Apparatus for calibrating pulse oximeter

• US 5,278,627 A
• Filed: 02/14/1992
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Masayuki, Fuse, Masayoshi, Aoyagi, Takuo, Shindo, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Willis, Davis L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keesee, LaCharles
• Application Number:
  US07/835,505
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 356/41, 356/42, 356/243, 250/252.1, 128/633, 128/691
• US Class Current: 600/331
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0233 Optical standards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction

Abstract

An apparatus for calibrating a pulse oximeter which can improve the repetitivity of measured values for calibration tests and which can calibrate the pulse oximeter with a high reliability. A tissue model having a light-absorbing characteristic approximated to that of the tissue of a living body is inserted into a space between a light-emitting section and a light-receiving section of a measuring probe that is connected to the pulse oximeter, and a blood model having a light-absorbing characteristic that is approximated to that of the blood is moved within the tissue model so as to enter into or exit from the space between the light-emitting section and the light-receiving section.

Claims

1. An apparatus for calibrating a pulse oximeter incorporating a measuring probe having a light emitting section and a light-receiving section comprising:

a tissue model inserted into a space between said light-emitting section and a light-receiving section of said measuring probe;

a blood model moved within said tissue model; and

drive means for driving said blood model within said tissue model to traverse said space between said light-emitting section and said light receiving section,

wherein said tissue model has a light-absorbing characteristic approximated to that of a living tissue and said blood model has a light-absorbing characteristic approximated to that of a blood.

2. An apparatus for calibrating a pulse oximeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blood model is shaped as a plate member having a longitudinal axis and an end portion of said blood model is curved in a direction along said longitudinal axis.

3. An apparatus for calibrating a pulse oximeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blood model is shaped as a plate member and an end portion of said blood model is curved in a direction which is transverse to said longitudinal axis.

4. An apparatus for calibrating a pulse oximeter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said end portion of said blood model enters into said space between said light-emitting section and light receiving section.

5. An apparatus for calibrating a pulse oximeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means drives a substrate supporting said blood model in linear motion.

6. An apparatus for calibrating a pulse oximeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means drives a substrate supporting said blood model in rotary motion.