Abstract:
A wireless network connected pulse oximetry system and method of providing pulse oximetry data obtained by a pulse oximeter to a monitoring station that is remote from a patient monitored by the pulse oximeter are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless network connected pulse oximetry system ( 100 ) includes a pulse oximeter ( 110 ) having an optical data transmitter ( 112 ) such as an infra-red LED and associated LED drive circuitry). The system ( 110 ) also includes a computer ( 140 ) that is interconnectable with a global data network ( 104 ) (e.g., the Internet) and an optical data receiver ( 130 ) that is connectable with a data port ( 144 ) of the computer via a data cable ( 142 ). The optical data receiver ( 130 ) is operable to receive optically transmitted pulse oximetry data ( 102 ) from the pulse oximeter ( 110 ) and convert the received pulse oximetry data ( 102 ) for transmission via the data cable ( 142 ) to the data port ( 144 ) of the computer ( 140 ). The system also includes a software module ( 146 ) executable by the computer ( 140 ) that enables the computer ( 140 ) to format the pulse oximetry data ( 102 ) received on its data port ( 144 ) for transmission via the global data network ( 104 ) to a remote monitoring station ( 150 ). In other embodiments, the optical data receiver may not be necessary, or the pulse oximetry data may instead be transmitted via a radio-frequency wireless connection.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to patient medical monitoring devices, and more particularly to enabling pulse oximeters for wireless Internet connectivity.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Photoplethysmographic systems such as pulse oximeters utilize light signals corresponding with two or more different center wavelengths to non-invasively determine various blood analyte concentrations in a patient&#39;s blood and to obtain information regarding the patient&#39;s heart rate and the like. By way of primary example, blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) levels of a patient&#39;s arterial blood are monitored in pulse oximeters by measuring the absorption of oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) and reduced hemoglobin (RHb) using red and infrared light signals. The measured absorption data allows for the calculation of the relative concentrations of O2Hb and RHb, and therefore Sp0 2  levels, since RHb absorbs more light than O2Hb in the red band and O2Hb absorbs more light than RHb in the infrared band, and since the absorption relationship of the two analytes in the red and infrared bands is known.  
         [0003]     To obtain absorption data, pulse oximeters typically comprise a probe that is releaseably attached to a patient tissue site (e.g., finger, ear lobe, nasal septum, foot). The probe directs red and infrared light signals through the patient tissue site. The light signals are provided by one or more light signal sources (e.g., light emitting diodes or laser diodes) which are typically disposed in the probe. A portion of the red and infrared light signals is absorbed in the patient tissue site and the intensity of the transmitted light signals (light exiting the patient tissue site is referred to as transmitted) is detected by a detector that may also be located in the probe. The detector outputs a signal which includes information indicative of the intensities of the transmitted red and infrared light signals. The output signal from the detector may be processed to obtain separate signals associated with the red and infrared transmitted light signals (i.e., separate red and infrared plethysmographic signals or waveforms).  
         [0004]     It is sometimes desirable to have a pulse oximeter that is a relatively small, handheld, and easily portable device. Such small handheld portable pulse oximeters are useful for emergency medical personnel and the like since they can be easily transported to an emergency site and used to monitor a patient who is being transported without the inconvenience of relatively bulky equipment. Such handheld pulse oximeters are also useful for hospital situations where patients are being transported from between rooms. However, due to their limited size, such handheld pulse oximeters may sometimes have limited pulse oximetry data analysis and display capabilities. Thus it is sometimes desirable to connect such handheld pulse oximeters to other devices for additional data analysis and display capabilities.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Accordingly, the present invention provides a wireless network connected pulse oximetry system and method of providing pulse oximetry data obtained by a pulse oximeter to a monitoring station that is remote from a patient monitored by the pulse oximeter. The pulse oximetry system and method of the present invention provide for the wireless connection of a pulse oximeter or the like to a data network such as, for example, the Internet. Pulse oximetry data obtained by the pulse oximeter from a patient may then be accessed by a remote monitoring station connected to the data network. The remote monitoring station may provide enhanced display and/or data analysis capabilities and thus, the pulse oximetry system and method of the present invention are particularly advantageous in the context of relatively small handheld portable pulse oximeters.  
         [0006]     According to one aspect of the present invention, a wireless network connected pulse oximetry system includes a pulse oximeter including an optical data transmitter. The pulse oximeter is operable to obtain pulse oximetry data from a patient, and the optical data transmitter is operable to optically transmit the pulse oximetry data obtained from the patient. In this regard, the optical data transmitter may, for example, be comprised of an infra-red LED and associated LED drive circuitry that is operable to modulate the intensity of the LED (e.g., between on condition and an off condition). The system also includes a computer that is interconnectable with a global data network (e.g., the Internet) and an optical data receiver that is connectable with a data port of the computer via a data cable. The optical data receiver is operable to receive optically transmitted pulse oximetry data from the pulse oximeter and convert the received pulse oximetry data for transmission via the data cable to the data port of the computer. In this regard, the optical data receiver may, for example, include a photodetector that is sensitive to infra-red wavelength optical signals, and may, for example, be operable to convert the received optical signals to a serial data stream for transmission via a serial data cable to a serial port of the computer. The system also includes a software module executable by the computer that enables the computer to format the pulse oximetry data received on its data port for transmission via the global data network to a remote monitoring station.  
         [0007]     The system may also include one or more data storage devices. For example, a data storage device (e.g., a memory chip) may be included in the pulse oximeter for storing the pulse oximetry data after the pulse oximetry data is obtained from the patient This allows the pulse oximeter to be used to collect data without requiring it to be located in an appropriate relationship with respect to the optical data receiver for immediate optical transmission of the data therebetween. Instead, the data stored in the data storage device of the pulse oximeter may be transmitted at a later time to the optical data receiver. By way of further example, the computer may include a data storage device (e.g., a hard drive, a floppy drive, an optical media drive, or a tape drive) for storing the pulse oximetry data after the pulse oximetry data is received on its data port. This allows the data to be received by the computer and stored for some period of time until the computer can be connected to the global data network.  
         [0008]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the wireless network connected pulse oximetry system does not include an optical data receiver. Rather, the computer includes an optical data port (e.g., a photodetector sensitive to infra-red wavelength optical signals) that is operable to receive optically transmitted data. In this regard, the software module enables the computer to format the pulse oximetry data received on the optical data port for transmission via the global data network to a remote monitoring station.  
         [0009]     According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of providing pulse oximetry data obtained by a pulse oximeter to a monitoring station that is remote from a patient monitored by the pulse oximeter includes the step of connecting an optical data receiver by a data cable to a data port of a computer that may be interconnected with a global data network. In this regard, the optical data receiver may, for example, be connected by a serial data cable to a serial port of the computer, and the global data network may, for example, comprise the Internet. The pulse oximeter and the optical data receiver are positioned relative to each other for optical transmission of the pulse oximetry data therebetween. In this regard, positioning the pulse oximeter and the optical data receiver may involve aligning an LED of the pulse oximeter in a line of sight relationship with a photodetector of the optical data receiver. The pulse oximetry data is optically transmitted from the pulse oximeter and is received by the optical data receiver. The received optically transmitted pulse oximetry data is converted to a format (e.g., serial data) appropriate for transmission via the data cable to the data port of the computer. The converted pulse oximetry data is transmitted from the optical data receiver and received on the data port of the computer. The pulse oximetry data received on the data port is formatted for transmission over the global data network, and then transmitted over the global data network to the remote monitoring station.  
         [0010]     The pulse oximetry data that is provided to the remote monitoring station may be data that has been previously obtained and stored. In this regard, the method may further include the steps of operating the pulse oximeter to obtain the pulse oximetry data and storing the pulse oximetry data obtained in the operating step on a data storage device (e.g., a memory chip) of the pulse oximeter. This allows the pulse oximeter and optical data receiver to be mutually positioned in an appropriate relationship after the patient is monitored. For example, the pulse oximeter can be used to monitor the patient in one location (e.g., at an accident scene or in an ambulance) and the pulse oximetry data can be downloaded therefrom to the optical data receiver in another location (e.g., at a hospital). Alternatively, the pulse oximeter may be operated to obtain the pulse oximetry data while simultaneously optically transmitting the pulse oximetry data to the optical data receiver (with some lag time between obtaining the data and its optical transmission due to processing of the obtained data for optical transmission).  
         [0011]     The converted pulse oximetry data may be simultaneously received on the data port of the computer, formatted for transmission over the global data network, and transmitted over the global data network to the remote monitoring station (with some possible lag time between reception of the data on the data port of the computer and transmission of the formatted data over the global data network due to the formatting process). Alternatively, the pulse oximetry data received on the data port of the computer may be stored on a data storage device of computer before it is transmitted over the global data network. In this regard, the pulse oximetry data may be formatted for transmission over the global data network before it is stored on the data storage device of the computer, or it may be formatted after being stored and prior to transmission over the global network upon request for the data by a remote monitoring station.  
         [0012]     According to a further aspect of the present invention, the steps involving the optical data receiver need not be included. Rather, the method of providing pulse oximetry data obtained by a pulse oximeter having an optical data transmitter to a monitoring station that is remote from a patient monitored by the pulse oximeter includes the step of positioning the pulse oximeter and a computer having an optical data port and interconnectable with a global data network for optical transmission of the pulse oximetry data therebetween. In this regard, positioning the pulse oximeter and the computer may involve aligning an LED of the pulse oximeter in a line of sight relationship with a photodetector of the optical data port of the computer. The pulse oximetry data is optically transmitted from the pulse oximeter and is received by the optical data port of the computer. The pulse oximetry data received on the optical data port may then be formatted for transmission over the global data network and transmitted over the global data network to the remote monitoring station.  
         [0013]     According to one more aspect of the present invention, a wireless network connected pulse oximetry system includes a pulse oximeter including a radio frequency (RF) data transmitter. The pulse oximeter is operable to obtain pulse oximetry data from a patient. The RF data transmitter is operable to broadcast an RF signal modulated to include the pulse oximetry data. The system also includes an RF data receiver interconnectable with a global data network (e.g. the Internet). In this regard, the RF data transmitter and the RF receiver may comprise wireless fidelity (WiFi) type devices. The RF data receiver is operable to receive the RF signal broadcast by the pulse oximeter and to convert the pulse oximetry data obtained from the received RF signal for transmission via the global data network to one or more remote monitoring stations.  
         [0014]     In certain instances, the RF transmitter of the pulse oximeter and the RF receiver may not always be within suitable range of one another. In this regard, the system may include a data storage device (e.g., a memory chip) for storing the pulse oximetry data in the pulse oximeter after the pulse oximetry data is obtained from the patient. Once the RF transmitter of the pulse oximeter and the RF receiver are within suitable range of one another, the stored pulse oximetry data may then be transmitted.  
         [0015]     These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon review of the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating one manner of using the wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system of  FIG. 1  to provide pulse oximetry data to a remote monitoring station in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating one manner of using the wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system of  FIG. 3  to provide pulse oximetry data to a remote monitoring station in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a further embodiment of a wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 1  there is shown a block diagram of one embodiment of a wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system  100 . System  100  generally includes a pulse oximeter  110 , an optical data receiver  130 , and a computer  140  (e.g., a desktop, laptop or handheld computer or the like). The pulse oximeter  110  includes an optical data transmitter  112 . Optical data transmitter  112  may, for example, comprise an infrared light emitting diode (LED)  114  and related LED drive circuitry  116 . The LED drive circuitry  116  is operable to receive oximetry data  102  (e.g., a digitized plethysmographic waveform) from a processor  118  of the pulse oximeter  110  and modulate the LED  114  to optically transmit the oximetry data  102 . In this regard, the pulse oximeter  110  may comprise a relatively small, portable pulse oximeter unit having a built in LED  114  and LED drive circuitry  116  such as the Datex-Ohmeda TUFFSAT® handheld pulse oximeter.  
         [0023]     The optical data receiver  130  is connected via a data cable  142  to a data port  144  of the personal computer  140 . In the presently described embodiment, data port  144  is a serial port and data cable  142  is a serial cable. However, data port  144  might instead be a parallel port, a universal serial bus, an IEEE 1394 port, or any other type of port enabling the personal computer  140  for receiving data from another device, with data cable  142  also being appropriately configured. The optical data receiver  130  includes a photodetector  132  or the like for receiving the optically transmitted pulse oximetry data  102  from the LED  114  of the pulse oximeter  110 . In this regard, LED  114  and photodetector  132  should generally be maintained in a line of sight relationship with each other and within a suitable range of one another in order for the optically transmitted pulse oximetry data  102  to be received. Thus, it is desirable that the pulse oximeter  110  also include temporary data storage  120  (e.g., random access memory, flash memory) for storing the pulse oximetry data  102  for some period of time until the LED  114  and photodetector  132  can be brought into a suitable relationship with one another at which time the stored pulse oximetry data  102  may be transmitted. The optical data receiver  130  also includes processing hardware  134  (e.g., an appropriately programmed general purpose digital processor or an application specific integrated circuit) that converts the optically transmitted pulse oximetry data  102  received by the photodetector  132  into appropriately formatted serial data for transmission through the data cable  142  to the data port  144  of the computer  140 .  
         [0024]     The computer  140  is connected to the Internet  104  via, for example, a modem connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) server or a server of a local area network connected to the Internet  104 . The computer  140  includes an appropriately configured software module  146  that, when executed by the computer  140 , takes the pulse oximetry data  102  received from the data cable  142  on the data port  144  and formats the pulse oximetry data  102  for transmission over the computer&#39;s Internet connection to other devices (e.g., remote pulse oximetry monitoring and/or processing devices) connected to the Internet  104 . Thus, pulse oximetry data  102  obtained by the pulse oximeter  110  is made available via the Internet  104  to monitoring stations  150  (e.g., other computers) that are geographically remote from the location of the patient being monitored by the pulse oximeter  110 . In this regard, the computer  140  may include a data storage device  148  (e.g., a hard drive or a CDRW drive) for storing the pulse oximetry data  102  for some period of time until the pulse oximetry data  102  is requested by a remote monitoring station  150 , at which time the pulse oximetry data  102  is transmitted by the computer via the Internet  104  to the remote monitoring station.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 2  there is shown a flowchart illustrating one manner of using the wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system  100  to provide pulse oximetry data  102  to a remote monitoring station via the Internet. The process ( 200 ) begins with operating ( 210 ) the pulse oximeter  110  to obtain pulse oximetry data  102  from a patient. In this regard, the pulse oximetry data  102  obtained may, for example, include digitized plethysmographic waveform data as well as identifying information indicating the date and time when the data was obtained and the identity of the patient from whom the data was obtained. In the illustrated embodiment, the obtained pulse oximetry data  102  is stored ( 220 ) in the memory  120  of the pulse oximeter  110 . It should be noted that this step may not be necessary where the LED  114  and photodetector  132  are positioned in a suitable arrangement prior to obtaining the pulse oximetry data  102 , in which case the pulse oximetry data  102  is transmitted from the pulse oximeter  110  to the optical data receiver  130  as it is obtained.  
         [0026]     The optical data receiver  130  is connected ( 230 ) to the data port  144  of the computer  140  by the data cable  142 , and the pulse oximeter  110  and optical data receiver  130  are positioned ( 240 ) in an appropriate relationship such that the LED  114  and photodetector  132  are respectively oriented with respect to one another (e.g., within the line of sight on one another) and within an appropriate distance apart from one another to permit reception by the photodetector  132  of optical signals transmitted from the LED  114 .  
         [0027]     Once the pulse oximeter  110  and optical data receiver  130  are appropriately positioned, the stored pulse oximetry data  102  is transmitted ( 250 ) from the LED  114 . In this regard, the LED drive circuitry  116  may be operated to turn the LED  114  on and off to represent a series of digital values (e.g., 0 or 1) comprising the pulse oximetry data  102 . The optical signal is received ( 260 ) by the photodetector  132  of the optical data receiver  130 .  
         [0028]     The optical data receiver  130  then converts ( 270 ) the optical signal received by the photodetector  132  into an appropriately formatted data signal for transmission via the data cable  142  to the data port  144  of the computer  140 . In this regard, the conversion step ( 270 ) may involve converting the optical signal received by the photodetector  132  into an RS232 format serial data signal for transmission via the data cable  142  to a serial data port  144  of the computer  140 . The converted data signal is then transmitted ( 280 ) from the optical data receiver  130  to the data port  144  of the computer  140  via the data cable  142 . The conversion ( 270 ) and transmitting ( 280 ) steps may, for example, be performed simultaneously so that as optical data is received by the photodetector it is converted and transmitted to the data port  144  of the computer  140 . In this regard, small portions (e.g. one or more bytes) of the optical data may be temporarily stored in a buffer memory of the optical data receiver prior to conversion and/or small portions (e.g., one or more bytes) of the converted data may be stored in the buffer memory prior to transmission to the data port  144  of the computer  140 .  
         [0029]     The pulse oximetry data  102  transmitted through the data cable  142  by the optical receiver  130  is received ( 290 ) by the data port  144  of the computer  140 . The pulse oximetry data  102  received on the data port  144  is stored ( 300 ) by the computer in, for example, a data file saved on the data storage device  148  of the computer  140 . In this regard, the data file may be named in a manner corresponding with patient identifying information and the date/time information included in the pulse oximetry data  102 . Upon request by a remote monitoring station  150  via the Internet  104 , the stored data is formatted ( 310 ) by the software module  146  into a format appropriate for transmission via the Internet to the remote monitoring station  150 . In this regard, the stored data may, for example, be formatted in accordance with protocols such as the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) or the file transfer protocol (FTP). The formatted data is then transmitted ( 320 ) by the computer  140  via the Internet  104  to the requesting remote monitoring station  150 . It should be noted that the formatting step ( 310 ) may alternatively be performed before receiving a request for the stored pulse oximetry data  102  and the pulse oximetry data  102  may be stored in the Internet transmittable form. Also, the step of storing ( 300 ) the pulse oximetry data  102  may be omitted. In this regard, the pulse oximetry data  102  may be formatted ( 310 ) for transmission and transmitted ( 320 ) via the Internet  104  to a remote monitoring station  150  as it is received on the data port  144  from the optical data receiver  130 .  
         [0030]     Although the steps of the process ( 200 ) are shown in  FIG. 2  in a particular order, it should be noted that the steps need not necessarily be performed in the order described. For example, the steps of connecting ( 230 ) the optical data receiver  130  to the data port  144  of the computer  140  and positioning ( 240 ) the pulse oximeter  110  and optical data receiver  130  in an appropriate relationship may be performed in the order described, simultaneously, or in the opposite order. Likewise, one or both of the connecting ( 230 ) and positioning ( 240 ) steps may be performed before or after the steps of operating ( 210 ) the pulse oximeter  110  and storing ( 220 ) the pulse oximetry data  102 . Further, as previously mentioned, the steps of storing the pulse oximetry data ( 220 ,  300 ) in the pulse oximeter  110  and/or on the data storage device  148  of the computer  140  may be omitted.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 3  there is shown a block diagram of an embodiment of a wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system  400  that does not include an optical data receiver  130 . In this regard, system  400  generally includes a pulse oximeter  110  and a computer  140  (e.g., a desktop, laptop or handheld computer or the like). The pulse oximeter  110  includes an optical data transmitter  112  which may, for example, comprise an infra-red light emitting diode (LED)  114  and related LED drive circuitry  116 . The LED drive circuitry  116  is operable to receive pulse oximetry data  102  (e.g., a digitized plethysmographic waveform) from a processor  118  of the pulse oximeter  110  and modulate the LED  114  to optically transmit the oximetry data  102 . In this regard, the pulse oximeter  110  may comprise a relatively small, portable pulse oximeter unit having a built in LED  114  and LED drive circuitry  116  such as the Datex-Ohmeda TUFFSAT® handheld pulse oximeter.  
         [0032]     The computer  140  includes an optical data port  152  (e.g., an IR port) for receiving the optically transmitted pulse oximetry data  102  directly from the LED  114  of the pulse oximeter  110 . In this regard, LED  114  and optical data port  152  should generally be maintained in a line of sight relationship with each other and within a suitable range of one another in order for the optically transmitted pulse oximetry data  102  to be received. In this regard, the pulse oximeter  110  may also include a data storage device  120  (e.g., random access memory, flash memory) for storing the pulse oximetry data  102  for some period of time until the LED  114  of the pulse oximeter  110  and the optical data port  152  of the computer  140  can be brought into a suitable relationship with one another at which time the stored pulse oximetry data  102  may be transmitted.  
         [0033]     The computer  140  is connected to the Internet  104  via, for example, a modem connected to an Internet Service Provider server or a server of a local area network connected to the Internet  104 . The computer  140  includes an appropriately configured software module  146  that, when executed by the computer  140 , takes the pulse oximetry data  102  received on the optical data port  152  and formats the pulse oximetry data  102  for transmission over the computer&#39;s Internet connection to other devices (e.g., remote pulse oximetry monitoring and/or processing devices) connected to the Internet  104 . Thus, pulse oximetry data  102  obtained by the pulse oximeter  110  is made available via the Internet  104  to remote monitoring stations  150  (e.g., other computers) that are geographically remote from the location of the patient being monitored by the pulse oximeter  110 . In this regard, the computer  140  may include a data storage device  148  (e.g., a hard drive or a CDRW drive) for storing the pulse oximetry data  102  for some period of time until the pulse oximetry data  102  is requested by a remote monitoring station  150 , at which time the pulse oximetry data  102  is transmitted by the computer  140  via the Internet  104  to the remote monitoring station  150 .  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 4  there is shown a flowchart illustrating one manner of using the wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system  400  to provide pulse oximetry data  102  to a remote monitoring station  150  via the Internet. The process ( 500 ) begins with operating ( 510 ) the pulse oximeter  110  to obtain pulse oximetry data  102  from a patient. In this regard, the pulse oximetry data  102  obtained may, for example, include digitized plethysmographic waveform data as well as identifying information indicating the date and time when the data was obtained and the identity of the patient from whom the data was obtained. In the illustrated embodiment, the obtained pulse oximetry data  102  is stored ( 520 ) in the memory  120  of the pulse oximeter  110 . It should be noted that this step may not be necessary where the LED  114  and optical data port  152  of the computer  140  are positioned in a suitable arrangement prior to obtaining the pulse oximetry data  102 , in which case the pulse oximetry data  102  is transmitted from the pulse oximeter  110  to the optical data port  152  as it is obtained.  
         [0035]     The pulse oximeter  110  and computer  140  are positioned ( 530 ) in an appropriate relationship such that the LED  114  and optical data port  152  are respectively oriented with respect to one another (e.g., within the line of sight on one another) and within an appropriate distance apart from one another to permit reception by the optical data port  152  of optical signals transmitted from the LED  114 . Once the pulse oximeter  110  and computer  140  are appropriately positioned, the stored pulse oximetry data  102  is transmitted ( 540 ) from the LED  114 . In this regard, the LED drive circuitry  116  may be operated to turn the LED  114  on and off to represent a series of digital values (e.g., 0 or 1) comprising the pulse oximetry data  102 . The optical signal is received ( 550 ) by the optical data port  152  of the computer  140 .  
         [0036]     The pulse oximetry data  102  received on the optical data port  152  is stored ( 550 ) by the computer  140  in, for example, a data file saved on the data storage device  148  of the computer  140 . In this regard, the data file may be named in a manner corresponding with patient identifying information and the date/time information included in the pulse oximetry data  102 . Upon request by a remote monitoring station  150  via the Internet  104 , the stored data is formatted ( 560 ) by the software module  146  into a format appropriate for transmission via the Internet to the remote monitoring station  150 . In this regard, the stored data may, for example, be formatted in accordance with protocols such as the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) or the file transfer protocol (FTP). The formatted data is then transmitted ( 570 ) by the computer  140  via the Internet  104  to the requesting remote monitoring station. It should be noted that the formatting step ( 560 ) may alternatively be performed before receiving a request for the stored pulse oximetry data  102  and the pulse oximetry data  102  may be stored in the Internet transmittable form. Also, the step of storing ( 550 ) the pulse oximetry data  102  may be omitted. In this regard, the pulse oximetry data  102  may be formatted ( 560 ) for transmission and transmitted ( 570 ) via the Internet  104  to a remote monitoring station  150  as it is received on the optical data port  152  from the pulse oximeter  110 .  
         [0037]     Although the steps of the process ( 500 ) are shown in  FIG. 4  in a particular order, it should be noted that the steps need not necessarily be performed in the order described. For example, the step of positioning ( 530 ) the pulse oximeter  110  and the computer  140  in an appropriate relationship may be performed before operating ( 510 ) the pulse oximeter  110 . Further, as previously mentioned, the steps of storing the pulse oximetry data ( 520 ,  550 ) in the pulse oximeter  110  and/or on the data storage device  148  of the computer  140  may be omitted.  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 5  there is shown a block diagram of an embodiment of a wireless Internet connected pulse oximetry system  600  employing wireless RF technology (e.g. WiFi technology). In this regard, system  600  generally includes a pulse oximeter  610  and a wireless network RF receiver  630 . The pulse oximeter  610  includes an RF transmitter  612  coupled to an antenna  614 . The RF transmitter  612  is operable to receive pulse oximetry data  602  (e.g., a digitized plethysmographic waveform) from a processor  618  of the pulse oximeter  610  and modulate an RF carrier signal to transmit the oximetry data  602 .  
         [0039]     The RF receiver  630  includes an antenna  632  for receiving the RF transmitted pulse oximetry data  602  signal broadcast by the RF transmitter  612  of the pulse oximeter  610 . In order to achieve accurate transmission of the pulse oximetry data  602 , the pulse oximeter  610  and RF receiver  630  should generally be within suitable RF broadcast range with each other. In this regard, the pulse oximeter  610  may also include a data storage device  620  (e.g., random access memory, flash memory) for storing the pulse oximetry data  602  for some period of time until the pulse oximeter  610  and RF receiver  630  can be brought into a suitable range with one another at which time the stored pulse oximetry data  602  may be transmitted.  
         [0040]     The RF receiver  630  is connected to the Internet  104  via, for example, a modem connected to an Internet Service Provider server or a server of a local area network connected to the Internet  104 . The RF receiver  630  receives the pulse oximetry data  602  and formats the pulse oximetry data  602  for transmission to other devices (e.g., remote pulse oximetry monitoring and/or processing devices) connected to the Internet  104 . Thus, pulse oximetry data  602  obtained by the pulse oximeter  610  is made available via the Internet  104  to remote monitoring stations  150  (e.g., other computers) that are geographically remote from the location of the patient being monitored by the pulse oximeter  110 .  
         [0041]     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, further modifications and adaptations of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.