Patient cable sensor switch
First Claim
1. An adapter for connecting a sensor to a pulse oximetry monitor, said adapter comprising:
- a sensor connector;
a monitor connector in communications with said sensor connector; and
an adapter element having a first state when said sensor is attached to said sensor connector and a second state when said sensor is not attached to said sensor connector, said adapter element in communication with said monitor connector so that, when said monitor is connected to said monitor connector, said monitor can detect said second state.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor switch located in a patient cable adapts an incompatible sensor to a monitor in a pulse oximetry system. The sensor switch is particularly suited to adapting sensors to a monitor that utilizes an open-circuit detector to determine a no-sensor condition. A compatible sensor short-circuits the inputs to the open-circuit detector to indicate sensor presence. An incompatible sensor has such no short-circuit feature and fails to work on such a monitor. An incompatible sensor attached to a sensor connector at one end of the patient cable, however, actuates the sensor switch. The sensor switch, in turn, short-circuits the open-circuit detector inputs when the monitor is attached to a monitor connector at the opposite end of the patient cable. Thus, the sensor switch simulates the presence of a compatible sensor to the monitor.
924 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An adapter for connecting a sensor to a pulse oximetry monitor, said adapter comprising:
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a sensor connector; a monitor connector in communications with said sensor connector; and an adapter element having a first state when said sensor is attached to said sensor connector and a second state when said sensor is not attached to said sensor connector, said adapter element in communication with said monitor connector so that, when said monitor is connected to said monitor connector, said monitor can detect said second state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of adapting a sensor to a pulse oximetry monitor comprising the steps of:
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providing a sensor connector in communications with a monitor connector; and creating a signal at said monitor connector in response to the attachment of said sensor to said sensor connector so that said monitor can determine a no-sensor condition when attached to said monitor connector. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A sensor adapter having a sensor connector and a monitor connector comprising:
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a sensing means for determining that a sensor is attached to said sensor connector; and a signaling means for communicating between said sensing means and said monitor connector so that a monitor attached to said monitor connector detects a no-sensor condition.
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Specification