Non-contact optical monitoring of physiological parameters
First Claim
1. A method of remotely monitoring a characteristic of arterial blood in pulsatile tissue, comprising the steps of:
- providing a light source including optics for illuminating a first area of tissue, a light detector including collection optics for collecting essentially only re-emitted light from a second area of the tissue spaced a predetermined distance from said first area, and means for mounting the light source and light detector remotely from the pulsatile tissue;
positioning said mounting means remotely from the first and second areas of tissue and tissue adjacent thereto;
projecting light from the light source on the first area of tissue;
collecting light with the light detector from the second area of tissue; and
calculating the characteristic of the arterial blood in the pulsatile tissue using a first step which separates time dependent from non-time dependent collected light intensities and a second step which utilizes said time dependent light intensities to calculate the characteristics of the arterial blood in the pulsatile tissue.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for the monitoring of physiological parameters of a patient through the use of optical systems which do not require direct physical contact with the patient. The method and apparatus relate primarily to pulse oximetry for monitoring of pulse rate and arterial blood oxygen saturation. However, the apparatus and method of this invention are applicable to any form of optical detection of the physiological parameters in which light of any wavelength, visible or invisible, is directed from a remote instrument into a patient at a first imaging site, and subsequently collected at a second site spaced from the first site.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of remotely monitoring a characteristic of arterial blood in pulsatile tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing a light source including optics for illuminating a first area of tissue, a light detector including collection optics for collecting essentially only re-emitted light from a second area of the tissue spaced a predetermined distance from said first area, and means for mounting the light source and light detector remotely from the pulsatile tissue; positioning said mounting means remotely from the first and second areas of tissue and tissue adjacent thereto; projecting light from the light source on the first area of tissue; collecting light with the light detector from the second area of tissue; and calculating the characteristic of the arterial blood in the pulsatile tissue using a first step which separates time dependent from non-time dependent collected light intensities and a second step which utilizes said time dependent light intensities to calculate the characteristics of the arterial blood in the pulsatile tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for remotely monitoring a characteristic of arterial blood in pulsatile tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a light source having optic means for illuminating a first area of tissue; b) a light detector having collection optic means for collecting essentially only re-emitted light from a second area of the tissue spaced a predetermined distance from said first area;
said light source and said light detector having mounting means for mounting said light source and said light detector remotely from the pulsatile tissue, with said mounting means being positioned remotely from the first and second areas of tissue and tissue adjacent thereto; andc) calculating means for calculating the characteristic of the arterial blood in the pulsatile tissue by separating time dependent from non-time dependent light intensities sensed by said light detector and utilizing said time dependent light intensity information to determine the characteristics of the arterial blood in the pulsatile tissue. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification