CONNECTOR FOR MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20110263203A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nonin Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nonin Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Parthasarathy, Jayant, Maser, Douglas R.
• Application Number:
  US13/121,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20110263203A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• 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 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of electrical contacts, and a transceiver. The housing is configured to engage a feature of a portable device. The plurality of electrical contacts are coupled to the housing and configured to establish an electrical connection with an electrical circuit of the portable device. The transceiver is coupled to the housing and configured to communicate with a secondary device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to engage a feature of a portable device;

a plurality of electrical contacts coupled to the housing and configured to establish an electrical connection with an electrical circuit of the portable device; and

a transceiver coupled to the housing and configured to communicate with a secondary device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is configured to engage a battery compartment of the portable device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are configured to conduct electrical power for the portable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are configured to communicate data between the portable device and a secondary device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate using a wired connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including an electrical connector affixed to the housing and coupled to the transceiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electrical connector is compatible with a USB connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electrical connector is compatible with at least one of an RS232 communication protocol and an RS-485 communication protocol.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate using a wireless link.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wireless link includes at least one of an infrared link, a Bluetooth link, a Wi-Fi link, a WIMAX link, a Zigbee link, an IEEE 802 link, a wireless USB link, an ANT link, a Z-wave link, and a WMTS link.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a battery compartment coupled to the housing and configured to receive at least one battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a memory coupled to the plurality of electrical contacts, the memory configured to store data for the portable device.

13. A method comprising:

establishing an electrical connection between a portable device and an interface;

using the interface to communicate a signal between the portable device and a secondary device; and

powering the portable device using the interface.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the signal is communicated in substantially real time.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the signal is communicated after a time delay.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein using the interface includes connecting an electrical connector to the interface.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein using the interface includes establishing a wireless link between the portable device and the secondary device.

18. The method of claim 13 further including storing data from the portable device in a memory of the interface.