MULTIPLE MEASUREMENT MODE IN A PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR
In a physiological sensor that estimates a true parameter value by providing a predicted parameter value, multiple measurements are taken to increase the accuracy of the predicted parameter value. The sensor can be reapplied between measurements to decrease the probability of an erroneous prediction caused by sensor misplacement. Some measurements can be discarded before calculating a predicted parameter value. The physiological sensor can have a plurality of modes, with one of the modes corresponding to multiple measurement process.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A system for decreasing a probability of an erroneous value in a measured physiological parameter comprising:
a physiological sensor configured to be applied to a measurement site by a user and to provide measurements indicative of the physiological parameter,
wherein the physiological sensor has at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode,
wherein during the first operating mode, a physiological parameter value is estimated based on a single measurement;
wherein during the second operating mode, a physiological parameter value is estimated based on a plurality of measurements, the plurality of measurements comprising a first measurement obtained by the physiological sensor during a first application of the physiological sensor to the measurement site and a second measurement obtained by the physiological sensor during a second application of the physiological sensor to the measurement site;
a user interface;
a computer-readable memory storing executable instructions; and
a processor, in communication with the computer-readable memory, wherein the processor is configured by the executable instructions to at least:
receive a user selection of the first operating mode or the second operating mode based on a user input;
operate the physiological sensor based on the user selection; and
output to the user interface at least one predicted parameter value.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein to operate the physiological sensor, the processor is configured to:
obtain the first measurement using the physiological sensor;
output, to the user interface, instructions for the user to reapply the physiological sensor;
receive an indication that the physiological sensor has been removed and reapplied;
obtain the second measurement using the physiological sensor; and
calculate a final value for the physiological parameter based on the first and second measurements.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor further determines a confidence value from a number of measurements taken.
5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the indication comprises a sound.
6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the indication comprises a light.
7 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a touch screen user interface, wherein the user input comprises a user touch interaction with the touch screen user interface.
8 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a button, wherein the processor is configured to receive the indication of the user selection based on a user interaction with the button, and wherein the user input comprises pressing the button.
9 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a touch screen user interface, configured to receive the input, wherein the input comprises an indication from the user that the physiological sensor has been reapplied.
10 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of measurements further comprise a third measurement obtained during a third application of the physiological sensor to the measurement site.
11 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured by the executable instructions to at least:
discard a measurement of the plurality of measurements; and
calculate, from the remaining number of the plurality of measurements, the at least one predicted parameter value.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured by the executable instructions to at least identify which measurement to discard based on at least one of a mean or a median of values associated with at least some of the plurality of measurements.
13 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured by the executable instructions to at least calculate the predicted parameter value based at least partly on averaging values associated with at least some of the plurality of measurements.
14 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured by the executable instructions to at least determine the predicted parameter value by selecting, from among values associated with the number of distinct measurements, a single value that characterizes a distribution of the values associated with the plurality of measurements.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured by the executable instructions to at least select the predicted parameter value by an outlier detection algorithm.