Patient Monitor User Manual Alarm
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Chapter 6 Alarm
This chapter gives general information about the alarm and measures to be taken accordingly.
Alarm setup and prompt messages are provided in respective parameter setup sections.
WARNING
A potential hazard can exist if different alarm presets are used for the same or similar
equipment in any single area, e.g. an intensive care unit or cardiac operating room.
6.1 Alarm Modes
6.1.1 Alarm Level
Each alarm, either technical or physiological, has its own level. For alarms of higher levels, when
the alarm condition is active, the system will give an alarm prompt in various ways. Some
alarm’s level can be set by the user via software. Others can not be changed once defined by the
system. Alarms in the monitor are divided into three levels, that is, high, medium and low.
A high-level alarm indicates the patient’s life is in danger or the monitor in use has serious
technical problems. It is the most serious alarm.
A medium-level alarm means a serious warning.
A low-level alarm is a general warning.
The monitor provides two types of alarm: physiological alarms and technical alarms. Also, the
monitor provides prompts. Physiological alarms refer to those alarms triggered by patient’s
physiological situation which could be considered dangerous to his or her life. Technical alarms
refer to system failure which can make certain monitoring process technically impossible or make
monitoring result unbelievable. The monitor can give the character indication of monitoring
process or other functions. And this character is called prompts.
All technical alarm levels and some of the physiological alarm levels are pre-set in the system
and can not be changed by users.
6.1.2 Alarm Modes
When alarm condition is active, the monitor can raise the user’s attention in at least three ways,
which are audio prompt, visual prompt and description. Audio prompt is given by the speaker,
and visual prompt is given by TFT display device and alarm indicator light. Description is
displayed on the screen. Physiological alarm is displayed in the Physiological Alarm area. Most
of technical alarms are displayed in the Technical Alarm area. Technical alarms related to NIBP
measurement are displayed in the NIBP Technical Alarm area at the bottom of NIBP parameter
area.