Indicators For A Spectrophotometric System

A method for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue, using a spectrophotometric system that includes a processor, a visual display, and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the sensors relative to the subject to sense separate regions of the subject;
• spectrophotometrically sensing the subject's tissue and determining an absolute oxygen saturation level for each region using sensed signal data from each region;
• comparing the oxygen saturation level of each region to a predetermined value, and determining which region has the most adverse oxygen saturation value relative to the predetermined value;
• and
• displaying the oxygen saturation level for the region having the most adverse oxygen saturation level, on the visual display.

A method for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue, using a spectrophotometric system that includes a processor, a visual display, and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the sensors relative to the subject to sense separate regions of the subject;
• sensing the subject's tissue and determining an absolute oxygen saturation level for each region using signal data produced from each region;
• providing a predetermined value for comparison with the oxygen saturation level of each region, which predetermined value varies depending on a temperature of the subject;
• comparing the oxygen saturation level of each region to a predetermined value, and determining if the oxygen saturation level of each region represents an adverse condition relative to the predetermined value;
• and
• selectively displaying the oxygen saturation level for one or more regions on the visual display.

A method for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue, using a spectrophotometric system that includes a processor, a visual display, and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the sensors relative to the subject to sense separate regions of the subject;
• spectrophotometrically sensing the subject's tissue and determining an absolute oxygen saturation level for each region using sensed signal data from each region;
• displaying the oxygen saturation level for a selected region, or an average of the oxygen saturation levels of all of the regions, on the visual display;
• comparing the oxygen saturation level of the regions relative to each other, selecting a maximum oxygen saturation value and a minimum oxygen saturation value, and determining a difference between the maximum and minimum values;
• and
• comparing the difference to a predetermined value, and if the difference exceeds the predetermined value, replacing the oxygen saturation value of the selected region or average value then currently displayed with the minimum oxygen saturation value.

A method for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue, using a spectrophotometric system that includes a processor, a visual display, and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the sensors relative to the subject to sense separate regions of the subject;
• spectrophotometrically sensing the subject's tissue and determining an absolute oxygen saturation level for each region using sensed signal data from each region;
• displaying the oxygen saturation level for a selected region, or an average of the oxygen saturation levels of all of the regions, on the visual display;
• and
• selectively producing one or more audible signals indicative of one or more physiologic values selected from the group consisting of:
• the oxygen saturation level of a region, a pulse of the subject, an arterial oxygen saturation of the subject, a venous oxygen saturation level of a region, or average venous oxygen saturation level.