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Pulse oximetry system with electrical decoupling circuitry

  • US 9,107,625 B2
  • Filed: 05/05/2009
  • Issued: 08/18/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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:

  • 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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