Welch Allyn Vital Signs Monitor - User Manual - Manual (Page 14)

8 Vital Signs Monitor
temperatures. The Monitor mode displays the patient's actual temperature after 3 minutes for oral/
rectal mode and 5 minutes for axillary mode, and will continue to display an updated temperature as
long as the probe remains in place.
NOTE: Normal mode axillary temperatures (10 seconds) are accurate only for children under
the age of four.
NOTE: The Welch Allyn Vital Signs Monitor is not intended to be used on Neonatal patients.
Temperature readings may be displayed in Fahrenheit or Celsius scales.
Temperature Normal Mode
In Normal mode, the device will measure temperature at discrete intervals and then calculate the
rate of change according to a proven algorithm. This allows the thermometer to predict the end
point that the thermistor would reach if it were left in the mouth until it reached mouth temperature.
This predictive feature allows the thermometer to arrive at an accurate oral temperature reading in
approximately 4 seconds.
Normal mode is the default operating mode for temperature determinations.
Operator selectable patient alarm limits are not available in temperature Normal mode. However,
temperatures which are outside of the operating range of the device will be noted on the tempera-
ture display.
Temperature Monitor Mode
Continuous Monitor mode operation is normally used for longer term monitoring and when difficult
situations prevent accurate temperatures from being taken in the Normal mode. The probe must be
in contact with tissue for at least three (3) minutes for accurate oral/rectal temperature measure-
ment and five (5) minutes for accurate axillary temperature measurement. Monitor mode tempera-
tures may not be identical to predicted 'Normal' temperatures because of ambient temperature
influence and other factors. The trend in temperature is the important standard to be observed
when in the Monitor mode.
Operator selectable patient alarm limits are not available in temperature Monitor mode. However,
temperatures which are outside of the normal operating range of the device will be noted on the
temperature display.
SpO
2
Operating Mode
The Welch Allyn Vital Signs Monitor incorporates the Nellcor Puritan Bennett™ pulse oximetry mod-
ule which determines arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO
2
%) by measuring the absorption of
red and infrared light passed through the tissues. Changes in absorption caused by pulsation of
blood in the vascular bed are used to determine arterial saturation and pulse rate.
Oxygen saturation percent is calculated with each pulse detected, and thus the monitor display is
continually updated. The pulse signal bar graph is an indicator of the strength and quality of the
detected pulses.