Handheld oximeter with display of real-time, average measurements and status indicator
An oximetry device sealed in a sheath directs a user to allow the oximetry device to make oximetry readings at a number of different tissue locations of a patient and average two or more of the oximetry readings by directing the lifts and placements of the oximetry device and sheath to and from the different tissue locations and detecting the lift and placements. The averages are generated and displayed on a display of the device for the oximetry readings if the lifts are made while use directions for the lifts are displayed on a display of the oximetry device. The averages are not generated if the lifts are not made while the user directions for the lifts are not displayed. The averages are simultaneously displayed with the oximetry readings which are instantaneous measurement for patient tissue.
1 . An oximetry device comprising:
a housing;
a processor housed by the housing;
a memory, housed by the housing, coupled to the processor;
a display, housed by the housing and visible from an exterior of the housing, coupled to the processor; and
a sensor head, housed by the housing and visible from an exterior of the housing, comprising at least a first source structure and at least a first detector structure,
wherein the processor controls the at least first source structure and the at least first detector structure of the sensor head to make a number n of optical oximetry measurements of tissue to be measured,
wherein when the n measurement is greater or less than a threshold amount, the processor controls storage of a value for the n−1 measurement in the memory and storage of a value of one in the memory,
after the n optical oximetry measurements of the tissue are measured, the processor controls the at least first source structure and the at least first detector structure of the sensor head to make a number m of optical oximetry measurements of the tissue to be measured,
wherein when a value for the m measurement is greater or less than the threshold amount, the processor controls storage of a value for a first sum of the value for the n−1 measurement and an m−1 value for the m−1 measurement in the memory and storage of a value of two in the memory, and
after the m optical oximetry measurements of the tissue are measured, the processor generates a first average value for the first sum divided by the stored value two and controls the display to display the first average value.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein after the m optical oximetry measurements of the tissue are measured, the processor controls the at least first source structure and the at least first detector structure of the sensor head to make a number p optical oximetry measurements of the tissue to be measured,
wherein when a value of the p measurement is greater or less than the threshold amount, the processor controls storage of a value for a second sum of the first sum and a p−1 value for the p−1 measurement in the memory and storage of a value of three in the memory, and
after the p optical oximetry measurements of the tissue are measured, the processor generates a second average value for the second sum divided by the stored value three and controls the display to display the second average value.
3 . The device of claim 2 wherein after the p optical oximetry measurements of the tissue are measured, the processor controls the at least first source structure and the at least first detector structure of the sensor head to make a number q optical oximetry measurements of the tissue to be measured,
wherein when a q value for the q measurement is greater or less than the threshold amount, the processor controls storage of a value for a third sum of the second sum and a q−1 value for the q−1 measurement in the memory and storage of a value of four in the memory, and
after the q optical oximetry measurements of the tissue are measured, the processor generates a third average value for the third sum divided by the stored value four and controls the display to display the third average value.
4 . The device of claim 1 comprising an accelerometer, housed by the housing, coupled to the processor, wherein the accelerometer is adapted to detect rotation of the housing with respect to a direction of the acceleration of gravity by a predetermined number of degrees,
wherein the processor controls the at least first source structure and the at least first detector structure of the sensor head to make a number p of optical oximetry measurements of tissue to be measured,
wherein when a value for the p measurement is greater or less than the threshold amount, the processor controls storage of a value for the p−1 measurement in the memory and storage of a value of one in the memory,
after the p optical oximetry measurements of the tissue are measured, the processor controls the at least first source structure and the at least first detector structure of the sensor head to make a number q of optical oximetry measurements of the tissue to be measured,
wherein when a value for the q measurement is greater or less than the threshold amount, the processor controls storage of a value for a second sum of the p−1 value and the q−1 value in the memory and storage of a value of two in the memory, and
after the q optical oximetry measurements of the tissue are measured, the processor generates a second average value for the second sum divided by the stored value two and controls the display to display the second average value.
5 . An oximetry device comprising:
a housing;
a processor housed by the housing;
a memory, housed by the housing, coupled to the processor;
a display, housed by the housing and visible from an exterior of the housing, coupled to the processor; and
a sensor head, housed by the housing and visible from an exterior of the housing, comprising at least a first source structure and at least a first detector structure, wherein when the sensor head contacts a first tissue of a patient, the processor controls the oximetry device to make a plurality of first oximetry readings of the first tissue using the sensor head,
when the sensor head is removed from contact with the first tissue of the patient, the processor detects the sensor head being removed from contact from the first tissue and stores a value in the memory of one of the first oximetry readings,
when the sensor head of the oximetry device contacts a second tissue of the patient, the processor controls the oximetry device to make a plurality of second oximetry readings of the second tissue,
when the sensor head of the oximetry device is removed from contact from the second tissue, the processor detects the sensor head being removed from contact from the second tissue and retrieves from the memory the one of the first oximetry readings,
the processor generates an average of the value for the one of the first oximetry reading and a value for one of the second oximetry readings based on the device detecting being removed from contact from the second tissue, and
the processor controls the display to display the value for the average.
6 . The device of claim 5 wherein the first and second tissues are different tissue of the patient.
7 . The device of claim 5 wherein the first and second tissues are the same tissue of the patient.
8 . The device of claim 5 wherein the stored value is a value for a second to last one of the first oximetry readings taken by the oximetry device prior to the device unit being removed from contact from the first tissue.
9 . The device of claim 5 wherein the value for the one of the second oximetry readings is a value for a second to last one of the second oximetry readings taken by the oximetry device prior to the device unit being removed from contact from the second tissue.
10 . The device of claim 5 wherein the oximetry device is a tissue oximeter.
11 . The device of claim 10 wherein the oximetry device is a laparoscopic oximeter.
12 . The device of claim 10 wherein when the oximetry device is rotated about a horizontal axis by a predetermined number of degrees, the processor controls the oximetry device to start a first new averaging of oximetry readings.
13 . The device of claim 12 wherein when the oximetry device is rotated about a horizontal axis by a predetermined number of degrees, the processor removes oximetry information displayed on the display.
14 . The device of claim 12 wherein when the oximetry device is rotated within a predetermined second number of degrees from the first number of degrees after the oximetry device is rotated by the first number of degrees, the processor controls the oximetry device to prevent a start of a second new averaging.
15 . The device of claim 1 comprising the processor not storing values for the n and m optical oximetry measurements.
16 . The device of claim 15 comprising the processor not including the values for the n and m optical oximetry measurements in the first average value.
17 . The device of claim 15 comprising after the n optical oximetry measurement is made by the oximeter device, the processor controls storage of the value for the n−1 optical oximetry measurement for generation of the first average value.
18 . The device of claim 15 comprising after the m optical oximetry measurement is made by the oximeter device, the processor controls storage of the value for the m−1 optical oximetry measurement for generation of the first average value.