Medical sensor with modulated encoding scheme
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for coupling to a medical sensor having a transducer, comprising:
- an encoder for encoding a characteristic of said sensor as a modulated signal;
a transmitter for transmitting said modulated signal to a remote analyzer;
wherein said sensor is compatible with devices providing a current signal to read a resistance value in a sensor, said apparatus providing compatibility by said encoder causing said modulated signal to have an average voltage corresponding to a known resistance value in response to a current received from an oximeter.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an encoding mechanism for a medical sensor which uses a modulated signal to provide the coded data to a remote analyzer. The modulated signal could be, for instance, a pulse width modulated signal or a frequency modulated signal. This signal is amplitude independent and thus provides a significant amount of noise immunity.
296 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for coupling to a medical sensor having a transducer, comprising:
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an encoder for encoding a characteristic of said sensor as a modulated signal; a transmitter for transmitting said modulated signal to a remote analyzer; wherein said sensor is compatible with devices providing a current signal to read a resistance value in a sensor, said apparatus providing compatibility by said encoder causing said modulated signal to have an average voltage corresponding to a known resistance value in response to a current received from an oximeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for using a medical sensor having a transducer, comprising the steps of:
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encoding a characteristic of said sensor as a modulated signal; transmitting said modulated signal to a remote analyzer; and wherein said sensor is compatible with devices providing a current signal to read a resistance value in a sensor, said apparatus providing compatibility by said encoder causing said modulated signal to have an average voltage corresponding to a known resistance value in response to a current received from an oximeter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A pulse oximeter sensor comprising:
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a first light emitting means for emitting light of a first known wavelength; means for sensing the light emitted by said first light emitting means; transmitting means for coupling said sensor to a remote monitor; means, coupled to said transmitting means, for encoding said first known wavelength as a modulated signal having first and second modulated values, said first modulated value having one of a first plurality of values recognizable by a first type of pulse oximeter, said second modulated value not affecting the recognition of said first modulated value by said first type of pulse oximeter, said second modulated value being recognizable by a second type of pulse oximeter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification