Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data

• US 8,078,247 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mannheimer, Paul D., Fein, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US11/446,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 600/323, 600/310, 600/322, 600/324, 600/344
• 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 receive the light, and a probe configured to contact a patient and provide an indication of whether the oximeter sensor is in contact with the patient based on an impedance measurement.

Claims

1. An oximeter sensor, comprising:

a light emitting element configured to emit light;

a light detector configured to receive the light, wherein the oximeter sensor is configured to operate in transmittance mode and the light emitting element is positioned relative to the light detector to facilitate operation in the transmittance mode;

a probe configured to contact an external surface of a patient and to provide an impedance measurement to an oximeter monitor; and

a memory storing data relating to whether the impedance measurement represents adequate contact with the patient, wherein the memory is configured to provide the data to the oximeter monitor for comparison to the impedance measurement to determine if the impedance measurement represents adequate contact between the oximeter sensor and the patient.

2. The oximeter sensor of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises two electrodes.

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

coupling a light emitting element to the oximeter sensor;

coupling a light detector to the oximeter sensor, wherein the oximeter sensor is configured to operate in transmittance mode and the light emitting element is positioned relative to the light detector to facilitate operation in the transmittance mode;

coupling a probe to the oximeter sensor, the probe configured to contact a patient on an external surface and to provide an impedance measurement to an oximeter monitor; and

installing a memory storing data relating to whether the impedance measurement represents adequate contact with the patient, wherein the memory is configured to provide the data to the oximeter monitor for comparison to the impedance measurement to determine if the impedance measurement represents adequate contact between the oximeter sensor and the patient.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising installing two electrodes on the oximeter sensor.

5. An oximeter system, comprising:

an oximeter sensor configured to be placed externally on a patient and to operate in a transmittance mode, the oximeter sensor comprising;

a light emitting element configured to emit light;

a light detector configured to receive the light;

a probe configured to externally contact a patient and to provide an impedance measurement; and

a memory storing data relating to whether the impedance measurement represents adequate contact with the patient; and

an oximeter monitor, comprising;

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

a receiving circuit configured to receive the impedance measurement from the probe and to receive the data from the memory; and

a circuit configured to compare the data to the impedance measurement to determine if the impedance measurement represents adequate contact between the oximeter sensor and the patient.

6. The system claim 5, wherein the probe comprises two electrodes.

7. An oximeter monitor, comprising:

a drive circuit configured to provide signals to circuitry of an oximeter sensor configured to operate in transmittance mode;

a receiving circuit configured to receive information from a probe of the oximeter sensor placed externally on a patient, the information including an impedance measurement determined by the probe;

a data circuit configured to receive data relating to whether the impedance measurement is indicative of adequate contact with the patient from a memory of the oximeter sensor; and

a circuit configured to compare the data to the impedance measurement to determine if the impedance measurement represents adequate contact between the oximeter sensor and the patient.

8. The oximeter monitor of claim 7, wherein the probe comprises two electrodes

9. A method of monitor operation, comprising:

providing signals to circuitry of an oximeter sensor that is configured to couple to an external surface of a patient and to operate in transmittance mode;

receiving information from a probe of the oximeter sensor located on the external surface of the patient, the information comprising an impedance measurement;

receiving data from a memory of the oximeter sensor, the data relating to whether the impedance measurement is indicative of adequate contact with the patient; and

comparing the data to the impedance measurement to determine if the oximeter sensor is in adequate contact with the patient.

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

projecting light from a light emitting element;

receiving the light with a light detector, wherein the light emitting element is configured to operate in transmittance mode and the light emitting element is positioned relative to the light detector to facilitate operation in the transmittance mode;

measuring a level of impendence with a probe placed on an external surface of a patient;

maintaining data in a memory of the oximeter sensor relating to whether the impedance measurement represents adequate contact with the patient; and

providing the impedance measurement and the data to an oximeter monitor for comparison to determine if the oximeter sensor is in adequate contact with the patient.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising powering electrodes to facilitate measuring the level of impendence.