Physiological measurement communications adapter

Abstract

A sensor interface is configured to receive a sensor signal. A transmitter generates a transmit signal. A receiver receives the signal corresponding to the transmit signal. Further, a monitor interface is configured to communicate a waveform to the monitor so that measurements derived by the monitor from the waveform are generally equivalent to measurements derivable from the sensor signal.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A pulse oximetry device comprising:
 a housing including at least a signal processor and a transmitter;   a display positioned on the housing and in communication with the signal processor;   a strap configure to securely mount the housing on an appendage of a user;   a pulse oximetry sensor in communication with the signal processor and configured to be mounted to a finger of the user, wherein the pulse oximetry sensor includes at least:
 a light emitter configured to emit light into a tissue site of the finger of the user; and 
 a light detector configured output a signal responsive to at least a portion of the emitted light after attenuation by tissue of the tissue site; and 
   a cable configured to enable communication between the signal processor and the pulse oximetry sensor, wherein the cable is coupled to both the housing and the pulse oximetry sensor,   wherein the signal processor is configured to:
 receive the signal from the pulse oximetry sensor; 
 derive, from the signal, measurements of oxygen saturation and pulse rate; and 
 display, on the display, the measurements, and 
   wherein the transmitter is configured to:
 receive the signal from the pulse oximetry sensor; and 
 transmit a transmit signal responsive to the signal to a receiver configured to adapt the transmit signal to a monitor-compatible signal based on characterization information specific to a monitor device, the monitor-compatible signal usable by the monitor device to provide physiological parameter measurements consistent with the signal received from the pulse oximetry sensor. 
   
     
     
         3 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 2 , wherein transmit signal is transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         4 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 2 , wherein the display is positioned on an outward facing portion of the housing such that the measurements displayed on the display are viewable by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 one or more input mechanisms useable by the user to affect at least one of an operational mode or characteristics of the pulse oximetry device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more input mechanisms comprise keys. 
     
     
         7 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 6 , wherein the display wraps at least partially around the appendage of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 2 , wherein the pulse oximetry sensor is disposable. 
     
     
         9 . A method of monitoring oxygen saturation and pulse rate of a user comprising:
 providing a pulse oximetry device according to  claim 2 ;   mounting the pulse oximetry device on an appendage of the user; and   activating the pulse oximetry device such that measurements of oxygen saturation and/or pulse rate are provided by the pulse oximetry device and displayed a display of the pulse oximetry device.   
     
     
         10 . A pulse oximetry device comprising:
 a housing including at least a signal processor;   a display positioned on the housing and in communication with the signal processor;   a strap usable to mount the housing on an appendage of a user;   a pulse oximetry sensor in communication with the signal processor and configured to be mounted to a tissue site of the user, wherein the pulse oximetry sensor includes at least:
 a light emitter configured to emit light into the tissue site of the user; and 
 a light detector configured output a signal responsive to at least a portion of the emitted light after attenuation by tissue of the tissue site; and 
   a cable configured to enable communication between the signal processor and the pulse oximetry sensor, wherein the cable is coupled to both the housing and the pulse oximetry sensor,   wherein the signal processor is configured to:
 receive the signal from the pulse oximetry sensor; 
 derive, from the signal, measurements of oxygen saturation and pulse rate; and 
 display, on the display, the measurements. 
   
     
     
         11 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 10  further comprising:
 one or more input keys useable by the user to affect at least one of an operational mode or characteristics of the pulse oximetry device. 
 
     
     
         12 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 11 , wherein the display is positioned on an outward facing portion of the housing such that the measurements displayed on the display are viewable by the user. 
     
     
         13 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 12 , wherein the display wraps at least partially around the appendage of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a sensor interface configured to receive the signal from the pulse oximetry sensor and condition the signal such that the conditioned signal is responsive to the signal, 
 wherein the measurements are derived from the conditioned signal. 
 
     
     
         15 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 14 , wherein conditioning the signal includes at least one of buffering, digital filtering, smoothing, averaging, adaptive filtering, frequency transforming, or modifying data rates. 
     
     
         16 . A pulse oximetry device comprising:
 a housing including at least a signal processor and a transmitter;   a strap usable to mount the housing on an appendage of a user;   a pulse oximetry sensor in communication with the signal processor and configured to be mounted to a tissue site of the user, wherein the pulse oximetry sensor includes at least:
 a light emitter configured to emit light into a tissue site of the user; and 
 a light detector configured output a signal responsive to at least a portion of the emitted light after attenuation by tissue of the tissue site; and 
   a cable configured to enable communication between the signal processor and the pulse oximetry sensor, wherein the cable is coupled to both the housing and the pulse oximetry sensor,   wherein the signal processor is configured to:
 receive the signal from the pulse oximetry sensor; and 
 derive, from the signal, measurements of oxygen saturation and pulse rate, 
   wherein the transmitter is configured to:
 receive the signal from the pulse oximetry sensor; and 
 transmit a transmit signal responsive to the signal to a receiver configured to adapt the transmit signal to a monitor-compatible signal based on characterization information specific to a monitor device, the monitor-compatible signal usable by the monitor device to provide physiological parameter measurements consistent with the signal received from the pulse oximetry sensor. 
   
     
     
         17 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 16 , wherein transmit signal is transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         18 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 16 , wherein the cable extends from the tissue site of the user to the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 18 , wherein the tissue site comprises a finger of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 19 , wherein the appendage of the user comprises an arm of the user. 
     
     
         21 . The pulse oximetry device of  claim 16 , wherein the signal processor is further configured to derive, from the signal, real time measurements of perfusion index and signal quality.