IP Library Granted Patent US 8,123,695
Granted Patent B2
US 8,123,695 · App. 11/528,295 · Granted Feb 28, 2012

Method and apparatus for detection of venous pulsation

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,123,695
App. No.
11/528,295
Granted
Feb 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for detecting venous pulsation are provided. In one embodiment, a metric of the pulse shape of one or more plethysmographic signals is derived and the presence of venous pulsation is detected based on the metric of pulse shape. Examples, of metrics of pulse shape include a skew metric and a ratio of a minima-to-maxima time over a pulse period interval. In an exemplary embodiment, the presence of venous pulsation is detected based on a metric of the pulse shape of one or more plethysmographic signals and on a phase comparison of the plethysmographic signals.

Claims (21)

1. A method for detecting venous pulsation with a patient monitor having a microprocessor, comprising:

deriving a skew metric for one or more plethysmographic signals with the microprocessor; wherein the skew metric comprises a measure of the skewness of the derivative of the one or more plethysmographic signals;

filtering the skew metric based on a first set of filters with the microprocessor to generate a filtered skew metric;

adjusting the filtered skew metric with the microprocessor based on a pulse rate to generate an adjusted skew metric;

detecting the presence of venous pulsation with the microprocessor by comparing the adjusted skew metric to a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the skew metric is processed to compensate for the typical rate-dependent changes in the skewness of arterial waveforms.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a notification of the presence of venous pulsation when detected.

4. One or more non-transitory machine readable media, comprising code executable by a microprocessor to perform the acts of:

deriving a skew metric for one or more plethysmographic signals wherein the skew metric comprises a measure of the skewness of the derivative of the one of more plethysmographic signals;

filtering the skew metric based on a first set of filters to generate a filtered skew metric;

adjusting the filtered skew metric based on a pulse rate to generate an adjusted skew metric; and

detecting the presence of venous pulsation by comparing the adjusted skew metric to a predetermined threshold.

5. The non-transitory, machine readable media of claim 4 , further comprising code executable by the microprocessor to perform the act of processing the skew metric to compensate for the typical rate-dependent changes in the skewness of arterial waveforms.

6. The non-transitory, machine readable media of claim 4 , further comprising code executable by the microprocessor to perform the acts of providing a notification of the presence of venous pulsation when detected.

7. A patient monitoring system comprising: a patient monitor configured to:

derive a skew metric for one or more plethysmographic signals wherein the skew metric comprises a measure of the skewness of the derivative of the one or more plethysmographic signals;

filter the skew metric based on a first set of filters to generate a filtered skew metric;

adjust the filtered skew metric based on a pulse rate to generate an adjusted skew metric; and

detect the presence of venous pulsation by comparing the adjusted skew metric to a predetermined threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the patient monitor is configured to process the skew metric to compensate for the typical rate-dependent changes in the skewness of arterial waveforms.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the patient monitor is configured to provide a notification of the presence of venous pulsation when detected.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2012
From: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT LLC
To: COVIDIEN LP
Reel/Frame 029346/0724 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 29, 2011
From: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT INCORPORATED
To: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT LLC
Reel/Frame 027144/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2006
From: BAKER JR., CLARK R.
To: NELLCOR PURITAN BENNETT INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 018358/0436 →