Personal computer card for collection for real-time biological data

A portable biological data collection device, comprising:

• a portable computer card housing;
• a biological data receiver coupled to the portable computer card housing, the biological data receiver being adapted to receive biological data and to output the biological data;
• signal-conditioning circuitry operatively coupled to the biological data receiver, the signal-conditioning circuitry being adapted to receive the biological data from the biological data receiver and to convert the biological data into digitized biological data;
• and
• a portable computer card interface disposed within the portable computer card housing, the portable computer card interface being adapted to communicate with a host computer and to relay the digitized biological data to the host computer an a real-time basis as the biological data is converted by the signal conditioning circuitry.

A host computer configurable among a plurality of biological data collection device modes, comprising:

• a portable computer card slot adapted to receive a portable computer card therein;
• a portable computer card interface adapted to communicate with a portable computer card inserted into the portable computer card slot and adapted to receive digitized biological data from a portable computer card inserted into the portable computer card slot;
• a microprocessor;
• a data bus operatively connected between the microprocessor and the portable computer card interface;
• input means for receiving designation data from a portable computer card within the portable computer card slot, the input means being operatively connected to the microprocessor and the designation data being indicative of a type of the digitized biological data from a portable computer card inserted into the portable computer card slot, the designation data comprising one of a first identifier and a second identifier, the first identifier indicating that the digitized biological data should be interpreted by the microprocessor as spirometer-pressure data and the second identifier indicating that the digitized biological data should be interpreted by the microprocessor as pulse oximetry electrical data;
• and
• configuring means for configuring the host computer into a real-time spirometer-pressure data collecting and analyzing device upon receipt of the first identifier, and for configuring the host computer into a real-time pulse oximetry electrical data collecting and analyzing device upon receipt of the second identifier, the configuring means being operatively connected to the microprocessor.

A combination of a plurality of interchangeable biological-data portable computer cards, comprising:

• (a) a spirometer portable computer card, comprising:
• (1) a spirometer portable computer card housing having an external surface;
• (2) a pressure input port disposed within the spirometer portable computer card housing, the pressure input port being adapted to receive an air pressure from an air tube;
• (3) a pressure transducer disposed within the spirometer portable computer card housing, the pressure transducer being adapted to receive an air pressure from an air tube via the pressure input port and to generate an electrical signal, an intensity of the generated electrical signal being proportional to an intensity of the received air pressure;
• (4) an amplifier operatively connected to the pressure transducer, the amplifier being adapted to receive the generated electrical signal and to output an amplified signal;
• (5) an analog-to-digital converter operatively connected to the amplifier, the analog-to-digital converter being adapted to digitize the amplified signal;
• and
• (6) a portable computer card interface disposed within the spirometer portable computer card housing, the portable computer card interface being adapted to communicate with a host computer and being adapted to relay the digitized amplified signal to the host computer on a real-time basis as the electrical signal is generated from the air pressure;
• and
• (b) a pulse oximetry portable computer card, comprising:
• (1) a pulse oximetry portable computer card housing having an external surface;
• (2) at least one conductor connected to the pulse oximetry portable computer card housing, the at least one conductor being adapted to collect pulse oximetry data from a patient;
• (3) an analog-to-digital converter operatively connected to the at least one conductor, the analog-to-digital converter being adapted to digitize the amplified signal;
• and
• (4) a portable computer card interface disposed within the pulse oximetry portable computer card housing, the portable computer card interface being adapted to communicate with a host computer and being adapted to relay the digitized amplified signal to the host computer on a real-time basis as pulse oximetry data is collected from a patient.

A portable computer card for delivering biological data to a host computer, comprising:

• a portable computer card housing having an external surface;
• at least one conductor connected to the portable computer card housing, the at least one conductor being adapted to collect biological data from a patient;
• an amplifier operatively connected to the at least one conductor, the amplifier being adapted to receive the biological data and to output an amplified signal;
• a power source operatively connected to the amplifier;
• insulating means for providing electrical insulation between the power source and the at least one conductor, the insulating means being disposed between the at least one conductor and the amplifier;
• an analog-to-digital converter operatively connected to the amplifier, the analog-to-digital converter being adapted to digitize the amplified signal;
• and
• a portable computer card interface disposed within the portable computer card housing, the portable computer card interface being adapted to communicate with a host computer and being adapted to relay the digitized amplified signal to the host computer on a real-time basis as biological data is collected from a patient.