Finger oximeter with remote telecommunications capabilities and system therefor

• US 6,731,962 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical MD Incorporated
• Inventors: Palatnik, Eugene, Katarow, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/284,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20040087845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/346, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A finger oximeter has fitted thereto a RF transmitter circuit so that the measured SpO₂, and other physical parameters from a patient, may be transmitted telecommunicatively to a monitor device remotely located from the finger oximeter. The RF transmitter circuit is mounted on a PC board that is provided in the housing of the finger oximeter, and works in cooperation with the oximetry circuit that is also mounted on a PC board in the housing of the finger oximeter. The two PC boards may be combined as one. To receive the RF signal, a RF receiver is provided to the remote monitor device, which also includes a processing circuit for processing the incoming RF signal, and a converter circuit for converting the processed digital signal into an analog signal for display at the remote monitor device. In place of a one-way RF link, the finger oximeter may be equipped with a RF transceiver circuit that is capable of transmitting as well as receiving RF signals from the remote monitor device, which likewise is fitted with a RF transceiver circuit. The finger oximeter could be activated by the patient manually, by means of a switch provided at the housing, or remotely by means of a signal provided from the remote monitor device. The finger oximeter may or may not include a display.

Claims

1. An oximeter, comprising:

a housing having an opening through which a finger of a patient is positioned;

a radiation emitter provided in said housing for outputting a multi-frequency radiation to said finger;

a sensor provided in said housing for detecting the radiation from said emitter passing said finger so as to acquire data relating to the physical attributes of said patient;

at least one circuit provided in said housing for effecting the respective operations of said radiation emitter and said sensor, and to calculate from the data acquired from said sensor at least the oxygen saturation level of blood of said patient; and

at least an other circuit provided in said housing for establishing a bidirectional RF link between said oximeter and a remote device separate from said housing, said other circuit working cooperatively with said one circuit for transmitting a RF signal representing the calculated blood saturation level of said patient to said remote device.

2. Oximeter of claim 1, wherein said other circuit comprises a RF transmitter circuit on a circuit board mounted within said housing for transmitting said signal via said RF link to a remote RF receiver of said remote device.

3. Oximeter of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises two halves one of which has fitted thereto one circuit board whereon said one circuit is mounted and another circuit board whereon said other circuit is mounted.

4. Oximeter of claim 1, further comprising:

a display at said housing for displaying the oxygen saturation of blood of the patient; and

a switch at said housing not responsive to the placement of said finger in said housing for enabling a user to selectively activate said oximeter.

5. Oximeter of claim 2, wherein said RF transmitter circuit can transmit the signal at a selectable frequency.

6. Oximeter of claim 1, wherein said RF signal is sent via Bluetooth protocol.

7. Oximeter of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy source provided in said housing; and

a power circuit for supplying power from said energy source to said radiation emitter, said sensor, and said first and second circuits, said power circuit may be activated or shut down by the activation of a switch not responsive to the placement of said finger in said housing located at said housing or by a signal transmitted from said remote device.

8. An oximeter, comprising:

a housing having an opening through which a finger of a patient is positioned;

a radiation emitter provided in said housing for outputting a multi-frequency radiation to said finger;

a sensor provided in said housing for detecting the radiation from said emitter passing said finger so as to acquire data relating to the physical attributes of said patient;

at least one circuit provided in said housing for effecting the respective operations of said radiation emitter and said sensor, and to calculate from the data acquired from said sensor at least the oxygen saturation level of blood of said patient;

at least an other circuit provided in said housing working cooperatively with said one circuit for transmitting a RF signal representing the calculated blood saturation level to a remote device; and

a processor circuit for controlling the respective operations of said radiation emitter, said sensor, and said first and second circuits, the operation of said processor circuit may be controlled by a signal transmitted from said remote device.

9. In combination, a housing having an opening through which a finger of a patient is positioned, a light emitter provided in said housing for radiating the finger with a multi-frequency light, a photo sensor provided in said housing for sensing the light passing through the finger, a first circuit provided in said housing for converting the sensed light to data representing physical attributes of the patient including SpO₂, a second circuit working in cooperation with said first circuit for establishing a bidirectional telecommunications link with and transmitting the data in packet format to a remote device unattached to said housing having a display, said remote device having a transceiver circuit attuned to receive data packets from said second circuit, the data packets being converted by a processing circuit in said remote device and displayed as the SpO₂ of the patient at said remote device.

10. Combination of claim 9, wherein said second circuit comprises a RF transceiver circuit and wherein said transceiver circuit comprises another RF transceiver circuit, both said RF transceiver circuits being selected to operate at a given frequency.

11. Combination of claim 9, wherein said signal processing circuit unpacks the data packets from said second circuit, said remote device comprises a display driver circuit for displaying the unpacked data as the SPO₂ on said remote device.

12. Combination of claim 9, wherein said housing comprises a display whereon the SPO₂ of the patient can be displayed, so that the SPO₂ of the patient could be displayed at both said housing and said remote device.

13. Combination of claim 9, wherein said housing comprises two halves biased toward each other, respective circuit boards having mounted thereon said first and second circuits fitted in one of said halves, a switch provided to said housing not responsive to the placement of the finger of said patient in said housing to enable manual activation of said light emitter, photo sensor, and said first and second circuits.

14. Combination of claim 9, further comprising:

a power circuit for supplying power to said light emitter, said photo sensor, and said first and second circuits, said power circuit may be activated or shut down by the activation of a switch located at said housing not responsive to the placement of the finger of said patient in said housing or by a signal transmitted from said remote device.

15. A system for remotely determining the blood oxygen level in the blood of a patient, comprising:

an oximeter having

a housing with an opening through which a finger of a patient is positioned;

a radiation emitter provided in said housing for radiating said finger with a multi-frequency radiation;

a sensor provided in said housing for acquiring data from the radiation passing said finger;

a processor circuit provided in said housing for operating said radiation emitter and said sensor, and for calculating from the data acquired by said sensor at least the oxygen saturation level of blood of said patient; and

a transceiver circuit provided in said housing for telecommunicatively transmitting the calculated blood saturation level from said housing; and

a monitor device remote and separate from said oximeter having

an other transceiver circuit for establishing a bidirectional telecommunication link with said oximeter for receiving the calculated blood saturation level from said oximeter; and

a display for displaying the received blood saturation level.

16. System of claim 15, wherein said transceiver circuit of said oximeter comprises a RF transmitter circuit, the calculated blood saturation level being transmitted by said RF transmitter circuit as a RF signal;

and

wherein said other transceiver circuit comprises a RF receiver for receiving the RF signal.

17. System of claim 16, wherein said monitor device comprises a signal processing circuit for processing the RF signal and displaying the processed signal as the blood saturation level of the patient.

18. System of claim 15, wherein said monitor device comprises a multi-functional medical monitor that displays, in addition the blood saturation level, the EKG, pulse and blood pressure of the patient.

19. System of claim 15, wherein said housing comprises two halves biased toward each other, two circuit boards each having mounted thereon one of said processor and transceiver circuits mounted to one of said halves, a switch not responsive to the placement of said finger in said housing provided to said housing to enable manual activation of said radiation emitter, said sensor, and said processor and transmitter circuits.

20. System of claim 15, further comprising:

a power circuit for supplying power to said radiation emitter, said sensor, and said processor and transceiver circuits, said power circuit may be activated or shut down by the activation of a switch located at said housing not responsive to the placement of said finger in said housing or by a signal transmitted from said remote monitor device.

21. An oximeter, comprising:

a housing having an opening through which a finger of a patient is positioned;

a radiation emitter provided in said housing for outputting radiation of multiple frequencies to said finger;

a photo sensor provided in said housing for detecting the radiation passing said finger to acquire data relating to oxygen saturation of blood of the patient;

a processor provided in said housing for calculating from the acquired data the oxygen saturation level of blood of said patient; and

a transceiver provided in said housing for establishing a bidirectional telecommunications link between said oximeter and a monitor device at a remote location separate from said oximeter, said transceiver transmitting a RF signal representing the calculated blood saturation level to said monitor device at the remote location.

22. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said housing includes a display for displaying the calculated blood saturation level of the patient.

23. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said transceiver comprises a RF transmitter circuit for transmitting said signal via an RF link to a remote RF receiver of a monitor device remote and separate from said oximeter.

24. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said housing comprises two halves one of which has fitted thereto at least one circuit board whereon at least one of said processor and transceiver is mounted, and a switch not responsive to the placement of said finger in said housing for selectively controlling power to said radiation emitter, photo sensor, processor and transceiver.

25. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said circuit transceiver can transmit said RF signal at a selectable frequency.

26. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said RF signal is sent via Bluetooth protocol.

27. An oximeter, comprising:

a housing having an opening through which a finger of a patient is positioned;

a radiation emitter provided in said housing for outputting radiation of multiple frequencies to said finger;

a photo sensor provided in said housing for detecting the radiation passing said finger to acquire data relating to oxygen saturation of blood of the patient;

a processor provided in said housing for calculating from the acquired data the oxygen saturation level of blood of said patient; and

a transmitter provided in said housing for transmitting a RF signal representing the calculated blood saturation level to a remote location;

wherein said processor circuit controls the respective operations of said radiation emitter, said sensor, and said transmitter, said oximeter further comprising a power circuit and a power supply for supplying power to said radiation emitter, said sensor, said transmitter and said processor circuit, the operation of said power circuit may be selectively controlled by a signal transmitted from said monitor device.

28. A system for remotely determining the blood oxygen level in the blood of a patient, comprising:

an oximeter having

a housing with an opening through which a finger of a patient is positioned;

a radiation emitter provided in said housing for radiating said finger with a multi-frequency radiation;

a sensor provided in said housing for acquiring data from the radiation passing said finger;

a processor circuit provided in said housing for operating said radiation emitter and said sensor, and for calculating from the data acquired by said sensor at least the oxygen saturation level of blood of said patient; and

a transmitter circuit provided in said housing for telecommunicatively transmitting the calculated blood saturation level from said housing; and

a monitor device remote from said oximeter having

a receiver circuit for receiving the calculated blood saturation level from said oximeter; and

a display for displaying the received blood saturation level;

wherein said monitor device comprises an activation circuit for controlling the operation of said processor circuit of said oximeter from said monitor device.