Pulse oximeter sensor off detector

• US 7,130,671 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Yorkey, Thomas J., Baker, Clark R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/775,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323, 600/330, 600/336
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 21/003 KALMAN filters

Abstract

In a system for measuring a physiological parameter using at least one wavelength of electromagnetic energy transmitted through living tissue, a method for determining an operational status of the system. The method includes receiving a data signal from at least one sensor, determining whether the received data signal is representative of the physiological parameter by sensing whether the at least one sensor is secured to the living tissue, and generating a status signal representative of the operational status of the system based on that determination. The determination includes measuring an output level corresponding to the at least one wavelength. The determination may also include analyzing a spectrum corresponding to the at least one wavelength to determine a percentage of energy contained in a subset of the spectrum, or monitoring an amplitude of the data signal for a given interval.

Claims

1. In a system for measuring a physiological parameter using at least one wavelength of electromagnetic energy transmitted through living tissue, a method for determining an operational status of the system comprising:

receiving a data signal from at least one sensor;

determining whether the received data signal is representative of the physiological parameter by accessing whether the at least one sensor is secured to the living tissue, wherein the accessing comprises analyzing a frequency spectrum corresponding to the at least one wavelength to determine a percentage of energy contained in a subset of the frequency spectrum; and

generating a status signal representative of the operational status of the system based on the determining.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessing comprises measuring an output level corresponding to the at least one wavelength.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the system uses at least two wavelengths electromagnetic energy to measure the physiological parameter, and the accessing comprises of monitoring a correlation between data corresponding to a first wavelength and data corresponding to a second wavelength.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessing comprises of analyzing a frequency power spectrum corresponding to the at least one wavelength to determine a percentage of energy contained in a subset of the frequency power spectrum.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessing comprises monitoring an amplitude of the data signal for a first interval.