Method for enhancing pulse oximetry calculations in the presence of correlated artifacts

A pulse oximeter, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive two waveforms corresponding to different wavelengths of light from a patient, wherein each of the two waveforms comprises a correlated artifact;
• combine the two received waveforms to form a plurality of weighted difference waveforms, wherein the plurality of weighted difference waveforms vary from one another by a value of a multiplier;
• identify one of the weighted difference waveforms from the plurality of weighted difference waveforms using a characteristic of one or more of the plurality of weighted difference waveforms;
• and
• determine at least one characteristic of the correlated artifact based at least in part on the identified weighted difference waveform.

A pulse oximetry system comprising:

• a sensor configured to detect two electromagnetic radiation signals corresponding to different wavelengths of light;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive two waveforms corresponding to the different wavelengths of light from the sensor, wherein each of the two waveforms comprises a correlated artifact;
• combine the two waveforms to form a plurality of weighted difference waveforms, wherein the plurality of weighted difference waveforms vary from one another by the value of a multiplier;
• identify at least one of the weighted difference waveforms from the plurality of weighted difference waveforms using at least one characteristic of one or more of the plurality of weighted difference waveforms;
• and
• determine at least one characteristic of the correlated artifact based at least in part on the identified weighted difference waveform.