Patent ID: 9596999
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A system for monitoring a patient's blood oxygen saturation, comprising: a pulse oximetry sensor comprising: a first radiation source configured to emit a first optical radiation at a first wavelength; a second radiation source configured to emit a second optical radiation at a second wavelength; a photodetector configured to detect the first optical radiation emitted by the first radiation source after the first optical radiation passes through a portion of the patient to generate a first signal, and the second optical radiation emitted by the second radiation source after the second optical radiation passes through a portion of the patient to generate a second signal; and a finger-ring housing comprising a mounting portion that comprises the first and second radiation sources and the photodetector, the mounting portion configured to wrap around a base of the patient's thumb while leaving a tip of the thumb uncovered such that the first optical radiation emitted by the first radiation source and the second optical radiation emitted by the second radiation source pass through the thumb tissue and are received by the princeps pollicis artery before reaching the photodetector; and a processing unit configured to be worn on the patient's wrist and connected to the first sensor to receive the first and second signals, the processing unit comprising a motion sensor configured to detect a motion signal, and a processor configured to process: i) the first and second signals to determine AC signals; ii) at least one of the AC signals and the motion signal to determine selected AC signals; and iii) the selected AC signals, or signals derived therefrom, to determine the patient's blood oxygen saturation.