Patents by Inventor Robert S. Potratz

Robert S. Potratz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5803910
    Abstract: A compact pulse oximetry system and method which separates the combined signal into its respective AC and DC components. By separating the signal into AC and DC components, a smaller order bit A/D converter may be used while still maintaining signal accuracy. Instead of using the combined signal to calculate the oxygen saturation content, the system microprocessor computes the Ratio of Ratios using the derivative of the separated AC component of the diffused signal to calculate the oxygen saturation of the measured fluid. To calculate the Ratio of Ratios, a ratio of the derivative value of the separated AC component is used. Instead of taking a single sample between the peak and valley of the signal, the oximeter system samples each value. To decrease the effect of system noise, a linear regression is performed over each sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert S. Potratz
  • Patent number: 5662106
    Abstract: A pulse oximeter which modifies the alarm condition when motion is detected. Basically, if the lack of a pulse is determined to be as a result of motion artifact, the generation of an alarm is postponed. In addition, the display indicates that motion is present and that the last reading is questionable due to the presence of motion. The invention also determines if motion artifact is present from the pulse oximeter detector signal itself. The ratio of the positive and negative peaks of the derivative of the pulse signal are compared to a motion/blood pulse threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated
    Inventors: David B. Swedlow, Robert S. Potratz
  • Patent number: 5577500
    Abstract: A compact pulse oximetry system which separates the combined signal into its respective AC and DC components. By separating the signal into AC and DC components, a smaller order bit A/D converter may be used while still maintaining signal accuracy. Instead of using the combined signal to calculate the oxygen saturation content, the system microprocessor computes the Ratio of Ratios using the derivative of the separated AC component of the diffused signal to calculate the oxygen saturation of the measured fluid. To calculate the Ratio of Ratios, a ratio of the derivative value of the separated AC component is used. Instead of taking a single sample between the peak and valley of the signal, the oximeter system samples each value. To decrease the effect of system noise, a linear regression is performed over each sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert S. Potratz
  • Patent number: 5533507
    Abstract: A compact pulse oximetry system which separates the combined signal into its respective AC and DC components. By separating the signal into AC and DC components, a smaller order bit A/D converter may be used while still maintaining signal accuracy. Instead of using the combined signal to calculate the oxygen saturation content, the system microprocessor computes the Ratio of Ratios using the derivative of the separated AC component of the diffused signal to calculate the oxygen saturation of the measured fluid. To calculate the Ratio of Ratios, a ratio of the derivative value of the separated AC component is used. Instead of taking a single sample between the peak and valley of the signal, the oximeter system samples each value. To decrease the effect of system noise, a linear regression is performed over each sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Nellcor, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Potratz
  • Patent number: 5368026
    Abstract: A pulse oximeter which modifies the alarm condition when motion is detected. Basically, if the lack of a pulse is determined to be as a result of motion artifact, the generation of an alarm is postponed. In addition, the display indicates that motion is present and that the last reading is questionable due to the presence of motion. The invention also determines if motion artifact is present from the pulse oximeter detector signal itself. The ratio of the positive and negative peaks of the derivative of the pulse signal are compared to a motion/blood pulse threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated
    Inventors: David B. Swedlow, Robert S. Potratz
  • Patent number: 5351685
    Abstract: A compact pulse oximetry system which separates the combined signal into its respective AC and DC components. By separating the signal into AC and DC components, a smaller order bit A/D converter may be used while still maintaining signal accuracy. Instead of using the combined signal to calculate the oxygen saturation content, the system microprocessor computes the Ratio of Ratios using the derivative of the separated AC component of the diffused signal to calculate the oxygen saturation of the measured fluid. To calculate the Ratio of Ratios, a ratio of the derivative value of the separated AC component is used. Instead of taking a single sample between the peak and valley of the signal, the oximeter system samples each value. To decrease the effect of system noise, a linear regression is performed over each sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Nellcor Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert S. Potratz