Pulse oximetry sensor adapter
First Claim
1. An adapter configured to provide an interconnection between at least one pulse oximetry sensor of a plurality of possible sensor types and at least one monitor of a plurality of possible monitor types, said sensor having a light source and a light detector, said monitor having a driver, a signal conditioner and an information element detector, said adapter comprising:
- a plurality of signal paths configured for detachable connection to at least one of said monitor and said sensor, a first of said signal paths in communication with said driver and said light source when said adapter is in communication with said monitor and said sensor, a second of said signal paths in communication with said light detector and said signal conditioner when said adapter is in communication with said monitor and said sensor, and at least one of said signal paths being in communication with said information element detector when said adapter is in communication with said monitor; and
at least one adapter element connected to at least one of said signal paths, said adapter element modifying a characteristic of said at least one signal path so that said sensor and said monitor are jointly operable to measure oxygen status, said at least one adapter element operable to convey information about said sensor types to said monitor, said information being compatible with said information element detector.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adapter allows the interconnection of a sensor originating from one manufacturer to be coupled with conventionally incompatible monitors originating from other manufacturers to form a properly functioning pulse oximetry system. The adapter matches a sensor driver in a monitor to the current requirements and light source configuration of a sensor. The adapter also matches a sensor'"'"'s light detector signal level to the dynamic range requirements of a monitor preamplifier. Further, the adapter provides compatible sensor calibration, sensor type and security information to a monitor. The adapter may have a self-contained power source or it may derive power from the monitor, allowing both passive and active adapter components. The adapter is particular suited as an adapter cable, replacing a conventional patient cable or sensor cable as the interconnection between a sensor to a monitor in a pulse oximetry system.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An adapter configured to provide an interconnection between at least one pulse oximetry sensor of a plurality of possible sensor types and at least one monitor of a plurality of possible monitor types, said sensor having a light source and a light detector, said monitor having a driver, a signal conditioner and an information element detector, said adapter comprising:
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a plurality of signal paths configured for detachable connection to at least one of said monitor and said sensor, a first of said signal paths in communication with said driver and said light source when said adapter is in communication with said monitor and said sensor, a second of said signal paths in communication with said light detector and said signal conditioner when said adapter is in communication with said monitor and said sensor, and at least one of said signal paths being in communication with said information element detector when said adapter is in communication with said monitor; and at least one adapter element connected to at least one of said signal paths, said adapter element modifying a characteristic of said at least one signal path so that said sensor and said monitor are jointly operable to measure oxygen status, said at least one adapter element operable to convey information about said sensor types to said monitor, said information being compatible with said information element detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An adapter configured to provide an interconnection between a pulse oximetry sensor and a monitor, said sensor having a light source and a light detector, said monitor having a driver and a signal conditioner, said adapter comprising:
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a plurality of signal paths configured for detachable connection to at least one of said monitor and said sensor, a first of said signal paths in communication with said driver and said light source when said adapter is in communication with said monitor and said sensor, and second of said signal paths in communication with said light detector and said signal conditioner when said adapter is in communication with said monitor and said sensor; and an adapter element connected to at least one of said first and said second signal paths, said adapter element modifying characteristic of said at least on signal path so that said sensor and said monitor are jointly operable to measure oxygen status, said adapter element being communication with said second signal path and providing gain for a detector signal, said adapter element comprising an amplifier and a signal level detector, said amplifier providing variable gain to said detector signal under the control of said signal level detector, said signal level detector sensing said detector signal at the output of said amplifier.
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17. A sensor adapter comprising:
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a sensor of a plurality of possible sensor types having a light source and a light detector; a plurality of signal paths configured for detachable connection to a monitor, of a plurality of possible monitor types, a first of said signal paths communicating a drive signal from said monitor to said light source, and a second of said signal paths communicating an intensity signal from said light detector to said monitor; and a plurality of adapter elements in communication with at least one of said signal paths, said adapter elements responsive to said sensor of a plurality of sensor types and said monitor of a plurality of monitor types to allow said sensor and said monitor to be jointly operable as a pulse oximetry system, said adapter selecting said at least one adapter element of said plurality of adapter elements to allow said monitor to operate with said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A sensor adapter comprising:
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a sensor having a light source and a light detector; a plurality of signal paths configured for detachable connection to a monitor, a first of said signal paths communicating a drive signal from said monitor to said light source, and a second of said signal paths communicating an intensity signal from said light detector to said monitor; and an active adapter element in communication with at least one of said first and said second signal paths, said adapter element responsive to said sensor and said monitor to allow said sensor and said monitor to be jointly operable as a pulse oximetry system, wherein said active adapter element generates a predetermined signal level applied to said first signal path that conveys information regarding a compatible sensor.
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23. A sensor adapter comprising:
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a sensor having a light source and a light detector, wherein said light source has a conductive portion with a predetermined equivalent resistance that conveys information regarding a compatible sensor; a plurality of signal paths configured for detachable connection to a monitor, a first of said signal paths communicating a drive signal from said monitor to said light source, and a second of said signal paths communicating an intensity signal from said light detector to said monitor; and an active adapter element in communication with at least one of said first and said second signal paths, said adapter element responsive to said sensor and said monitor to allow said sensor and said monitor to be jointly operable as a pulse oximetry system, wherein said active adapter element generates a predetermined signal level applied to said first signal path that conveys information regarding a compatible sensor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of connecting an incompatible sensor to a monitor, comprising:
adapting a signal from at least one of said sensor and said monitor, wherein said sensor and monitor are not normally operable as a unit together, so that said sensor and said monitor are jointly operable as a pulse oximetry system, said act of adapting comprising sensing a characteristic of at least one of said sensor and said monitor and selecting an adapter element of a plurality of adapter elements based on said sensed characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of connecting an incompatible sensor to a monitor, comprising adapting a signal from at least one of said sensor and said monitor, wherein said sensor and monitor are not normally operable as a unit, so that said sensor and said monitor are jointly operable as a pulse oximetry system, wherein said adapting step comprises providing a feedback signal to said monitor, said feedback operative to cause said monitor to control the gain applied within said monitor to a light detector signal from said sensor.
- 39. A method of connecting an incompatible sensor to a monitor, comprising adapting a signal from at least one of said sensor and said monitor, wherein said sensor and monitor are not normally operable as a unit, so that said sensor and said monitor are jointly operable as a pulse oximetry system, wherein said adapting step comprises amplifying a light detector signal from said sensor to create an amplified output which matches the dynamic range of an input to said monitor.
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41. A sensor adapter for operably interconnecting an incompatible sensor to a monitor in a pulse oximetry system comprising:
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interconnect means for providing a signal path between said sensor and said monitor; selecting means for selecting at least one adaptive element from a plurality of adaptive elements to create a compatible signal on said signal path. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A universal adapter configured to provide an interconnection between at least one pulse oximetry sensor of a plurality of possible sensor types and at least one monitor of a plurality of possible monitor types, said adapter comprising:
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a first adapter connector configured to connect said adapter to said at least one sensor of said plurality of possible sensor types; a second adapter connector configured to connect said adapter to said at least one monitor of a plurality of possible monitor types; a sensor test circuit configured to sense at least one characteristic of said at least one sensor; a monitor test circuit configured to sense at least one characteristic of said at least one monitor; a plurality of adpater elements, each adapter element of said plurality of adapter elements configured to modify at least one characteristic of said sensor or said monitor, and means for selecting at least one adapter element of said plurality of adapter elements in response to said sensed characteristics of said at least one sensor and said at least one monitor to allow said sensor and said monitor to jointly operate as pulse oximetry system.
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Specification