Noninvasive multi-parameter patient monitor

• US 8,224,411 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Masimo Laboratories, Inc. (Masimo Corporation)
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar, Kiani, Joe E., Diab, Mohamed, Wu, Roger, Fishel, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fardanesh, Marjan
• Application Number:
  US11/367,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,330 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-344
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00 Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04; for surgical purposes A61B17/00; endoscopic surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32; surgical instruments using a laser beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit A61B18/22; Illuminating arrangements therefor for the eyes A61B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/185 Optical shielding, e.g. baffles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0295 using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• 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 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6832 : using adhesives A61B5/259 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 : Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 : Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 : Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 : using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 : for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 : Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a handheld multi-parameter patient monitor capable of determining multiple physiological parameters from the output of a light sensitive detector capable of detecting light attenuated by body tissue. For example, in an embodiment, the monitor is capable of advantageously and accurately displaying one or more of pulse rate, plethysmograph data, perfusion quality, signal confidence, and values of blood constituents in body tissue, including for example, arterial carbon monoxide saturation (“HbCO”), methemoglobin saturation (“HbMet”), total hemoglobin (“Hbt”), arterial oxygen saturation (“SpO₂”), fractional arterial oxygen saturation (“SpaO₂”), or the like. In an embodiment, the monitor advantageously includes a plurality of display modes enabling more parameter data to be displayed than the available physical display real estate.

Claims

1. A physiological monitor configured to measure of a plurality of different measurable parameters and further configured to determine a type of noninvasive optical sensor attached, the physiological monitor comprising a device capable of determining a number of light emitting sources that are to be activated during operation of the attached noninvasive optical sensor to perform the indicated measurements, the type of sensor indicating which of the plurality of measurable parameters the sensor is configured to measure.

2. The physiological monitor of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a processor capable of receiving information from an information element associated with one or more of a cable and the noninvasive optical sensor, the information being usable to determine the number of light emitting sources available to the monitor.

3. The physiological monitor of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a mechanical key associated with one of a cable and the noninvasive optical sensor.

4. A physiological monitoring system comprising:

a first sensor including a first number of light emitting sources usable to determine measurements of at least one blood parameter;

a second sensor including a second number of light emitting sources usable to determine measurements of at least one different blood parameter, wherein the first number is different than the second number; and

a patient monitor configured to measure of a plurality different of blood parameters including a device which determines which of the first and second sensors is attached to the patient monitor and further configured to determine which of the plurality of physiological measurements to measure based on which of the first and second sensors are attached to the patient monitor.

5. The physiological monitor of claim 4, comprising an indicator responsive to the device to inform a user which of the first and second sensors is attached to the patient monitor.

6. The physiological monitor of claim 5, wherein the indicator activates to inform the user which of the first and second sensors is attached when the physiological monitor is powered on.

7. The physiological monitor of claim 5, wherein the indicator activates to inform the user which of the first and second sensors is attached when one of the first and second sensor is attached to the physiological monitor.

8. The physiological monitor of claim 5, wherein the indicator is continuously active to inform the user.

9. The physiological monitor of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

10. The physiological monitor of claim 9, wherein the visual indicator comprises a specific color chosen to represent the type of sensor attached.

11. The physiological monitor of claim 9, wherein the visual indicator comprises an LED.

12. The physiological monitor of claim 11, wherein the LED changes color based on which of the first and second sensors is attached.

13. The physiological monitor of claim 12, wherein the LED color comprises red when the first sensor is attached and another color when another sensor is attached.

14. The physiological monitor of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises an audible indicator.

15. The physiological monitor of claim 14, wherein the audible indictor comprises is configured to emit one or more tones.

16. The physiological monitor of claim 15, wherein the audible indictor emits a first tone when the first sensor is attached and a different second tone when the second sensor is attached.

17. The physiological monitor of claim 14, wherein the audible indictor perceptibly changes emission sound based on which of the first and second sensor is attached.

18. The physiological monitor of claim 4, wherein the plurality of different blood parameters comprise one or more of total hemoglobin carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin.

19. The physiological monitor of claim 4, wherein the patient monitor is configured to drive fewer light emitting sources than are available based on selected desired parameter measurements.

20. The physiological monitor of claim 4, wherein the device comprises a processor.

21. The physiological monitor of claim 20, wherein the processor communicates with a memory device to determine which of the first and second sensors is attached to the patient monitor.

22. The physiological monitor of claim 21, wherein the memory device comprises a first memory device associated with a first sensor and the memory device comprises a second memory device associated with the second sensor.

23. A method of informing a user of a patient monitor about a type of physiological parameter determinable using the sensor communicating with the patient monitor, the method comprising:

receiving information from an information element associated with one of an optical sensor and a communication cable between a patient monitor and an optical sensor;

determining a number of wavelengths emitted by the optical sensor from the information;

determining the type of parameters determinable by the monitor based on the number of wavelengths; and

activating an indictor of the type of physiological parameters determinable by the monitor.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicator comprises a display of data determined using signals from the optical sensor.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the visual indicator comprises a color selected to indicate the type of parameter determinable for the sensor.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the visual indicator comprises an LED.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the LED changes color based on which of the first and second sensors is attached.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the LED color comprises red when the first sensor is attached and another color when another sensor is attached.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the indicator comprises an audible indicator.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the audible indictor emits one or more tones.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the audible indictor emits a first tone when the first sensor is attached and a different second tone when the second sensor is attached.

33. A physiological parameter monitor capable of improving performance by activating a variable number of light emission sources of an optical sensor, the monitor comprising a processor capable of determining a number of light emission sources available for activation on an attached sensor and capable of activating more than two but fewer of the plurality of light emission sources than are available on the sensor based on predetermined criteria.

34. The monitor of claim 33, wherein the processor activates two of the plurality of light emission sources to measure a first physiological parameter.

35. The monitor of claim 34, wherein the processor activates more than two of the plurality of light emission sources to measure a second physiological parameter.

36. The monitor of claim 34, wherein the processor activates more than two of the plurality of light emission sources to more accurately measure the first physiological parameter.

37. The monitor of claim 33, wherein the processor activates more than two of the plurality of light emission sources to measure a second physiological parameter.