SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE LIFE OF A PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR

• US 20160029933A1
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar, Weber, Walter M., McHale, Ryan Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 9,560,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0238 Means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0266 for monitoring or limiting apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/028 Arrangements to prevent overuse, e.g. by counting the number of uses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• 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 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure include a sensor configured to store in memory indications of sensor use information and formulas or indications of formulas for determining the useful life of a sensor from the indications of sensor use information. A monitor connected to the sensor monitors sensor use and stores indications of the use on sensor memory. The monitor and/or sensor compute the useful life of the sensor from the indications of use and the formulas. When the useful life of the sensor is reached, an indication is given to replace the sensor.

Claims

1. A reusable noninvasive physiological sensor configured to store sensor use information, the sensor comprising:

a first and second emitter configured to emit light of at least two wavelengths through tissue;

a detector configured to sense the light after it has passed through the tissue and to generate a signal indicative of the sensed light;

a memory device configured to store at least one indication of sensor use information and at least one sensor life function, wherein the at least one sensor life function indicates to a separately housed patient monitor how to calculate a useful life of the sensor; and

a communication port configured to communicate the at least one indication of sensor use information and the at least one sensor life function to the separately housed patient monitor, wherein the separately housed patient monitor calculates the useful life of the sensor using the at least one indication of sensor use information and the at least one sensor life function received from the sensor.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a read only portion and a read/write portion and the at least one indication of sensor use information is stored in the read/write portion of the memory device and the at least one sensor life function is stored in the read only portion of the memory device.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor life function comprises one or more mathematical equations.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor life function includes at least two indications of use, and wherein the at least one sensor life function assigns different weighting values to each of the at least two indications of use.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the communication port communicates the at least one sensor life function to the separately housed patient monitor based at least in part on the at least one indication of sensor use information communicated to the separately housed patient monitor.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the memory device is further configured to store sensor type information and the communication port communicates the at least one sensor life function to the separately housed patient monitor based at least in part on the sensor type.

7. A method of determining a useful life of a physiological sensor comprising a memory device, the method comprising:

receiving at the sensor a signal indicative of a physiological parameter;

storing at least one indication of sensor use information and at least one sensor life function in a memory device of the sensor, wherein the at least one sensor life function indicates to a separately housed patient monitor how to calculate a useful life of the sensor; and

communicating the at least one sensor life function and the at least one indication of sensor use information to the separately housed patient monitor, wherein the separately housed patient monitor calculates the useful life of the sensor using the at least one indication of sensor use information and the at least one sensor life function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor life function includes at least two indications of use and assigns different weighting values to each of the at least two indications of use.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the communicating the at least one sensor life function comprises selecting the at least one sensor life function based at least in part on at least one of the stored at least one indication of sensor use information and a sensor type of the sensor stored in the memory device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor life function comprises one or more mathematical equations.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the communicating the selected at least one sensor life function to the separately housed patient monitor is based at least in part on communicating the at least one indication of sensor use information to the separately housed patient monitor.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the storing further comprises storing sensor type information, and wherein the communicating the selected at least one sensor life function to the separately housed patient monitor is based at least in part on the sensor type information.

13. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a reusable noninvasive physiological sensor including a memory device cause the reusable noninvasive physiological sensor to:

receive at the sensor a signal indicative of a physiological parameter;

store at least one indication of sensor use information and at least one sensor life function in a memory device of the sensor, wherein the at least one sensor life function indicates to a separately housed patient monitor how to calculate a useful life of the sensor; and

communicate the at least one indication of sensor use information and the at least one sensor life function to the separately housed patient monitor, wherein the separately housed patient monitor calculates the useful life of the sensor using the at least one indication of sensor use information and the at least one sensor life function.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor life function includes at least two indications of use and assigns different weighting values to each of the at least two indications of use.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, cause the reusable noninvasive physiological sensor to communicate the at least one sensor life function based at least in part on at least one of the stored at least one indication of sensor use information and a sensor type of the sensor stored in the memory device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor life function comprises one or more mathematical equations.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, cause the reusable noninvasive physiological sensor to communicate the selected at least one sensor life function to the separately housed patient monitor based at least in part on the at least one indication of sensor use information communicated to the separately housed patient monitor.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, cause the reusable noninvasive physiological sensor to store sensor type information and to communicate the selected at least one sensor life function to the separately housed patient monitor based at least in part on the sensor type information.