Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data

• US 7,983,729 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Fein, Michael E., Mannheimer, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US11/445,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/322, 600/323
• 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

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light a memory storing data, and a changeable encryption key to facilitate scrambling the data to make the data inaccessible to devices that are without an appropriate decryption mechanism.

Claims

1. An oximeter system, comprising:

an oximeter sensor, comprising;

a light emitting element configured to emit light;

a light detector configured to detect the light; and

a memory storing data encrypted by a changeable encryption key to make the data inaccessible to devices that are without an appropriate decryption mechanism; and

an oximeter monitor, comprising;

a drive circuit configured to provide signals to circuitry of the oximeter sensor;

a receiving circuit configured to receive the encrypted data from the oximeter sensor; and

a decryption mechanism corresponding to the changeable encryption key, the decryption mechanism capable of decrypting the encrypted data, wherein the decryption mechanism comprises a communication device configured to network with an external system and to access a public key stored on the external system, the public key corresponding to the changeable encryption key.

2. The oximeter system of claim 1, wherein the memory of the oximeter sensor stores an ambient light measurement.

3. The oximeter system of claim 1, wherein the encrypted data includes a change to the changeable encryption key.

4. An oximeter monitor, comprising:

a drive circuit configured to provide signals to circuitry of an oximeter sensor;

a receiving circuit configured to receive data from a memory of the oximeter sensor; and

a decryption mechanism corresponding to a changeable encryption key of the oximeter sensor, the decryption mechanism facilitating communication of the data between the oximeter sensor and the oximeter monitor and wherein the decryption mechanism comprises a communication device configured to network with an external system and to access a public key stored on the external system, the public key corresponding to the changeable encryption key.

5. A method of monitor operation, comprising:

providing signals to circuitry of an oximeter sensor;

receiving data from a memory of the oximeter sensor; and

facilitating communication of the data between the oximeter sensor and the oximeter monitor by decrypting the data with a decryption mechanism corresponding to a changeable encryption key of the oximeter sensor and wherein facilitating communication includes networking with an external system and accessing a public key stored on the external system, the public key corresponding to the changeable encryption key of the oximeter sensor.

6. A method of manufacturing an oximeter sensor, comprising:

providing a light emitting element;

providing a light detector;

providing sensor operational data;

scrambling the sensor operational data with a changeable encryption key to make the data inaccessible to devices that are without an appropriate decryption mechanism;

storing the scrambled data on a sensor memory;

manipulating the changeable encryption key to make the data inaccessible to a device that previously had the appropriate decryption mechanism; and

assembling the light emitting element, the light detector, the sensor memory and the sensor operational data as the oximeter sensor.