Alignment guide system for transmissive pulse oximetry sensors
First Claim
1. A system for optimally positioning a light source with respect to a light detector in a plethysmograph sensor, said system comprising:
- a light driver connected to said light source to energize said light source, thereby causing said light source to emit light;
a receiver circuit connected to said light detector, said receiver circuit generating an indicator signal that is indicative of the magnitude of the light transmitted from said light source to said light detector; and
a display operably connected to said receiver circuit, said display providing a visual display of the magnitude of the light transmitted from said light source to said light detector as indicated by said indicator signal so that said display can be monitored while said plethysmograph sensor is being attached to a patient in order to optimize the positioning of said light source with respect to said light detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An alignment guide system for use with conventional pulse oximetry monitors connected to transmissive pulse oximetry sensors. The system generates a bar graph or other display showing the magnitude of the optical coupling between the LED'"'"'s and light detector used in the sensor. By manipulating the position of the sensor while observing the bar graph, medical practitioners can optimize the mount of light from the LED'"'"'s reaching the light detector. The bar graph also contains an alarm limit marker. If the bar graph falls below the alarm limit marker, the entire bar graph flashes to alert the medical practitioner that the mount of light transmitted to the LED'"'"'s to the light detector may not be enough to permit sufficiently accurate oxygen saturation measurements.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for optimally positioning a light source with respect to a light detector in a plethysmograph sensor, said system comprising:
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a light driver connected to said light source to energize said light source, thereby causing said light source to emit light; a receiver circuit connected to said light detector, said receiver circuit generating an indicator signal that is indicative of the magnitude of the light transmitted from said light source to said light detector; and a display operably connected to said receiver circuit, said display providing a visual display of the magnitude of the light transmitted from said light source to said light detector as indicated by said indicator signal so that said display can be monitored while said plethysmograph sensor is being attached to a patient in order to optimize the positioning of said light source with respect to said light detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A pulse oximetry system, comprising:
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a pulse oximetry sensor, comprising at least one light source and at least one light detector, said light sensor and said light detector being attachable to the skin of a patient so that said light detector and said light source can face each other; and
a pulse oximetry monitor, comprising;a light driver connected to said light source to energize said light source, thereby causing said light source to emit light; a receiver circuit connected to said light detector, said receiver circuit generating first and second indicator signals that are indicative of the magnitude of the light transmissivity beneath said sensor at two different wavelengths, respectively; and a processor operatively connected to said receiver circuit, said processor receiving said first and second indicator signals, calculating the oxygen saturation of tissues beneath the skin of said patient to which said pulse oximetry sensor is attached, and generating a saturation signal corresponding the oxygen saturation of said tissues; a display operably connected to said processor and to said receiver circuit to receive said saturation signal and at least one of said indicator signals, said display providing a visual indication of the magnitude of the light transmitted from said light source to said light detector as indicated by said indicator signal received by said display so that said display can be monitored while said pulse oximetry sensor is being attached to said patient in order to optimize the positioning of said sensor, said display further providing a visual indication of the oxygen saturation of said tissues. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of optimally positioning a light source with respect to a light detector in a plethysmograph sensor, said system comprising:
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(a) placing said plethysmograph sensor on a patient; (b) measuring the magnitude of light transmitted from said light source to said light detector and providing an indicating signal corresponding thereto; (c) providing a visual indication of the magnitude of light transmitted from said light source to said light detector as indicated by said indicating signal; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) while viewing said visual indicator until the magnitude of light transmitted from said light source to said light detector reaches an acceptable level. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification