VARIABLE INDICATION ESTIMATOR
First Claim
1. An apparatus which determines output physiological parameter values for a set of input physiological parameter values, the apparatus comprising:
- a signal confidence value;
a buffer which stores input physiological parameter values corresponding to a time window, the input physiological parameter values obtained from a medical patient; and
a variable mode averager, said variable mode averager comprising a processor configured to;
access the signal confidence value and the input physiological parameter values and determine an output physiological parameter value for the window of input physiological parameter values by varying a time delay between the input physiological parameter values and the output physiological parameter value, wherein the amount of delay is determined for each time period based at least in part on the signal confidence value.
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Abstract
A variable indication estimator which determines an output value representative of a set of input data. For example, the estimator can reduce input data to estimates of a desired signal, select a time, and determine an output value from the estimates and the time. In one embodiment, the time is selected using one or more adjustable signal confidence parameters determine where along the estimates the output value will be computed. By varying the parameters, the characteristics of the output value are variable. For example, when input signal confidence is low, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value is a smoothed representation of the input signal. When input signal confidence is high, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value has a faster and more accurate response to the input signal.
97 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus which determines output physiological parameter values for a set of input physiological parameter values, the apparatus comprising:
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a signal confidence value; a buffer which stores input physiological parameter values corresponding to a time window, the input physiological parameter values obtained from a medical patient; and a variable mode averager, said variable mode averager comprising a processor configured to; access the signal confidence value and the input physiological parameter values and determine an output physiological parameter value for the window of input physiological parameter values by varying a time delay between the input physiological parameter values and the output physiological parameter value, wherein the amount of delay is determined for each time period based at least in part on the signal confidence value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A pulse oximeter which determines an output oxygen saturation value (SpO2) for a set of input SpO2 values, the pulse oximeter comprising:
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a signal confidence indicator reflecting confidence in input SpO2 values, the input SpO2 values obtained from detected light signals attenuated through tissue of a medical patient; and a variable mode averager, said variable mode averager comprising; a buffer which stores selected ones of the input SpO2 values corresponding to a time window; and a processor which receives the signal confidence indicator and which accesses the buffer to receive the selected input SpO2 values, wherein the processor is configured to determine an output SpO2 value for the window of selected input SpO2 values by applying one or more of smoothing characteristics of a constant mode averager, tracking characteristics of a linear mode averager, and predictive characteristics of a forward predictor based at least partly on the signal confidence indicator, wherein the output SpO2 value does not track superfluous input SpO2 signal features regardless of the signal confidence indicator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A pulse oximeter which determines an output oxygen saturation value (SpO2) for a set of input SpO2 values using a variable mode averager, the pulse oximeter comprising:
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a signal confidence indicator reflecting confidence in input SpO2 values, the input SpO2 values obtained from detected light signals attenuated through tissue of a medical patient; and a variable mode averager, said variable mode averager comprising; a buffer which stores selected ones of the input SpO2 values corresponding to a time window; and a processor operative to; access the signal confidence indicator, access the buffer to receive the selected input SpO2 values, and determine an output SpO2 value for the window of selected input SpO2 values by determining a trend of said window of said selected input SpO2 values, the output SpO2 value based on said trend at a time representing an amount of delay between a newest input SpO2 value and said output SpO2 value, said time based at least partly on the signal confidence indicator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification