Interference detector for patient monitor
First Claim
1. A noninvasive monitor for determining measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of a monitored patient, the noninvasive monitor comprising a signal processor configured to:
- receive one or more sensor signals from a sensor responsive to light attenuated by tissue of a monitored patient, said sensor including a light source and one or more detectors housed in a sensor housing that positions said light source and said one or more detectors proximate said tissue;
process said one or more sensor signals to determine measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of said monitored patient; and
determine an amount of ambient electronic interference proximate said sensor when said light source is off, and at least one of an audio or visual indication of said amount of ambient electronic interference, said audio or visual indication perceptible by a caregiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for detecting and calculating the level of ambient and/or environmental noise, such as electromagnetic interference generated by electric power lines, ambient lights, light dimmers, television or computer displays, power supplies or transformers, and medical equipment. In some embodiments, the system performs frequency analysis on the interference signal detected by light photodetectors and determines the power of the interference signal concentrated in the analyzed frequency bands. The worst-case interference level can be determined by selecting the maximum from the computed power values. In some embodiments, the determined interference signal power can be compared with the noise tolerance of a patient monitoring system configured to reliably and non-invasively detect physiological parameters of a user. The results of the comparison can be presented to the user audio-visually. In some embodiments, the system can be used to perform spot check measurements of electromagnetic interference.
856 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A noninvasive monitor for determining measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of a monitored patient, the noninvasive monitor comprising a signal processor configured to:
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receive one or more sensor signals from a sensor responsive to light attenuated by tissue of a monitored patient, said sensor including a light source and one or more detectors housed in a sensor housing that positions said light source and said one or more detectors proximate said tissue; process said one or more sensor signals to determine measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of said monitored patient; and determine an amount of ambient electronic interference proximate said sensor when said light source is off, and at least one of an audio or visual indication of said amount of ambient electronic interference, said audio or visual indication perceptible by a caregiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of determining whether a sensitive instrument will have difficulty determining accurate measurements of physiological parameters of a patient, the method comprising:
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selecting an interference detection mode on a patient monitor, said patient monitor configured to receive from a sensor one or more sensor signals responsive to light attenuated by tissue of a monitored patient and process the one or more sensor signals to determine measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of said monitored patient, the sensor including a light source and one or more detectors housed in a sensor housing that positions the light source and said one or more detectors proximate said tissue; electronically determining with a signal processor an amount of ambient electronic interference proximate said sensor; and electronically outputting at least one of an audio or visual indication of said amount of ambient electronic interference, said audio or visual indication perceptible by a caregiver. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A patient monitor configured to determine whether the patient monitor will have difficulty determining accurate measurements of physiological parameters of a patient, the patient monitor comprising a memory and a processor configured to:
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receive from a sensor one or more sensor signals responsive to light attenuated by tissue of a monitored patient, the sensor including a light source and one or more detectors housed in a sensor housing that positions the light source and said one or more detectors proximate said tissue; process the one or more sensor signals to determine measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of said monitored patient; receive a selected interference detection mode; electronically determine an amount of ambient electronic interference proximate said sensor; and electronically output at least one of an audio or visual indication of said amount of ambient electronic interference, said audio or visual indication perceptible by a caregiver. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification