Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated

Other

Nellcor Incorporated

K L Venkatachalam

Adnan I Merchant

Michael E Fein

Michael J Bernstein

David C Jenkins

Charles H Bowden

Bradford B Chew

Steve M Gehlbach

The present invention provides an encoding mechanism for a medical sensor which uses a modulated signal to provide the coded data to a remote analyzer. The modulated signal could be, for instance, a pulse width modulated signal or a frequency modulated signal. This signal is amplitude independent and thus provides a significant amount of noise immunity.

Medical sensor with modulated encoding scheme

An adapter which actively connects a 2-lead oximeter probe or monitor to a 3-lead monitor or probe. This is done actively, with the alternating drive signals from the oximeter monitor providing a control signal for switching the adapter connections. The adapter connections are preferably made with diodes, transistors, or other active devices.

Active optical oximeter probe adapter

The present invention provides an adapter which actively connects a two terminal oximeter probe or monitor to a three terminal monitor or probe. This is done actively, with the alternating drive signals from the oximeter monitor providing a control signal for switching the adapter connections. The adapter connections are preferably made with diodes, transistors, or other active devices.

Optical oximeter probe adapter

A sensor probe operable to transmit light of a first wavelength for scattering by a tissue sample is described for use with a pulse oximeter designed to operate with another type of sensor probe which transmits light of a second wavelength. The sensor probe includes at least one source of light for transmitting light of the first wavelength for scattering and/or absorption by the tissue sample. At least one detector is included for detecting light of the first wavelength affected by the tissue sample and generating a signal in response thereto. An encoder in the sensor probe transforms the signal to a form which may be employed by the oximeter.

Method and apparatus for facilitating compatibility between pulse

A phased array acoustic transducer apparatus has a controller and an array of ultrasonic transducers mounted in a water tight housing. Also included in the water tight housing are a transmitter circuit which sends phased excitation signals to the array of ultrasonic transducers so as to generate a directed beam of acoustic energy. A receiver circuit, located in the water tight housing, processes and combines signals received by the array of ultrasonic transducers to generate an output signal. The controller sends both power and control signals via a cable to the transmitter and receiver circuits. The cable uses a simple serial data line and a clock signal line to transmit beam angle control signals, thereby minimizing the size of the cable. The controller sends transmitter gating signals over a gate signal line on the cable to enable and disable operation of the transmitter circuit, such as is required for a pulse-echo mode of operation. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a display unit coupled to the controller. The controller automatically sends a sequence of control signals that cause the transmitter circuit, in conjunction with the array of ultrasonic transducers, to generate a sequence of directed beams of acoustic energy. The controller automatically collects the resulting output signals from the receiver circuit and generates therefrom a corresponding image on the display unit.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

K L Venkatachalam