Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data

• US 8,064,974 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Fein, Michael E., Mannheimer, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US11/445,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 600/323, 600/310, 600/322
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/911 Medical electronics

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light, a resistor having a resistance value that is detectable by a monitor, and a memory storing a contact resistance value of a connector that is disposed between the monitor and the resistor when the monitor and the oximeter sensor are communicatively coupled.

Claims

1. An oximeter sensor, comprising:

a light emitting element configured to emit light;

a light detector configured to detect the light;

a resistor having a resistance value that is detectable by a monitor; and

a memory storing a contact resistance value of a connector that is disposed between the monitor and the resistor when the monitor and the oximeter sensor are communicatively coupled, the contact resistance value being readable by the monitor to be used in a correction mechanism of the monitor to correct the resistance value based on an algorithm that incorporates the resistance value and the contact resistance value.

2. The oximeter sensor of claim 1, wherein the resistance value corresponds to a calibration resistance value that facilitates obtaining calibration coefficients in the monitor.

3. A method of manufacturing an oximeter sensor, comprising:

providing a light emitting element within the oximeter sensor, the light emitting element configured to project light;

providing a light detector within the oximeter sensor, the light detector configured to detect the light;

providing a resistor within the oximeter sensor, wherein the resistor includes a resistance value that is detectable by a monitor; and

providing a memory within the oximeter sensor, wherein the memory is storing a contact resistance value of a connector that is disposed between the monitor and the resistor when the monitor and the oximeter sensor are communicatively coupled, the contact resistance value being readable by the monitor to be used in a correction mechanism of the monitor to correct the resistance value based on an algorithm that incorporates the resistance value and the contact resistance value.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising storing a calibration resistance value in the memory, the calibration resistance value facilitating obtaining calibration coefficients in the monitor.

5. An oximeter system, comprising:

an oximeter sensor, comprising;

a light emitting element configured to emit light;

a light detector configured to detect the light;

a resistor having a resistance value; and

a memory storing a contact resistance value of a connector that provides communicative access to the resistor; and

an oximeter monitor, comprising;

a drive circuit configured to provide signals to circuitry of the oximeter sensor;

a read circuit configured to read the resistance value of the resistor and the contact resistance value from the memory; and

a correction mechanism configured to correct the resistance value based on an algorithm that incorporates the resistance value and the contact resistance value.

6. An oximeter monitor, comprising:

a drive circuit configured to provide signals to circuitry of an oximeter sensor;

a first read circuit configured to read a resistance value of a resistor of the oximeter sensor;

a second read circuit configured to read a contact resistance value from a memory of the oximeter sensor; and

a correction mechanism configured to correct the resistance value based on an algorithm that incorporates the resistance value and the contact resistance value.

7. The monitor of claim 6, comprising a monitor memory storing a calibration table of resistance values and calibration coefficients.

8. A method of monitor operation, comprising:

providing signals to circuitry of an oximeter sensor;

reading a resistance value of a resistor of the oximeter sensor;

reading a contact resistance value from a memory of the oximeter sensor; and

correcting the resistance value based on an algorithm that incorporates the resistance value and the contact resistance value.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising storing a calibration table of resistance values and calibration coefficients.

10. A method of operating an oximeter sensor, comprising:

projecting light from a light emitting element;

detecting the light with a light detector; and

producing a resistance value with a resistor, the resistance value being detectable by a monitor; and

providing the monitor access to a value stored in a sensor memory, wherein the stored value is a contact resistance value of a connector that is disposed between the monitor and the resistor when the monitor and the oximeter sensor are communicatively coupled, the contact resistance value being readable by the monitor to be used in a correction mechanism of the monitor to correct the resistance value based on an algorithm that incorporates the resistance value and the contact resistance value.