Patent ID: 8133176

Claim:
A system for detecting at least one physiological characteristic of a patient, comprising: a sensor, comprising: a detector adapted to generate signals indicative of the at least one physiological characteristic; and a memory storing data defining at least one sensor specific boundary that is indicative of a transition between a signal regime considered to be normal for the sensor in the sensor's usual application and a signal regime considered to be abnormal for the sensor in the sensor's usual application, wherein the at least one sensor specific boundary is indicative of a quality of the signals generated by the sensor and an accuracy of an estimated physiological condition of the patient; and a monitor, comprising: a first receiving circuit configured to receive the signals indicative of the at least one physiological characteristic from the sensor; a first processing circuit configured to provide the estimated physiological condition of the patient based on the signals; a second receiving circuit configured to receive the data defining the at least one sensor specific boundary for the signals from the sensor; and a second processing circuit configured to compare the signals against the sensor specific boundary and to generate an indication of the accuracy of the estimated physiological condition, wherein the second processing circuit is further configured to determine whether the signals are within the normal regime or the abnormal regime.