Dual-finger vital signs monitor

A vital signs monitor comprising:

• a transducing means comprising a first transducer means for measuring a vital sign;
• said first transducer means comprising a plurality of first detector means mounted proximate one another on a first probe body;
• said first probe body being capable of being coupled to a patient;
• and
• a plurality of meter means;
• each of the meter means providing a measurement of a respective one of a plurality of test parameters;
• each of the meter means being coupled to a respective one of the first detector means;
• wherein:
• one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body is a first potential difference detection means for sensing an electric field in said patient;
• and
• one of the plurality of meter means is a voltage meter means for providing a measurement of said electric field;
• and
• said first potential detection means is coupled to said voltage meter means.

A vital signs monitor comprising:

• a transducing means comprising a first transducer means for measuring a vital sign;
• said first transducer means comprising a plurality of first detector means mounted proximate one another on a first probe body;
• said first probe body being capable of being coupled to a patient;
• a plurality of meter means;
• each of the meter means providing a measurement of a respective one of a plurality of test parameters;
• each of the meter means being coupled to a respective one of the first detector means;
• one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body is a first hemoglobin oxygenation detector means for sensing a level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in said patient;
• one of the plurality of meter means is a hemoglobin oxygenation meter means for providing a measurement of said level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen;
• said hemoglobin oxygenation meter means comprises a first hemoglobin oxygenation meter means;
• said first hemoglobin oxygenation detector means is coupled to said first hemoglobin oxygenation meter means;
• one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body is a first potential difference detection means for sensing an electric field in said patient;
• one of the plurality of meter means is a voltage meter means for providing a measurement of said electric field;
• said first potential detection means is coupled to said voltage meter means;
• one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body is a first pressure detection means for sensing a blood pressure level in said patient;
• said first probe body comprises a first inflatable pressure cuff means capable of substantially enveloping a first appendage of said patient;
• one of the plurality of meter means is a pressure meter means for providing a measurement of said blood pressure level;
• said pressure meter means comprises a first pressure meter means;
• said transducer means further comprises;
• a first fluid conduit means for conveying a fluid to said first inflatable pressure cuff means;
• said first fluid conduit means being coupled to said first inflatable pressure cuff means and to said first pressure meter means;
• said first fluid conduit means being for the purpose of inflating the first cuff means;
• and
• a first fluid reservoir means for controlling said fluid in said first fluid conduit means;
• said first fluid reservoir means being coupled to said first pressure meter means.

A vital signs monitor comprising:

• a transducing means comprising;
• a first and a second transducer means for measuring a plurality of different types of vital signs;
• the first transducer means comprising a plurality of first detector means each constructed differently from one another for detecting the plurality of different types of vital signs;
• the plurality of first detector means being mounted proximate one another on a first probe body;
• the second transducer means comprising a plurality of second detector means each constructed differently from one another for detecting the plurality of different types of vital signs;
• the plurality of second detector means being mounted proximate one another on a second probe body;
• the first and second probe bodies each being capable of being coupled to a patient;
• a meter means;
• the meter means providing a measurement of a plurality of test parameters;
• being coupled to the plurality of first detector means and to the plurality of second detector means.

A vital signs monitor comprising:

• a transducing means comprising;
• a first and a second transducer means for measuring a vital sign;
• the first transducer means comprising a plurality of first detector means mounted proximate one another on a first probe body;
• and the second transducer means comprising a plurality of second detector means mounted proximate one another on a second probe body;
• the first and second probe bodies each being capable of being coupled to a patient;
• and
• a plurality of meter means;
• each of the meter means providing a measurement of a respective one of a plurality of test parameters;
• each of the meter means being coupled to a respective one of the first detector means and to a respective one of the second detector means;
• wherein:
• one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body is a first potential difference detector means for sensing an electric field in said patient;
• one of the plurality of second detector means mounted on said second probe body is a second potential difference detector means for sensing said electric field in said patient;
• and
• one of the plurality of meter means is a voltage meter means for providing a measurement of said electric field;
• the first and second potential difference detector means each being coupled to said voltage meter means.

A vital signals monitor as comprising:

• a transducing means comprising;
• a first and a second transducer means for measuring a vital sign;
• the first transducer means comprising a plurality of first detector means mounted proximate one another on a first probe body;
• the second transducer means comprising a plurality of second detector means mounted proximate one another on a second probe body;
• the first and second probe bodies each being capable of being coupled to a patient;
• a plurality of meter means;
• each of the meter means providing a measurement of a respective one of a plurality of test parameters;
• each of the meter means being coupled to a respective one of the first detector means and to a respective one of the second detector means;
• one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body is a first hemoglobin oxygenation detector means for sensing a level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in said patient;
• one of the plurality of second detector means mounted on said second probe body is a second hemoglobin oxygenation detector means for sensing said level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen in said patient;
• one of the plurality of meter is a hemoglobin oxygenation meter means for providing a measurement of said level of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen;
• said hemoglobin oxygenation meter means comprises a first and a second hemoglobin oxygenation meter means;
• the first and second hemoglobin oxygenation detector means each being coupled to a respective one of the first and second hemoglobin oxygenation meter means;
• one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body is a first potential difference detector means for sensing an electric field in said patient;
• one of the plurality of second detector means mounted on said second probe body is a second potential difference detector means for sensing said electric field in said patient;
• one of the plurality of meter means is a voltage meter means for providing a measurement of said electric field;
• the first and second potential difference detector means each being coupled to said voltage meter means;
• one of the plurality of first detector means mounted on said first probe body is a first pressure detection means for sensing a blood pressure level in said patient;
• one of the plurality of second detector means mounted on said second probe body is a second pressure detection means for sensing said blood pressure level in said patient;
• said first probe body comprises a first inflatable pressure cuff means capable of substantially enveloping a first appendage of said patient;
• said second probe body comprises a second inflatable pressure cuff means capable of substantially enveloping a second appendage of said patient;
• one of the plurality of meter means is a pressure meter means for providing a measurement of said blood pressure level;
• said pressure meter means comprises a first and a second pressure meter means;
• the first and second transducer means further comprise;
• a first and a second fluid conduit means for conveying a fluid to the first and second inflatable pressure cuff means;
• the first and second fluid conduit means each being coupled to a respective one of the first and second inflatable pressure cuff means and to a respective one of the first and second pressure meter means;
• the first and second fluid conduit means being for the purpose of each inflating a respective one of the first and second inflatable pressure cuff means;
• and
• a first and a second fluid reservoir means for controlling said fluid in the first and second fluid conduit means;
• the first and second fluid reservoir means each being coupled to a respective one of the first and second pressure meter means.

A method for monitoring a vital sign of a patient while reducing resulting tissue damage to said patient, which comprises the steps of:

• (a) selecting a first finger digit of said patient;
• (b) selecting a second finger digit of said patient;
• (c) inserting said first finger digit into a first inflatable finger cuff means on which is mounted a plurality of first detector means, wherein one of the first detector means is a first pressure detection means for sensing a blood pressure level in said patient;
• (d) inserting said second finger digit into a second inflatable finger cuff means on which is mounted on a plurality of second detector means, wherein one of the second detector means is a second pressure detection means for sensing said blood pressure level in said patient;
• (e) employing said first and second inflatable finger cuff means in an alternating sequence between two states:
• a first state wherein said first detector means senses said blood pressure level in said first finger digit while said first finger cuff means is inflated and said second finger cuff means is deflated to reduce tissue damage in said patient, and a second state wherein said second detector means senses said blood pressure level in said patient while said second finger cuff means is inflated and said first finger cuff means is deflated to reduce tissue damage in said patient.