PATIENT MONITOR CAPABLE OF MONITORING THE QUALITY OF ATTACHED PROBES AND ACCESSORIES

• US 20180333087A1
• Filed: 04/18/2018
• Published: 11/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar
• Granted Patent: US 10,993,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/226 comprising means for identifying the connector, e.g. to prevent incorrect connection to socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases

Abstract

A system and method to help maintain quality control and reduce cannibalization of accessories and attached probes in a highly sensitive patient monitor, such as a pulse oximetry system. One or more attached components may have information elements designed to designate what quality control mechanisms a patient monitor should look to find on that or another component or designate other components with which the one component may properly work. In a further embodiment, such information elements may also include data indicating the appropriate life of the component.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A cable device for a patient monitoring system, the cable device comprising:

a first connector configured to connect to a patient monitor;

a second connector configured to connect to a patient sensor;

a cable extending between the first connector and the second connector;

a cable information element positioned on or in the first connector or the second connector, the cable information element storing at least;

a cable authentication code that is readable by the patient monitor to determine that the cable is authorized for use with the patient monitor, and

a sensor requirement table that is readable by the patient monitor to determine whether the patient sensor is authorized for use with the cable.

3. The cable device of claim 2, wherein, during use of the cable device, the patient monitor compares a sensor authentication code stored in a sensor information element in the patient sensor to the sensor requirement table in the cable information element to determine whether the patient sensor is authorized for use with the cable device.

4. The cable device of claim 2, wherein the sensor requirement table stores sensor resistance values for a plurality of different authorized patient sensors.

5. The cable device of claim 4, wherein the patient sensor is authorized for use with the cable device when a resistance value from the sensor requirement table matches a measured resistance value of the patient sensor.

6. The cable device of claim 2, wherein the sensor requirement table comprises a bit table.

7. The cable device of claim 6, wherein the bit table comprises an override bit configured to allow attachment of all types of patient sensors to allow for diagnostic testing.

8. The cable device of claim 2, wherein the cable information element stores information indicative of a lifespan, amount of use, or age of the cable device.

9. The cable device of claim 8, wherein the cable information element stores information indicative of a lifespan, amount of use, or age of the patient sensor.

10. The cable device of claim 2, wherein the cable information element is positioned within the first connector.

11. The cable device of claim 2, wherein the cable information element is positioned within the second connector.

12. A patient monitoring system, comprising:

the cable device of claim 2; and

a patient sensor comprising;

a third connector configured to connect to the second connector of the cable device; and

a sensor information element storing a sensor authentication code,

wherein the sensor is authorized for based on a comparison of the sensor authentication code and the sensor requirement table.

13. The patient monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the cable information element and the sensor information element are configured to be connected in a multi-drop configuration.

14. The patient monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the noninvasive sensor further comprises at least one emitter on a different communication line than the sensor information element.

15. The patient monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the noninvasive sensor further comprises a disposable portion and a reusable portion.

16. The patient monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the sensor information element is located on the reusable portion.

17. The patient monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the sensor information element is located on the disposable portion.

18. A patient monitor configured to communicate with physiological sensor of different types and receive and use information indicative of a physiological condition from the physiological sensors after verification of the sensor, the patient monitor comprising:

a memory configured to store indications of physiological sensors which are approved for use with the patient monitor, wherein the patient monitor is configured to receive and use information indicative of a physiological condition only from the approved physiological sensors; and

a processor configured to communicate with physiological sensors and to receive identification information from the physiological sensors, the processor further configured to access the memory to determine if the sensor is an approved sensor, and wherein if the sensor identification meets predetermined criteria, the processor is further configured to alter the indications stored on the memory.

19. The patient monitor of claim 18, wherein the indications comprise a table of types of sensors.

20. The patient monitor of claim 19, wherein the types of sensors comprise a patient type of the sensor.