SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SENSOR ARRAYS FOR DETECTING PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20110112379A1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Addison, Paul Stanley, McKenna, Edward M., Li, Youzhi, Chen, Bo
• Granted Patent: US 8,986,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• 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 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/925 Neural network

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining physiological parameters of a subject using a sensor array. In an embodiment, a sensor array may contain sensor elements for determining multiple physiological parameters. A combination of sensor elements and the physiological parameters determined may be selected based on signals obtained from the sensor elements of the sensor array. A sensor array may be connected to a monitoring device that may select an optimal sensor element or combination of sensor elements and one or more physiological parameters to be determined. The monitoring device may then determine physiological parameters using the selected combination of sensor elements and display information associated with the parameters on a monitor for use, for example, in monitoring a medical patient.

Claims

1. A method for determining one or more physiological parameters of a subject, the method comprising:

receiving physiological signals from sensor elements coupled to the subject;

analyzing the physiological signals using a processor;

identifying, using a processor, one or more physiological parameters that can be determined based at least in part on the analysis; and

determining, using a processor, the one or more physiological parameters of the subject based at least in part on the physiological signals received from the sensor elements.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a predefined set of physiological parameters; and

identifying one or more physiological parameters from the predefined set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises:

correlating the physiological signals with models for available measurement types; and

determining whether the correlation between the physiological signals and the models exceeds a threshold for at least one of the available measurement types.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises:

comparing the physiological signals to one or more metrics; and

determining whether the physiological signals meet at least one threshold level for the one or more metrics.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying an optimal physiological parameter that can be determined.

6. A method for determining a physiological parameter of a subject, the method comprising:

receiving physiological signals from a plurality of combinations of sensor elements coupled to the subject;

analyzing the physiological signals received from the plurality of combinations of sensor elements using a processor;

selecting, using a processor, a combination from the plurality of combinations of sensor elements for determining the physiological parameter of the subject based at least in part on the analysis; and

determining, using a processor, the physiological parameter of the subject using the physiological signals received from the selected combination of sensor elements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selecting comprises selecting a combination from the plurality of combinations of sensor elements further based at least in part on locations of the combinations of sensor elements.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an indication of a desired physiological parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining that the selected combination of sensor elements is suitable for determining the desired physiological parameter.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing physiological signals received from all possible combinations of sensor elements.

11. A system for determining one or more physiological parameters of a subject, the system comprising:

a sensor interface capable of receiving physiological signals from sensor elements coupled to the subject; and

a processor coupled to the sensor interface, wherein the processor is capable of;

analyzing the physiological signals;

identifying one or more physiological parameters that can be determined based at least in part on the analysis; and

determining one or more physiological parameters of the subject based at least in part on the physiological signals received from the sensor elements.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further capable of:

receiving an indication of a predefined set of physiological parameters; and

identifying one or more physiological parameters from the predefined set.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further capable of:

correlating the physiological signals with models for available measurement types; and

determining whether the correlation between the physiological signals and the models exceeds a threshold for at least one of the available measurement types.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further capable of:

comparing the physiological signals to one or more metrics; and

determining whether the physiological signals meet at least one threshold level for the one or more metrics.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further capable of identifying an optimal physiological parameter that can be determined.

16. A system for determining a physiological parameter of a subject, the system comprising:

a sensor interface capable of receiving physiological signals from a plurality of combinations of sensor elements coupled to the subject; and

a processor coupled to the sensor interface, wherein the processor is capable of;

analyzing the physiological signals received from the plurality of combinations of sensor elements;

selecting a combination from the plurality of combinations of sensor elements for determining the physiological parameter of the subject based at least in part on the analysis; and

determining the physiological parameter of the subject using the physiological signals received from the selected combination of sensor elements.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further capable of selecting a combination from the plurality of combinations of sensor elements based at least in part on locations of the combinations of sensor elements.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further capable of receiving an indication of a desired physiological parameter.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further capable of determining that the selected combination of sensor elements is suitable for determining the desired physiological parameter.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further capable of analyzing physiological signals received from all possible combinations of sensor elements.