System and method for monitoring the life of a physiological sensor
AssigneeMasimo Corporation
InventorsAmmar Al-Ali, Walter M. Weber, Ryan Timothy McHale
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Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure include a sensor configured to store in memory indications of sensor use information and formulas or indications of formula for determining the useful life of a sensor from the indications of sensor use information. A monitor connected to the sensor monitors sensor use and stores indications of the use on sensor memory. The monitor and/or sensor use the compute the useful life of the sensor from the indications of use and the formulas. When the useful life of the sensor is reached, an indication is given to replace the sensor.
Claims33
A reusable noninvasive physiological sensor configured to store sensor use information comprising:
- a first and second emitter configured to emit light of at least two wavelengths through tissue;
- a detector configured to sense the light after it has passed through the tissue and to generate a signal indicative of the sensed light;
- a memory device configured to store at least one indication of sensor use information and at least one indication of a function to be used by a separately housed patient monitor in determining the useful life of the sensor;
- and
- a communication port configured to communicate at least the signal and information stored on the memory with the separately housed patient monitor, wherein the at least one indication of the function provides at least one weight, and the separately housed patient monitor configured to use the at least one weight to weight at least one of the at least one indication of sensor use information greater than at least a second indication of sensor use information in the determination of the useful life of the sensor.
A method of determining the useful life of a physiological sensor comprising a memory device comprising:
- using a physiological sensor comprising a memory device to obtain physiological information;
- monitoring the use of the sensor using a separately housed patient monitor;
- storing a plurality of indications of use of the sensor on the memory device;
- and
- using the separately housed patient monitor to determine when the useful life of the sensor has been exceeded by using at least two of the plurality of indications of use of the sensor stored in the memory device and one or more indications of mathematical functions selected from a plurality of indications of mathematical functions stored in the memory device, wherein
- the plurality of indications of use of the sensor comprises at least a first indication of use of the sensor and a second indication of use of the sensor, and
- at least one of the one or more indications of mathematical functions weights the first indication of use of the sensor greater than the second indication of use of the sensor.
A method of indicating when a physiological sensor including a sensor memory module needs to be replaced comprising:
- emitting light from a light emitting element using at least one emitter drive signal conductor that is coupled with a separately housed patient monitor;
- detecting light from the light emitting element after it has been attenuated by tissue;
- storing a first indication of sensor use information on a sensor memory module on the sensor;
- determining, using the separately housed patient monitor in communication with the sensor, when the useful life of the sensor has been exceeded using an indication of a mathematical function stored in the sensor memory module, wherein the mathematical function weights the first indication of sensor use information greater than a second indication of sensor use information;
- and
- indicating that the sensor needs be replaced.
A method of determining the useful life of a physiological sensor comprising a memory device comprising:
- using a physiological sensor comprising a memory device to obtain physiological information;
- monitoring the use of the physiological sensor using a separately housed patient monitor;
- storing at least a first indication of use of the physiological sensor and a second indication of use of the physiological sensor on the memory device;
- assigning a first weighted value to the first indication of use and a second weighted value to the second indication of use;
- and
- determining when the useful life of the physiological sensor has been exceeded by using at least the first indication of use, the second indication of use, the first weighted value, the second weighted value, and one or more mathematical functions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.