Operator's Manual

www.masimo.com 215 Masimo
Appendix: Concepts of Alarm Response
Delay
Concepts of Alarm Response Delay
As with any pulse oximeter equipment, the audible and visual alarms are subject to alarm
response delay, which is composed of Alarm Condition Delay and Alarm Signal Generation
Delay. Alarm Condition Delay is the time from the occurrence of the triggering event to when
the alarm system determines the alarm condition exists. While Alarm Signal Generation
Delay is the time from the onset of an alarm condition to the generation of its alarm signal.
The graphic below is a simplified illustration of the concept of alarm response delay and does
not reflect actual lengths of delays.
Reference Definition Reference Definition
1 SaO
2
4 Alarm Signal Generation
2 Alarm Limit SpO
2
Saturation
3 Displayed SpO
2
t Time
The Alarm Condition Delay is graphically represented as t
2
– t
1
in the figure above to show the
delay due to processing and averaging.
The Alarm Signal Generation Delay is graphically represented as t
3
– t
2
in the figure above to
show the delay due to alarm system strategy and communication time.
The overall alarm system delay time is graphically represented as t
3
– t
1
.
For more information about alarm response delay, refer to ISO 80601-2-61.