Patent Publication Number: US-2003236449-A1

Title: Paediatric electronic device

Description:
[0001] This invention relates to a paediatric electronic device. More particularly, this invention relates to a paediatric electronic device whereby a person is provided with information relating to a young child. The person may be a doctor or parent and the information may relate to physical measurements, suitable drugs, dosages, medical procedures, equipment, milestones and clothing.  
       [0002] In this specification the term “young child” includes a baby.  
       [0003] According to the invention there is provided a paediatric electronic device which includes  
       [0004] a housing;  
       [0005] a length measuring means for measuring the length of a young child;  
       [0006] a memory means for storing data in regard to various weight dependent parameters;  
       [0007] a processing means for determining the value of at least one of the parameters in accordance with the length of the young child as measured by the length measuring means; and  
       [0008] a display means for displaying the values of the parameters.  
       [0009] Conveniently, the parameters may be grouped in various groups and the device may include a group selecting means for selecting which group of parameters is displayed.  
       [0010] The parameters may relate to physical measurements, suitable drugs, dosages, medical procedures, equipment, milestones or clothing.  
       [0011] The particular values of the various parameters for each length range may be stored in a data base or may be computed in accordance with a formula, stored in the memory means.  
       [0012] The memory means may store a length of a young child that has been measured, until reset.  
       [0013] The measuring means may include a length of tape housed in the housing and extractable therefrom, with an electronically operable monitoring means for monitoring the extent to which the tape has been extracted from the housing. A retraction means may also be provided to automatically retract the tape into the housing. Preferably a locking means is provided to lock the measuring tape when it has been extracted to a desired extent.  
       [0014] The memory means may be reset when the measuring tape is extracted from the housing after having been retracted into the housing.  
       [0015] The monitoring means may include an optical sensor responsive to formations on the tape, the number of formations passing past the sensor being counted. The formations may be openings at spaced intervals in the tape.  
       [0016] The group selecting means may include a plurality of buttons which are selectively depressed by the person using the device to select which group of parameters is to be displayed.  
       [0017] The device may include a power supply and a back-up power supply. The device may further have a “sleep” function whereby power consumption is reduced if the device is not operated for a specified time period. Further, a low voltage monitor may be included together with a low voltage warning annunciator.  
       [0018] The display means may include a back-lit LCD display matrix with suitable drivers. 
     
    
    
     [0019] The invention is now described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0020]FIG. 1 shows a schematic front perspective view of a paediatric electronic device in accordance with the invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the device;  
     [0022]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a holder for the device;  
     [0023]FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram of a monitoring circuit for monitoring the extent to which a tape of the device is extracted; and  
     [0024]FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of electronic componentry of the device. 
    
    
     [0025] Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a paediatric electronic device in accordance with the invention is designated generally by reference numeral  10 . The device  10  has a housing  12  in which are housed a flexible metal measuring tape  14  and electronic componentry  16 . The electronic componentry will be described hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 5. The housing  12  is rectangular and is of a similar size to pagers, such that it can be held in the hand of a user and control buttons operated, and can be carried in a holder, such as the holder  18  shown in FIG. 3, on the belt of a user or in a coat pocket.  
     [0026] The housing  12  has mounted therein a back-lit LCD display  20  on which the values of various parameters are displayed, depending on the extent to which the tape  14  is extracted, as will also be described more fully below.  
     [0027] The tape  14  is coiled within the housing  12  on a spool that is spring loaded by means of a coil spring  22  so that the tape  14  may be extracted a desired extent and is automatically retracted. A lock, which is operated frictionally by a slide  24 , locks the tape  14  in a desired extracted extent.  
     [0028] The tape  14  has gradations  26  thereon and a number of central spaced apertures  28 . The electronic componentry has an optical sensor  29  which senses the passage of the apertures  28 , thereby to monitor the extent to which the tape  14  has been extracted.  
     [0029] On the front of the housing  12 , below the display  20 , there are three control buttons  30 ,  32  and  34 . These control the parameters displayed, as will be described below.  
     [0030] Four differently coloured LED&#39;s  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42  are mounted on the right side of the housing  12 . The tape  14  is divided into seven sectors and the appropriate LED is energised, depending on the extent to which the tape  14  has been extended, to indicate a range. An “on/off” switch button  44  is also located on the right side of the housing  12 .  
     [0031] A battery (not shown) is also housed in the housing  12  to provide power for the electronic componentry. A back-up battery (also not shown) is also provided.  
     [0032] Referring now to FIG. 4, the optical sensor  29  is shown. The sensor  29  comprises an LED  46  and phototransistor  48 , which drives an op-amp  50 . The op-amp  50  is connected to an inverted Schmitt trigger  52  which drives an inverter  54 . The LED  46  is positioned on one side of the tape  14  and the phototransistor  48  on the other side, so that when an aperture  28  is aligned therewith, the light from the LED  46  is detected by the phototransistor and the Schmitt trigger  52  operated. The inverter  54  thus provides a series of signals to a processor (described below) as the tape  14  is moved past the sensor  29 .  
     [0033] The electronic componentry is now described with reference to FIG. 5. The componentry includes a processor  56  which is supplied with power from the battery  58 . A low voltage monitor  60  monitors the condition of the battery  58  and the processor  56  responds to a low voltage condition by displaying a suitable message on the display  20 , or an LED (not shown). The sensor  29  is connected to the processor  56  and provides it with tape extension signals as described above. A reset signal is supplied,from a reset switch  62 . The processor  56  is also connected to the range indicating LED&#39;s  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 , as are the control buttons  30 ,  32  and  34 . A further press-button switch  64  operates back-lighting of the display  20 . Finally, the componentry also includes a memory module  66 . The memory module  66  stores any program required for the processor as well as the relevant data required by the processor to display the values of the desired parameters on the display  20  in accordance with the extent to which the tape has been extracted.  
     [0034] The various parameters that are displayed, and illustrative values are now described by listing the various screen displays that are provided in the exemplary device. It is to be noted that the bottom line of each display is for control purposes and the expressions therein are associated with the appropriate control button  30 ,  32  or  34  aligned therewith.  
                                  FIRST SCREEN:                                     AGE:   8 YRS           WEIGHT:   24 KG                         SELECT OPTION?           NVALU/EQUIP/DRUG                             SECOND SCREEN:                             NVALU   PHYSICAL                       RR   15-26 b/m           PR   60-140/60-90           BP   97-112/57-71           T 0  OR   35.6-37.6 dc           AX   35.2-37.2 dc           RE   35.7-37.8 dc                         BIOC/XR ECG/MAIN                             THIRD SCREEN:                             EQUIP   VENT SET                       O2   100%           TV   240-360 ml/kg           IT   0.6 SEC           PIP   20-30 cmH2O           VR   15-20 b/m           PEEP   3-5 cmH2O           IV ETC/AIR/MAIN                             FOURTH SCREEN                             DRUG   INFUSIONS                       EPI   1.4 mg in 100           NOR ml@   5-25 ml/hr           DOP   144 mg in 100           DOB ml@   5-20 ml/hr           LID   288 mg in 100           ml@   10-25 ml/hr           RESUS1/RES2/MAIN                             FIFTH SCREEN:                             NVALU   BIOCHEM                       PH   7.35-7.45           PaCO2   32-48 mmHg           PaO2   80-105 mmHg           Hb   13.5 g/dl           UREA/Cr   27-62 μmol/l           PHYS/XR ECG/MAIN                             SIXTH SCREEN:                             NVALU   XR ECG                       PR   &gt;0.1 sec           QRS DURATION   0.07 s           QRS/P AXIS   60/0-90           CSP ODO SPA   ≦3 mm           PRE VER   ≦5 mm           COR DIA   ≧13 mm           BIOCHM/PHYS/MAIN                             SEVENTH SCREEN:                             EQUIP   HIV ETC                       JELCO   18-20 G           B/FLY   21-22 G           N G T   14-18 F           U CAT   12 F           I C D   28-32 F           VENT/AIRWAY/MAIN                             EIGHTH SCREEN:                             EQUIP   AIR WAY                       ETT UNCU   6.0 mm CUFFED           T-T cm   17-18 cm           L/SCOPE   2-3 STR               OR CURVE           STYLET   14 F           SUCTION CAT   10 F           VENT/IV ETC/MAIN                             NINTH SCREEN:                             DRUG   RESUS1                                             EPI   1:10000   2.4 ml           EPI   1:1000   4.8 ml           ATR   0.01%   4.8 ml           BIC   24 ml mEQ   24 ml           LID   2%   1-2 ml           DFIB       48 J/96 J                         INFU/RESUS2/MAIN                             TENTH SCREEN:                             DRUG   RESUS2                                             CALCI   1%   4.8 ml           FUROS       20 mg           DIAZE       2.4-7.2 mg           PHENO       360-480 mg           D2SW   25%   48 ml           LORAZ       2.4 mg                         INFU/RESUS1/MAIN                      
 
     [0035] The abbreviated expressions in the screen displays have the following meanings:  
                                      AGE -   Age       AIR -   Airway       AIRWAY -   Airway       ATR -   Atropine       B/FLY -   Butterfly       BIC -   Bicarbonate       BIOC -   Biochemistry       BIOCHM -   Biochemistry       BP -   Blood pressure       COR DIA -   Cord diameter       CDO SPA -   Odontoid space       CXR -   Chest x-ray       DFIB -   Defibrillation       DIAZE -   Diazepam       DOP -   Dopamine       DRUG -   Drug (or medication)       DRUG INFUSIONS -   Drug infusions       D2SW -   25% dextrose water       EPI -   Epinephrine       EQUIP AIR WAY -   Equipment airway       EQUIP IV ETC -   Equipment intravenous, et cetera       EQUIP VENT SET -   Equipment ventilatory settings       ETT -   Endotracheal tube       FUROS -   Furosemide       CALCI -   Calcium       Hb -   Haemoglobin       I C D -   Intercostal drain       INFU -   Infusions       IT -   Inspiratory time       IV ETC -   Intravenous et cetera       JELCO -   Jelco       LID -   Lidocaine       LORAZ -   Lorazepam       MAIN -   Main menu       mEQ -   Milli equivalents       N G T -   Nasogastric tube       NOR ml@ - ml/h -   Norepinephrine (in millilitres) at x millilitres per           hour       NVALU BIOCHEM -   Normal values of biochemistry       NVALU PHYSICAL -   Normal values of clinical parameters       NVALU XR ECG -   Normal values related to x-ray and           electrocardiogram       O2 -   Oxygen       PaCO2 -   Partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood       PaO2 -   Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood       PH -   Unit for measurement of acidity of alkalinity       PHENO -   Phenobarbitone       PHYS -   Physical       PEEP -   Peak end expiratory pressure       PIP -   Peak inspiratory pressure       PR -   Interval between P and R waves on ECG       PRE VER -   Prevertebral soft tissue shadow       QRS -   QRS complex on ECG       RES2 -   Resuscitation 2       RESUS1 -   Resuscitation 1       RESUS2 -   Resuscitation 2       RE -   Rectal temperature       RR -   Respiratory rate       STYLET -   Stylet       SUCTION CAT -   Suction catheter       T 0  OR -   Oral temperature       AX -   Axillary temperature       T—T -   Trachea to teeth distance       TV -   Tidal volume       U CAT -   Urinary catheter       UNCU -   Uncuffed       UREA/Cr -   Urea/creatinine       VENT -   Ventilation       XR ECG -   X-ray, electrocardiogram       VR -   Ventilation rate                  
 
     [0036] The manner in which a user navigates between the screens will now be described:  
     [0037] If the first screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed,then the second screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the third screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the fourth screen is displayed.  
     [0038] If the second screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the fifth screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the sixth screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.  
     [0039] If the third screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the seventh screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the eighth screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.  
     [0040] If the fourth screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the ninth screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the tenth screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.  
     [0041] If the fifth screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the second screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the sixth screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.  
     [0042] If the sixth screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the fifth screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the second screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.  
     [0043] If the seventh screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the third screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the eighth screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.  
     [0044] If the eighth screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the third screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the seventh screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.  
     [0045] If the ninth screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the fourth screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the tenth screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.  
     [0046] If the tenth screen is displayed and button  30  is pressed, then the fourth screen is displayed; if button  32  is pressed then the ninth screen is displayed; and if button  34  is pressed then the first screen is displayed.