Methods And Systems For Using A Thermistor In Probe Identification Circuits In Or Associated With Pulse Oximeter Sensors

• US 20140343382A1
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xhale, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xhale, Inc.
• Inventors: Kersey, Andrew, Rich, David, Rich, Dana
• Application Number:
  US14/279,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases

Abstract

Provided according to embodiments of the present invention are pulse oximetry systems that include a pulse oximeter sensor, and a probe identification circuit that includes a thermistor. The probe identification circuit may be part of or associated with the pulse oximeter sensor.

Claims

1. A pulse oximetry system comprising

a pulse oximeter sensor, and

a probe identification circuit that comprises a thermistor,

wherein the probe identification circuit is part of or associated with the pulse oximeter sensor.

2. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein the probe identification circuit is configured to provide an appropriate identification signal to a monitor so that the pulse oximeter sensor and monitor operatively connect.

3. The probe oximetry system of claim 1, wherein the probe identification circuit is part of the pulse oximeter sensor.

4. The probe oximetry system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the probe identification circuit is located in a cable associated with the pulse oximeter sensor.

5. The probe oximetry system of claim 4, wherein the calibration resistor is located in a cable associated with the pulse oximeter sensor and the thermistor is located within the pulse oximeter sensor.

6. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, further comprising a medical monitor in electronic communication with the pulse oximeter sensor.

7. The pulse oximetry system of claim 6, wherein the equivalent resistance value of the probe identification circuit at a temperature in a range of 0 to 40 degrees C. is a resistance value the monitor will accept for operative connection.

8. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein the thermistor is in parallel with a standard resistor.

9. The pulse oximetry system of claim 8, wherein the probe identification circuit is configured to provide an appropriate identification signal to a monitor so that the pulse oximeter sensor and monitor operatively connect.

10. The probe oximetry system of claim 8, wherein the probe identification circuit is part of the pulse oximeter sensor.

11. The probe oximetry system of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the probe identification circuit is located in a cable associated with the pulse oximeter sensor.

12. The probe oximetry system of claim 11, wherein the calibration resistor is located in a cable associated with the pulse oximeter sensor and the thermistor is located within the pulse oximeter sensor.

13. The pulse oximetry system of claim 8, further comprising a medical monitor in electronic communication with the pulse oximeter sensor.

14. The pulse oximetry system of claim 8, wherein the parallel resistor decreases resistance output values for a given thermistor over temperatures in a range of 0 to 40 degrees C.

15. A method of determining whether a probe identification circuit comprises a thermistor comprising

(a) transmitting to the probe identification circuit from a medical monitor at least one pulse of current;

and detecting with the medical monitor a change in resistance to determine that a thermistor is present in the probe identification circuit; and

/or

(b) detecting with the medical monitor a change in resistance of the probe identification circuit over time due to ambient temperature changes to determine that the thermistor is present in the probe identification circuit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the probe identification circuit is part of or associated with a pulse oximeter sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising monitoring respiration in the individual using the thermistor.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising monitoring blood oxygen saturation with the pulse oximeter probe.