Patent ID: 6510331
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: A61B,H01H

Abstract:
A method of providing continuous blood oxygenation readings, said method comprising the steps of:a) providing an oximeter which produces said readings, said oximeter having a plurality of sensors, each sensor operating at the same infrared wavelength and adapted to be temporarily connected to extremities of a body; b) mounting each of said sensors on a different extremity; c) connecting a switching device to said oximeter and said plurality of sensors, said switching device having a selector, said selector having multiple positions, each of said positions energizing one of said plurality of sensors at a time and conveying the return signal from the energized sensor to said oximeter; d) selecting a particular position and energizing said sensor by operation of said selector; and e) producing a blood oxygenation reading from each selected sensor so that loss of oximetry information caused by interrupted blood flow in one sensed part of the body or failure of a sensor will not prevent the continuous flow of blood oxygenation readings.