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US 2019/0216398 A1Published application
Parameter upgrade system
AssigneeMasimo Corporation
InventorsAmmar Al-Ali, Philip B. Trinh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A physiological monitor has a sensor port configured to attach and communicate with a sensor. A processor board is in communications with the sensor port and has a board digital signal processor (DSP). Firmware residing on the processor board is executable by the board DSP so as to calculate physiological parameters in response to a sensor signal received from the sensor. Upgrade tools are individually attachable to the sensor port in lieu of the sensor so as to designate to the processor board which of the physiological parameters, if any, to calculate when the sensor is attached to the sensor port.
Claims21
1-22. (canceled)
A physiological monitor comprising:
- a sensor port configured for attachment and communication with a sensor and further configured for attachment and communication with a handheld upgrade tool in lieu of the sensor;
- one or more processors in communication with the sensor port;
- and
- a data store storing a plurality of firmware instructions, the plurality of firmware instructions comprising:
- a first set of firmware instructions relating to calculation of at least one first physiological parameter in response to a sensor signal received from the sensor, wherein the first set of firmware instructions is made available to the one or more processors, and
- a second set of firmware instructions relating to calculation of at least one second physiological parameter in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor, wherein the second set of firmware instructions is not made available to the one or more processors,
- wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
- determine that the handheld upgrade tool is attached to the sensor port, and
- based at least in part on a verification by the one or more processors that the handheld upgrade tool is authorized to access the physiological monitor and a verification by the handheld upgrade tool that the physiological monitor is authorized to access the handheld upgrade tool, receive an update to the plurality of firmware instructions from the handheld upgrade tool, wherein the update to the plurality of firmware instructions makes available to the one or more processors the second set of firmware instructions.
6 more elements
A method for updating firmware instructions on a physiological monitor comprising:
- determining, using one or more processors, that a handheld upgrade tool is attached to a sensor port of a physiological monitor in lieu of a sensor;
- verifying, using the one or more processors, that the handheld upgrade tool is authorized to access the physiological monitor;
- and
- based at least in part on said verifying that the handheld upgrade tool is authorized to access the physiological monitor and a verification by the handheld upgrade tool that the physiological monitor is authorized to access the handheld upgrade tool, receiving from the handheld upgrade tool an update to a plurality of firmware instructions stored in a data store of the physiological monitor,
- wherein the plurality of firmware instructions comprises a first set of firmware instructions relating to calculation of at least one first physiological parameter in response to a sensor signal received from the sensor and a second set of firmware instructions relating to calculation of at least one second physiological parameter in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor,
- wherein prior to said receiving the update to the plurality of firmware instructions, the first set of firmware instructions is made available to the one or more processors and the second set of firmware instructions is not made available to the one or more processors,
- wherein the update to the plurality of firmware instructions makes the second set of firmware instructions available to the one or more processors.
4 more elements
A parameter upgrade system comprising:
- a handheld upgrade tool comprising a sensor port connector individually attachable to a sensor port of a physiological monitor in lieu of a sensor, the handheld upgrade tool configured to provide an update to a plurality of firmware instructions of the physiological monitor;
- and
- the physiological monitor comprising:
- the sensor port configured for attachment and communication with the sensor and further configured for attachment and communication with the handheld upgrade tool in lieu of the sensor,
- one or more processors in communication with the sensor port, and
- a data store storing the plurality of firmware instructions, the plurality of firmware instructions comprising:
- a first set of firmware instructions relating to calculation of at least one first physiological parameter in response to a sensor signal received from the sensor, wherein the first set of firmware instructions is made available to the one or more processors, and
- a second set of firmware instructions relating to calculation of at least one second physiological parameter in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor, wherein the second set of firmware instructions is not made available to the one or more processors,
- wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
- determine that the handheld upgrade tool is attached to the sensor port, and
- based at least in part on a verification by the one or more processors that the handheld upgrade tool is authorized to access the physiological monitor and a verification by the handheld upgrade tool that the physiological monitor is authorized to access the handheld upgrade tool, receive the update to the plurality of firmware instructions from the handheld upgrade tool, wherein the update to the plurality of firmware instructions makes available to the one or more processors the second set of firmware instructions.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.