Interference detector for patient monitor

A method of determining whether a sensitive instrument will have difficulty determining accurate measurements of physiological parameters of a patient, the method comprising:

• selecting an interference detection mode on a patient monitor, said patient monitor configured to receive from a sensor one or more sensor signals responsive to light attenuated by tissue of a monitored patient and process the one or more sensor signals to determine measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of said monitored patient, the sensor including a light source and one or more detectors housed in a sensor housing that positions the light source and said one or more detectors proximate said tissue;
• electronically determining with a signal processor an amount of ambient electronic interference proximate said sensor;
• and
• electronically outputting at least one of an audio or visual indication of said amount of ambient electronic interference, said audio or visual indication perceptible by a caregiver.

A patient monitor configured to determine whether the patient monitor will have difficulty determining accurate measurements of physiological parameters of a patient, the patient monitor comprising a memory and a processor configured to:

• receive from a sensor one or more sensor signals responsive to light attenuated by tissue of a monitored patient, the sensor including a light source and one or more detectors housed in a sensor housing that positions the light source and said one or more detectors proximate said tissue;
• process the one or more sensor signals to determine measurement values for one or more physiological parameters of said monitored patient;
• receive a selected interference detection mode;
• electronically determine an amount of ambient electronic interference proximate said sensor;
• and
• electronically output at least one of an audio or visual indication of said amount of ambient electronic interference, said audio or visual indication perceptible by a caregiver.