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Parameter upgrade system

  • US 10,188,348 B2
  • Filed: 06/04/2007
  • Issued: 01/29/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A parameter upgrade system comprising:

  • a handheld upgrade tool; and

    a physiological monitor comprising;

    a first sensor port configured to attach and communicate with a sensor; and

    a processor board in communication with the first sensor port, the processor board comprising;

    a monitor digital signal processor (DSP) configured to;

    determine that the handheld upgrade tool of a plurality of handheld upgrade tools is attached to the physiological monitor via the first sensor port,authenticate the handheld upgrade tool for the physiological monitor by verifying that the handheld upgrade tool is authorized to access the physiological monitor, andidentify a tool type of the handheld upgrade tool, anda plurality of firmware instructions residing on the processor board, wherein a first set of the plurality of firmware instructions is made available to and is executable by the monitor DSP so as to cause the sensor to emit a plurality of wavelengths of light, receive a sensor signal from the sensor in response to absorption of the plurality of wavelengths of light by a patient, and calculate a plurality of physiological parameters in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor, wherein a second set of the plurality of firmware instructions relating to calculation of at least one additional physiological parameter is not made available to the monitor DSP,wherein the handheld upgrade tool is different from the sensor and individually attachable to the first sensor port in lieu of the sensor, the handheld upgrade tool comprising;

    a tool DSP configured to;

    authenticate the physiological monitor for the handheld upgrade tool by verifying that the physiological monitor is authorized to access the handheld upgrade tool,identify a board type of the processor board, andbased on a determination that the board type of the processor board matches the tool type of the handheld upgrade tool, provide changes to the plurality of firmware instructions residing on the processor board, wherein the changes to the plurality of firmware instructions make available to the physiological monitor the second set of the plurality of firmware instructions relating to the calculation of the at least one additional physiological parameter in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor;

    a sensor port connector that mates directly with the first sensor port and provides a communications path between the tool DSP and the monitor DSP; and

    an I/O port connector different from the sensor port connector and configured to provide a communications path between the tool DSP and an external digital device different from the physiological monitor,wherein the sensor and the handheld upgrade tool attach to the first sensor port individually at distinct time intervals.

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