Oximeter sensor with digital memory encoding patient data

• US 6,606,510 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Swedlow, David, Fein, Michael E., Mannheimer, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KREMER, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US09/943,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20020095077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 600/309-310, 600/322-326, 600/331
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/911 Medical electronics

Abstract

The present invention provides a memory chip for use in an oximeter sensor, or an associated adapter or connector circuit. The memory chip allows the storing of patient related data, such as patient trending data or a patient ID, to provide enhanced capabilities for the oximeter sensor. In addition to providing unique data to store in such a memory, the present invention include unique uses of the data stored in such a memory.

Claims

1. A method for using an oximeter sensor, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light emitting element;

detecting light from the light emitting element using a light detecting element;

storing alarm limit values in a memory device in the sensor, wherein the alarm limit values include minimum or maximum values of patient data tracked by an oximeter that trigger an alarm signal;

comparing the alarm limit values stored in the memory device with monitored patient data, wherein the monitored patient data is calculated from a signal from the light detecting element; and

if the monitored patient data reaches one of the alarm limit values, triggering the alarm signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm limit values include blood oxygen saturation data specific to a patient.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said memory device encodes a highest and a lowest blood oxygen saturation level monitored during a period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm limit values include pulse rate data specific to a patient.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said memory device encodes a duration of time that a patient parameter decoded from signals received from said light detecting element exceeded or fell below one of the alarm limit values.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the alarm limit values include pulse amplitude data for a patient.

7. An oximeter system comprising:

a light emitting element in an oximeter sensor;

a light detecting element in the oximeter sensor;

a memory device in the oximeter sensor for storing digital data, said digital data comprising oximeter alarm limit values that are patient-specific, wherein the alarm limit values include minimum or maximum values of patient data that trigger an alarm signal; and

a oximeter monitor that compares the alarm limit values stored in the memory device with monitored patent data, wherein the monitored patient data is calculated from a signal from the light detecting element, and

wherein the oximeter monitor triggers the alarm signal if the monitored patient data reaches one of the alarm limit values.

8. The oximeter system of claim 7 wherein the alarm limit values include a maximum or minimum blood oxygen saturation level.

9. The oximeter system of claim 7 wherein the alarm limit values include a maximum or minimum pulse rate.

10. The oximeter system of claim 7 wherein said memory device encodes patient trending data after an alarm limit value has been reached.

11. The oximeter system of claim 10 wherein said patient trending data comprises perfusion data.

12. The oximeter system of claim 10 wherein said patient trending data comprises blood oxygen saturation levels.

13. The oximeter system of claim 7 wherein said memory device encodes patient trending data periodically before an alarm limit value has been reached.

14. The oximeter system of claim 13 wherein said patient trending data comprises blood oxygen saturation levels.

15. The oximeter system of claim 13 wherein said patient trending data comprises blood perfusion data.

16. The oximeter system of claim 7 wherein said memory device encodes a time that an alarm limit was initially breached.

17. A method for storing data in an oximeter sensor, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light emitting element;

detecting light from the light emitting element using a photodetector;

storing an expected range for a patient parameter in a memory in the sensor, wherein the expected range is specific to a particular patient;

comparing the expected range stored in the memory with monitored patient data to determine if the monitored patient data is within the expected range for the patient, wherein the monitored patient data is calculated from a signal from the photodetector; and

if the monitored patient data varies outside the expected range, displaying a warning message on an oximeter monitor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the expected range is an expected range for blood oxygen saturation levels specific to a patient.

19. A The method of claim 17 further comprising storing a highest and a lowest blood oxygen saturation level for the patient during a period of tune in the memory.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein storing the expected range in the memory further comprises storing an expected range for patient-specific pulse rate data in the memory.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising storing a length of time that the patient has been monitored using the oximeter sensor in the memory.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein storing the expected range in the memory further comprises storing expected blood perfusion data for the patient in the memory.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising storing oximeter alarm limit values that are patient-specific in the memory.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising storing monitored patient trending data received from the photodetector in the memory after one of the alarm limit values has been reached.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising storing a time that one of the alarm limit values was breached.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein one of the alarm limit values is a patient specific blood oxygen saturation level.