Pulse oximetry system with electrical decoupling circuitry
First Claim
1. A pulse oximetry system for reducing the risk of electric shock to a medical patient, the pulse oximetry system comprising:
- a plurality of physiological sensors, at least one of the physiological sensors comprising;
a light emitter configured to impinge light on body tissue of a living patient, the body tissue including pulsating blood, anda detector responsive to the light after attenuation by the body tissue, wherein the detector is configured to generate a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the living patient; and
a physiological monitor, the physiological monitor configured to receive the signal from the at least one physiological sensor and determine the physiological characteristic of the living patient; and
a splitter cable comprising;
a monitor connector operative to connect to a physiological monitor,a plurality of sensor connectors each operative to connect to one of the physiological sensors,a plurality of cable sections each disposed between a sensor connector and the monitor connector, each of the cable sections comprising one or more electrical conductors, the one or more electrical conductors for at least some of the cable sections comprising;
a power line configured to supply power to one or more of the plurality of physiological sensors;
a signal line configured to transmit the physiological signals from one or more of the physiological sensors to the physiological monitor; and
a ground line configured to provide an electrical return path for the power line;
one or more decoupling circuits in communication with at least one power line, signal line, and ground line, the one or more decoupling circuits configured to communicate physiological signals between one or more of the physiological sensors and the physiological monitor, the one or more decoupling circuits operative to electrically decouple the physiological sensors from each other, wherein the one or more decoupling circuits are configured to substantially prevent ground loops from forming in the ground line;
an information element configured to store cable management information, patient context information, or physiological information; and
a digital decoupling circuit comprising digital decoupling logic configured to electrically decouple the information element from the monitor; and
wherein at least one physiological sensor comprises a second information element configured to store additional cable management information, additional patient context information, or additional physiological information, wherein the digital decoupling circuit is further configured to electrically decouple the information element from the second information element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pulse oximetry system for reducing the risk of electric shock to a medical patient can include physiological sensors, at least one of which has a light emitter that can impinge light on body tissue of a living patient and a detector responsive to the light after attenuation by the body tissue. The detector can generate a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the living patient. The pulse oximetry system may also include a splitter cable that can connect the physiological sensors to a physiological monitor. The splitter cable may have a plurality of cable sections each including one or more electrical conductors that can interface with one of the physiological sensors. One or more decoupling circuits may be disposed in the splitter cable, which can be in communication with selected ones of the electrical conductors. The one or more decoupling circuits can electrically decouple the physiological sensors.
1057 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A pulse oximetry system for reducing the risk of electric shock to a medical patient, the pulse oximetry system comprising:
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a plurality of physiological sensors, at least one of the physiological sensors comprising; a light emitter configured to impinge light on body tissue of a living patient, the body tissue including pulsating blood, and a detector responsive to the light after attenuation by the body tissue, wherein the detector is configured to generate a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the living patient; and a physiological monitor, the physiological monitor configured to receive the signal from the at least one physiological sensor and determine the physiological characteristic of the living patient; and a splitter cable comprising; a monitor connector operative to connect to a physiological monitor, a plurality of sensor connectors each operative to connect to one of the physiological sensors, a plurality of cable sections each disposed between a sensor connector and the monitor connector, each of the cable sections comprising one or more electrical conductors, the one or more electrical conductors for at least some of the cable sections comprising; a power line configured to supply power to one or more of the plurality of physiological sensors; a signal line configured to transmit the physiological signals from one or more of the physiological sensors to the physiological monitor; and a ground line configured to provide an electrical return path for the power line; one or more decoupling circuits in communication with at least one power line, signal line, and ground line, the one or more decoupling circuits configured to communicate physiological signals between one or more of the physiological sensors and the physiological monitor, the one or more decoupling circuits operative to electrically decouple the physiological sensors from each other, wherein the one or more decoupling circuits are configured to substantially prevent ground loops from forming in the ground line; an information element configured to store cable management information, patient context information, or physiological information; and a digital decoupling circuit comprising digital decoupling logic configured to electrically decouple the information element from the monitor; and wherein at least one physiological sensor comprises a second information element configured to store additional cable management information, additional patient context information, or additional physiological information, wherein the digital decoupling circuit is further configured to electrically decouple the information element from the second information element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A medical apparatus adapted to reduce the risk of electric shock to a medical patient when used with a physiological monitor, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of physiological sensors, at least one of the physiological sensors comprising; a light emitter configured to impinge light on body tissue of a living patient, the body tissue including pulsating blood, and a detector responsive to the light after attenuation by the body tissue, wherein the detector is configured to generate a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the living patient; a splitter cable operative to connect the plurality of physiological sensors to a physiological monitor, the splitter cable comprising a plurality of cable sections each comprising one or more electrical conductors configured to interface with one of the physiological sensors; one or more decoupling circuits disposed in the splitter cable, the one or more decoupling circuits being in communication with at least one electrical conductor, the one or more decoupling circuits configured to communicate physiological signals between one or more of the physiological sensors and the physiological monitor, the one or more decoupling circuits operative to electrically decouple the physiological sensors from each other; at least one information element configured to store cable management information, patient context information, or physiological information; and a digital decoupling circuit comprising digital decoupling logic; and wherein at least one physiological sensor comprises a second information element configured to store additional cable management information, additional patient context information, or additional physiological information, wherein the digital decoupling circuit is configured to electrically decouple the information element from the second information element. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of reducing the risk of electric shock to a medical patient as used with a pulse oximeter, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of physiological sensors, at least one of the physiological sensors comprising a light emitter configured to impinge light on body tissue of a medical patient and a detector configured to generate a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the living patient responsive to the light after attenuation by the body tissue; providing a medical cable assembly comprising; an information element configured to store cable management information, patient context information, or physiological information; and a digital decoupling circuit comprising digital decoupling logic; and one or more electrical conductors configured to allow communication between the plurality of physiological sensors and a physiological monitor, such that the medical cable assembly is operative to provide signals representing physiological information of a medical patient from the plurality of physiological sensors to the physiological monitor; electrically decoupling the plurality of physiological sensors from each other using one or more decoupling circuits disposed in the medical cable assembly, the one or more decoupling circuits being in communication with the plurality of physiological sensors and with the physiological monitor; electrically decoupling the information element from the physiological monitor with the digital decoupling circuit; wherein at least one physiological sensor comprises a second information element configured to store additional cable management information, additional patient context information, or additional physiological information; and electrically decoupling the information element from the second information element with the digital decoupling circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification