Oximeter ambient light cancellation

1. A method for operating a pulse oximeter, comprising:

alternately generating light at two wavelengths using a modulation frequency that is a predetermined distance from a common multiple of 50, 60, 100, and 120, where the predetermined distance is greater than a highest pulse rate of a person and lower than a distance of any harmonic of 50, 60, 100, or 120;

directing the light at a tissue site;

detecting a received light signal from the tissue site;

processing the received light signal to generate a processed signal;

notch filtering the processed signal at a frequency equivalent to the predetermined distance to produce a filtered signal; and

calculating at least one patient characteristic based on the filtered signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the received light signal comprises digitizing the processed signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the common multiple comprises 1200.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is between 5 and 20 hertz.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is approximately 11 hertz.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the notch filtering is performed by providing a zero in a digital filter at the predetermined distance.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein calculating at least one patient characteristic comprises calculating a blood flow characteristic.

8. A method for measuring a detected light signal in a pulse oximeter comprising:

alternately generating light using a modulation frequency to alternate between a first period of time when a first wavelength is being generated, a dark period of time when no light is being generated, and a second period of time when a second wavelength is being generated;

directing the light at a tissue site;

detecting a received light signal from the tissue site;

estimating a first level of ambient light in the received light signal during the first period of time by averaging detected light received during the dark periods before and after the first period;

estimating a second level of ambient light in the received light signal during the second period of time by averaging detected light received during the dark periods before and after the second period;

calculating a total light signal by subtracting the first level of ambient light from the received light signal generated during the first period of time and subtracting the second level of ambient light from the received light signal generated during the second period of time; and

calculating at least one patient characteristic based on the total light signal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein calculating at least one patient characteristic comprises calculating a blood flow characteristic.

10. A pulse oximeter comprising:

a control circuit configured to supply a control signal;

at least one light emitter configured to receive the control signal and, based on the control signal, to alternately generate light at two wavelengths using a modulation frequency that is a predetermined distance from a common multiple of 50, 60, 100, and 120 where

the predetermined distance is greater than a highest pulse rate of a person and lower than a distance of any harmonic of 50, 60, 100, or 120;

a detector configured to detect a received light signal from a tissue site;

a processing circuit configured to process the light signal to generate a processed signal; and

a notch filter configured to filter the processed signal at a frequency equivalent to the predetermined distance.

11. The pulse oximeter of claim 10 comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter configured to digitized the process signal.

12. The pulse oximeter of claim 10 wherein the common multiple comprises 1200.

13. The pulse oximeter of claim 10 wherein the predetermined distance is between 5 and 20 hertz.

14. The pulse oximeter of claim 10 wherein the predetermined distance is approximately 11 hertz.

15. The pulse oximeter of claim 10 wherein the notch filter provides a zero in a digital filter at the predetermined distance.

16. A pulse oximeter comprising:

a control circuit configured to supply a control signal;

at least one light emitter configured to receive a control signal and, based on the control signal, to alternately generate light at two wavelengths using a modulation frequency to alternate between a first period of time when a first wavelength is being generated, a dark period of time when no light is being generated, and a second period of time when a second wavelength is being generated;

a detector configured to detect a received light signal from a tissue site;

a processing circuit configured to estimate a first level of ambient light in the received light signal during the first period of time by averaging detected light signal received during the dark periods before and after the first period, and to estimate a second level of ambient light in the received light signal during the second period of time by averaging detected light dark periods before and after the second period;

the processing circuit further configured to calculate a total light signal by subtracting the first level of ambient light from the received light signal generated during the first period of time and subtracting the second level of ambient light from the received light signal generated during the second period of time and configured to calculate at least one patient characteristic based on the total light signal.

17. The pulse oximeter of claim 16 wherein the at least one patient characteristic is a blood flow characteristic.

18. A pulse oximeter comprising:

a processing circuit configured to;

supply a control signal capable of controlling a light emitter to alternately generate light at two wavelengths using a modulation frequency that is a predetermined distance from a common multiple of 50, 60, 100 and 120, where the predetermined distance is greater than a highest pulse rate of a person and lower than a distance of any harmonic of 50, 60, 100 or 120;

process detected light signals to generate a processed signal; and

notch filter the processed signal at a frequency equivalent to the predetermined distance.

19. The pulse oximeter of claim 18 wherein the processing circuit is configured to calculate at least one patient characteristic based on the filtered process signal.

20. The pulse oximeter of claim 19 wherein the at least one patient characteristic is a blood flow characteristic.

21. The pulse oximeter of claim 18 wherein the common multiple comprises 1200.

22. The pulse oximeter of claim 18 wherein the predetermined distance is between 5 and 20 hertz.

23. The pulse oximeter of claim 18 wherein the processing circuit comprises a notch filter that provides a zero in a digital filter at the predetermined distance.

24. A pulse oximeter comprising:

a processor circuit configured to:

supply a control signal capable of controlling a light emitter to alternately generate light at two wavelengths using a modulation frequency to alternate between a first period of time when a first wavelength is being generated, a dark period of time when no light is being generated, and a second period of time when a second wavelength is being generated;

estimate a first level of ambient light in received light signals during the first period of time by averaging detected light received during the dark periods before and after the first period, and to estimate a second level of ambient light in received light signals during the second period of time by averaging detected light dark periods before and after the second period;

calculate a total light signal by subtracting the first level of ambient light from received light signals generated during the first period of time and subtracting the second level of ambient light from received light signals generated during the second period of time; and

calculate at least one patient characteristic based on the total light signal.

25. The pulse oximeter of claim 24 wherein the at least one patient characteristic is a blood flow characteristic.