Patent ID: 7880626

Claim:
A reusable noninvasive physiological sensor configured to store sensor use information comprising: a first and second emitter configured to emit light of at least two wavelengths through tissue; a detector configured to sense the light after it has passed through the tissue and to generate a signal indicative of the sensed light; a memory device configured to store at least one indication of sensor use information and at least one indication of a function to be used by a separately housed patient monitor in determining the useful life of the sensor; and a communication port configured to communicate at least the signal and information stored on the memory with the separately housed patient monitor, wherein the at least one indication of the function provides at least one weight, and the separately housed patient monitor configured to use the at least one weight to weight at least one of the at least one indication of sensor use information greater than at least a second indication of sensor use information in the determination of the useful life of the sensor.