ADJUSTING PARAMETERS USED IN PULSE OXIMETRY ANALYSIS

• US 20120283533A1
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Baker, Clark R. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,131,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence

Abstract

Adjusting a pulse qualification criterion includes receiving a signal representing a plurality of pulses, where the signal is generated in response to detecting light scattered from blood perfused tissue. A characteristic is determined A pulse qualification criterion used for qualifying a pulse is adjusted in accordance with the characteristic. The pulses are evaluated according to the pulse qualification criterion.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a pulse qualification criterion, comprising:

receiving a signal representing a plurality of pulses, the signal generated in response to detecting light scattered from blood perfused tissue, each pulse having an amplitude and a period, a subset of the plurality of pulses having a plurality of amplitudes and a plurality of periods;

determining an average amplitude from the plurality of amplitudes;

determining an average period from the plurality of periods;

adjusting a pulse qualification criterion in accordance with the average amplitude and the average period; and

evaluating one or more of the plurality of pulses according to the pulse qualification criterion by disqualifying a pulse having an amplitude that is significantly smaller than the average amplitude and a period that is significantly greater that the average period.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising not applying additional criteria to a particular pulse if the particular pulse is disqualified based on the evaluating according to the pulse qualification criterion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating one or more of the plurality of pulses according to the pulse qualification criterion comprises:

disqualifying a pulse having an amplitude that is more than three times smaller than the average amplitude and a period that is significantly greater that the average period.

4. An system operable to adjust a pulse qualification criterion, comprising:

an interface operable to;

receive a signal representing a plurality of pulses, the signal generated in response to detecting light scattered from blood perfused tissue, each pulse having an amplitude and a period, a subset of the plurality of pulses having a plurality of amplitudes and a plurality of periods; and

a processor operable to;

determine an average amplitude from the plurality of amplitudes;

determine an average period from the plurality of periods;

adjust a pulse qualification criterion in accordance with the average amplitude and the average period; and

evaluate one or more of the plurality of pulses according to the pulse qualification criterion by disqualifying a pulse having an amplitude that is significantly smaller than the average amplitude and a period that is significantly greater that the average period.

5. The system of claim 4, the processor further operable to evaluate one or more of the plurality of pulses according to the pulse qualification criterion by:

disqualifying a pulse having an amplitude that is more than three times smaller than the average amplitude and a period that is significantly greater that the average period.

6. A system for adjusting a pulse qualification criterion, comprising:

means for receiving a signal representing a plurality of pulses, the signal generated in response to detecting light scattered from blood perfused tissue, each pulse having an amplitude and a period, a subset of the plurality of pulses having a plurality of amplitudes and a plurality of periods;

means for determining an average amplitude from the plurality of amplitudes;

means for determining an average period from the plurality of periods;

means for adjusting a pulse qualification criterion in accordance with the average amplitude and the average period; and

means for evaluating one or more of the plurality of pulses according to the pulse qualification criterion by disqualifying a pulse having an amplitude that is significantly smaller than the average amplitude and a period that is significantly greater that the average period.

7. An system operable to adjust a pulse qualification criterion, comprising:

an interface operable to;

receive a signal representing a plurality of pulses, the signal generated in response to detecting light scattered from blood perfused tissue, each pulse having an amplitude and a period, a subset of the plurality of pulses having a plurality of amplitudes and a plurality of periods; and

a processor operable to;

determine an average amplitude from the plurality of amplitudes;

determine an average period from the plurality of periods;

adjust a pulse qualification criterion in accordance with the average amplitude and the average period; and

evaluate one or more of the plurality of pulses according to the pulse qualification criterion by;

disqualifying a pulse having an amplitude that is more than three times smaller than the average amplitude and a period that is significantly greater that the average period.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to prevent application of additional criteria to a particular pulse if the particular pulse is disqualified based on an evaluation according to the pulse qualification criterion.