Optical/electrical transceiver

• US 5,226,431 A
• Filed: 06/20/1991
• Issued: 07/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nydegger & Associates
• Original Assignee: Caliber Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Middle, George H., Bible, Christopher T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAETZLE, KENNEDY
• Application Number:
  US07/717,976
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 128/908, 128/904, 128/696, 128/710, 128/419 PT, 128/903, 128/901
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A patient monitoring system is provided which includes a monitor and a transmitter which can optically communicate with each other. The monitor receives analog physiological data from a patient and converts the analog data to a digital optical signal which is sent to the transmitter optically. The transmitter includes a memory for storing the digital signal thereby allowing separation of the monitor from the transmitter prior to subsequent transmission. Additionally, the transmitter is capable of converting the digital signal to a modulated tone for transmission via standard phone lines. In this manner, the transmitter is able to send the converted signal to a central processing system via phone lines. This converted signal can then be monitored at the central processing system or it can be further communicated to one or more remote receiving stations.

Claims

1. An apparatus for establishing a communications link between a patient and a data system which comprises:

means connectable to said patient for receiving an electrical signal from said patient and converting said electrical signal into a digital optical signal;

means for sending said digital optical signal;

means for positionable relative to said sending means for receiving said digital optical signal and reconverting said digital optical signal into a reconstituted digital electrical signal;

means for detecting errors in said digital optical signal sent by said sending means; and

means connected to said receiving and reconverting means for transmitting said reconstituted digital electrical signal to said data system, said means for transmitting further comprising memory means for storing said reconstituted digital signal so as to allow transmission of said reconstituted digital electrical signal after said sending means and said receiving means are separated.

2. An apparatus for establishing a communications link between a patient and a data system as recited in claim 11 wherein said sending means includes a light emitting diode and said receiving means is a photodiode.

3. An apparatus for establishing a communications link between a patient and a data system as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

a monitor, said monitor including said sending means;

a transmitter, said transmitter including said receiving and reconverting means;

a central processing unit (CPU), said CPU being connected in electronic communications with said transmitter; and

a plurality of receiving stations, each said receiving station being connected in electronic communications with said CPU.

4. An apparatus for establishing a communications link between a patient and a data system as recited in claim 3 wherein said CPU is connected to each of said receiving stations via a telephone line and each said receiving station includes a facsimile machine.

5. An apparatus for establishing a communications link, between a patient and a data system as recited in claim 4 wherein said CPU is connected to said transmitter via a telephone line.

6. An apparatus or establishing a communications link between a patient and a data system as recited in claim 5 wherein said transmitter includes means for transmitting a second optical signal to said monitor, and said monitor includes means for receiving said second optical signal from said transmitter.

7. A remote patient monitoring system for use with a phone line, said monitoring system comprising:

a monitor capable of receiving analog physiological data from a patient;

means included in said monitor for converting said analog physiological data into an optical serial digital data stream;

a transmitter with optical receiver means connectable with said monitor for receiving said optical serial digital data stream, said transmitter being separable from said monitor and connectable to said phone line;

means included in said transmitter for converting said optical serial digital data stream to analog electrical impulses transmittable as a modulated tone over said phone line;

means included in said transmitter for transmitting said modulated tone over said phone line;

means included in said transmitter for storing said optical serial digital data stream allowing separation of said monitor from said transmitter prior to transmission of said modulated tone over said phone line; and

a remote electronic data processing system capable of receiving said modulated tone from said phone line.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 further comprising means included in said transmitter for detecting and correcting errors in said optical serial digital data stream.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for converting said analog physiological data comprises an analog to digital optical converter.

10. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for converting said optical serial digital data stream receives said optical serial data stream from said means for storing.