VARIABLE MODE PULSE INDICATOR

• US 20080091092A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar
• Granted Patent: US 9,192,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

A user configurable variable mode pulse indicator provides a user the ability to influence outputs indicative of a pulse occurrence at least during distortion, or high-noise events. For example, when configured to provide or trigger pulse indication outputs, a pulse indicator designates the occurrence of each pulse in a pulse oximeter-derived photo-plethysmograph waveform, through waveform analysis or some statistical measure of the pulse rate, such as an averaged pulse rate. When the configured to block outputs or not trigger pulse indication outputs, a pulse indicator disables the output for one or more of an audio or visual pulse occurrence indication. The outputs can be used to initiate an audible tone “beep” or a visual pulse indication on a display, such as a vertical spike on a horizontal trace or a corresponding indication on a bar display. The amplitude output is used to indicate data integrity and corresponding confidence in the computed values of saturation and pulse rate. The amplitude output can vary a characteristic of the pulse indicator, such as beep volume or frequency or the height of the visual display spike.

Claims

1. A patient monitor receiving a noninvasive optical sensor signal and conditionally outputting an indication of a pulse occurrence, the monitor comprising:

an input receiving a sensor signal from a noninvasive optical sensor capable detecting light attenuated by body tissue carrying pulsing blood;

a digital signal processor programmed to determine measure of distortion in said sensor signal that is indicative of a quality of said sensor signal, programmed to output at least one of an audio pulse indication trigger and a visual pulse indication trigger, programmed to receive user configuration parameters and, depending upon said configuration parameters, programmed to output or block one or more of said at least one of said audio pulse indication trigger and said visual pulse indication trigger.

2. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein said digital signal processor comprises a variable mode pulse indicator.

3. The patient monitor of claim 2, wherein said variable mode pulse indicator comprises a mode selector responsive to said configuration parameters to output or block said triggers.

4. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein said configuration parameters cause said digital signal processor to be responsive to said measure of distortion when said measure of distortion indicates that said sensor signal is substantially undistorted and to be responsive to said pulse rate when said waveform is substantially distorted.

5. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein said configuration parameters cause said digital signal processor to be responsive to said measure of distortion when said measure of distortion indicates that said sensor signal is substantially undistorted and to be unresponsive when said waveform is substantially distorted.

6. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein said trigger is used to generate an audible indicator of pulse occurrence.

7. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein said trigger is used to generate a visual indicator of pulse occurrence.

8. The patient monitor of claim 1, wherein said visual indicator also incorporates an indication of data integrity.

9. A method of configuring output indications of pulse occurrences in an patient monitor capable of monitoring a pulse rate through a signal from a noninvasive optical sensor, the method comprising:

receiving an input signal from said sensor;

determining a measure of distortion in said input signal; and

when said measure indicates a high level of distortion, outputting an indication of pulse occurrences according to user-selected configuration parameters.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said indication comprises a pulse beep.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said configuration parameters cause said pulse beep to be blocked.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said configuration parameters cause said pulse beep to be responsive to a statistical representation of a calculated pulse rate.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said indication comprises visual display elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said configuration parameters cause at least one of said display elements to blocked.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said configuration parameters cause at least one of said display elements to be responsive to a statistical representation of a calculated pulse rate.