DIGITAL PHOTOPLETHYSMOGRAPHIC SIGNAL SENSOR
First Claim
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1. A photoplethysmographic sensor for use with a photoplethysmographic instrument, said sensor comprising:
- at least first and second light signal emitters operable to transmit at least first and second light signals centered at first and second wavelengths, respectively, into a tissue site of a patient, wherein the tissue site attenuates the first and second light signals resulting in first and second attenuated light signals;
a detector operable to detect the first and second attenuated light signals and to output an analog detector output signal corresponding to the first and second attenuated signals; and
a signal processing device operable to receive the analog signal from said detector and to generate a digital signal corresponding to the analog detector output signal, the digital signal being communicable to the photoplethysmographic instrument whereby the photoplethysmographic instrument may obtain information from the digital signal relating to a physiological condition of the patient.
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Abstract
A photoplethysmographic sensor and related method for use with a photoplethysmographic instrument such as a pulse oximeter are provided. In accordance with the present invention, the detector output signal from the sensor is digitized prior to communication from the sensor to the instrument and the sensor operates independent of the instrument with respect to controlling the light signal emitters of the sensor. In one embodiment, the digitized detector output signal is communicated to the instrument via a wireless communication link.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A photoplethysmographic sensor for use with a photoplethysmographic instrument, said sensor comprising:
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at least first and second light signal emitters operable to transmit at least first and second light signals centered at first and second wavelengths, respectively, into a tissue site of a patient, wherein the tissue site attenuates the first and second light signals resulting in first and second attenuated light signals;
a detector operable to detect the first and second attenuated light signals and to output an analog detector output signal corresponding to the first and second attenuated signals; and
a signal processing device operable to receive the analog signal from said detector and to generate a digital signal corresponding to the analog detector output signal, the digital signal being communicable to the photoplethysmographic instrument whereby the photoplethysmographic instrument may obtain information from the digital signal relating to a physiological condition of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system operable to obtain information relating to a physiological condition of a patient based on information derived from light signals attenuated by a tissue site of the patient, said system comprising:
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a sensor operable to generate and direct at least two light signals at the patient tissue site, the two light signals being centered at different wavelengths, the sensor being further operable to detect the at least two light signals after being attenuated by the patient tissue site and to digitize the detected attenuated light signals; and
a monitor including a digital signal processor operable to receive the digitized detected attenuated light signals and to process the digitized detected attenuated light signals to obtain the at least one patient physiological condition therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for use in obtaining information relating to a physiological condition of a patient from light signals attenuated by a tissue site of the patient, said method comprising:
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operating a sensor located at a patient tissue site to direct at least two light signals into the patient tissue site, detect the light signals after the light signals are attenuated by the patient tissue site, and generate a digital signal corresponding to the attenuated light signals;
communicating the digital signal to a monitor separate from the sensor; and
processing the digital signal at the monitor to obtain information relating to the patient physiological condition. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification