Oximeter sensor with digital memory encoding patient data

• US 20020095077A1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Fein, Marcia, Swedlow, David, Fein, Michael E., Mannheimer, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,606,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/911 Medical electronics

Abstract

The present invention provides a memory chip for use in an oximeter sensor, or an associated adapter or connector circuit. The memory chip allows the storing of patient related data, such as patient trending data or a patient ID, to provide enhanced capabilities for the oximeter sensor. In addition to providing unique data to store in such a memory, the present invention include unique uses of the data stored in such a memory.

Claims

1. An oximeter sensor comprising:

a light emitting element;

a light detecting element; and

a memory device for storing digital data, said digital data comprising trending data expected for a particular patient.

2. The oximeter sensor of claim 1 wherein said memory device encodes trending data including blood oxygen saturation data specific to a patient.

3. The oximeter sensor of claim 2 wherein said memory device encodes a highest and a lowest blood oxygen saturation level monitored during a period of time.

4. The oximeter sensor of claim 1 wherein said memory device encodes trending data including pulse rate data specific to a patient.

5. The oximeter sensor of claim 1 wherein said memory device encodes a duration of time that a patient parameter decoded from signals received from said light detecting element exceeded or fell below the expected trending data.

6. The oximeter sensor of claim 1 wherein said memory device encodes pulse amplitude data for a patient.

7. An oximeter sensor comprising:

a light emitting element;

a light detecting element; and

a memory device for storing digital data, said digital data comprising a patient identification code.

8. An oximeter sensor comprising:

a light emitting element;

a light detecting element; and

a memory device for storing digital data, said digital data comprising a length of time that a patient has been monitored using the oximeter sensor.

9. An oximeter sensor comprising:

a light emitting element;

a light detecting element; and

a memory device for storing digital data, said digital data comprising a time when an oximeter monitor coupled to the oximeter sensor was turned on or turned off.

10. An oximeter sensor comprising:

a light emitting element;

a light detecting element; and

a memory device for storing digital data, said digital data comprising oximeter alarm limit values that are patient-specific.

11. The oximeter sensor of claim 10 wherein the alarm limit is a maximum or minimum blood oxygen saturation level.

12. The oximeter sensor of claim 10 wherein the alarm limit is a maximum or minimum pulse rate.

13. The oximeter sensor of claim 10 wherein said memory device encodes patient trending data after an alarm limit value has been reached.

14. The oximeter sensor of claim 13 wherein said patient trending data comprises perfusion data.

15. The oximeter sensor of claim 13 wherein said patient trending data comprises blood oxygen saturation levels.

16. The oximeter sensor of claim 10 wherein said memory device encodes a patient trending data periodically before an alarm limit value has been reached.

17. The oximeter sensor of claim 16 wherein said patient trending data comprises blood oxygen saturation levels.

18. The oximeter sensor of claim 16 wherein said patient trending data comprises blood perfusion data.

19. The oximeter sensor of claim 10 wherein said memory device encodes a time that an alarm limit was initially breached.

20. A method for storing data in an oximeter sensor, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light emitting element;

detecting light from the light emitting element using a photodetector; and

storing digitally encoded data in a memory in the sensor, the digitally encoded data including a patient ID; and

tracking patient information using the patient ID.

21. A method for storing data in an oximeter sensor, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light emitting element;

detecting light from the light emitting element using a photodetector; and

storing digitally encoded data in a memory in the sensor, the digitally encoded data comprising trending data expected for a specific patient.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein storing the digitally encoded data in the memory further comprises storing an expected range for blood oxygen saturation levels specific to a patient in the memory.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein storing the digitally encoded data in the memory further comprises storing a highest and a lowest blood oxygen saturation level for the patient during a period of time in the memory.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein storing the digitally encoded data in the memory further comprises storing an expected range for patient-specific pulse rate data in the memory.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein storing the digitally encoded data in the memory further comprises storing a length of time that the patient has been monitored using the oximeter sensor in the memory.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein storing the digitally encoded data in the memory further comprises storing expected blood perfusion data for the patient in the memory.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein storing the digitally encoded data in the memory further comprises storing oximeter alarm limit values that are patient-specific in the memory.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein storing the digitally encoded data in the memory further comprises storing monitored patient trending data received from the photodetector in the memory after one of the alarm limit values has been reached.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein storing the digitally encoded data in the memory further comprises storing a time that one of the alarm limit values was breached.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein one of the alarm limit values is a patient specific blood oxygen saturation level.

31. A method for storing data in an oximeter sensor, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light emitting element;

detecting light from the light emitting element using a photodetector; and

storing digitally encoded data in a memory in the sensor, the digitally encoded data comprising a time when an oximeter monitor coupled to the oximeter sensor was turned on or turned off in the memory.

32. A method for storing data in an oximeter sensor, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light emitting element;

detecting light from the light emitting element using a photodetector; and

storing digitally encoded data in a memory in the sensor, the digitally encoded data comprising a duration of time that a patient has been monitored using said oximeter sensor.