METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING THE HYDRATION OF SENSORS
First Claim
1. A program code storage device, comprising:
- a computer-readable medium; and
computer-readable program code, stored on the computer-readable medium, the computer-readable program code having instructions, which when executed cause a microcontroller to;
receive an interrupt from a detection circuit, the interrupt being representative of the detection circuit detecting hydration of a sensor by detecting a high level of attenuation of an AC signal that had been applied to the sensor; and
in response to the interrupt, transmit a signal to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), wherein the signal instructs the DAC to apply a stabilization series of voltages to the sensor, the stabilization series of voltages being a first voltage applied for a first time period, a second voltage applied for a second time period, and a cycling of the application of the first voltage for the first time period and the second voltage for the second time period for a number of iterations.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system includes a sensor and a sensor electronics device. The sensor includes a plurality of electrodes. The sensor electronics device includes a connection detection device, a power source, and a delay circuit. The connection detection device determines if the sensor electronics device is connected to the sensor and transmits a connection signal. The delay circuit receives the connection signal, waits a preset hydration time, and couples the regulated voltage from the power source to an electrode in the sensor after the preset hydration time has elapsed. Alternatively, the sensor electronics device may include an electrical detection circuit and a microcontroller. The electrical detection circuit determines if the plurality of electrodes are hydrated and generates an interrupt if the electrodes are hydrated. A microcontroller receives the interrupt and transmits a signal representative of a voltage to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
100 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A program code storage device, comprising:
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a computer-readable medium; and computer-readable program code, stored on the computer-readable medium, the computer-readable program code having instructions, which when executed cause a microcontroller to; receive an interrupt from a detection circuit, the interrupt being representative of the detection circuit detecting hydration of a sensor by detecting a high level of attenuation of an AC signal that had been applied to the sensor; and in response to the interrupt, transmit a signal to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), wherein the signal instructs the DAC to apply a stabilization series of voltages to the sensor, the stabilization series of voltages being a first voltage applied for a first time period, a second voltage applied for a second time period, and a cycling of the application of the first voltage for the first time period and the second voltage for the second time period for a number of iterations. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A program code storage device, comprising:
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a computer-readable medium; and computer-readable program code, stored on the computer-readable medium, the computer-readable program code having instructions, which when executed cause a microcontroller to; receive an interrupt from a detection circuit indicating a sensor has been hydrated; transmit a signal to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) indicating a stabilization sequence of voltages is to be applied to the sensor; and receive a sensor signal from the sensor indicative of a physiological characteristic of a subject into which the sensor is inserted. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A sensor system, comprising:
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a sensor, the sensor including a plurality of electrodes; and a sensor electronics device that is coupled to the sensor and includes; an AC voltage source that is coupled to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes to supply an AC voltage signal to said electrode; an electrical detection circuit that includes a comparator to detect a level of the AC signal present at an input of the comparator and, if a low level AC signal is present at the input of the comparator, generates an interrupt; a microcontroller that receives the interrupt from the electrical detection circuit and transmits a signal representative of a stabilization series of voltages to be applied to the sensor; and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that receives the signal from the microcontroller and applies the stabilization series of voltages to the sensor, said series of voltages including a first voltage applied for a first time period and a second voltage applied for a second time period. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification