2. Example of a physiological monitor. [4]
Current problem
• The alarms generated by the physiological
monitors in hospitals are important in
lifetreathing situations, but several studies
show that up to 90% of these alarms is false,
and therefore undesirable. [1; 2; 3]
• Caregivers become less sensitive for the alarms
and the alarms are sometimes even turned off
completely. This endangers patient safety.
2
1) Imhoff, M. & Kuhls, S. (2006). Alarm algorithms in critical care monitoring. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 102, 1525-1537. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000204385.01983.61
2) Siebig, S., Kuhls, S., Imhoff, M., et al. (2010). Collection of annotated data in a clinical validation study for alarm algorithms in intensive care - a methodologic framework. Journal of Critical
Care, 25, 128-135. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2008.09.001
3) Schmid, F., Goepfert, M.S. & Reuter, D.A. (2013). Patient monitoring alarms in the ICU and in the operating room. Critical Care, 17(2), 216-223. doi:10.1186/cc12525
4) Philips (2017, 03 juli). Philips IntelliVue MP50 Multiparameter Monitors [foto]. Geraadpleegd van https://www.somatechnology.com/Philips-Intellivue-MP50-P1617.aspx
3. Solution
3
• To reduce the amount of false alarms, an algorithm is developed which
combines the electrocardiogram and photoplethysmogram.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Photoplethysmogram (PPG)
4. Results
4
• The first results are promising and show the potential for suppressing
false alarms.
5. Market
5
• Potential users of the algorithm are nurses on different departments of
the hospital.
• Initially it comes to Dutch academic hospitals, but later also to local
hospitals and hospitals abroad.
6. Competitors
6
• Alternative solutions for the current problem include muting of the
alarms, decreasing clinically irrelevant alarms by changing thresholds
and accurate application of the electrodes.
• These solutions will reduce the amount of alarms. However, our
algorithm focuses on the false alarms which originated by a mistake in
the analysis.
7. Team
7
• The team includes two Master Technical Medicine students.
Silvana Riphagen Renée Hovenier
s.riphagen@student.utwente.nl r.hovenier@student.utwente.nl
8. Take Home Message
Reducing false alarms at the Emergency Department using the photoplethysmogram
appears to be a promising method for improving patient safety.
8
![Example of a physiological monitor. [4]
Current problem
• The alarms generated by the physiological
monitors in hospitals are important in
lifetreathing situations, but several studies
show that up to 90% of these alarms is false,
and therefore undesirable. [1; 2; 3]
• Caregivers become less sensitive for the alarms
and the alarms are sometimes even turned off
completely. This endangers patient safety.
2
1) Imhoff, M. & Kuhls, S. (2006). Alarm algorithms in critical care monitoring. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 102, 1525-1537. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000204385.01983.61
2) Siebig, S., Kuhls, S., Imhoff, M., et al. (2010). Collection of annotated data in a clinical validation study for alarm algorithms in intensive care - a methodologic framework. Journal of Critical
Care, 25, 128-135. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2008.09.001
3) Schmid, F., Goepfert, M.S. & Reuter, D.A. (2013). Patient monitoring alarms in the ICU and in the operating room. Critical Care, 17(2), 216-223. doi:10.1186/cc12525
4) Philips (2017, 03 juli). Philips IntelliVue MP50 Multiparameter Monitors [foto]. Geraadpleegd van https://www.somatechnology.com/Philips-Intellivue-MP50-P1617.aspx](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)