Multiplexed photodetector array for optical medical sensors
First Claim
1. A physiological sensor comprising:
- one or more emitters configured to transmit light into a patient'"'"'s tissue;
a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors configured to receive the transmitted light from the tissue and produce a corresponding respective output signal;
a multiplexor configured to receive the output signals from the plurality of photodetectors and to output a selected one of the respective output signals; and
a signal analyzer configured to;
make a determination regarding a signal quality of the output signals; and
select one of the output signals based on the signal quality determination for calculation of a physiological parameter of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to medical devices and, more particularly, to optical medical sensors used for sensing physiological characteristics of a patient. In one embodiment, a system includes a physiological sensor having a photodetector array with a plurality of photodetectors configured to receive light from patient tissue. The physiological sensor also includes a multiplexor configured select and output a signal from the photodetector array. The physiological sensor may also include a signal analyzer configured to determine the signal quality for each of the output signals of the photodetector array and select an output signal, based on the signal quality determination, for the calculation of a physiological parameter of the patient. In another embodiment, a system includes a pulse oximetry sensor having a multiplexed array of photodetectors configured to receive light from patient tissue. The system also includes a pulse oximetry monitor having a multiplexor driver to control the multiplexed array of photodetectors as well as a processor configured to control the multiplexor driver and receive the output signals from the array of photodetectors. The processor is also configured to determine the signal quality of each of the output signals from the array of photodetectors, select an output signal based on the signal quality determination, and use the selected signal to calculate a physiological parameter of a patient.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A physiological sensor comprising:
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one or more emitters configured to transmit light into a patient'"'"'s tissue; a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors configured to receive the transmitted light from the tissue and produce a corresponding respective output signal; a multiplexor configured to receive the output signals from the plurality of photodetectors and to output a selected one of the respective output signals; and a signal analyzer configured to; make a determination regarding a signal quality of the output signals; and select one of the output signals based on the signal quality determination for calculation of a physiological parameter of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A pulse oximetry monitor comprising:
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a multiplexor driver configured to supply control signals to a multiplexor on a pulse oximetry sensor to select an output signal from a photodetector array of a pulse oximetry sensor; and processing circuitry configured to; control the multiplexor driver, receive the selected output signal from the photodetector array on a pulse oximetry sensor, determine if the quality of the received signal is acceptable to perform a calculation of a physiological parameter of a patient and, if it is not, cause the multiplexor driver to supply different control signals to the multiplexor on the pulse oximetry sensor to select different photodetectors in the photodetector array until a photodetector with an acceptable quality signal is determined, and calculate the physiological parameter of the patient based on the received output signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of choosing a signal from a multiplexed photodetector array of a physiological patient sensor comprising:
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selecting and measuring each photodetector signal from the multiplexed photodetector array; determining a signal quality of each selected photodetector signal; comparing the signal quality of each selected photodetector signal to a threshold value; and choosing a photodetector signal based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification