Patient monitoring module
First Claim
1. A signal processing module with electrical over-voltage protection and signal isolation, comprising:
- a lower housing with a first internal surface;
a first printed circuit board with a first connector and an isolation block, the first printed circuit board mounted on the first internal surface of said lower housing;
an isolation piece with an upper surface, mounted over the first printed circuit board and having a first opening for the isolation block and a first indentation for a second connector, the second connector coupling the module to a monitoring system and a power supply;
second printed circuit boards mounting on the upper surface of the isolation piece and coupled to the first printed circuit board by the isolation block, the second connector being coupled to one of the second printed circuit boards; and
an upper housing mounting over the second printed circuit boards and mechanically coupled to the lower housing and the isolation piece to form the signal processing module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient monitoring/signal processing module with increased electrical isolation is disclosed. The combination of an inner isolation piece and an isolation film provide signal isolation and electrical over-voltage protection between a lower, isolated portion of the unit defined by a lower housing and the isolation piece and an upper, non-isolated portion of the unit, defined by an upper housing and the isolation piece, increasing the module'"'"'s ability to survive an over-voltage condition without damage to itself or to the patient to whom it is coupled. The combination of the isolation film and the isolation piece results in a much thinner module than would otherwise have been necessary to achieve the same levels of signal and electrical isolation.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A signal processing module with electrical over-voltage protection and signal isolation, comprising:
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a lower housing with a first internal surface; a first printed circuit board with a first connector and an isolation block, the first printed circuit board mounted on the first internal surface of said lower housing; an isolation piece with an upper surface, mounted over the first printed circuit board and having a first opening for the isolation block and a first indentation for a second connector, the second connector coupling the module to a monitoring system and a power supply; second printed circuit boards mounting on the upper surface of the isolation piece and coupled to the first printed circuit board by the isolation block, the second connector being coupled to one of the second printed circuit boards; and an upper housing mounting over the second printed circuit boards and mechanically coupled to the lower housing and the isolation piece to form the signal processing module. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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2. A signal processing module with an isolation block, the isolation block comprising:
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a lower section comprising both signal and power components; an isolation film overlying the lower section and extending a predefined distance beyond the lower section; and an upper section comprising both signal and power components, overlying the isolation film, the upper section and lower section being in optical and electro-magnetic communication with one another through the isolation film, the isolation film preventing direct electrical connection and providing electrical over-voltage protection between the lower section and upper section. - View Dependent Claims (3, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing signal isolation and over-voltage protection in a signal processing unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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dividing the unit into a first signal processing section and a second signal processing section by means of an isolation shield; creating a first opening in the isolation shield for signal communication and power transmission between the first and second signal processing sections; transmitting signals between the first and second signal processing sections by means of light signals directed through the first opening; transmitting power between the first and second signal processing sections by means of an electrical transformer having a first half in the first signal processing section and a second half in the second signal processing section; and placing an isolation film in the optical pathway between the first and second signal processing sections and between the first and second transformer halves, the isolation film permitting optical signal communication, and the isolation film and the isolation shield cooperating to electrically isolate the first and second signal processing sections from one another.
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Specification