Body-worn pulse oximeter
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a patient, comprising:
- (a) positioning a pulse oximetry sensor on a base of the patient'"'"'s thumb, the pulse oximetry sensor comprising a first radiation source configured to emit a first optical radiation at a first wavelength;
a second radiation source configured to emit a second optical radiation at a second wavelength;
a photodetector configured to detect the first optical radiation emitted by the first radiation source after the first optical radiation passes through a portion of the patient to generate a first signal, and the second optical radiation emitted by the second radiation source after the second optical radiation passes through a portion of the patient to generate a second signal; and
a finger-ring housing comprising the first and second radiation sources and the photodetector, wherein the pulse oximetry sensor is positioned such that the first optical radiation emitted by the first radiation source and the second optical radiation emitted by the second radiation source pass through the thumb tissue and are received by the princeps pollicis artery before reaching the photodetector;
(b) causing the first radiation source to emit the first optical radiation and measuring a first time-dependent signal by detecting the first optical radiation with the photodetector;
(c) causing the second radiation source to emit the second optical radiation and measuring a second time-dependent signal by detecting the second optical radiation with the photodetector;
(d) measuring a time-dependent motion signal with at least one motion sensor;
(e) transmitting the first time-dependent signal, the second time-dependent signal, and the time-dependent motion signal at a processing component;
(f) processing the time-dependent motion signal with the processing component to determine the patient'"'"'s posture and activity state;
(g) processing both the first and second time-dependent signals with the processing component to determine an oxygen saturation value for the patient; and
,(h) suppressing generation of an alarm based on the oxygen saturation value when the patient'"'"'s posture and activity state meet a predetermined criteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a body-worn system that continuously measures pulse oximetry and blood pressure, along with motion, posture, and activity level, from an ambulatory patient. The system features an oximetry probe that comfortably clips to the base of the patient'"'"'s thumb, thereby freeing up their fingers for conventional activities in a hospital, such as reading and eating. The probe secures to the thumb and measures time-dependent signals corresponding to LEDs operating near 660 and 905 nm. Analog versions of these signals pass through a low-profile cable to a wrist-worn transceiver that encloses a processing unit. Also within the wrist-worn transceiver is an accelerometer, a wireless system that sends information through a network to a remote receiver, e.g. a computer located in a central nursing station.
519 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a patient, comprising:
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(a) positioning a pulse oximetry sensor on a base of the patient'"'"'s thumb, the pulse oximetry sensor comprising a first radiation source configured to emit a first optical radiation at a first wavelength;
a second radiation source configured to emit a second optical radiation at a second wavelength;
a photodetector configured to detect the first optical radiation emitted by the first radiation source after the first optical radiation passes through a portion of the patient to generate a first signal, and the second optical radiation emitted by the second radiation source after the second optical radiation passes through a portion of the patient to generate a second signal; and
a finger-ring housing comprising the first and second radiation sources and the photodetector, wherein the pulse oximetry sensor is positioned such that the first optical radiation emitted by the first radiation source and the second optical radiation emitted by the second radiation source pass through the thumb tissue and are received by the princeps pollicis artery before reaching the photodetector;(b) causing the first radiation source to emit the first optical radiation and measuring a first time-dependent signal by detecting the first optical radiation with the photodetector; (c) causing the second radiation source to emit the second optical radiation and measuring a second time-dependent signal by detecting the second optical radiation with the photodetector; (d) measuring a time-dependent motion signal with at least one motion sensor; (e) transmitting the first time-dependent signal, the second time-dependent signal, and the time-dependent motion signal at a processing component; (f) processing the time-dependent motion signal with the processing component to determine the patient'"'"'s posture and activity state; (g) processing both the first and second time-dependent signals with the processing component to determine an oxygen saturation value for the patient; and
,(h) suppressing generation of an alarm based on the oxygen saturation value when the patient'"'"'s posture and activity state meet a predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification