Experiment (9)

Patient Monitors
 The objective:
Patient Monitors gather vital medical information from the patient; display
it on a screen and alerts medical staff of any undesirable health condition.
 Theory:
The monitor gathers patient data using various methods for the different
parameters (ECG, IBP, NIBP, temperature, SpO2, cardiac output, heart
rate, respiration rate, respiratory gases, EEG and transcutaneous blood
gasses) The inputs are then amplified and processed and are displayed as a
waveform and/or a numerical value. Alarm limits can then be adjusted to
desired levels to alert the medical staff of undesirable health conditions.
 The configuration and parts of the system
A medical monitor or physiological monitor is a medical device used for
monitoring. It can consist of one or more sensors, processing components,
display devices (which are sometimes in themselves called "monitors"), as
well as communication links for displaying or recording the results
elsewhere through a monitoring network. The patient monitor consists of a
main unit, display, ECG cables, SpO2 sensor, NIBP cuff, Temp sensor,
IBP cables, CO2 components, etc.

Fig. (25) patient monitor

 Block diagram

Fig. (26) patient monitor block diagram

 The principle of work of the system

The patient has different types of sensing devices attached to their body,
(e.g. ECG dots or oxygen saturation probe) which are connected to the
monitor by wires (called leads). The sensing devices send electronic
signals through the leads to the monitor, which then displays the signals.
The monitor has alarms, which can signal to the staff if a body function
needs attention, however sometimes patient movement alone can cause the
alarms to go off. All patients admitted to the ICU are connected to a
bedside monitor during their stay. Being attached to the bedside monitor
does not hurt the patient.