Abstract: A sensor may be adapted to reduce signal artifacts by deflecting the effects of outside forces and sensor motion. A sensor is provided with a rigid annular structure adapted to reduce the effect of motion of a sensor emitter and/or detector. Further, a method of deflecting or minimizing outside forces and sensor motion is also provided.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present technique, there is provided methods and systems for detecting the presence of venous pulsation by adjusting the sensitivity of a detection algorithm based on a sensor characteristic and/or notifying a caregiver of the presence of venous pulsation by ceasing display of physiological parameters. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving one or more signals from a sensor, the one or more signals corresponding to absorption of light in a patient's tissue; calculating one or more physiological parameters of the patient based on the one or more signals; displaying the patient's physiological parameters; enabling detection of venous pulsation with variable sensitivity based on a location of the sensor; and suspending or terminating the display of the one or more of the patient's physiological parameters when venous pulsation is detected.

Abstract: A pulse oximeter system is presently disclosed. The pulse oximeter system includes a processor and circuitry. The processor and circuitry are configured to receive light waveforms from a sensor, determine at least one signal quality metric for the light waveforms, calculate at least one weight using a continuously variable weighting function based on the at least one signal quality metric, and ensemble average the light waveforms using the at least one calculated weight.

Abstract: An airway device is provided that may track the flow of respiratory gases through the device with sensing elements at a plurality of locations along the gas flow path of the device. Such a device may be useful for assessing a variety of clinical states, for adjusting patient ventilator settings, or for determining whether or not an airway device has been properly inserted into a patient airway.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the effects of noise on a system for measuring physiological parameters, such as, for example, a pulse oximeter. The method and apparatus of the invention take into account the physical limitations on various physiological parameters being monitored when weighting and averaging a series of measurements. Varying weights are assigned different measurements, measurements are rejected, and the averaging period is adjusted according to the reliability of the measurements. Similarly, calculated values derived from analyzing the measurements are also assigned varying weights and averaged over adjustable periods. More specifically, a general class of filters such as, for example, Kalman filters, is employed in processing the measurements and calculated values. The filters use mathematical models which describe how the physiological parameters change in time, and how these parameters relate to measurement in a noisy environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to identifying and/or analyzing high resolution variations in a measured physiologic parameter, such as blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) measured using pulse oximetry. Present embodiments may include a system including a sensor comprising an emitter capable of emitting light at different wavelengths into a tissue bed, and a detector capable of detecting the light from the emitter after dispersion and/or reflection by the tissue bed. Further, the system may include a pulse oximeter capable of receiving signals from the sensor that are indicative of characteristics of the light detected by the detector, and utilizing the signals to estimate blood oxygen saturation values over time at a high resolution to facilitate detection of variations in the blood oxygen saturation values that are smaller in magnitude than an accuracy, display precision, and/or calibration of the blood oxygen saturation values.

Abstract: A system configured to provide feedback regarding fluid parameters in the skin and/or compartments of an individual to facilitate early diagnosis of skin wounds and compartment syndromes.

Abstract: An airway device is provided that may track the flow of respiratory gases through the device with sensing elements at a plurality of locations along the gas flow path of the device. Such a device may be useful for assessing a variety of clinical states, for adjusting patient ventilator settings, or for determining whether or not an airway device has been properly inserted into a patient airway.

Abstract: A neural network is used to combine one or more estimates of a physiologic parameter with one or more associated signal quality metrics, creating a more accurate estimate of said physiologic parameter, as well as a second estimate of the accuracy of said physiologic parameter estimate.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system may generate an autocorrelation sequence for a physiological signal such as a photoplethysmograph signal. A series of peak values may be identified for the autocorrelation sequence. The peak values may be modified based on a historical distribution of a physiological parameter. A physiological parameter such as respiration rate may be determined based on the modified peak values.

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 monitoring system that may include an emission feature capable of emitting light into tissue, a modulator capable of modulating the emitter at a modulation frequency generally in a range of about 50 MHz to 3.0 GHz to generate resolvable photon density waves, a detection feature capable of detecting photons of the photon density waves after passage through the tissue and capable of providing a distribution of detected photons over a time period for the photon density waves, and a processor capable of calculating a skewness of the distribution and making determinations relating to a value of a physiologic parameter of the tissue based at least in part on the skewness of the distribution.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for reducing nuisance alarms associated with monitoring non-physiological parameters in a ventilatory system. Non-physiological parameters may include, but are not limited to, parameters that are internally monitored by the ventilator based on pre-configured ranges dictated by the manufacturer, by an applicable protocol, or by the clinician. Embodiments described herein seek to mitigate nuisance alarms by basing alarm conditions, at least in part, on an integral threshold such that an alarm is not generated when a monitored parameter briefly falls outside an acceptable range by a slight degree, but such that an alarm is generated when a monitored parameter falls outside an acceptable range by a more significant magnitude and/or duration.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a medical system and method for determining tissue temperature may include a spectroscopic sensor. The spectroscopic sensors may be configured to provide information about changes in water absorption profiles at one or more absorption peaks. Such sensors may be incorporated into ablation systems for tissue ablation. Temperature information may be used to determine the scope, volume, and/or depth of the ablation.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may include systems and methods for determining a patient's respiratory effort and blood oxygen saturation based on data acquired from a pulse oximetry sensor and analyzing the parameters in conjunction with each other. For example, the respiratory effort may be determined based on a photo-plethysmographic waveform generated from light attenuation detected by the sensor, and the blood oxygen saturation may be a pulse -based estimate of arterial blood oxygen saturation determined from the detected attenuation. Analysis of the parameters may enable detection and classification of apnea (e.g., obstructive or central) or another underlying cause for respiratory instability. Furthermore, the measured respiratory effort may be compared to respiratory effort supplied by a ventilator to ensure proper sensor placement before enabling automatic adjustment of ventilator settings.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a water reserve index. The method includes determining a lean water fraction of tissue for at least one tissue site and determining skin thickness for the at least one tissue site. The lean water fraction and skin thickness are combined to produce a water reserve estimate.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a sensor may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient's tissue. postioned adjacenta sensor may be provided with tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the proper placement of the sensor relative to the tissue of a patient. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician regarding the location of the sensor in relation to the skin of a patient in order to provide improved measurements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system and method for determining a likelihood of successful ventilator weaning for a patient undergoing mechanical or assisted ventilation. Specifically, embodiments provided herein include methods and systems for determining or predicting weaning readiness in a patient based on physiological parameters determined via photoplethysmography.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed may include a sensor which may be adapted to provide information related to its position on a patient's tissue. A sensor may be provided with tissue contact sensors which may relay a signal related to the sensor's proper placement adjacent a patient's tissue. Such a sensor may be useful for providing information to a clinician about the status of a sensor, such as if a sensor may be located more closely to the tissue in order to provide improved measurements.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining contact of a sensor with a patient's tissue. The method comprises comparing the intensity of detected light at a first wavelength to a threshold, wherein the first wavelength is not used to determine a physiological characteristic of the patient, and determining if the sensor is in contact with the patient's tissue based on the comparison. In addition, a method is provided for determining the amount of light shunting during operation of the sensor. The method comprises comparing the intensity of detected light at a first wavelength to a threshold, wherein the first wavelength is not used to determine a physiological characteristic of the patient, and determining the amount of light shunting based on the comparison.