Oximeter sensor with digital memory encoding patient data

• US 20060030762A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael E. Fein, Paul Mannheimer, Swedlow David
• Original Assignee: Michael E. Fein, Paul Mannheimer, Swedlow David
• Inventors: Fein, Michael E., Mannheimer, Paul D., David, Swedlow
• Application Number:
  US11/240,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20060030762A1
• 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. A sensor comprising:

a light emitting element;

a light detecting element; and

a memory device storing digital data, the digital data comprising a date and time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.

2. The sensor of claim 1, comprising a connection to a medical facility computer network, the network comprising of at least one oximeter monitor.

3. The sensor of claim 1, comprising a circuit configured to read data from a device external to the sensor and a circuit configured to write data to the device external to the sensor.

4. A memory device, comprising:

a memory external to an oximeter monitor that exchanges digitally encoded data with the oximeter monitor, the digitally encoded data including a date and time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.

5. The memory of claim 4, comprising a light emitting element and light detecting element.

6. A method comprising:

transmitting digitally encoded data from a memory of a sensor, the sensor having a light emitting element and a light detecting element, the digitally encoded data comprising a date and time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising reading the date and time when the monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off, and storing the date and time in the memory of the sensor.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising exchanging digitally encoded data with a medical facility computer network, the digitally encoded data including the date and time when the monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.

9. A monitor comprising:

a drive circuit adapted to provide signals to a sensor;

a read circuit adapted to read digitally encoded data from a memory of the sensor, the digitally encoded data including a date and time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on and off; and

a write circuit adapted to write digitally encoded data to the memory of the sensor, the digitally encoded data including a date and time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.

10. The monitor of claim 9, comprising a digital clock configured to track current date and time.

11. The monitor of claim 9, comprising a display screen that displays the time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on and off.

12. A method of operating a sensor, the method comprising:

providing signals to drive circuitry of a sensor;

reading digitally encoded data from a memory of the sensor, the digitally encoded data including a time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off; and

writing digitally encoded data to the memory of the sensor, the digitally encoded data including a time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising displaying the time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.

14. A system for sensing and monitoring blood oxygen levels, the system comprising:

an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element, a light detecting element, and a memory device that stores digitally encoded data, the digitally encoded data including a time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off; and

a monitor configured to read the digitally encoded data from the sensor and to write digitally encoded data to the memory of the sensor, the digitally encoded data including the time when a monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.

15. The system of claim 14, comprising a display device for displaying data including the time when the monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off.