Intelligent Instrumentation in Critical Care Medicine

Advances in information technology have resulted in the embedding of computer-based information handling within the measurement and instrumentation processes, giving rise to what is termed intelligent measurement. A major area for the application of intelligent measurement and instrumentation is clinical medicine, particularly in relation to the management of the critically ill patient. This paper examines the nature of intelligent measurement and instrumentation in the context of clinical medicine, outlines the management problem in critical care medicine and than illustrates these concepts through two case studies. The first relates to the development of a predictive knowledge-based system for the interpretation of patient data from a critical care unit, whilst the second focuses on an artificial intelligent respirator system for ventilator management.