Abstract: A breathing support system is provided. The system may include a breathing support device configured to deliver gas to a patient and a display device associated with the breathing support device. The display device may he configured to display a work of breathing graphic indicating one or more work of breathing measures regarding the patient's breathing.

Abstract: A memory in a sensor is used to store multiple coefficients for a physiological parameter. In one embodiment, not only are the sensor's specific calibration coefficients stored in a memory in the sensor for the formula to determine oxygen saturation, but multiple sets of coefficients are stored. The multiple sets apply to different ranges of saturation values to provide a better fit to occur by breaking the R to SpO2 relationship up into different pieces, each described by a different function. The different functions can also be according to different formulas for determining oxygen saturation.

Abstract: A medical device tube having extended retention tabs with notches therein for improved coupling of an inner cannula connector to an outer cannula connector. The medical device tube comprises an outer cannula connector having retention tabs on an outer cannula connector flange attached to the proximal end of an outer cannula. The retention tabs maintain the snap ears of the inner cannula connector when the inner cannula connector is rotated whereby the notches substantially hold the snap ears. The snap ears may further be positioned in notches in the outer cannula flange when the snap ears lock onto the outer cannula connector flange.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a patient monitoring alarm escalation system and method. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include an alarm detection device configured to measure physiological data received via a patient monitor, the alarm detection device configured to initiate an alarm in response to predefined measurements of the physiological data, and an alarm device configured to emit a first signal with a first property and a second signal with a second property, the first signal being emitted when the alarm is initiated, the second signal being emitted if an alarm acknowledgement mechanism is not activated prior to a designated event.

Abstract: A sensor has codes useful for a monitor which can be authenticated as accurate. The sensor produces a signal corresponding to a measured physiological characteristic and provides codes which can be assured of being accurate and authentic when used by a monitor. A memory associated with the sensor stores both data relating to the sensor and a digital signature. The digital signature authenticates the quality of the code by ensuring it was generated by an entity having predetermined quality controls, and ensures the code is accurate.

Abstract: A method and a system for ensemble averaging signals in a pulse oximeter, including receiving first and second electromagnetic radiation signals from a blood perfused tissue portion corresponding to two different wavelengths of light, obtaining an assessment of the signal quality of the electromagnetic signals, selecting weights for an ensemble averager using the assessment of signal quality, and ensemble averaging the electromagnetic signals using the ensemble averager.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling alarms in a medical diagnostic apparatus where an alarm is generated when a measured value for a physiological parameter is outside a specified range. The method continuously calculates a baseline value, and establishes dynamic thresholds that are related to and continuously track the baseline value. The method determines the amount of time the measured value is past the dynamic threshold, and the amount by which the threshold is passed. Alarms are triggered based upon a combination of the amount of time and the amount by which the threshold is passed. Preferably, the combination is an integral or some function of an integral.

Abstract: A method for determining a physiological parameter in the presence of correlated artifact, including obtaining two digital waveforms, x and y, the waveforms being representative of the absorption of two wavelengths of electromagnetic energy received from a blood-perfused tissue, and where each of the waveforms has a component corresponding to a plethysmographic waveform and a component corresponding to the correlated artifact; calculating several weighted difference waveforms of the form x?R*y, where R is a multiplier, by varying R over a range; evaluating the several weighted difference waveforms using a shape characteristic of the weighted difference waveform; identifying a weighted difference waveform most closely representative of and one most different from the plethysmographic waveform; determining a pleth-based physiological parameter using the waveform most closely representative of the plethysmographic waveform; determining at least one artifact-based physiological parameter using the waveform most d

Abstract: A system for controlling a motor for use in a ventilation system may include a motor, a voltage adjustment system, a user interface, and a motor controller. The voltage adjustment system may be configured to adjust a voltage applied to the motor. The user interface may be configured to receive patient settings input from a user and communicate target ventilation parameters to the motor controller. The motor controller may include a calculation engine configured to calculate motor performance parameters for achieving the target ventilation parameters, and based at least on the calculated motor performance parameters, perform a voltage adjustment analysis for controlling the voltage adjustment system. The motor controller may further include a voltage adjuster controller configured to activate the voltage adjustment system based on a first result of the voltage adjustment analysis and to not activate the voltage adjustment system based on a second result of the voltage adjustment analysis.

Abstract: A pulse oximeter sensor comprising an emitter and a detector disposed on a substrate layer with a thinned portion between the emitter and the detector. A partially transparent covering layer covers the substrate layer and comprises a corresponding thinned portion. The thinned portions attenuate light shunted via the substrate layer and the partially transparent covering layer from the emitter to the detector, and may be configured such that less than 10% of the light detectable by the detector is shunted light.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring a physiological parameter, functioning based on obtaining a first signal derived from electromagnetic energy transmitted through a tissue portion at a first wavelength, the first signal including a signal portion corresponding with motion-related events and a signal portion corresponding with arterial pulsation events, where at the first wavelength water is a dominant absorber of electromagnetic energy in the tissue portion; obtaining a second signal derived from electromagnetic energy transmitted through a tissue portion at a second wavelength, the second signal including a signal portion corresponding with motion-related events and a signal portion corresponding with arterial pulsation events, where at the second wavelength hemoglobin is a dominant absorber of electromagnetic energy in the tissue portion; and combining the first signal and the second signal to generate a combined plethysmograph signal, such that the combined signal has a signal portion corresponding w

Abstract: The invention is directed to a ventilation control system for controlling the ventilation of a patient. The ventilation control system utilizes a user-friendly user interface for the display of patient data and ventilator status. The user interface includes a graphic representation of a breath cycle that displays the breath cycle currently being ventilated, and is also responsive to changes in ventilation settings to assist the user in evaluation the effect of those changes on the ventilator strategy before the changes are implemented.

Abstract: A non-invasive optical sensor which uses the motion signal to calculate the physiological characteristic being measured. For pulse oximetry, a least squares or a ratio-of-ratios technique can be applied to the motion signal itself. This is made possible by selecting a site on the patient where variations in motion produce signals of two wavelengths which are sufficiently correlated. In particular, it has been determined that a sensor placed on a nail, in particular a thumbnail, exhibits the characteristics of having the red and infrared signals correlated when used for pulse oximetry, and the resulting signals correlate to arterial oxygen saturation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for simplified detection of unstable oxygen saturation of a patient by analysis of statistical variations in blood oxygen. One method for automatic detection of unstable oxygen saturation of a patient using a pulse oximeter comprises receiving at least a single time series input of oxygen saturation values and computing at least two metrics based on statistical properties of the single time series input of the oxygen saturation values.

Abstract: A device and a method for measuring body fluid-related metrics using spectrophotometry to facilitate therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring body fluid balance. The specific body fluid-related metrics include the absolute volume fraction of water in the extravascular and intravascular tissue compartments, as well as the shifts of water between these two compartments. The absolute volume fraction of water is determined using algorithms where received radiation measured at two or more wavelengths are combined to form either a single ratio, a sum of ratios or ratio of ratios of the form log[R(?1)/R(?2)] in which the received radiation in the numerator depends primarily on the absorbance of water and the received radiation in the denominator depends primarily on the absorbance of water and the sum of the absorbances of non-heme proteins, lipids and water in tissue.

Abstract: A pulse oximetry sensor having a temperature indicator and a method of operating such a sensor to visually indicate to an operator the temperature of the sensor and hence a measure of the temperature of the tissue location to which the sensor is attached. In one embodiment, the temperature indicator is a color changing liquid crystal temperature monitor. The liquid crystal temperature monitor includes a number of segments, each of which is activateable within a predetermined temperature range to be monitored. In other embodiments of the present invention, the oximetry sensor includes an active regulated heating element to enhance blood perfusion within the tissue location being monitored. In either embodiment, the temperature indicator provides the operator with an effective way of monitoring the temperature of the sensor and the adjacent tissue location. In case of a heated sensor, the temperature indicator informs the operator that the warming function of the sensor is functioning correctly.

Abstract: The use of two separate ensemble averagers for processing a detected waveform for use in calculating oxygen saturation and a pulse rate. The ensemble averager used for calculating oxygen saturation operates on a signal which has been normalized, while the ensemble averager for the pulse rate calculation operates on a signal which has not been normalized. The metrics chosen for the two paths through the two ensemble averagers can be varied to optimize the ensemble averaging for oxygen saturation or pulse rate calculations.

Abstract: A medical device tube having extended retention tabs with notches therein for improved coupling of an inner cannula connector to an outer cannula connector. The medical device tube comprises an outer cannula connector having retention tabs on an outer cannula connector flange attached to the proximal end of an outer cannula. The retention tabs maintain the snap ears of the inner cannula connector when the inner cannula connector is rotated whereby the notches substantially hold the snap ears. The snap ears may further be positioned in notches in the outer cannula flange when the snap ears lock onto the outer cannula connector flange.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask includes an airway conduit, and a mask connected to the airway conduit, the mask that includes an inflatable portion. An inflation lumen is coupled to the inflatable portion of the mask as well as an inflation valve. The inflation valve includes an exterior housing that has an exit aperture and a stem that is movable between an open position and a closed position. A vent clip is removably coupled to the inflation valve and includes a body portion, an exterior housing interface portion extending from the body portion and a finger extending from the body portion. The exterior housing interface portion includes a gripping surface which is formed to contact at least an approximately 90 degree portion of the inflation valve exterior housing and the finger maintains the inflation valve in an open position.

Abstract: A medical device tube having opposing support ears for improved coupling of an inner cannula to an outer cannula. The medical device tube comprises an outer cannula having opposing support ears on an outer cannula connector flange attached to a proximal end of the outer cannula. The opposing support ears maintain locking ears of the inner cannula in substantially one position. The opposing support ears substantially prevent the locking ears in contact with the outer cannula connector flange from slipping therefrom by, e.g., rotation, axial displacement, torsional shear, etc.