Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data

• US 20070043272A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mannheimer, Paul, Fein, Marcia, Fein, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,136 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

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor, comprising a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light, a light detector configured to receive the light, and a memory device that stores code to determine which of the plurality of light emitting elements to use to emit the light.

Claims

1. An oximeter sensor, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light;

a light detector configured to receive the light; and

a memory device that stores code to determine which of the plurality of light emitting elements to use to emit the light.

2. The oximeter sensor of claim 1, wherein the code comprises correlations between properties of each of the plurality of light emitting elements and capabilities of the oximeter sensor.

3. The oximeter sensor of claim 2, wherein the properties comprise wavelengths and wherein the capabilities comprise measurement accuracy of the oximeter sensor at predefined oxygen saturation ranges.

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

providing a sensor with a plurality of light emitting elements;

providing the sensor with a light detector; and

providing the sensor with a memory device storing code to determine which of the plurality of light emitting elements to use to emit the light.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising storing correlations between properties of each of the plurality of light emitting elements and capabilities of the oximeter sensor in the memory device.

6. An oximeter system, comprising:

an oximeter sensor, comprising;

a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light;

a light detector configured to receive the light; and

a memory device that stores code to determine which of the plurality of light emitting elements to use to emit the light; and

an oximeter monitor, comprising;

a drive circuit configured to provide signals to circuitry of the oximeter sensor; and

a receiving circuit configured to receive the code from the oximeter sensor.

7. The system claim 6, wherein the code comprises correlations between properties of each of the plurality of light emitting elements and capabilities of the oximeter sensor.

8. An oximeter monitor, comprising:

a drive circuit configured to provide signals to a plurality of light emitting elements of an oximeter sensor; and

a circuit configured to receive information from a memory device of the oximeter sensor, the information comprising code to determine which of the plurality of light emitting elements to use to emit the light.

9. The monitor of claim 8, wherein the drive circuit is configured to power the plurality of light emitting elements based on the code from the memory device of the oximeter sensor.

10. A method of monitor operation, comprising:

receiving information from a memory device of an oximeter sensor, the information including code to determine which of a plurality of light emitting elements of an oximeter sensor to use to emit light; and

providing power to a particular light emitting element of the plurality of light emitting elements through a drive circuit based on the information received from the oximeter sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising producing monitor readings using the information in conjunction with patient data.

12. A method of operating an oximeter sensor, comprising:

projecting light from at least one designated light emitting element of a plurality light emitting elements;

receiving the light with a light detector; and

storing data in a memory device, the data comprising code to determine which of the plurality of light emitting elements to designate to emit the light.