Pulse oximeter with parallel saturation calculation modules
First Claim
1. A method for determining oxygen saturation, the method comprising:
- determining a first oxygen saturation value based upon signals received from a patient using a first saturation calculation algorithm;
determining a second oxygen saturation value based upon signals received from the patient using a second saturation calculation algorithm; and
arbitrating between the first and second oxygen saturation values based on a saturation confidence associated with the first and second oxygen saturation values to determine a final oxygen saturation value based on the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing the effects of noise on a system for measuring physiological parameters, such as, for example, a pulse oximeter. The method and apparatus of the invention take into account the physical limitations on various physiological parameters being monitored when weighting and averaging a series of measurements. Varying weights are assigned different measurements, measurements are rejected, and the averaging period is adjusted according to the reliability of the measurements. Similarly, calculated values derived from analyzing the measurements are also assigned varying weights and averaged over adjustable periods. More specifically, a general class of filters such as, for example, Kalman filters, is employed in processing the measurements and calculated values. The filters use mathematical models which describe how the physiological parameters change in time, and how these parameters relate to measurement in a noisy environment. The filters adaptively modify a set of averaging weights to optimally estimate the physiological parameters.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for determining oxygen saturation, the method comprising:
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determining a first oxygen saturation value based upon signals received from a patient using a first saturation calculation algorithm;
determining a second oxygen saturation value based upon signals received from the patient using a second saturation calculation algorithm; and
arbitrating between the first and second oxygen saturation values based on a saturation confidence associated with the first and second oxygen saturation values to determine a final oxygen saturation value based on the first oxygen saturation value and the second oxygen saturation value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for measuring a blood constituent, the method comprising:
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determining a plurality of possible blood constituent values using a plurality of blood constituent value calculators, wherein each of the possible blood constituent values have a respective confidence level associated therewith; and
arbitrating between the plurality of possible blood constituent values based on the respective confidence levels to determine a final blood constituent value. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for determining oxygen saturation, the method comprising:
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determining a first value correlative to a first oxygen saturation value based upon signals received from a patient using a first saturation calculation algorithm;
determining a second value correlative to a second oxygen saturation value based upon signals received from the patient using a second saturation calculation algorithm; and
arbitrating between the first and second values based on a respective confidence level associated with the first and second values to determine a final oxygen saturation value. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification