Collection and Analysis Signs

Abstract

A system is disclosed having a storage, a communications module for interacting with a medical measurement device, an analysis controller, and a test module that allows for the testing and evaluating of decision-support algorithms. A method for testing decision-support algorithms is disclosed having the steps of receiving into storage of a ruggedized, compact computer at least one decision-support algorithm; detecting with a communications module the initiation of a vital-sign monitoring session; receiving and storing vital-sign information into storage by the communications module; pushing the stored vital-sign information by an analysis controller to a test module running the stored at least one decision-support algorithm; and providing at least one output from the decision-support algorithm to at least one of a database and a display.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for receiving an output from an external source comprising:
 a storage configured to store at least one algorithm;   a communications module for receiving vital-sign data from an external source and storing the received data in said storage;   an analysis controller in communication with said storage, said analysis controller monitors said storage; and   a test module in communication with said analysis controller and said storage, said test module configured to receive at least a portion of the vital-sign data from said storage through said analysis controller and to store any output produced by said test module in said storage, and   said test module includes running means for running said at least one algorithm loaded into said storage where said at least one algorithm processes at least a portion of the vital-sign data provided by said analysis controller.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a connector passing through a wall of said housing and in communication with said communications module. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said running means provides an output in substantially real time from receipt of vital-sign data by said communications module. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a display in communication with said test module for displaying at least part of the output produced by said test module. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said storage includes at least one database. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said storage includes at least one database configured to store the received vital-sign data and at least one database configured to store the output of said test module. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said running means provides an output in substantially real time from receipt of vital-sign data by said communications module. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said storage includes at least one database. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein said storage includes at least one database configured to store the received vital-sign data and at least one database configured to store the output of said test module. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display in communication with said test module for displaying at least part of the output produced by said test module. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage includes at least one database. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage includes at least one database configured to store the received vital-sign data and at least one database configured to store the output of said test module. 
     
     
         13 . A method for testing decision-support algorithms comprising:
 receiving into storage of a ruggedized, compact computer at least one decision-support algorithm;   detecting with a communications module the initiation of a vital-sign monitoring session;   receiving and storing vital-sign information into storage by the communications module;   pushing the stored vital-sign information by an analysis controller to a test module running the stored at least one decision-support algorithm; and   providing at least one output from the decision-support algorithm to at least one of a database and a display.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising loading the decision-support algorithm into the test module. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the method is performed in substantially real time. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein pushing includes
 retrieving the vital-sign information from storage; and   converting the vital-sign information into multiple constant-frequency row vectors.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein converting includes shifting data to leave gaps representing missing data. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage includes capacity for storing a plurality of decision-support algorithms, and
 the storage allows for quick exchange of stored decision-support algorithms.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising detecting when the vital-sign monitoring session terminates based on the received heart beats per minute being less than 10 heart beats per minute for a predetermined time threshold, and
 wherein detecting the initiation of the vital-sign monitoring includes detecting a heart beat per minute in excess of 10 heart beats per minute.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising determining when the vital-sign monitoring session has ended based on at least one of a vital-sign being less than a predetermined vital-sign threshold and a signal representing an end of the vital-sign monitoring session received from a source of the vital-sign information, and
 wherein detecting the initiation of the vital-sign monitoring is based on at least one of a vital-sign being above the predetermined vital-sign threshold and a signal representing a start of the vital-sign monitoring session received from the source of the vital-sign information