Physiological measurement communications adapter

• US 6,850,788 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KREMER, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US10/377,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/322, 600/323, 600504-507, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0026 characterised by the transmission medium
• 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 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• 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 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 : Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 : Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 : Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 : Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7228 : Signal modulation applied to the input signal sent to patient or subject; demodulation to recover the physiological signal modulation H03C
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7271 : Specific aspects of physiological measurement analysis A61B5/316, A61B5/349 and A61B5/374 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 : Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 : Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 : worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry

Abstract

A sensor interface is configured to receive a sensor signal. A transmitter modulates a first baseband signal responsive to the sensor signal so as to generate a transmit signal. A receiver demodulates a receive signal corresponding to the transmit signal so as to generate a second baseband signal corresponding to the first baseband signal. Further, a monitor interface is configured to communicate a waveform responsive to the second baseband signal to a sensor port of a monitor. The waveform is adapted to the monitor so that measurements derived by the monitor from the waveform are generally equivalent to measurements derivable from the sensor signal. The communications adapter may further comprise a signal processor having an input in communications with the sensor interface, where the signal processor is operable to derive a parameter responsive to the sensor signal and where the first baseband signal is responsive to the parameter. The parameter may correspond to at least one of a measured oxygen saturation and a pulse rate.

Claims

1. A communications adapter which is plug compatible with a noninvasive pulse oximetry sensor and which is plug compatible with a pulse oximeter capable of communicating with sensor through conventional cabiling, the communications adapter comprising:

a sensor interface configured to receive a sensor signal from a noninvasive pulse oximetry sensor through a sensor connector which is plug compatible with said sensor;

a transmitter that modulates a first baseband signal responsive to said sensor signal so as to generate a transmit signal;

a receiver that demodulates a receive signal corresponding to said transmit signal so as to generate a second baseband signal corresponding to said first baseband signal; and

a monitor interface including a monitor connector which is plug compatible with a sensor port of a monitor that is capable of communicating with said sensor through conventional cabling, wherein said monitor interface is configured to communicate a waveform responsive to said second baseband signal to said a sensor port of said monitor, said waveform adapted to said monitor so that measurements derived by said monitor from said waveform are generally equivalent to measurements derivable from said sensor signal.

2. The communications adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a signal processor having an input in communications with said sensor interface, said signal processor operable to derive a parameter responsive to said sensor signal, said first baseband signal responsive to said parameter.

3. The communications adapter according to claim 2 wherein said parameter corresponds to at least one of a measured oxygen saturation and a pulse rate.

4. The communications adapter according to claim 3 further comprising a waveform generator that synthesizes said waveform from a predetermined shape.

5. The communications adapter according to claim 4 wherein said waveform generator synthesizes said waveform at a frequency adjusted to be generally equivalent to said pulse rate.

6. The communications adapter according to claim 4 wherein said waveform has a first amplitude and a second amplitude, said waveform generator configured to adjusted said amplitudes so that measurements derived by said monitor are generally equivalent to said measured oxygen saturation.

7. The communications adapter according to claim 1 wherein said sensor interface is operable on said sensor signal to provide a plethysmograph signal output, said first baseband signal responsive to said plethysmograph signal.

8. The communications adapter according to claim 7 further comprising a waveform modulator that modifies a decoded signal responsive to said second baseband signal to provide said waveform.

9. The communications adapter according to claim 8 wherein said waveform modulator comprises:

a demodulator that separates a first signal and a second signal from said decoded signal;

an amplifier that adjusts amplitudes of said first and second signals to generate a first adjusted signal and a second adjusted signal; and

a modulator that combines said first and second adjusted signals into said waveform.

10. The communications adapter according to claim 9 wherein amplitudes of said first and second signals are responsive to predetermined calibration data for said sensor and said monitor.

11. A communications adapter method comprising the steps of:

receiving a sensor signal at a patient location, said sensor signal being output from a noninvasive sensor capable of communicating with a monitor through conventional cabling;

wirelessly communicating patient data derived from said sensor signal between said patient location and a second location;

constructing a waveform at said second location responsive to said sensor signal; and

providing said waveform to said monitor via a sensor port usable to communicate with the sensor through conventional cabling, said waveform constructed so that said monitor calculates a parameter generally equilvalent to a measurement derivable from said sensor signal.

12. The communications adapter method according to claim 11 wherein said communicating step comprises the substeps of:

deriving a conditioned signal from said sensor signal;

calculating a parameter signal from said conditioned signal; and

transmitting said parameter signal from said patient location to said second location.

13. The communications adapter method according to claim 12 wherein said constructing step comprises the substep of synthesizing said waveform from said parameter signal.

14. The communications adapter method according to claim 11 wherein said communicating step comprises the substeps of:

deriving a conditioned signal from said sensor signal;

transmitting said conditioned signal from said patient location to said second location.

15. The communications adapter method according to claim 14 wherein said constructing step comprises the substeps of:

demodulating said conditioned signal; and

re-modulating said conditioned signal to generate said waveform.

16. The communications adapter method according to claim 11 wherein said providing step comprises the substeps of:

Inputting a monitor signal from an LED drive output of said sensor port;

modulating said waveform in response to said monitor signal; and

outputting said waveform on a detector input of said sensor port.

17. A communications adapter comprising:

a conventional sensor connector which is plug compatible with

a conventional noninvasive pulse oximetry sensor and is capable of receiving a sensor signal from said sensor;

means for receiving said sensor signal and outputting a conditioned signal;

means for sending data responsive to said sensor signal;

means for receiving said data;

means for constructing a waveform from said data so that measurements derived by a monitor from said waveform are generally equivalent to measurements derivable from said sensor signal; and

a conventional monitor connector which is plug compatible with a sensor port of said monitor and is capable of communicating said waveform to said sensor port of said monitor, wherein said monitor connector is also capable of communicating with said sensor through conventional cabling.

18. The communications adapter according to claim 17 further comprising means for deriving a parameter signal from said conditioned signal, said data comprising said parameter signal.

19. The communications adapter according to claim 18 wherein said means for constructing further comprises a means for synthesizing said waveform from said parameter signal.

20. The communications adapter according to claim 17 wherein said data comprises said conditioned signal and said means for constructing further comprises a means for modulating said conditioned signal in response to said monitor.