Patent ID: 6449501
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of enhancing signal quality information using signal sonification while monitoring oxygen saturation in a pulse oximeter comprising the following steps:(a) exposing a tissue site to a plurality of wavelengths of light generated by the pulse oximeter, said tissue site having one or more pulsatile characteristic(s) associated with physiological parameters; (b) detecting light of the plurality of wavelengths transmitted by or reflected from components of the tissue site, said detected light having a detected light pulsatile component related to one or more of the pulsatile characteristic(s) of said tissue site, and converting said detected light into a plurality of electrical signals, each said electrical signal of said plurality of said electrical signalshaving an electrical signal pulsatile component related to the detected light pulsatile component; (c) digitizing and conditioning said plurality of electrical signals in a signal data acquisition component of the pulse oximeter to remove noise while retaining said electrical signal pulsatile component of each of the digitized and conditioned said plurality of electrical signals and creating a plurality of digital signals; (d) deriving signal quality information from said plurality of digital signals by processing said plurality of digital signals to enhance and accentuate said electrical signal pulsatile component, creating a plurality of enhanced signals; and combining said plurality of enhanced signals to emphasize variations related to said pulsatile tissue characteristic(s) in said plurality of electrical signals from step (b); (e) continuously transforming said signal quality information into a signal quality audio representation by applying a frequency mapping function and a volume control function; (f) conveying said signal quality audio representation of signal quality information to an operator; (g) analyzing said plurality of digital signals for pulse rate and oxygen saturation level; (h) providing pulse rate and oxygen saturation information to an operator in audible and/or readable form; (i) combining physiological and system alert information with said signal quality audio representation conveying signal quality information to form a combined audio signal; (j) permitting operator control of the overall audio volume of said combined audio signal.