Oximeter sensor with digital memory encoding patient data

• US 20060025660A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Swedlow, Marcia Fein, Michael E. Fein, Paul Mannheimer
• Original Assignee: David Swedlow, Marcia Fein, Michael E. Fein, Paul Mannheimer
• Inventors: Fein, Marcia, Swedlow, David, Fein, Michael E., Mannheimer, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

The present invention provides a memory chip for use in an oximeter sensor, or an associated adapter or connector circuit. The memory chip allows the storing of patient related data, such as patient trending data or a patient ID, to provide enhanced capabilities for the oximeter sensor. In addition to providing unique data to store in such a memory, the present invention include unique uses of the data stored in such a memory.

Claims

1. A method of operation of an oximeter system, comprising:

directing light at a patient from a light emitter of an oximeter sensor;

detecting the light with a light receptor of the oximeter sensor;

transmitting a patient data alarm limit from a memory of the oximeter sensor to an oximeter monitor; and

comparing the patient data alarm limit with a monitored patient parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient data alarm limit includes a patient-specific range of expected patient parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising sending an alarm signal when a value of the monitored patient parameter crosses the patient data alarm limit.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving an updated patient data alarm limit and replacing the patient data alarm limit in the memory with the updated patient data alarm limit.

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

providing a light emitting element configured to direct light at a patient;

providing a light receptor configured to detect the light; and

providing a memory in the sensor, the memory storing a patient data alarm limit.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising providing a communication device in the sensor, the device configured to transmit the patient data alarm limit to a pulse oximeter monitor for use in an algorithm for comparing the patient data alarm limit with a monitored patient parameter.

7. A memory, comprising:

a memory body;

a memory disposed within the memory body, the memory storing medical charts for a specific patient; and

a coupling configured to communicatively couple the memory to a sensor port on an oximeter monitor.

8. A method of operation of a memory device, comprising:

storing medical charts for a specific patient in a sensor memory, wherein the sensor memory is communicatively coupled to a sensor port of an oximeter monitor.

9. An oximeter sensor, comprising:

a light emitting element configured to project light at a patient;

a light receptor configured to detect the light from the patient;

a memory storing medical charts for a specific patient; and

a coupling configured to communicatively couple the memory to an oximeter monitor.

10. A method of operation of an oximeter system, comprising:

interfacing with a hospital computer network that maintains a database of patient identification numbers;

verifying a specific patient identification number stored in an oximeter sensor with the patient identification numbers from the database; and

obtaining medical records correlated with the specific patient identification number from the database.

11. A method of operation of an oximeter system, comprising:

directing light at a patient from a light emitter of an oximeter sensor;

detecting the light from the patient with a light receptor of the oximeter sensor;

calculating an estimated patient physiological parameter based on the detected light; and

comparing the estimated patient physiological parameter to data stored on a hospital computer network.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising correlating the patient with specific data stored on the hospital computer network by comparing a patient identification number stored on the oximeter sensor with patient identification information stored on the hospital computer network.