Physiological measurement communications adapter
A sensor interface is configured to receive a sensor signal. A transmitter generates a transmit signal. A receiver receives the signal corresponding to the transmit signal. Further, a monitor interface is configured to communicate a waveform to the monitor so that measurements derived by the monitor from the waveform are generally equivalent to measurements derivable from the sensor signal.
1. A wireless communications adapter configured to convert a wired patient monitor into a wireless patient monitor without requiring alterations to signal processing algorithms of the wired patient monitor in order for the wireless patient monitor to electronically determine measurement values of one or more physiological parameters determinable by the wired patient monitor, the wireless communications adapter comprising:
a plug configured to plug into a sensor port of a wired patient monitor and electrically and mechanically mimic a monitor end of a patient cable of a wired sensor arrangement compatible with the sensor port of the wired patient monitor;
a receiver configured to receive a wirelessly transmitted signal from a physiological sensor communications adapter, the wirelessly transmitted signal including information from which measurement values of one or more physiological parameters may be derived; and
a processor configured to:
obtain characterization information specific to the wired patient monitor;
adapt the received wirelessly transmitted signal to a monitor-compatible signal utilizing the characterization information specific to the wired patient monitor, the monitor-compatible signal adapted for compatibility with the wired patient monitor, the monitor-compatible signal usable by the wired patient monitor to determine measurement values of one or more physiological parameters consistent with physiological data collected by a physiological sensor; and
cause the monitor-compatible signal to be provided to the wired patient monitor via the plug and the sensor port of the wired patient monitor,
whereby the wired patient monitor is converted to a wireless patient monitor.
2. The wireless communications adapter of claim 1 , wherein the physiological sensor communications adapter is configured to communicate with the physiological sensor via a wired connection, and wherein the physiological sensor is compatible to operate with the wired patient monitor via a direct wired connection to the sensor port.
3. The wireless communications adapter of claim 1 further comprising:
a housing configured to house the receiver and the processor, wherein the plug is integrated into the housing.
4. The wireless communications adapter of claim 1 further comprising:
a monitor interface configured to output the monitor-compatible signal to the plug of the wired patient monitor.
5. The wireless communications adapter of claim 4 , wherein processor is further configured to obtain the characterization information from at least one of: the wired patient monitor or the monitor interface.
6. The wireless communications adapter of claim 4 further comprising:
a housing configured to house the receiver and the processor, and which further includes an interface configured to electrically and mechanically connect the wireless communications adapter to one end of an auxiliary cable, wherein another end of the auxiliary cable includes the plug configured to plug into the sensor port of the wired patient monitor.
7. The wireless communications adapter of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to further adapt the received wirelessly transmitted signal to the monitor-compatible signal utilizing calibration information received from the auxiliary cable.
8. The wireless communications adapter of claim 7 , wherein the physiological sensor comprises a noninvasive physiological sensor configured to provide a signal responsive to optical radiation attenuated by a tissue site of a patient.
9. A method of using a wireless communications adapter to convert a wired patient monitor into a wireless patient monitor without requiring alterations to signal processing algorithms of the wired patient monitor in order for the wireless patient monitor to electronically determine measurement values of one or more physiological parameters determinable by the wired patient monitor, the method comprising:
receiving, at a wireless communications adapter, a wirelessly transmitted signal from a physiological sensor communications adapter, the wirelessly transmitted signal including information from which measurement values of one or more physiological parameters may be derived;
obtaining, by a processor of the wireless communications adapter, characterization information specific to the wired patient monitor;
adapting, by the processor of the wireless communications adapter, the received wirelessly transmitted signal to a monitor-compatible signal utilizing the characterization information specific to the wired patient monitor, the monitor-compatible signal adapted for compatibility with the wired patient monitor, the monitor-compatible signal usable by the wired patient monitor to determine measurement values of one or more physiological parameters consistent with physiological data collected by a physiological sensor; and
causing, by the processor of the wireless communications adapter, the monitor-compatible received wirelessly transmitted signal to be provided to a wired patient monitor via a plug of the wireless communications adapter and a sensor port of the wired patient monitor, wherein:
the plug is configured to plug into the sensor port of the wired patient monitor and electrically and mechanically mimic a monitor end of a patient cable of a wired sensor arrangement compatible with the sensor port of the wired patient monitor, and
the plug is configured to electrically and mechanically mimic a monitor end of a patient cable of a wired sensor arrangement compatible with the sensor port of the wired patient monitor,
whereby the wired patient monitor is converted to a wireless patient monitor.
10. The physiological measurement method of claim 9 , wherein the physiological sensor communications adapter is configured to communicate with the physiological sensor via a wired connection, and wherein the physiological sensor is compatible to operate with the wired patient monitor via a direct wired connection to the sensor port.
11. The physiological measurement method of claim 9 , wherein the plug is integrated into a housing of the wireless communications adapter, and wherein the housing is configured to house the receiver and the processor.
12. The physiological measurement method of claim 9 further comprising:
outputting, by a monitor interface of the wireless communications adapter, the monitor-compatible signal to the plug of the wired patient monitor.
13. The physiological measurement method of claim 12 , wherein processor is further configured to obtain the characterization information from at least one of: the wired patient monitor or the monitor interface.
14. The physiological measurement method of claim 12 further comprising:
electrically and mechanically connecting the wireless communications adapter to one end of an auxiliary cable, wherein another end of the auxiliary cable includes the plug configured to plug into the sensor port of the wired patient monitor.
15. The physiological measurement method of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to further adapt the received wirelessly transmitted signal to the monitor-compatible signal utilizing calibration information received from the auxiliary cable.
16. The physiological measurement method of claim 15 , wherein the physiological sensor comprises a noninvasive physiological sensor configured to provide a signal responsive to optical radiation attenuated by a tissue site of a patient.