Ambulatory patient monitoring system having multiple monitoring units and optical communications therebetween

An ambulatory patient monitoring system for measuring and storing a plurality of diagnostic parameter values, comprising:

• a portable power supply:
• microprocessor means coupled to said portable power supply for determining said diagnostic parameter values;
• nonvolatile memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing both said plurality of diagnostic parameter values and a control algorithm, said nonvolatile memory being formed by a plurality of electrically programmable, electrically erasable semiconductor memory devices, said memory devices being all substantially simultaneously electrically erasable;
• random access memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for temporary storage of said control algorithm, said microprocessor means transferring said control algorithm (1) from said nonvolatile memory means to said random access memory means preceding electrical erasure of said nonvolatile memory means, and (2) back to said nonvolatile memory means subsequent to said erasure thereof;
• and,
• sensor means coupled to said microprocessor means for providing measurement data thereto, said microprocessor means calculating said diagnostic parameter values from said measurement data.

An ambulatory patient monitoring system for measuring and storing a plurality of diagnostic parameter values powered by a portable power source, comprising:

• microprocessor means coupled to said portable power source for determining said diagnostic parameter values;
• memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said plurality of diagnostic parameter values;
• means for stopping and starting operation of said microprocessor means to thereby conserve power from said portable power source;
• and,
• sensor means coupled to said microprocessor means for providing measurement data thereto, said microprocessor means calculating said diagnostic parameter values from said measurement data.

An ambulatory patient monitoring system, comprising:

• at least two monitoring units releasably secured to a patient for measuring different diagnostic parameters, each of said monitoring units comprising:
• a. a portable power source;
• b. microprocessor means coupled to said portable power source for controlling the measurement and storage of predetermined diagnostic parameters;
• c. memory means coupled to said microprocessor means for storing said predetermined diagnostic parameters;
• d. optical interface means coupled to said microprocessor means for communicating with another of said monitoring unit, said optical interface of a first of said at least two monitoring units optically transmitting a control signal representing detection of a predetermined characteristic of a first diagnostic parameter measured by said first monitoring unit to a second of said at least two monitoring units, said control signal being received by said optical interface of said second monitoring unit for initiating a measurement by said second monitoring unit of a second diagnostic parameter;
• e. signal conditioning means coupled to said microprocessor means for providing said diagnostic parameters thereto;
• and,
• f. input means coupled to a patient for sensing diagnostic parameters therefrom, said input means having an output coupled to said signal conditioning means.