit from the procedure unit, step  233 . If the clinician so desires, procedure unit  12  may print a record of the patient&#39;s physiological parameters from printer  70  at this time, step  234 . Included on the print out of the procedure record are patient monitoring data such as, for example, NIPB, pulse oximetery, capnography, respiration rate, and heart rate. Other system events included in the print out are, ART competency, ART responsiveness during the procedure, oxygen delivery history, drug dose, monitoring intervals, drug bolus amount and time, and total drug volume delivered during the procedure. The printout includes a section where the procedure nurse may enter in notes of her own, such as, for example, additional narcotic delivered, topical spray used, Ramsey Sedation Scale, procedure start and finish time, cautery unit and settings used, cautery grounding site, dilation equipment type and size, and Aldrete Score. After printing the patient record, the patient may then be moved to the recovery room, step  235 . 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , a flow chart illustrating the implementation of the invention while the patient is in the recovery room. As shown, the patient arrives in the recovery room  240  still attached to bedside unit  10  after leaving the procedure room. At this point, bedside unit  10  may be operating on either battery or AC power. Upon entering the room, the attending clinician may remove the ECG pads, ECG lead wires, ART handpiece, and ART earpiece from the patient  241 . Depending upon clinician preference and status of the patient, the patient may require supplemental oxygen while in the recovery room  242 . If the patient does require supplemental oxygen, oral nasal cannula  48  is left on the patients face and oxygen is accessed from an external source such as, for example, a headwall or tank. The nurse or technician would disconnect oral nasal Cannula  48  from bedside unit  10 , plug it directly into a standard oxygen delivery extension set, and set the desired oxygen flow rate, step  243 . If no supplemental oxygen is required in the recovery room, the nurse or technician may remove oral nasal cannula  48  from the patient  244 . 
         [0072]    The nurse or technician may now organize ECG leads  51  and ART handpiece  57  and place near bedside unit  10  to be used on the next patient  245 . The nurse or technician may need to fill out additional information on the patient record  246 . The nurse or technician will most likely write notes describing the patient&#39;s condition during recovery and record NIBP, pulse rate and oximetery values of the patient during recovery. ECG pads  50  and oral nasal cannula  48  may be discarded at this point into a standard waste container located in the recovery room  247 . It is important to note that bedside unit  10  is still collecting data related to NIBP, pulse rate, and pulse oximetery  248 . The nurse or technician must determine if the patient is ready to be discharged  249 . Criteria for discharge vary among patient care facilities; however an Alderate score of 10 is common for discharge. Other measures of discharge criteria include skin color, pain assessment, IV site intact, NIBP, pulse, respiration rate, and oximetery values all must be close to the measurement taken in pre-procedure. If the patient does not meet any of these criteria, it is recommended that the patient receive additional monitoring  248 . Once a patient is cleared for discharge, the nurse or technician disconnects NIBP cuff  58 , pulse oximeter Probe  60 , and if not done so already, oral nasal cannula  48  from the patient  250 . Once all the above is completed, the patient may be discharged from the care facility  251 . 
         [0073]    The foregoing description of several expressions of embodiments and methods of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms and procedures disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.