Patent ID: 6221012
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: A61B,G16H

Abstract:
Patient monitoring apparatus for displaying, on a display device, medical data processed by a monitor and collected from a patient during a patient monitoring mode of operation using a plurality of sensors, the apparatus adapted for use in a system which includes a plurality of sensors, the apparatus comprising:a portable monitor, enclosed in a first housing, for receiving and processing patient data during said patient monitoring and developing therefrom signals suitable for causing display of the patient data on a display device during said patient monitoring;a data acquisition cartridge, enclosed in a second housing, coupled for communicating with a selected one of the plurality of sensors, the data acquisition cartridge adapted for collecting patient data from a selected sensor, for conditioning the collected patient data and for transmitting the conditioned data to said portable monitor for processing therein during said patient monitoring; andan independently positionable, self contained data acquisition pod, enclosed in a third housing, coupled for communicating with a selected one of the plurality of sensors, the data acquisition pod adapted for collecting further patient data from a further selected sensor, for conditioning the further patient data and for transmitting the conditioned further patient data to said portable monitor for processing therein during said patient monitoring; whereinsaid first housing includes first coupling means for detachably coupling to said second housing, which first coupling means co-locates the data acquisition cartridge with the portable monitor during said patient monitoring, and the first housing includes second coupling means for detachably coupling to said third housing for receiving said patient data transmitted from said data acquisition pod to said portable monitor, which second coupling means allows said data acquisition pod to be independently positionable, self-contained, and not co-located with the portable monitor during said patient monitoring, and wherein the data acquisition pod comprises:means for receiving a plurality of patient physiological parameter data from the plurality of sensors; andmeans for generating from the plurality of physiological parameter data a digital data signal which is transferred to the portable monitor.