Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data

• US 20070043275A1
• 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: Fein, Marcia, Fein, Michael, Manheimer, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,761 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 a sensor for facilitating detection of a physiological characteristic of a patient. Specifically, one embodiment includes a detector configured to obtain signals from the patient, the signals being indicative of the physiological characteristic, an interface configured to send the signals to a monitor, and a sensor memory coupled with the sensor and separate from the monitor, the sensor memory storing sensor expiration data.

Claims

1. A sensor for facilitating detection of a physiological characteristic of a patient, comprising:

a detector configured to obtain signals from the patient, the signals being indicative of the physiological characteristic;

an interface configured to send the signals to a monitor; and

a sensor memory coupled with the sensor and separate from the monitor, the sensor memory storing sensor expiration data.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor expiration data comprises an expiration date relating to functionality of the sensor.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor expiration data comprises a limit for an elapsed time counter that updates based on usage of the sensor.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor expiration data comprises a limit for a sterilization counter that updates based on a number of times the sensor is exposed to a sterilization cycle.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor expiration data comprises a warranty expiration date.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a cable, and the sensor memory is disposed within the cable.

7. A method of manufacturing a sensor for facilitating detection of a physiological characteristic, comprising:

providing a light emitting device coupled with the sensor;

providing a photo-detector coupled with the sensor, the photo-detector configured to receive emissions from the light emitting device;

providing a sensor memory coupled with the sensor, the sensory memory configured to provide communicative access to contents of the sensor memory to a separate monitor; and

storing sensor expiration data within the sensor memory.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising storing an expiration date relating to functionality of the sensor within the sensor memory.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising storing a limit for an elapsed time counter that updates based on usage of the sensor within the sensor memory.

10. The method of claim 7, comprising storing a limit for a sterilization counter that updates based on a number of times the sensor is exposed to a sterilization cycle within the sensor memory.

11. The method of claim 7, comprising storing a warranty expiration date within the sensor memory.

12. A pulse oximeter system, comprising:

a sensor and a monitor, the sensor comprising;

a detector configured to obtain data indicative of a physiological characteristic from a patient; and

a sensor memory coupled with the sensor and separate from the monitor, the sensor memory storing sensor expiration data; and

the monitor comprising;

a first component configured to read the data and derive patient physiological data from the data; and

a second component configured to read the sensor expiration data and perform an operation based on the sensor expiration data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second component is configured to display a status of the sensor on a screen of the monitor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second component is configured to display an indication that the sensor is expired as the status.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the second component is configured to disable the sensor based on the sensor expiration data.

16. The system of claim 15, comprising passing a high current through the sensor to disable the sensor based on the sensor expiration data.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor expiration data comprises a warranty date.

18. A monitor, comprising:

a signal unit configured to provide signals to a light emitting device disposed within a sensor;

a first data interface circuit component configured to read signal data from a photodetector in the sensor;

a processor configured to derive patient physiological data from the signal data, the patient physiological data being indicative of a physiological characteristic of the patient; and

a second data interface circuit component configured to read sensor expiration data stored within the sensor and configured to perform an operation based on the sensor expiration data.

19. The monitor of claim 18, comprising a port for communicatively coupling the sensor to the monitor.

20. The monitor of claim 18, comprising a power component configured to pass a high current through the sensor based on a value of the sensor expiration data.

21. A method for monitoring sensor data, comprising:

providing control signals to a light emitting element of a sensor;

reading signal data from a photodetector of the sensor;

processing the signal data to obtain physiological data;

reading sensor expiration data stored within the sensor; and

performing an operation based on the sensor expiration data.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising passing a high current through the sensor to disable the sensor based on the sensor expiration data.

23. The method of claim 21, comprising displaying a status of the sensor on a screen.

24. The method of claim 21, comprising displaying an indication that the sensor is expired on a screen.

25. A method of manufacturing a sensor for facilitating detection of a physiological characteristic, comprising:

providing a sensor memory configured to store sensor expiration data; and

coupling the sensor memory to a sensor.