Apparatus and method for monitoring respiration with a pulse oximeter
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring at least one secondary physiological process through variations caused by said secondary process in a portion of an optical signal used to calculate values related to blood oxygen levels, said apparatus comprising:
- at least a first emitter for controllably emitting at least first and second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to a portion of living tissue;
a detector for detecting signals relative to said transmitted first and second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation and producing a detector signal indicative thereof; and
a processor operative to;
produce a first output relating to said blood oxygen levels through mathematical computation using at least a first portion of said detector signal for each said wavelength;
monitor said first output over a predetermined period of time to identify variations in said first output indicative of said secondary physiological process; and
generate a second output indicative of said secondary physiological process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring a secondary physiological process through variations caused by the secondary process in an optical signal used to calculate values related to blood oxygen levels. In particular, the optical signal may be divided into distinct portions such that a portion more directly affected by a particular secondary physiological process may be isolated and the secondary physiological process monitored. The apparatus and method is particularly useful for photoplethysmographically monitoring a patient'"'"'s respiration frequency through changes in relative concentrations of blood oxygen related values that are proportionally related to the amounts of venous and arterial blood in a portion of tissue.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring at least one secondary physiological process through variations caused by said secondary process in a portion of an optical signal used to calculate values related to blood oxygen levels, said apparatus comprising:
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at least a first emitter for controllably emitting at least first and second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to a portion of living tissue;
a detector for detecting signals relative to said transmitted first and second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation and producing a detector signal indicative thereof; and
a processor operative to;
produce a first output relating to said blood oxygen levels through mathematical computation using at least a first portion of said detector signal for each said wavelength;
monitor said first output over a predetermined period of time to identify variations in said first output indicative of said secondary physiological process; and
generate a second output indicative of said secondary physiological process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said processor monitors said value for variations
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13. A method for monitoring at least one secondary physiological process based on variations caused by said secondary process in at least a portion of an optical signal used to calculate values related to blood oxygen levels, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying electromagnetic radiation of at least of one known wavelength to a portion of tissue;
detecting signals relative to said at least one wavelength of electromagnetic radiation applied to said portion of tissue;
generating a signal indicative of said detected radiation;
processing said generated signal for using at least a first portion of each said generated signal such that an output related with said blood oxygen levels is produced;
monitoring said output over a predetermined time period for variations indicative of said secondary physiological process; and
generating a signal indicative of said secondary physiological process. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for monitoring a patient'"'"'s respiration through changes in the patient'"'"'s blood concentrations, said method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a portion of perfused tissue to determine changes in a relative concentration of venous and arterial blood contained therein; and
based on said step of monitoring said relative concentrations of arterial and venous blood, determining a respiration frequency from increases and decreases in said relative concentration. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for monitoring respiration, using optical signals to identify changes in values related to blood oxygen levels caused by said respiration, said apparatus comprising:
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at least a first emitter for controllably emitting at least first and second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to a portion of living tissue;
a detector for detecting signals relative to said emitted first and second wavelengths of said electromagnetic radiation and producing a detector signal indicative thereof; and
a processor operable to receiving said filtered signals, said processor further operable to;
filter said detector signal such that portions of said signals are isolated; and
determine a value related to blood oxygen levels of said tissue through a mathematical computation using at least a first portion of said filtered signal;
monitor said value to determine variations in said value over a predetermined frequency range indicative of respiration; and
generate an output signal indicative of said respiration. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification