Time frame synchronization of medical monitoring signals
First Claim
1. A medical monitoring system, comprising:
- (a) a stimulator for providing a stimulation signal to a subject;
(b) an amplifier device for receiving a response signal from the subject;
(c) a bus connecting the stimulator and the amplifier device together and providing a periodic bus cycle clock signal to the stimulator and amplifier device; and
(d) time frame synchronization means for employing the periodic bus cycle clock signal to provide time frame synchronization of the stimulation signal with the response signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for establishing a synchronized time frame for signals in a medical monitoring system. In particular, the present invention provides a system and method for synchronizing the time frame of stimulation signals provided by a stimulator to a subject and response signals received by an amplifier device from the subject in response thereto. Thus, the present invention allows accurate display and analysis of the relationship between stimulation and response signals by a monitoring device. Time frame synchronization of stimulus and response signals is achieved using a periodic bus cycle clock signal which is provided by a bus, i.e., an IEEE 1394 bus, connecting together each of the devices in the monitoring system. For example, a time frame synchronized stimulation trigger signal may be generated by a stimulus synchronization circuit including a phase-locked loop for providing a local clock signal synchronized to the periodic bus cycle clock signal, and employing the local clock signal to provide a multi-bit signal indicating a segment during a bus cycle during which the stimulation signal is provided by the stimulator to the subject.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A medical monitoring system, comprising:
-
(a) a stimulator for providing a stimulation signal to a subject;
(b) an amplifier device for receiving a response signal from the subject;
(c) a bus connecting the stimulator and the amplifier device together and providing a periodic bus cycle clock signal to the stimulator and amplifier device; and
(d) time frame synchronization means for employing the periodic bus cycle clock signal to provide time frame synchronization of the stimulation signal with the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A time frame synchronization circuit for providing time frame synchronization of a first signal with a periodic bus cycle clock signal, comprising:
-
(a) a phase lock loop circuit for generating a local stimulus synchronization circuit clock signal synchronized with the periodic bus cycle clock signal; and
(b) means for generating a multi-bit time frame synchronized signal indicating a segment of a bus cycle during which the first signal occurs from the first signal and the local stimulus synchronization circuit clock signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
16. A method of providing time frame synchronization of medical monitoring system signals, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a stimulation signal to a subject;
(b) receiving a response signal from the subject;
(c) providing a periodic bus cycle clock signal; and
(d) employing the periodic bus cycle clock signal to provide time frame synchronization of the stimulation signal with the response signal.
-
-
25. A method of providing time frame synchronization of a first signal with a periodic bus cycle clock signal, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) generating a local stimulus synchronization clock signal synchronized with the periodic bus cycle clock signal; and
(b) generating a multi-bit time frame synchronized signal indicating a segment of a bus cycle during which the first signal occurs from the first signal and the local stimulus synchronization circuit clock signal.
-
-
30. A method of providing time frame synchronization in a medical monitoring system including a stimulator device and at least one other device in the system, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a stimulation signal from the stimulator device;
(b) generating a time frame synchronized signal in the stimulator device indicating when the stimulation signal is provided from the stimulator device in a time frame synchronized with the other device in the system; and
(c) providing the time frame synchronized signal in a message from the stimulator device to the other device in the system.
-
Specification