Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for analyzing pulse data. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a signal containing data representing a plurality of pulses, the signal generated in response to detecting light scattered from blood perfused tissue. Further, one embodiment includes performing a pulse identification or qualification algorithm on at least a portion of the data, the pulse identification or qualification algorithm comprising at least one constant, and modifying the at least one constant based on results obtained from performing the pulse identification or qualification algorithm, wherein the results indicate that a designated number of rejected pulses has been reached.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to customization of user interfaces for medical devices. According to certain embodiments, patient monitors may include a symmetry control feature that adjusts the position of touch sensitive inputs shown on a display of the patient monitor. The symmetry control feature may allow a user to move the touch sensitive inputs from one side of the display to another to allow a user to access the touch sensitive inputs without blocking a portion of the display that displays patient physiological data. Further, in certain embodiments, the symmetry control feature may vary the location of one or more touch sensitive inputs based on user identification information received through a communication interface.

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: 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: 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: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to customization of user interfaces for medical devices. According to certain embodiments, patient monitors may include a device body designed to interface with interchangeable and removable faceplates. The faceplates may include input devices for controlling the patient monitor. Further, the properties of the input devices, such as the size, shape, labels, type, and location, may vary between faceplates. Further, in certain embodiments, the faceplates may include a memory for storing preferences associated with the user interface.

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 sensor for pulse oximetry or other applications utilizing spectrophotometry may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by fixing the optical distance between an emitter and detector. A flexible sensor is provided with a stiffening member to hold the emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. Further, an annular or partially annular sensor is adapted to hold an emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. A clip-style sensor is provided with a spacer that controls the distance between the emitter and detector.

Abstract: In a physiological monitor, a method and an apparatus for determining a patient's pulse rate using data corresponding to a plurality of wavelengths of electromagnetic energy transmitted through the tissue of the patient. The method includes tracking the pulse rate in the data using an adaptive comb filter, the data having signal portions corresponding to the pulse rate and signal portions corresponding to noise, periodically calculating a frequency power spectrum of one of the wavelengths, and using the frequency power spectrum in a pulse rate calculator to determine the pulse rate or to verify the pulse rate calculated by the pulse rate calculator.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for deriving and analyzing shape metrics, including skewness metrics, from physiological signals and their derivatives to determine measurement quality, patient status and operating conditions of a physiological measurement device. Such determinations may be used for any number of functions, including indicating to a patient or care provider that the measurement quality is low or unacceptable, alerting a patient or care provider to a change in patient status, triggering or delaying a recalibration of a monitoring device, and adjusting the operating parameters of a monitoring system.

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: This disclosure describes systems and methods for displaying information that describes the accuracy of estimated values of physiological parameters. As part of the process of estimating a physiological parameter, the data used for the estimation are further analyzed to determine one or more statistical parameters indicative of the accuracy of the estimate. These statistical parameters are then displayed to the caregiver in order to provide the caregiver additional information concerning the estimated value. In the systems and methods described herein, one or more probability analyses are performed on the data used to generate the estimate of the physiological parameter. The analyses may include calculating the accuracy, confidence interval or some other statistical parameter representative of the accuracy of the estimate of the physiological parameter from the variations in the data An indication of the accuracy and/or an indication of the calculated probability may then be displayed to a caregiver or user.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for evaluating skin hydration and fluid compartmentalization. The system includes a microneedle array configured to extract fluid from an interstitial space and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure differential between the interstitial space and ambient pressure during extraction of the fluid. A processor coupled to the pressure sensor is configured to compute a hydration index based on the pressure differential. A display coupled to the processor is configured to display the hydration index.

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: Techniques for non-invasive blood pressure monitoring are disclosed. Data corresponding to a patient may be received from a hospital information system. The data may include, for example, drug administration data, medical procedure data, medical equipment data, or a combination thereof. Whether a blood pressure monitoring system needs to be recalibrated may be determined, based at least in part on the received data. If it is determined that the blood pressure monitoring system needs to be recalibrated, the recalibration may be performed and at least one blood pressure measurement of the patient may be computed using the recalibrated blood pressure monitoring system.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a sensor assembly and/or systems for ultrasound-optical measurements may provide information related to hemodynamic parameters. An ultrasound beam may be used to generate a Doppler field for optical elements of a sensor assembly. By combining information received from ultrasound and optical elements of the sensor assembly, more accurate values for hemodynamic parameters may be determined.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, devices, and/or methods for assessing body fluid-related metrics and/or changes therein. The disclosure further provides systems, devices, and/or methods for correlating body fluid-related metrics in a particular tissue with the corresponding whole-body metric. The disclosure also provides, systems, devices, and/or methods for assessment of such metrics to facilitate diagnosis and/or therapeutic interventions related to maintaining and/or restoring body fluid balance.

Abstract: A sensor for pulse oximetry or other applications utilizing spectrophotometry may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by fixing the optical distance between an emitter and detector. A flexible sensor is provided with a stiffening member to hold the emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. Further, an annular or partially annular sensor is adapted to hold an emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. A clip-style sensor is provided with a spacer that controls the distance between the emitter and detector.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for determination and indication of the time remaining before a patient's physical characteristics are displayed on a monitor. The indication may be a numeric count-down, a progress bar, a clock face, an audible signal, or any other time and/or progress indication. The approximate wait-time may be determined, for example, by adding the known, generally fixed durations of characteristic determination processes to the calculated, variable durations of characteristic determination processes. Exemplary processes which may have generally fixed durations include monitor boot-up, sensor validation, and sensor calibration. Exemplary processes which may have variable durations include sensor location determination and pulsation detection. The sum of the pre-determined and calculated durations may be an approximate wait-time, which is indicated to a caregiver via visual or audible display.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to devices, systems, and methods for estimating a physiological parameter in the presence of noise. For example, the disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to devices, systems, and methods for assessing (erg., estimating, measuring, calculating) oxygen saturation (SpO2). Methods of assessing SpO2 may include assessing a noise metric associated with motion artifact. In some embodiments, a percentage (e.g., an empirically determined percentage) of a noise metric may be simply added to the SpO2 estimate to produce a corrected SpO2 estimate. An oximetry algorithm may include, according to some embodiments, combining multiple internal SpO2 estimates and associated noise and/or signal quality metrics (e.g., using a radial basis neural network) to produce a modified (e.g., corrected) SpO2 estimate (e.g., rather than merely selecting the estimate from a finite number of candidates). A modified SpO2 estimate may include little or no movement-based error.