Switching device for an array of multiple medical sensors

• US 6,589,172 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joan Williams
• Original Assignee: Bill Williams, Glenn Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Glenn, Williams, Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kremer, Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US09/932,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20010051767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309-310, 600/322-324, 600/340, 356/39-42
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1477 non-invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/585 provided with printed circuit contacts

Abstract

A switching device is interposed between a conventional physiological information monitor and a plurality of conventional sensors for a particular physiological function. The sensors are located on different parts of the body. Each of the plurality of sensors may be selected through the switching device to give a continuous indication of a particular physiological function in a localized area of the body. The device prevents the loss of information due to interrupted blood flow in a particular part of the body or the failure of a sensor.

Claims

1. A method of providing a continuous indication of a particular physiological function in a localized area of a body, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a monitor which produces a display of particular physiological information, said monitor having a plurality of transcutaneous sensors, said transcutaneous sensors adapted to be temporarily connected to the body;

b) mounting each of said transcutaneous sensors on a different part of the body;

c) connecting a switching device to said monitor and said plurality of transcutaneous sensors, said switching device having a selector, said selector having multiple positions, each of said positions connecting one of said transcutaneous sensors and conveying the particular physiological information to said monitor;

d) selecting one of said positions with said selector; and

e) reading said indication of said particular physiological information from said monitor.

2. A method of providing a continuous indication of a particular physiological function according to claim 1 wherein each of said transcutaneous sensors is activated on a continuous basis whereby instantaneous sensor readings are obtained upon selector switch positioning to provide a continuous indication of a blood oxygenation function in a localized area of the body.

3. A method of providing continuous blood oxygenation readings, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a monitor which produces said readings, said monitor having a plurality of transcutaneous sensors, said transcutaneous sensors adapted to be temporarily connected to a body;

b) mounting each of said transcutaneous sensors on a different part of the body;

c) connecting a switching device to said monitor and said plurality of transcutaneous sensors, said switching device having a selector, said selector having multiple positions, each of said positions electrically coupled to one of said plurality of transcutaneous sensors and conveying the return signal to said monitor;

d) selecting a particular position and activating said transcutaneous sensor by operation of said selector; and

e) producing a blood oxygenation reading from said selected transcutaneous sensor.

4. A method of providing continuous blood oxygenation readings of claim 3 and determining localized blood flow from said blood oxygenation reading to provide an indication of a particular physiological function in a localized area of the body.

5. A method of providing continuous blood oxygenation readings of claim 3 including providing said selector with a selector knob denoting a position of one of said transcutaneous sensors.

6. A method of providing continuous blood oxygenation readings of claim 5 including the step of manually selecting a particular position.

7. A method of providing continuous blood readings oxygenation according to claim 3 wherein each of said transcutaneous sensors is activated on a continuous basis whereby instantaneous sensor readings are obtained upon selector switch positioning to provide a continuous indication of a particular physiological function in a localized area of the body.

8. A switching device for a blood oxygen monitor having plural transcutaneous sensors, said switching device comprising a housing, said housing including an output connection adapted for communication to said oxygen monitor and a plurality of input connections each adapted for communication with one of said plural transcutaneous sensors, a selector carried by said housing for selectively connecting a particular input connection to said output connection, and a plurality of indicators on said housing for showing which of said input connections is active.

9. A switching device of claim 8 wherein said selector is rotary and said plurality of indicators are mounted on said housing about the circumference of said rotary selector.