Abstract:
A device and method of use combining a non-invasive sensor for measuring a physiologic attribute with a biometric identification means. One embodiment of the device and method includes a sensor that has incorporated therein both an oximeter and a fingerprint sensor. The sensor may be connected to a controller including a fingerprint identification circuit in addition to the oximeter circuit and other physiological circuitries such as ECG, pulse or heart rate, NIBP (Non-Invasive Blood Pressure) and temperature. A display may provide an indication of the measured blood oxygen saturation level along with identification information. The display may be located to provide remote monitoring of oxygen saturation and fingerprint identification of the patient, for example, at a central station. The fingerprint identification circuit may be activated individually to obtain the patient fingerprint, which may be recorded in a memory, either in the controller or a remote memory store, or both.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a sensor, an apparatus and method for performing non-invasive physiologic measurements. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a pulse oximeter having a Fingerprint reader and system of use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Non-invasive oxygen saturation sensors are well known. Pulse oximetry involves the non-invasive monitoring of oxygen saturation level in blood-profused tissue indicative of certain vascular conditions. Pulse oximetry is typically used to measure various blood flow characteristics including, but not limited to, the blood-oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood, the volume of individual blood pulsations supplying the tissue, and the rate of blood pulsations corresponding to each heartbeat of a patient. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to a device and method that combines a non-invasive sensor for measuring a physiologic attribute with a biometric identification means. To provide accurate identification of a patient, one embodiment of the device and method of the present invention includes a portable sensor that has incorporated therein both an oximeter and a fingerprint sensor. The sensor may be connected to a controller including a fingerprint identification circuit in addition to the oximeter circuit and other physiological circuitries such as ECG, pulse or heart rate, NIBP (Non-Invasive Blood Pressure) and temperature. A display may provide an indication of the measured oxygen saturation level of the blood of the patient along with identification confirmation. The display may be remotely located to provide monitoring of oxygen saturation and fingerprint identification of the patient, for example, at a central station. The fingerprint identification circuit may be activated individually to obtain the fingerprint of a patient, which may be recorded in a memory, either in the controller or a remote memory store, or both. 
         [0004]    The controller may include a communications port that enables it to be connected to a remote storage facility, for example the patient record repository. The fingerprint image of a patient may be obtained and stored in the memory store of the remote computer, for identifying the patient and matching the patient records and other being measured physiological data, which may also be stored in the memory of the remote computer. The connection of the sensor to a remote controller may be by way of a conventional cable or short range wireless communications protocol, such as Bluetooth. As a result, the sensor does not need to be physically connected to the controller. Portions of the controller can be provided within the sensor housing. In one embodiment, the controller and display are provided within a portable finger-mounted sensor. 
         [0005]    An embodiment of the present invention provides an physiologic measurement circuit to determine, for example, oxygen saturation and a biometric identification circuit to identify the patient, so that the measured physiological data can be correlated or matched to the patient. 
         [0006]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features arid advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also he realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set form in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying FIGS. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a pulse oximeter according to one illustrative embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a partially exploded view of the pulse oximeter according to one embodiment; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the pulse oximeter according to one illustrative embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a pulse oximeter according to present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an exemplary method of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pulse oximeter  100  according to one illustrative embodiment.  FIG. 1B  is a partially exploded view of pulse oximeter  100 . For purposes of this discussion  FIGS. 1A and 1B  will be discussed together. In one embodiment, the pulse oximeter  100  measures the oxygen saturation of a patient utilizing known oximetry techniques. One type of pulse oximeter sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,349, to Isaacson et al., incorporated by reference herein. However, in other embodiments the pulse oximeter  100  can include the capability to detect and/or capture carbon monoxide levels, ECG waves, pulse or heart rates and temperature. While the present discussion proceeds with respect to a pulse oximeter those skilled in the an will recognize that a variety of devices may be used to collect a physiologic value of the patient. 
         [0014]    Pulse oximeter  100  includes a fingerprint reader  270  to obtain a fingerprint image of a patient or care-giver or both. Fingerprint reader  270  and its operation will be described in more detail hereinafter. In one embodiment, functions of the pulse oximeter  100  are controlled or limited by an obtained fingerprint image. For example, access to medical records for storage or review of medical records may require confirmation of a fingerprint image with a reference image. 
         [0015]    Aspects of pulse oximeter  100  include a housing having a top portion  110  and a bottom portion  150 . In this embodiment the pulse oximeter is configured to measure the blood oxygenation level by accessing a portion of a phalange (such as a finger or toe) of the body. However, other parts of the body can be used. The top portion  110  and bottom portion  150  are, in one embodiment, hinged together such that relatively constant pressure is applied to a finger when it is inserted into the pulse oximeter. However, in other embodiments, the pulse oximeter housing can be flat and not hinged. The top portion  110  includes a display  120 . The display  120  is configured to display information related to the detected oxygen levels in the blood. The display  120 , in one embodiment, uses light emitting diodes (LED) to display the information. However, other types of displays can be used such as LCD. Display  120  provides a visual indication of, in one embodiment, detected oxygen saturation range (% SpO 2 ) and the detected pulse rate (beats per minute). These are illustrated on the display  120  at lines  124  and  128  respectively. However, other information can be displayed on display  120 . In another embodiment, display  120  could provide detected blood pressure information. 
         [0016]    The bottom portion  150 , in one embodiment, includes a curved portion  155  and a pair of spring arms  160 . The curved portion  155  is shaped to accept the bottom portion of a finger. In one embodiment, the curved portion  155  is shaped such that it can accommodate a range of finger thicknesses. Typical finger thicknesses can range, for example, from 8 mm to 26 mm. This corresponds to the size of a pediatric (child) finger to that of an average adult finger. However, depending on the needs of the pulse oximeter  100 , other sizes and shapes can be used for the curved portion. 
         [0017]    The spring arms  160  are provided to hold the top portion and the bottom portion together such that sufficient pressure is applied to the finger to generate an acceptable reading for the photoplethysmographic process. However, in alternative embodiments, a single spring arm or other method of biasing the top portion  110  and bottom portion  150  together can be used. In one embodiment, the spring arms are made from metal. However, other materials can be used for the spring arms. The spring arms  160  are arranged such that they permit the pulse oximeter  100  to hinge or open to accept the finger. The spring arms are biased towards the closed position such that the pulse oximeter  100  tends to stay in the closed position when not in use. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of pulse oximeter  100  according to one illustrative embodiment. Both the top portion  110  and the bottom portion  150  are divided into a number of parts. Top portion  110  is illustrated having a top casing  210 , a sensor strip  220 , a bottom casing  230  and a circuit board  240 . However, other components can be present. Top casing  210  is simply the outer covering of the top portion  110 . The top casing can include the display  120 . Depending on the design, the top casing can take a variety of shapes, but is typically shaped to promote easy use of the pulse oximeter. The bottom casing  230  forms the underside of the top portion  110 . The bottom casing  230  is, in some embodiments, curved to correspond to the shape of a finger. This curvature assists in allowing the LEDs to be closer to the finger, and allows for a more comfortable test. However, in other embodiments, the bottom casing can be flat. The bottom casing  230  includes a cutout or aperture  231  that corresponds to the location of the LEDs on the sensor strip  220 . In some embodiments, the aperture  231  may include a transparent cover to protect the LEDs  221  from debris or other contaminants that may be present. Bottom casing  230  also includes apertures  232  that permit the spring arms  160  to interface with the top portion  110 . 
         [0019]    The sensor strip  220  includes, in one embodiment, LEDs  221  for use during the oximetry process. However, other illumination components can be used. In one embodiment, LEDs  221  include two LEDs, one LED emitting red light having a wavelength of 660 nm, and a second LED emitting infrared light having a wavelength of 910 nm. However, other wavelengths that produce red and infrared light can be used. In alternative embodiments where the pulse oximeter can detect CO levels in the blood additional LEDs are present. These additional LEDs operate at different wavelengths and thus emit different colors of light than the LEDs used to detect oxygenation in blood. The sensor strip  220  also includes a wire or other electrical connection to transmit signals to/from the circuit board  240 . In some embodiments, the strip  220  can also include, either with or in place of, the LEDs  221  the photodiodes necessary to perform a photoplethystnographic process. 
         [0020]    Circuit board  240 , in one embodiment, is a small hoard that processes the received signals from the photodiodes  281  and the fingerprint reader  270 . The circuit board  240  may include a processor  242  to process the received signals using, for example, a photoplethysmographic process. The processor  242  can be any processor capable of analyzing the received signals. The processor  242  analyzes the received signal and generates an output that is transmitted to the display component  120 . This output can be transmitted over electrical connection  224  on the sensor strip  220 . In one embodiment, the circuit board includes a data storage device  244 . The data storage device  244  can be any type of data storage device such as flash memory or a disc drive. In some embodiments, the data storage device  244  can be a removable storage media. When the data storage device  244  is removable, the circuit board  240  can include an interface to accept or communicate with the media. 
         [0021]    The data storage device  244  illustratively includes a data store  245 . The data store  245  stores data related to pulse oximeter measurements. This information can be stored as a table of data. However, other methods of storing data can also be used. The table of data can be stored using any method, such as, for example, sequential query language (SQL) or extensible mark-up language (XML). In some embodiments, the circuit board also includes a connection to a data output device  246 . This data output device permits the transmission data in the data store to an outside computing device. The data output device  246  can be located on either the top portion  110  or the bottom portion  150 . Further, the data output device can be any device that permits the transmission of information from the pulse oximeter  100  to the outside computing device, such as USB, Firewire, Bluetooth, IR, etc. This data can be further protected from unauthorized access by using the fingerprint reader  270 . 
         [0022]    The bottom portion  150  is illustrated having a top casing  250 , a bottom casing  260 , a fingerprint reader  270 , and a sensor strip  280 . The top casing  250  includes a finger rest area  251  and an aperture  256 . The finger rest area  251  is shaped to receive a bottom part of a finger. The aperture  256  is located in a portion of the finger rest area  251 . The location of the aperture is preferably at the point where the tip of the finger extends slightly beyond the aperture during testing. The aperture  256  is sized such that a significant portion of the finger tip is exposed to the photodiodes. Again a transparent cover may be provided to protect the photodiodes from debris. In some embodiments, the aperture  256  is sized to accommodate LEDs that are received by the photodiodes  221 . Also included in the top casing  250  are apertures  252  that permit the spring arms  160  to interface with the bottom portion  150 . 
         [0023]    The bottom casing  260  provides, in one embodiment, a housing for a power supply  261  used to power the pulse oximeter  100 . In one embodiment, the power supply is two AA batteries. However, other types of power supplies can be used. Also included in the bottom casing  260  in one embodiment, is the fingerprint reader  270 . However, the fingerprint reader can be located in other areas instead. 
         [0024]    Sensor strip  280  includes photodiodes  281 , and electrical connection  282 . The photodiodes  281  are arranged to receive light signals from the LEDs  221  located on the sensor strip  220  in the top portion  110 . In one embodiment, the photodiodes  281  receive both red and infrared light that has passed through the finger. This received light causes the photodiode  281  to generate a signal. This signal is passed along electrical connection  282  to the circuit board  240  for photoplethysmographic processing to occur. Electrical connection  282  can be any electrical connection such as wire or etched paths into a surface. In alternative embodiments, the LEDs can also be on the strip  280  either alone or in conjunction with the photodiodes  281 . 
         [0025]    Fingerprint reader  270  is located, in one embodiment, on the outside of the bottom portion  150  of the pulse oximeter  100 . However, in other embodiments, the fingerprint reader  270  can be located on the outside of the top portion  110 , or the sides of either the top or bottom portion. The fingerprint reader operates in conjunction with or separate from the pulse oximetry process. Depending on the location of fingerprint reader  270  some components of the pulse oximeter may change their respective configurations. The fingerprint reader  270  can use one of a number of approaches in obtaining an image of a fingerprint. 
         [0026]    Fingerprint reader  270 , in one embodiment, is an optical system for detecting and analyzing a fingerprint. In this embodiment, the reader includes a device for capturing an image of the fingerprint, and a device for illuminating the fingerprint. In one embodiment, the image device is a charged coupled device (CCD) camera. The CCD camera includes an array of light sensitive diodes or photosites. To illuminate the fingerprint the device uses, in one embodiment, an array of LEDs that highlight the ridges and valleys of the fingerprint. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, the fingerprint reader  270  is a capacitive sensor. Instead of using light to generate the image of the fingerprint the capacitive sensor uses capacitors and electrical current to generate an image of the ridges and valleys of the fingerprint. The capacitive sensor includes a number of cells. Each of the cells includes two conductor plates that are covered with an insulating layer. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, the fingerprint reader  270  is a surface pressure sensor. In this embodiment the surface pressure sensor uses a piezoelectric surface array to generate an image of the fingerprint. The surface ridges of the fingerprint contact the surface array and are used to generate the image. The surface pressure sensor generally has a larger sensing area than other types of fingerprint sensors, but tends to have a lower image quality. 
         [0029]    In yet another embodiment, the fingerprint reader  270  is an E-field sensor. The E-field sensor allows the fingerprint reader to image the fingerprint below the surface layer. This allows for the reader to obtain a better result (or image) regardless of the condition of the patient&#39;s finger. The E-field sensor includes an antenna array, at least one semiconductor, and a under-pixel amplifier. The semiconductor generates a field by forcing a small electrical current through the finger. This generated field mimics the epidermal layer of the fingerprint. That is, the field is representative of the layer below the surface of the skin. This field is read by the antenna array, which detects the generated linear field below the surface of the skin. This information is processed by the under-pixel amplifier to generate an image of the fingerprint. 
         [0030]    In other embodiments of oximeter  100 , fingerprint reader  270  may incorporate an electro-optic sensor, RF field sensor, tactile MEMS sensor, thermal sensor, ultrasound sensor, sweep type sensor. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of pulse oximeter  300  having fingerprint reader  270  located on an upper surface of the top casing  350  of the bottom portion  360 . In such an embodiment  300 , a “sweep-type” fingerprint reader  270  would, capture the fingerprint as the user inserts the finger into oximeter  300 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart  400  of operations of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. At step  401 , a patient body part is inserted in the housing of oximeter  100 . An oximetry process is performed at step  402  using a light emitter and light detector to determine oximetry data of the patient. Fingerprint data is acquired at step  403  using fingerprint reader  270 . At step  404 , a comparison is made between the acquired fingerprint data from step  403  and previously stored fingerprint data. If a match is determined, oximetry data can be released at step  405  for further processing or exportation. If no match is determined at step  404 , step  406  permits fingerprint data to be stored for subsequent use prior to returning to step  401 . Fingerprint data acquired at step  403  may be related to the patient or caregiver or both. 
         [0033]    Regardless of which type of fingerprint reader is used for the fingerprint reader  270  the result is a generated image of the associated fingerprint. Generally speaking, the patient or caregiver places one finger on, over or through fingerprint reader  270 . Depending on the configuration of the system the actual image generation can occur either at the fingerprint reader  270  or at the processor  242 . In one embodiment, this image is provided to the processor  242 . However, in other embodiments, fingerprint reader  270  merely provides the data necessary for processor  242  to generate the image. 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, processor  242  receives the fingerprint image, and performs at least one operation using the image. The specific operation executed is dependent on the configuration of the pulse oximeter  100 . In one embodiment, the generated image is stored in the data store along with the associated oxygenation levels and pulse rate. This enables the fingerprint to be associated with a given set of patient data. In other embodiments, additional information can be stored in the data store at this time such as a date and time that a reading was taken. This stored information can then later be downloaded to a central database and added to the appropriate patient record. Thus, a nurse or other medical practitioner can sample a number of patients using the same device without having to write down the results immediately. Further, associating the patient&#39;s fingerprint with the data reduces the risk of incorrect information being associated with the patient. 
         [0035]    Fingerprint reader  270  may be connected to a remote computer and be used to sense the fingerprint of the patient, so that the identity of the patient is preestablished in the remote computer. By thus preestablishing the identify of a patient, as the patient&#39;s physiological data is collected by oximeter  100 , the data collected and processed by processor  242  could readily be routed to the remote computer and matched to the patient for storage and analysis remotely from the patient. 
         [0036]    In identifying a fingerprint the fingerprint reader  270  or the processor  242 , in one embodiment, uses minutiae-based matching. However, in other embodiments, global pattern matching can be used. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment, the fingerprint image can be used to search the data store  245  for previous entries. All or portions of fingerprint data store  245  may be located remote from said oximeter  100 . If a match between the detected fingerprint image and a stored fingerprint image are found in the data store, the processor can compare the associated oxygenation levels and pulse rates. If the comparison results are outside an acceptable margin, (e.g., 5%) the pulse oximeter can generate an indication to the user alerting them of a possible problem. In yet another embodiment, the fingerprint can associate the administrator of the photoplethysmographie process to the results, thus providing a form of quality assurance. 
         [0038]    In another embodiment, the fingerprint reader  270  is used to protect the data in data store  245 . In today&#39;s medical practices patient security and privacy are a major concern so it is necessary to secure the information in the pulse oximeter  100  in the event it is lost or stolen. In this protective embodiment, the fingerprint reader  270  is used to verify that a person attempting to remove data from the data store is authorized to do so. Prior to permitting data in the data store to be downloaded via the data output device  246 , the user is asked to provide their fingerprint. The fingerprint is read at the fingerprint reader  270  and compared against a list of authorized users. Preferably this list of authorized users is stored in the data store  245 . However, this list can be located in other locations such as on the remote computing device. If there is a match between the fingerprint and the list then the data can be offloaded. If there is not a match then the oximeter  100  will not permit the data to be offloaded. 
         [0039]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.