Method for estimating blood oxygen saturation

• US 4,895,155 A
• Filed: 10/24/1988
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arnold St. J. Lee
• Original Assignee: Arnold St. J. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Arnold St. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Citrin, Randy
• Application Number:
  US07/262,047
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633, 128/664, 128/665, 128/670
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables

Abstract

Disclosed is a system, apparatus and method for gathering physiological data. Basic to the system of the present invention is a rigid body mold having preferably a negative impression of the dorsal half of the body. By connecting and/or embedding sensors to the body mold at specific locations, e.g., acclerometers, thermistors, and electrocardiogram electrodes, the sensors will be accurately and reproducibly positioned next to a specific body location each time the subject lies in the body mold. The body mold can be used to insulate the body from external motions thereby facilitating the preparation of a ballistocardiogram. The exact re-positioning of the body in the mold allows exact determination of the center of gravity in the horizontal plane of the body.

Claims

1. A method of estimating blood oxygen saturation of a subject comprising the steps of:

providing a substantially rigid body mold having an impression intimately matching the entire length of the dorsal half of the body of a subject, and embedding a skin color transducer in the body mold at a position to directly contact the body when it is placed in the body mold;

placing the subject'"'"'s body in a supine position in the body mold to directly contact the transducer; and

analyzing the output of the skin color transducer to estimate the blood oxygen saturation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the placing step comprises first laying the body on a thin, flexible sheet, and then lowering the sheet bearing the body into the impression.