Pulse oximeter monitor
AssigneeNellcor Incorporated
InventorsWilliam New, Jr., James E. Corenman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A display monitor is disclosed for a pulse oximeter of the type wherein light of two different wavelengths is passed through body tissue, such as a finger, an ear or the scalp, so as to be modulated by the pulsatile component of arterial blood therein and thereby indicate oxygen saturation. A tonal signal is emitted having a pitch proportional to the ratio of oxygen saturation and a sequential repetition proportional to pulse. A visual cue consisting of an array of strobed light emitting diodes is flashed having a total light output proportional to the magnitude of the pulse and a sequential flashing rate proportional to pulse rate. A systematic rejection of extraneous or irregular detected data prevents undue sounding of alarms.
Claims3
An oximeter apparatus for use in measuring pulse rate and oxygen saturation of blood by means of absorption of optical radiation through living tissue comprising:
- first and second light sources for emitting light at a first and second wavelength, respectively;
- a light sensor;
- said light sources and light sensor being adapted to be addressed to said tissue to define a light path through said tissue between said light sources and said light sensor;
- means for detecting signals corresponding to light received by said light sensor at each of said first and second wavelengths and for deriving from said signals a pulsatile signal corresponding to a pulsatile characteristic of arterial blood flow and generating a signal corresponding to oxygen saturation of the blood;
- and
- means for generating an audible intermittent tone signal, said tone signal generating means further comprising
- means responsive to said pulsatile signal for controlling the occurrence of said audible tone signal, and
- means responsive to said oxygen saturation signal for varying the tonal frequency of said audible tone signal with oxygen saturation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.