Oximeter sensor with digital memory encoding patient data

Abstract

The present invention provides a memory chip for use in an oximeter sensor, or an associated adapter or connector circuit. The memory chip allows the storing of patient related data, such as patient trending data or a patient ID, to provide enhanced capabilities for the oximeter sensor. In addition to providing unique data to store in such a memory, the present invention include unique uses of the data stored in such a memory.

1 . A sensor comprising:
 a light emitting element configured to emit light into tissue;   a light detecting element configured to receive the light from the light emitting element after the light has passed through the tissue;   an interface capable of receiving digital date and time data from a physiological monitor coupled to the sensor; and   a memory device storing digital date and time data associated with the physiological monitor being turned on or turned off.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the interface is capable of receiving digital date and time data from a medical facility computer network, the medical facility network comprising at least one oximeter monitor. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor of  claim 1 , comprising a circuit configured to transmit date and time data stored in the memory device to the physiological monitor upon detecting that the physiological monitor has cycled from off to on. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor of  claim 1 , comprising a circuit configured to track a length of continuous use of the sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor of  claim 4 , wherein the circuit is configured to periodically store a time interval associated with the length of continuous use within the memory device. 
     
     
         6 . An attachment feature for a physiological monitor, comprising:
 a memory device external to the physiological monitor and configured to communicatively couple with the physiological monitor, wherein the memory device comprises:
 an interface capable of transmitting digitally encoded data to the physiological monitor and receiving digitally encoded data from the physiological monitor, the digitally encoded data including a date and time when the physiological monitor coupled the memory device was turned on or turned off; and 
 a memory storing the date and time. 
   
     
     
         7 . The attachment feature of  claim 6 , wherein the memory device is integral with a sensor comprising a light emitting element and light detecting element. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment feature of  claim 7 , comprising a circuit configured to track a length of continuous use of the sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment feature of  claim 8 , wherein the circuit is configured to periodically store a time interval associated with the length of continuous use within the memory. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 transmitting digitally encoded data from a memory of a non-invasive oximetry sensor to a separate physiological monitor via a communicative coupling after detecting that the non-invasive oximetry sensor is coupled with the physiological monitor and the physiological monitor is on, the digitally encoded data comprising a date and time when a last physiological monitor coupled to the non-invasive oximetry sensor was turned on or turned off.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising receiving the digitally encoded data from the last physiological monitor coupled to the non-invasive oximetry sensor and storing the encoded data in the memory. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising exchanging the digitally encoded data with a medical facility computer network. 
     
     
         13 . A physiological monitor comprising:
 a drive circuit adapted to provide signals to a sensor via a communicative coupling to facilitate operation of the sensor and detection of physiological parameters;   a write circuit adapted to write digitally encoded data to a memory of the sensor when the physiological monitor is turned on or turned off, the digitally encoded data including a date and time associated with when the physiological monitor is turned on or turned off; and   a read circuit adapted to read the digitally encoded data from the memory of the sensor when the physiological monitor is turned on.   
     
     
         14 . The physiological monitor of  claim 13 , comprising a digital clock configured to track current date and time. 
     
     
         15 . The physiological monitor of  claim 13 , comprising a display screen that displays the time when the physiological monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or turned off. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 providing signals from a physiological monitor to drive circuitry of a sensor via a communicative coupling to activate light emitters of the sensor;   writing digitally encoded data to a memory of the sensor from the physiological monitor, the digitally encoded data including a time when the physiological monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or turned off; and   reading the digitally encoded data from the memory of the sensor into the physiological monitor when the physiological monitor is turned on.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising displaying the time when the physiological monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or off. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising tracking a length of continuous use of the sensor and periodically storing a time interval associated with the length of continuous use within the memory of the sensor. 
     
     
         19 . A system for sensing and monitoring blood oxygen levels, the system comprising:
 a sensor comprising:
 a light emitting device capable of emitting light into tissue; 
 a light detecting device capable of receiving the light after passing through the tissue; and 
 a memory; and 
   a physiological monitor communicatively coupled to the sensor, the physiological monitor comprising:
 a drive circuit adapted to provide signals to the sensor via a communicative coupling to facilitate operation of the sensor and detection of physiological parameters; 
 a write circuit adapted to write digitally encoded data to the memory of the sensor when the physiological monitor is turned on or turned off, the digitally encoded data including a date and time associated with when the physiological monitor is turned on or turned off; and 
 a read circuit adapted to read the digitally encoded data from the memory of the sensor when the physiological monitor is turned on. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , comprising a display device for displaying data including the time when the physiological monitor coupled to the sensor was turned on or turned off.