Reconfigurable user interface for modular patient monitor

A modular patient monitor including a reconfigurable user interface which displays patient parameter data for each patient parameter for which patient monitoring is activated, comprising:

• a display which displays patient parameter data;
• a parameter interface which determines the patient parameters for which patient monitoring is activated and which accepts patient parameter data for presentation on the display;
• and
• a display processor which processes said patient parameter data from said parameter interface to determine which and how many patient parameters need to be displayed on said display, which allocates space on said display for at least one of vital signs and waveform data associated with the patient parameters to be displayed, and which monitors said parameter interface so as to reallocate space for presentation of said patient parameter data on said display when said patient parameter data is detected at said parameter interface in accordance with parameter settings based on operator preferences regarding the appearance on said display of at least one of said vital signs and waveform data associated with said patient parameters, said space reallocation occurring when at least one of a number and a type of patient parameters is changed during operation of said modular patient monitor, and wherein said display processor further includes a menu manager which presents menus to said display for user navigation and which updates menu selection options in said menus when said parameter interface, which is monitored by said display processor, provides an indication that a patient parameter has been activated or deactivated, and wherein each menu contains a flash box which flashes a most likely menu selection item for selection from said menu in response to an asynchronous patient monitoring event detected by said parameter interface, and wherein, in response to said asynchronous patient monitoring event, said menu manager places a menu selection cursor at said flash box for selection of said most likely menu selection item without further cursor movement by the user.