Patent ID: 7305262

Claim:
A method of acquiring pulse oximetry and electrocardiogram signals from a patient, the method comprising: configuring a single transducer and attaching the single transducer to a finger of a patient, wherein the single transducer includes a single electrode such that when the single transducer is attached to the finger of the patient, the single transducer is configured to acquire a pulse oximetry signal and acquire an electrocardiogram signal with the single electrode, wherein the acquired electrocardiogram signal is either one of a reference electrocardiogram signal or a non-reference electrocardiogram signal, and further wherein a neural-muscular transmission device is coupled to the single transducer, and includes a support member that extends to a thumb of the patient; acquiring the pulse oximetry signal and the electrocardiogram signal with the single electrode; stimulating the patient with the neural-muscular transmission device; and measuring the strength of muscle contraction caused by the stimulating step; wherein the acquired pulse oximetry signal is processed to account for effects of the stimulating step to provide an artifact free pulse oximetry signal.