Apparatus and method for assessing the condition of critically ill patients

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assessing the condition of a patient in circulatory shock by measuring the peripheral or skin temperature of the patient, as by measuring the difference between the patient's toe temperature and ambient temperature, which is more accurate than heretofore. The gradient of the toe-minus-ambient temperature difference is calculated, and an indication of poor condition is given if the toe-minus-ambient temperature difference does not rise by at least a predetermined amount such as 3.degree. C. within a predetermined period such as ten hours. Instead of taking only the difference between the temperature at one toe and ambient, the temperatures at both large toes of the patient are taken and the difference between the higher of the two toe temperatures minus ambient is utilized in the calculations that provide an indication of patient condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.