Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light a memory storing data, and a changeable encryption key to facilitate scrambling the data to make the data inaccessible to devices that are without an appropriate decryption mechanism.
1. An oximeter system, comprising:
an oximeter sensor, comprising:
a light emitting element configured to emit light;
a light detector configured to detect the light; and
a memory storing data encrypted by a changeable encryption key to make the data inaccessible to devices that are without an appropriate decryption mechanism; and
an oximeter monitor, comprising:
a drive circuit configured to provide signals to circuitry of the oximeter sensor;
a receiving circuit configured to receive the encrypted data from the oximeter sensor; and
a decryption mechanism corresponding to the changeable encryption key, the decryption mechanism capable of decrypting the encrypted data, wherein the decryption mechanism comprises a communication device configured to network with an external system and to access a public key stored on the external system, the public key corresponding to the changeable encryption key.
2. The oximeter system of claim 1 , wherein the memory of the oximeter sensor stores an ambient light measurement.
3. The oximeter system of claim 1 , wherein the encrypted data includes a change to the changeable encryption key.
4. An oximeter monitor, comprising:
a drive circuit configured to provide signals to circuitry of an oximeter sensor;
a receiving circuit configured to receive data from a memory of the oximeter sensor; and
a decryption mechanism corresponding to a changeable encryption key of the oximeter sensor, the decryption mechanism facilitating communication of the data between the oximeter sensor and the oximeter monitor and wherein the decryption mechanism comprises a communication device configured to network with an external system and to access a public key stored on the external system, the public key corresponding to the changeable encryption key.
5. A method of monitor operation, comprising:
providing signals to circuitry of an oximeter sensor;
receiving data from a memory of the oximeter sensor; and
facilitating communication of the data between the oximeter sensor and the oximeter monitor by decrypting the data with a decryption mechanism corresponding to a changeable encryption key of the oximeter sensor and wherein facilitating communication includes networking with an external system and accessing a public key stored on the external system, the public key corresponding to the changeable encryption key of the oximeter sensor.
6. A method of manufacturing an oximeter sensor, comprising:
providing a light emitting element;
providing a light detector;
providing sensor operational data;
scrambling the sensor operational data with a changeable encryption key to make the data inaccessible to devices that are without an appropriate decryption mechanism;
storing the scrambled data on a sensor memory;
manipulating the changeable encryption key to make the data inaccessible to a device that previously had the appropriate decryption mechanism; and
assembling the light emitting element, the light detector, the sensor memory and the sensor operational data as the oximeter sensor.