Patent · US Expired

Pulse oximetry pulse indicator

US6606511B1 · kind B1 · utility

1,265Cited by
24References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 6, 2000
Grant dateAug 12, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 6, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/02416
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An intelligent, rule-based processor provides a pulse indicator designating the occurrence of each pulse in a pulse oximeter-derived photo-plethysmograph waveform. When there is relatively no distortion corrupting the plethysmograph signal, the processor analyzes the shape of the pulses in the waveform to determine where in the waveform to generate the pulse indication. When distortion is present, looser waveform criteria are used to determine if pulses are present. If pulses are present, the pulse indication is based upon an averaged pulse rate. If no pulses are present, no indication occurs. The pulse indicator provides a trigger and amplitude output. The trigger output is used to initiate an audible tone “beep” or a visual pulse indication on a display, such as a vertical spike on a horizontal trace or a corresponding indication on a bar display. The amplitude output is used to indicate data integrity and corresponding confidence in the computed values of saturation and pulse rate. The amplitude output can vary a characteristic of the pulse indicator, such as beep volume or frequency or the height of the visual display spike.

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