Electrode connector system

• US 6,236,874 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Chamoun, Nassib G., Marcus, Todd A., Bruckner, Mark E., Devlin, Philip H., Shambroom, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/162,025
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 607/28
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

Disclosed is a physiological electrical signal connector system which one connector connected to an electrode set and another connector connected to a digital signal convertor which leads to a patient monitor. Each type of electrode set has a specific code identified with it and when connected to the digital signal convertor, the connector code is recognized by the digital signal convertor. The connector code is then relayed to the monitor which will self-configure based on the identified code.

Claims

1. An electrode connector which is used to connect one or more electrodes to a physiological signal monitor, said connector comprising:

an electrode connector connectable through a cable to said one or more electrodes;

said electrode connector having a plurality of signal lines dedicated to transmit a corresponding one or more channels of predetermined types of physiological signals and at least two electrode connector identification lines dedicated to transmit a unique identification code hardwired into said electrode connector, said code being associated with a unique electrode configuration.

2. The electrode connector of claim 1 further comprising a digital signal converter for converting analog physiological signals obtained by said one or more electrodes into digital signals to be processed by said monitor.

3. The electrode connector of claim 2 wherein said digital signal converter further comprises means for interpreting said hardwired code.

4. The electrode connector of claim 1 further comprising a monitor connector and wherein said electrode connector includes a cutout region and said monitor connector includes a corresponding cutout region, whereby when said electrode connector and said monitor connector are united one of said cutout regions fits within a second of said cutout regions.

5. The electrode connector of claim 1 further comprising a pulse generator for periodically sensing said preset unique identification code.

6. The electrode connector of claim 5 wherein said pulse generator generates pulses at an analog to digital conversion Nyquist frequency.

7. The electrode connector of claim 1 wherein the monitor further comprises a processor for processing physiological signals if said monitor recognizes said hardwired unique identification code as a supported code.

8. The electrode connector of claim 1 wherein the monitor further comprises a processor for initiating a self test procedure if said monitor recognizes said hardwired unique identification code as a supported code.

9. The electrode connector of claim 1 wherein the monitor further comprises a processor for initiating an electrode impedance test if said monitor recognizes said hardwired unique identification code as a supported code.

10. The electrode connector of claim 1 wherein the monitor further comprises a processor for self-configuring the monitor to receive the number and type of electrodes identified by said hardwired unique identification code.

11. The electrode connector of claim 1 wherein the monitor further comprises a processor for determining from said hardwired unique identification code the relative position of said one or more electrodes.

12. The electrode connector of claim 1 further comprising a cable and wherein the monitor further comprises a processor for determining the type of said cable connected to the monitor.

13. A method for transmitting physiological electrical signals detected by an electrode to a patient monitor, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting said physiological electrical signals to said patient monitor;

transmitting hardwired unique electrode or electrode array identification signals to said patient monitor;

analyzing said unique electrode or electrode array identification signals to determine an electrode configuration being used to detect said physiological electrical signals.

14. The method of transmitting physiological electrical signals of claim 13 wherein said physiological electrical signals are transmitted to said patient monitor over a first set of signal lines and said hardwired unique electrode identification signals are transmitted to said patient monitor over a second set of dedicated signal lines.

15. An electrode connector which is used to connect one or more electrodes to a physiological signal monitor, said connector comprising:

an electrode connector connectable through a cable to said one or more electrodes;

said electrode connector having a plurality of signal lines dedicated to transmit a corresponding one or more channels of predetermined types of physiological signals and at least two electrode connector identification lines dedicated to transmit a unique identification code hardwired into said electrode connector, said code being associated with electrode manufacturing data.