Patent · US Expired

Enhancement of physiological signals using fractal analysis

US5588427A · kind A · utility

283Cited by
3References
30Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 1995
Grant dateDec 31, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/14552
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A technique for the derivation of a pulse oximetry signal using fractal dimension analysis of detected light signals. First and second light sources transmit light through the patient's finger or reflect light off the blood vessels in the patient's finger. A light detector detects light from each of the light sources and generates a measured intensity signal. The measured intensity signal includes the true intensity of light transmitted from each of the light sources as well as noise introduced during the measurement process. A data sample from each of the light sources is digitized and a set of equations developed as a function of a ratio value indicative of oxygen saturation in the patient. The fractal dimension is determined for the set of signal functions over the normal physiological range for the ratio value. Maximum and/or minimum fractal dimension values are calculated to determine the desired ratio values which are possible indicatives of the ratio of true physiological signals or noise signals. The ratio values are subsequently processed to determine the oxygen saturation within the patient.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.