Patent ID: 6909912
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for analyzing pulse oximeter probe signals from at least two sites on a living vertebrate to determine the presence or absence of, or to monitor changes in, impaired peripheral perfusion, comprising the steps of: a. removably affixing a first pulse oximeter probe to a central source site located in the head of a patient in need of said method; b. removably affixing a second pulse oximeter probe to a first peripheral site of interest on said patient; c. measuring signals from said central source site pulse oximeter and said first peripheral site pulse oximeter, d. averaging sufficient sequential signals from each site to obtain a statistically reliable average, and from said average calculating a time-set estimate of the arterial blood oxygen saturation, and repeating this averaging to obtain sequential time-set estimates from each site; e. comparing a time-set estimate of the arterial blood oxygen saturation from the central source site with an estimate, taken at a similar time, of the arterial blood oxygen saturation from the first peripheral site; and f. determining the presence or absence of, or the time-based changes in, impaired peripheral perfusion proximal to said first peripheral site.