WIRELESS OPTICAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NONINVASIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSORS AND PATIENT MONITORS

• US 20140275871A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories
• Inventors: Lamego, Marcelo M., Kiani, Massi Joe E.
• Application Number:
  US14/206,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20140275871A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include a noninvasive physiological patient sensor and a patient monitor capable of wireless communication with one another. An optical communication path can be used to provide the communication path between the noninvasive physiological patient sensor and the patient monitor. The path can be maintained by one or more light sources and detectors traditionally associated with noninvasive optical sensors or by one or more additional dedicated light sources and detectors.

Claims

1. A physiological monitoring system configured to process signals responsive to light attenuated by body tissue carrying pulsing blood, the system configured to determine measurement values for one or more physiological conditions of a patient being monitored, the system comprising:

a noninvasive physiological sensor comprising a processor configured to;

in response to receiving a sensor activation command, communicate a first drive signal to a light source of said noninvasive physiological sensor to irradiate tissue of a patient with light,

receive a detector signal output by a detector of said noninvasive physiological sensor responsive to detected light after attenuation by said tissue carrying pulsing blood, and

communicate a second drive signal to said light source of said noninvasive physiological sensor to transmit a communication signal responsive to said detector signal output by said detector of said noninvasive physiological sensor; and

a patient monitor comprising a processor configured to;

communicate said sensor activation command to said noninvasive physiological sensor,

receive a detector signal output by a detector of said patient monitor responsive to detected light transmitted by said noninvasive physiological sensor, said detector signal output by said detector of said patient monitor responsive to said communication signal,

determine measurement values of one or more physiological parameters of said patient based at least on said detector signal output by said detector of said patient monitor, and

output said measurement values of said one or more physiological parameters for display on a display of said patient monitor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said measurement values of said one or more physiological parameters comprise measurement values for blood glucose, total hemoglobin, SpO2, methemoglobin, or carboxyhemoglobin.

3. A method of communicating optically between a noninvasive physiological sensor and a patient monitor, the method comprising:

irradiating tissue of a patient with light using a first light source of a sensor;

detecting with a detector of said sensor said light after attenuation by said tissue;

outputting from said detector of said sensor a detector signal responsive to said detected light; and

transmitting, with a second light source of the sensor, a transmission signal responsive to said detector signal, wherein said transmitting comprises emitting light.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said transmitting comprises emitting light having an intensity that is modulated responsive to said detector signal.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said transmitting comprises emitting light having a frequency that is modulated responsive to said detector signal.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said first light source and said second light source comprise the same light source.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said first light source and said second light source comprise different light sources.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein said irradiating is performed in response to receiving, at said sensor, a sensor activation command from a patient monitor.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining one or more measurement values of physiological parameters of said patient based at least on said detector signal using a processor of said sensor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said measurement values of said one or more physiological parameters comprise measurement values for blood glucose, total hemoglobin, SpO2, methemoglobin, or carboxyhemoglobin.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving at a patient monitor said transmission signal detected using a detector of said patient monitor;

processing said detected transmission signal using a processor of said patient monitor to determine measurement values of one or more physiological parameters of said patient; and

displaying said measurement values on a display of said patient monitor.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating a confirmation of data transfer, using said patient monitor, upon receipt of said transmission signal without error.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising demodulating said transmission signal and decoding said demodulated signal using said processor of said sensor.

14. A method of establishing an optical communication path between a sensor and a patient monitor, the method comprising:

activating a light source of a patient monitor to emit monitor communication light;

detecting said monitor communication light at a sensor configured to irradiate body tissue of a patient with light at different wavelengths, detect said light after attenuation by said body tissue carrying pulsing blood, and output a detector signal responsive to said detected light;

activating a light source of said sensor to emit sensor communication light; and

detecting said sensor communication light at said patient monitor.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising encoding said detector signal into said sensor communication light using a processor of said sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising processing said detector signal using a processor of said patient monitor to determine measurement values of one or more physiological parameters of said patient.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising encoding a sensor activation command into said monitor communication light using a processor of said patient monitor, said sensor activation command causing said sensor to irradiate said body tissue.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising encoding a data receipt acknowledgement into said sensor communication light using a processor of said sensor.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising encoding a data receipt acknowledgement into said monitor communication light using a processor of said patient monitor.