Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data

• US 20070043269A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mannheimer, Paul, Fein, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,764,983 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

Embodiments of the present invention relate to pulse oximeter systems and methods. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter system including an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light having a wavelength, a light detector configured to receive the light, and a memory storing signal quality data that facilitates determining a quality of signals sent from the light emitting element to the light detector via the light. Further, the oximeter system may comprise an oximeter monitor, comprising a receiving circuit configured to receive the signal quality data from the oximeter sensor, and a processor configured to use the signal quality data to calculate an optical transmissivity of a material for the wavelength.

Claims

1. An oximeter system, comprising:

an oximeter sensor, comprising;

a light emitting element configured to emit light having a wavelength;

a light detector configured to receive the light; and

a memory storing signal quality data that facilitates determining a quality of signals sent from the light emitting element to the light detector via the light; and

an oximeter monitor, comprising;

a receiving circuit configured to receive the signal quality data from the oximeter sensor; and

a processor configured to use the signal quality data to calculate an optical transmissivity of a material for the wavelength.

2. The oximeter system of claim 1, wherein the signal quality data comprises an inherent brightness of the light emitting element.

3. The oximeter system of claim 1, wherein the signal quality data comprises a sensitivity measurement of the light detector.

4. The oximeter system of claim 1, wherein the material is a patient'"'"'s tissue.

5. The oximeter system of claim 1, wherein the signal quality data comprises light emitting element power.

6. The oximeter system of claim 1, wherein the signal quality data comprises a value of the wavelength.

7. The oximeter system of claim 1, wherein the signal quality data comprises a secondary emission level.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal quality data comprises a value of the wavelength.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal quality data comprises a secondary emission level.

8. A method of manufacturing an oximeter system, comprising:

providing a light emitting element within an oximeter sensor, the light emitting element configured to emit light having a wavelength;

providing a light detector within the oximeter sensor, the light detector configured to receive the light;

providing a memory within the oximeter sensor, the memory storing signal quality data that facilitates determining a quality of signals;

providing a receiving circuit within an oximeter monitor, the receiving circuit configured to receive the signal quality data from the oximeter sensor; and

providing a processor within the oximeter monitor, the processor configured to calculate an optical transmissivity of a material for the wavelength using the signal quality data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal quality data comprises an inherent brightness of the light emitting element.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal quality data comprises a sensitivity measurement of the light detector.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the material is a patient'"'"'s tissue.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal quality data comprises light emitting element power.

15. A method of system operation, comprising:

emitting light having a wavelength from a light emitting element of an oximeter sensor;

receiving the light with a light detector;

storing signal quality data that facilitates determining a quality of signals sent from the light emitting element to the light detector via the light;

sending the signal quality data to an oximeter monitor; and

calculating an optical transmissivity of a material for the wavelength using the signal quality data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal quality data comprises an inherent brightness of the light emitting element.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal quality data comprises a sensitivity measurement of the light detector.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the material is a patient'"'"'s tissue.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal quality data comprises light emitting element power.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal quality data comprises a value of the wavelength.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal quality data comprises a secondary emission level.