Methods and Systems for Detecting a Sensor Off Condition Using A Reference Ambient Characteristic
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsPaul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A physiological monitoring system may use photonic signals at one or more wavelengths to determine physiological parameters. During monitoring, a physiological sensor may become improperly positioned, which may affect the physiological attenuation of the photonic signals, and accordingly a detected light signal. The detected light signal may include an ambient light component and a signal component corresponding to the one or more wavelengths of light. The physiological monitoring system may determine a reference characteristic based on the ambient light component, and compare the signal component with the ambient light component to determine a sensor-off condition.
Claims20
A method for determining whether a physiological sensor is properly positioned on a subject, the method comprising:
- receiving a detected light signal, wherein the light signal comprises an ambient light signal component and a signal component corresponding to a wavelength of light emitted by the physiological sensor;
- processing the detected light signal, using processing equipment, to generate a first signal corresponding to the ambient light signal component;
- processing the detected light signal, using the processing equipment, to generate a second signal corresponding to the ambient light signal component and the signal component;
- determining, using the processing equipment, at least one reference characteristic based on the first signal;
- comparing, using the processing equipment, the second signal to the at least one reference characteristic;
- and
- determining, using the processing equipment, whether the physiological sensor is properly positioned based on the comparison.
A system for determining whether a physiological sensor is properly positioned on a subject, the system comprising:
- processing equipment configured to:
- receive a detected light signal, wherein the light signal comprises an ambient light signal component and a signal component corresponding to a wavelength of light emitted by the physiological sensor;
- process the detected light signal to generate a first signal corresponding to the ambient light signal component;
- process the detected light signal to generate a second signal corresponding to the ambient light signal component and the signal component;
- determine at least one reference characteristic based on the first signal;
- compare the second signal to the at least one reference characteristic;
- and
- determine whether the physiological sensor is properly positioned based on the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.