Abstract: A portable health data tool permits a health care provider to assimilate and display a plurality of health care data from a patient and to associate the data with patient identifying information all stored in a memory contained in the tool. The tool includes a code reader for reading patient information into the tool from a bar code or other coded tag. The tool is associated with a plurality of different data assimilation devices stored with the tool's housing, including but not limited to, instruments for measuring, temperature, blood pressure, two-finger or lead wire ECG data, pulse oximetry data, sound data and picture data obtained from an optional digital camera integrated within the housing. The tool further includes data receiver and/or transmitter ports, which may be wireless or cable ports, for transferring data between the health data tool and a separate computer system that stores patient records.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a socket connector to couple electrical plugs to sockets mounted on circuit boards or cable ends. The socket connector includes a socket that receives an electrical plug and a socket silo. The silo may contain a beveled outer surface that receives a beveled face on the plug. The plug is held in the socket by latches disposed on the plug. The latches include pawls that fit within pawl receiving chambers in the socket and couple the plug to the socket. The latch and hinged section may rotate into a recessed section on the plug from an extended to a retracted position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a socket connector to couple electrical plugs to sockets mounted on circuit boards or cable ends. The socket connector includes a socket that receives an electrical plug and a socket silo. The silo may contain a beveled outer surface that receives a beveled face on the plug. The plug is held in the socket by latches disposed on the plug. The latches include pawls that fit within pawl receiving chambers in the socket and couple the plug to the socket. The latch and hinged section may rotate into a recessed section on the plug from an extended to a retracted position. A locking portion on the pawl and the receiving chamber may be angled to develop a desired pullout force.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a socket connector to couple electrical plugs to sockets mounted on circuit boards or cable ends. The socket connector includes a socket that receives an electrical plug and a socket silo. The silo may contain a beveled outer surface that receives a beveled face on the plug. The plug is held in the socket by latches disposed on the plug. The latches include pawls that fit within pawl receiving chambers in the socket and couple the plug to the socket. The latch and hinged section may rotate into a recessed section on the plug from an extended to a retracted position. A locking portion on the pawl and the receiving chamber may be angled to develop a desired pullout force.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a socket connector to couple electrical plugs to sockets mounted on circuit boards or cable ends. The socket connector includes a socket that receives an electrical plug and a socket silo. The silo may contain a beveled outer surface that receives a beveled face on the plug. The plug is held in the socket by latches disposed on the plug. The latches include pawls that fit within pawl receiving chambers in the socket and couple the plug to the socket. The latch and hinged section may rotate into a recessed section on the plug from an extended to a retracted position. A locking portion on the pawl and the receiving chamber may be angled to develop a desired pullout force.

Abstract: A system is described for identifying a cable transmitting a signal from a sensor to an electronic instrument. The cable includes a reactance element such as a capacitor or an inductor. The system identifies the cable by applying a voltage to a combination of a resistance and the reactance element to measure the reactance of the reactance element either alone or in combination with the resistance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for obtaining blood pressure measurements employing a user releasable and adjustable blood pressure cuff. In one aspect of the invention, the blood pressure cuff apparatus consists of a first cuff member connected to a mounting surface and rotatable about a first axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface. The first cuff member is connected to a second cuff member that is rotatable about a second axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the first. A blood pressure cuff comprised of a loop adapted to receive the arm of a test subject is connected to the second cuff member. In another aspect of the invention, the elongated flexible band has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the second member of the cuff housing, and the second end is connected to a cuff retainer.

Abstract: Uterine activity is sensed by passing light through the patient's abdominal wall and detecting the light reflected from abdominal tissues. The intensity of the reflected light varies with the state of contraction of the patient's uterus. The use of light for monitoring uterine activity avoids the problems of size, fixation, and measurement accuracy exhibited by the conventional tocodynamometer technique.

Abstract: A wireless patient monitoring apparatus uses low frequency inductive coupling to couple signals from a transducer to monitoring and analysis instrumentation. Signals indicative of physiological functions are modulated onto a low frequency carrier and output from a self-contained portable transducer assembly via a transducer coil. A corresponding receiver coil receives the signals by electromagnetic induction. The received signals are demodulated and processed by instrumentation coupled to the receiver coil. A mattress pad containing the receiver coil is also disclosed. In a fetal monitor implementation, both wireless ultrasound and tocodynamometer transducers are provided.

Abstract: Uterine activity is sensed by passing light through the patient's abdominal wall and detecting the light reflected from abdominal tissues. The intensity of the reflected light varies with the state of contraction of the patient's uterus. The use of light for monitoring uterine activity avoids the problems of size, fixation, and measurement accuracy exhibited by the conventional tocodynamometer technique.

Abstract: A wireless patient monitoring apparatus uses an optical signal to transmit information from a transducer to a photodetector of an optical receiver. The photodetector converts the optical signal to an electrical signal which is then provided to monitoring and analysis instrumentation. Signals which are indicative of physiological functions are modulated onto a carrier, and the resulting modulated signal is provided, in turn, to the optical source, which may be a light-emitting diode (LED) which emits in the infrared band. A self-contained portable transducer assembly which is strapped or otherwise secured to the patient may house the transducer, modulator and optical source, and is adapted for underwater use. Optionally, the optical source can be positioned remote from the assembly. In a fetal monitor implementation, both wireless ultrasound and tocodynamometer transducers are provided.

Abstract: An optoelectronic pulse oximetry sensor is described which physically conforms to a body portion of a patient, such as a finger, and provides a firm pressing engagement between the sensor and the patient's body portion. The sensor includes a flexible substrate, such as an elastic bandage-type material, which is physically conformable and attachable/adherable to the patient's body portion. The sensor also includes a light source assembly for transilluminating the patient's body portion, and a light detector assembly for measuring transmitted light. The dimensions of the light source and light detector assemblies are constructed to provide a high aspect ratio relative to the flexible substrate. When the sensor is conformably applied to the patient's body portion, localized pressure is exerted on the body portion at the points of contact with the light source and light detector assemblies, thereby stressing the skin and the underlying blood-perfused tissue.

Abstract: A method and system for constructing formulae for processing medical data is provided by a formula construction facility. In a preferred embodiment, the facility displays a list of time-indexed medical values. A user selects the name of a time-indexed medical value from the displayed list. The facility also displays a list of time intervals for qualifying individual values of the identified time-indexed medical value. The user similarly selects an interval from the displayed list of time intervals. The facility further displays a list of functions for reducing the individual values of the selected time-indexed medical value whose effective times are within the identified time interval to a single value. In response, the user selects a function from the displayed list of functions.

Abstract: A technique for the algebraic derivation of a pulse oximetry signal uses the mathematical relations of detected light signals. First and second light sources transmit light through the patient's finger or reflects light off the blood vessels in the patient's finger. A light detector detects light from each of the light sources and generates a measured intensity signal. The measured intensity signal includes the true intensity of light transmitted from each of the light sources as well as noise introduced during the measurement process. A data sample from each of the light sources is digitized and subdivided into a plurality of data windows. The mathematical relationship is applied to each of the data windows to determine a ratio value indicative of oxygen saturation in the patient. The ratio values are statistically analyzed to determine the best estimate for the correct ratio value. This ratio value is subsequently processed to determine the oxygen saturation within the patient.

Abstract: An alignment guide system for use with conventional pulse oximetry monitors connected to transmissive pulse oximetry sensors. The system generates a bar graph or other display showing the magnitude of the optical coupling between the LED's and light detector used in the sensor. By manipulating the position of the sensor while observing the bar graph, medical practitioners can optimize the mount of light from the LED's reaching the light detector. The bar graph also contains an alarm limit marker. If the bar graph falls below the alarm limit marker, the entire bar graph flashes to alert the medical practitioner that the mount of light transmitted to the LED's to the light detector may not be enough to permit sufficiently accurate oxygen saturation measurements.

Abstract: A method and system for flexibly organizing, recording, and displaying medical patient care information is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a patient information management facility enables users to customize a patient information hierarchy, which defines and organizes the information that may be stored about each patient, as well as patient data flowsheets, which define views in which the patient data stored according to the hierarchy may be entered and viewed, in a way that is optimized for the structure and procedures of the particular health care organization. The facility enables users to add, modify, and rearrange global or local patient information parameters that make up the hierarchy. Users may define the parameters to be any of a number of types. The user may also customize flowsheets used for entering and displaying result values of parameters defined in the hierarchy for particular patients.

Abstract: A technique for the accurate determination of artifact free pulse oximetry signals utilizes an adaptive signal processor and peak detector circuit. A reference signal for the adaptive signal processor is derived based on mathematical relations of the detected light signals and the true intensity of light signals. The derivation of the appropriate reference signal requires the determination of peak values for two ratio constants. The two ratio constants lie within a known physiological range of values. When the value of the ratio constants has been determined, the reference signal equals the true intensity. The output of the adaptive signal processor is provided to the peak detector. The peak detector subdivides the known physiological range into two intervals and determines in which interval a peak exists. The remaining interval is discarded, and the peak detector repeats the measurement on the remaining interval until a peak has been detected within the desired accuracy.

Abstract: A system and method for fusing independent measures of the physiological parameter uses a Kalman filter for each possible combination of sensor measurements. The Kalman filter utilize probability density functions of a nominal error contamination model and a prediction error model as well as past estimates of the physiological parameter to produce the Kalman filter outputs. A confidence calculator uses Bayesian statistical analysis to determine a confidence level for each of the Kalman filter outputs, and selects a fused estimate for the physiological parameter based on the confidence level. The fused estimate and the confidence level are used to dynamically update the nominal error contamination model and prediction error model to create an adaptive measurement system. The confidence calculator also takes into account the probability of artifactual error contamination in any or all of the sensor measurements.

Abstract: A system and method for the dynamic display of scatter-plot data uses a color monitor or gray-scale monitor to indicate the relative frequency of occurrences of interval pairs corresponding to the scatter-plot data. A variety of user selectable analysis and display parameters are available to select the type of data desired for the scatter-plot display. The user selectable parameters include time parameters that allow the user to review all scatter-plot data collected over a first period of time in smaller increments of time. The system can display different time increments in different colors or intensities. The system also permits the selection of a particular interval pair and display the raw data corresponding to the selected interval pair. If there is more than one occurrence of the selected interval pair, the system permits the user to select from the plurality of occurrences and displays the raw data associated with the selected occurrence.