Dual-mode pulse oximeter

• US 7,530,949 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Goldman, Julian, Smith, Robert, Lee, Michael, Diab, Mohamed K., Kiani, Massi E., Dalke, David, Novak, Jerome, Vaden, Val E., Carothers, Don, Al Ali, Ammar
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berhanu; Etsub D
• Application Number:
  US10/911,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20050065417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/310, 600/323
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

A pulse oximeter has an integrated mode in which it operates as a plug-in module for a multiparameter patient monitoring system (MPMS). The pulse oximeter also has a portable mode in which operates separately from the MPMS as a battery-powered handheld or standalone instrument. The pulse oximeter has a sensor port that receives a photo-plethysmographic signal as input to an internal processor. The pulse oximeter processes this sensor signal to derive oxygen saturation and pulse rate measurements. In the portable mode, this information is provided on its display, and stored in memory for trend capability. In the integrated mode, the pulse oximeter provides oxygen saturation and pulse rate measurements to the MPMS through a docking station to be displayed on a MPMS monitor. In the integrated mode, the portable pulse oximeter docks to the docking station, which in turn is inserted in one or more MPMS slots. The docking station can function as a simple electrical pass-through device between the docked portable pulse oximeter and the MPMS or it can provide a MPMS communications interface.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring at least one physiological condition of a patient, the system comprising:

a portable physiological measurement device comprising a first local display and a first processor, said first processor configured to process measurement data to determine values of one or more physiological parameters, said portable physiological measurement device being capable of operating in a portable mode, said portable mode providing portable monitoring as a standalone unit of said one or more physiological parameters of a patient through communication with one or more sensors, and capable of operating in a docked mode, said docked mode also providing monitoring of one or more physiological parameters of a patient; and

a docking station forming a patient monitoring system when combined with the portable physiological measurement device, said docking station configured to measure an additional physiological parameter by at least processing measurement data other than measurement data obtained from said portable physiological measurement device, said docking station also configured to mate with the portable physiological measurement device when the portable physiological measurement device is operating in at least the docked mode, wherein the portable physiological measurement device is in electrical communication with the docking station, and further wherein the docking station is in electrical communication with a second local display, and wherein a docking station processor is associated with said docking station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the docking station processor generates an output usable by a second patient monitoring system in communication with the docking station to cause to be displayed at least one of the monitored one or more physiological parameters of the patient when the portable physiological measurement device is operating in at least the docked mode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient monitoring system communicates with a display device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physiological parameters comprises one or more of blood oxygen content, respiratory gas, blood pressure, ECG, and pulse rate.

5. A patient monitoring method utilizing a portable measurement apparatus comprising the steps of:

performing a first physiological measurement to obtain values of one or more physiological parameters with a portable measurement apparatus physically and electrically isolated from a docking station forming a standalone patient monitoring system, wherein said docking station is configured to mate with the portable measurement apparatus when the portable physiological measurement apparatus is operating in at least a docked mode, wherein the portable physiological measurement device is in electrical communication with the docking station, and further wherein the docking station is in electrical communication with a second local display, the docking station including a docking station processor associated with the docking station;

presenting information related to said first measurement on a display portion of said standalone apparatus;

performing a second physiological measurement with said portable measurement apparatus mated with said docking station;

communication said second physiological measurement to said docking station;

performing a third physiological measurement, said third physiological measurement processing measurement data unavailable to said standalone apparatus; and

presenting information related to said second and third measurements on a monitor in communication with said docking station.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising presenting information related to said first measurement on a monitor in communication with said docking station when said portable physiological measurement apparatus is mated with said docking station.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the physiological measurement comprises a measurement of one or more of blood oxygen content, respiratory gas, blood pressure, ECG, and pulse rate.

8. A system for monitoring at least one physiological condition of a patient comprising:

a portable physiological measurement device comprising a first local display and a first processor, said first processor configured to process measurement data to determine values of one or more physiological parameters, said portable physiological measurement device being capable of operating in a portable mode, said portable mode providing portable monitoring as a standalone unit of said one or more physiological parameters of a patient through communication with one or more sensors, and capable of operating in an integrated mode, said integrated mode also providing integrated monitoring of one or more physiological parameters of a patient; and

a docking station forming a patient monitoring system, said docking station configured to measure a physiological parameter by at least processing signals other than signals from said portable physiological measurement device, said docking station also configured to mate with the portable physiological measurement device when the portable physiological measurement device is operating in at least the integrated mode, wherein the portable physiological measurement device is in communication with the docking station, and further wherein the docking station is in communication with a second local display, and wherein a docking station processor is associated with the docking station.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more physiological parameters comprises blood oxygen saturation.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the portable physiological measurement device is capable of substantially accurately measuring blood oxygen saturation in the presence of motion induced noise.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor associated with the docking station generates an output usable by a second patient monitoring system in communication with the docking station to cause to be displayed at least one of the monitored one or more physiological parameters of the patient when the portable physiological measurement device is operating in at least the docked mode.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the docking station communicates with the second patient monitoring system by sending a sensor signal to the second patient monitoring system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the patient monitoring system communicates with a display device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more physiological parameters comprises one or more of blood oxygen content, respiratory gas, blood pressure, ECG, and pulse rate.

15. A standalone portable physiological monitor capable of being docked to a docking station comprising:

a display;

one or more inputs for receiving physiological information from a first physiological sensor;

a portable monitor processor configured to determine a first physiological measurement using said physiological information;

a docking member configured to dock with a docking station, said docking station configured to communicate with a second physiological sensor, the docking station including a docking station processor associated with said docking station, said docking station processor configured to determine a second physiological measurement responsive to at least said second physiological sensor; and

one or more communication members configured to communicate with the docking station processor and configured to receive information indicative of said second physiological measurement, where said docking station is in communication with a local display;

wherein the portable monitor processor is capable of operating in a portable mode, said portable mode providing portable monitoring as a standalone unit and capable of operating in a docked mode, said docked mode communicating physiological information from the one or more outputs to the docking station processor and providing monitoring of one or more physiological parameters of a patient.

16. The standalone portable physiological monitor of claim 15, wherein said docking member comprises a casing.

17. The standalone portable physiological monitor of claim 15 wherein the physiological information comprises information about blood oxygen levels.