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System for indicating the expiration of the useful operating life of a pulse oximetry sensor
| Details |
Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar;
Assignee: Masimo Corporation (Irvine, CA)
Primary Examiner: Le; Que T.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP
A system and a method monitor the useful and safe life of a pulse oximetry sensor. According to one embodiment, the system includes a sensor having a timer and a sensor life indicator. The sensor life indicator may advantageously include a visual alarm, an audio alarm, a vibrational alarm, a power down function, or the like. According to another embodiment, the system includes a sensor having a memory device storing a unique identifier. According to another embodiment, the system employs the oximeter for aspects of the timer or sensor life indicator. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, highly accurate sensor life monitoring system for monitoring the useful and safe life of a pulse oximetry sensor.
According to one embodiment, the sensor life monitoring system includes a timer and a sensor life indicator.
According to another embodiment, the timer includes a divide-by-n counter and a non-volatile RAM, while the sensor life indicator includes at least one LED or incandescent bulb.
Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is a pulse oximetry sensor comprising a drive connection carrying a drive signal, wherein the drive signal has pulses.
The pulse oximetry sensor further comprises a timer connected to the drive connection and configured to generate a timer output signal after a predetermined number of pulses are generated in the drive signal; and a sensor life indicator connected to the timer output signal and configured to provide an indication when the timer output signal is generated.
The pulse oximetry sensor further comprises an LED network connected to the drive connection and configured to project light through a measurement site when pulsed by the drive signal; and a photodetector configured to detect the projected light and output a signal representative of constituents or characteristics of the measurement site.
Another aspect of the present invention is a sensor life monitoring system comprising a timer connected to a sensor drive signal; and a sensor life indicator connected to the timer such that the sensor life indicator is configured to indicate the expiration of the useful or safe life of a pulse oximetry sensor.
Another aspect of the present invention is a pulse oximetry system that comprises a pulse oximeter; a sensor connected to the pulse oximeter; and a sensor life monitor connected to the sensor and configured to monitor the useful and safe life of the sensor.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a sensor.
The method comprises connecting a timer to one of a sensor input and a sensor output; and connecting an indicator to the timer such that when the timer expires, the indicator is activated
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Communications 
