Abstract: A medical sensor may be adapted to account for factors that cause irregularities in pulse oximetry measurements or other spectrophotemetric measurements. Sensors are provided with surface features that reduce the amount of outside light or shunted light that impinge the detecting elements of the sensor. The sensor is adapted to reduce the effect of outside light or shunted light on pulse oximetry measurements.
Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor, comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to receive the light, and a memory device that stores data, comprising an amount of wetness on the oximeter sensor.
Abstract: A warming blanket is provided that includes a first sheet and a second sheet sealed at least along a common edge. An air inlet is provided on the warming blanket where the first sheet and the second sheet are not sealed. An inlet opening device is attached to the inlet opening. The inlet opening device separates the first sheet from the second sheet at the inlet opening in the absence of an opposing force. Methods of forming and using the warming blanket are also provided.
Abstract: Forehead oximetry sensor devices and methods for determining physiological parameters using forehead oximetry sensors. One method includes placing an oximetry sensor on the forehead of a patient, such that the sensor is placed on the lower forehead region, above the eyebrow with the sensor optics placed lateral of the iris and proximal the temple; and operating the pulse oximeter to obtain the physiological parameter. In one aspect, the method also includes providing and placing a headband over the oximetry sensor, or alternately, the sensor is a headband-integrated sensor. The headband has an elastic segment sized to fit around the patient's head. The headband also includes a non-elastic segment that is smaller than and attached with the elastic segment. The non-elastic segment is sized to span a portion of the elastic segment when the elastic segment is stretched. In addition, the non-elastic segment is larger than the portion of the elastic segment it spans when the elastic segment is not stretched.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2011
Assignee:
Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
Inventors:
Paul D. Mannheimer, Don Hannula, Donald E. Bebout, Michael Patrick O'Neil
Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include manifold configurations designed to promote mixing of vapor phase and liquid phase refrigerant. The manifolds contain flow mixers such as a helical tape, sectioned volumes, and partitions containing apertures. The flow mixers direct the flow of refrigerant within the manifold to promote a more homogenous distribution of fluid within the multichannel tubes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 29, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2011
Assignee:
Johnson Controls Technology Company
Inventors:
Jeffrey Lee Tucker, Mahesh Valiya-Naduvath, John T. Knight, Judd M. Vance
Abstract: A memory array is provided that includes a transistor having two active gates sharing a source, a drain, and a channel of the transistor. One of the active gates may be coupled to a volatile memory portion of a memory cell, such as a DRAM cell, and the other active gate may be coupled to a non-volatile memory portion, for example, a charge storage node such as a SONOS cell. Methods of operating the memory array are provided that include transferring data from the volatile memory portions to the non-volatile memory portions, transferring data from the non-volatile memory portions to the volatile memory portions, and erasing the non-volatile memory portions of a row of memory cells.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 20, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2011
Assignee:
Micron Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Howard C. Kirsch, Charles Ingalls, Werner Juengling
Abstract: A sensor may be adapted to account for factors that cause irregularities in sensor measurements. A sensor may selectively absorb light from outside sources. A sensor may selectively absorb light near a region of tissue having relatively large subcutaneous anatomic structures, such as large blood vessels, and selectively reflect light near a region of tissue that is relatively free of large blood vessels or other structures. The sensor is adapted to reduce the effect of large subcutaneous anatomic structures and outside light on measurements for pulse oximetry or other spectrophotometric techniques.
Abstract: A sensor may be adapted to be placed on multiple tissue sites. A sensor is provided that may have one configuration associated with use on a digit and a second configuration associated with use on another tissue site, such as a forehead. Further, a sensor may be adapted to be a transmission-type sensor or a reflectance-type sensor, depending on its configuration.
Abstract: A system and method for transfer of digital content, including providing a listing of sources and content destinations, receiving a user selection of a content source and a destination from the source and destination listing, providing a listing of available paths for the exchange of digital content, receiving a user selection of a routing path from the routing path listing, and permitting transmission of the content from the selected source to the destination via the selected routing path.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 9, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 22, 2011
Assignee:
NBC Universal, Inc.
Inventors:
Rab Mukraj, Jonathan Hodges, Nader Kazemi, Sumit Mathur, Darren Tome
Abstract: A system and method to modify entry of text is provided. The system includes an input device, a display device, and a processor configured to store a correlation between at least one word with at least one candidate phrase; receive at least one word into the input device; identify the at least one candidate phrase correlated to the at least one word; replace the at least one word with a selected phrase from the at least one candidate phrase; and store the selected phrase in a computer readable storage medium.
Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for a single-use oximetry sensor in which a single-use connector is used with the sensor assembly. The disclosure describes a connector which consists of a single-use male connector for use with female connector on an oximeter. The connector includes a housing enclosing one or more pins, one or more movable members, and a locking mechanism. Upon engagement of the male connector into the female connector the locking mechanism activates such that when the female connector is removed, the moveable member moves from a first position to a second position and locks into the second position. When in the second position the male connector can not engage the female connector, thereby limiting the male connector to a single use engagement.
Abstract: A system includes an induction generator controller configured to operate an induction generator via a converter. The induction generator controller includes a diagnostic mode configured to instruct the converter to send an input signal to a rotor of the induction generator, receive an output signal from the rotor and a stator of the induction generator, and identify winding faults within the rotor and/or the stator based on the output signals.
Abstract: There is provided a system and method for providing group calling in a wireless network. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising receiving a request to participate a group call from a mobile device located in a wireless service area, determining whether a threshold number of other mobile devices in the wireless service area are participating in the group call, if the threshold number of the other mobile devices are participating in the group call, designating the requesting mobile device to receive a multicast transmission of the group call, and if the threshold number of other mobile devices are not participating in the group call, designating the requesting mobile device to receive a unicast transmission of the group call.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 31, 2006
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2011
Assignee:
Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher Francis Mooney, David Albert Rossetti, Stanley Vitebsky, Yang Yang
Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a system includes a spray device having a liquid pathway leading to a liquid exit, an air pathway leading to an air exit directed toward a spray region downstream of the liquid exit, and an assembly disposed in the liquid pathway adjacent the liquid exit. The assembly includes a threadless pintle generally fit into a sleeve in a concentric manner without threads. The assembly also includes a generally annular passage between the threadless pintle and the sleeve and a passage coupled with the generally annular passage. The generally annular passage also has a cross-sectional area that alternatingly increases and decreases in a lengthwise direction along the liquid pathway.
Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present technique relate to a welding storage structure. In one embodiment, a welding system includes a welding chassis and a storage structure that rotates outwardly from the welding chassis. In another embodiment, a welding system includes a welding storage unit having a storage base with a plurality of storage compartments, a cover removably disposed over the plurality of the storage compartments, and a rotatable chassis mount configured to couple the welding storage unit rotatably to a welding chassis.
Abstract: Multi-touchdown, parallel test probe cards having probe elements arranged to provide greater efficiency during testing of a substrate having a plurality of die thereon. Probe elements may be arranged in a number of configurations that allow for efficient usage of the probe elements.
Abstract: A fuel injector is coupled to an engine. The fuel injector includes an injection opening configured to vary in cross-section between a open state and a fully closed state. The fuel injector is configured to provide a plurality of discrete commanded fuel injections into an engine cylinder by modulating the size of the injection opening without completely closing the opening to the fully closed state.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 7, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 8, 2011
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Jennifer Ann Topinka, James Peter DeLancey, Roy James Primus, Florian Peter Pintgen
Abstract: Embodiments described herein may include devices and methods of manufacturing sensors for monitoring physiological parameters of a patient. Specifically, embodiments disclose the use of conductive and nonconductive coating materials to increase comfort of sensor and increase accuracy of the parameters measured. The sensor may include a flexible circuit and an optical device with an active face. A generally opaque, nonconductive coating may be disposed over the optical device, except for the active face, which allows for passage of light to the active face. The nonconductive coating may comprise a medical grade silicone of a specified thickness. A second conductive layer may be disposed on a portion of the conductive layer, to provide a Faraday shield for the optical device.
Abstract: A technique for heating a patient is provided. The technique includes providing a warming blanket comprising at least one section that can be moved relative to the remainder of the warming blanket to define an opening in the warming blanket. The technique also includes providing a drape suitable to cover the opening such that a seal is formed between the drape and the warming blanket along the periphery of the opening.
Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a sensor for facilitating detection of a physiological characteristic of a patient. Specifically, one embodiment includes a detector configured to obtain signals from the patient, the signals being indicative of the physiological characteristic, an interface configured to send the signals to a monitor, and a sensor memory coupled with the sensor and separate from the monitor, the sensor memory storing sensor expiration data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 1, 2006
Date of Patent:
February 1, 2011
Assignee:
Mallinckrodt Inc.
Inventors:
Paul D. Mannheimer, Michael E. Fein, Marcia Fein, legal representative