U.S. patent application number 10/284239 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for finger oximeter with remote telecommunications capabilities and system therefor.
Invention is credited to Katarow, Frank, Palatnik, Eugene.
Application Number | 20040087845 10/284239 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32174828 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040087845 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Katarow, Frank ; et
al. |
May 6, 2004 |
FINGER OXIMETER WITH REMOTE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES AND
SYSTEM THEREFOR
Abstract
A finger oximeter has fitted thereto a RF transmitter circuit so
that the measured SpO.sub.2, and other physical parameters from a
patient, may be transmitted telecommunicatively to a monitor device
remotely located from the finger oximeter. The RF transmitter
circuit is mounted on a PC board that is provided in the housing of
the finger oximeter, and works in cooperation with the oximetry
circuit that is also mounted on a PC board in the housing of the
finger oximeter. The two PC boards may be combined as one. To
receive the RF signal, a RF receiver is provided to the remote
monitor device, which also includes a processing circuit for
processing the incoming RF signal, and a converter circuit for
converting the processed digital signal into an analog signal for
display at the remote monitor device. In place of a one-way RF
link, the finger oximeter may be equipped with a RF transceiver
circuit that is capable of transmitting as well as receiving RF
signals from the remote monitor device, which likewise is fitted
with a RF transceiver circuit. The finger oximeter could be
activated by the patient manually, by means of a switch provided at
the housing, or remotely by means of a signal provided from the
remote monitor device. The finger oximeter may or may not include a
display.
Inventors: |
Katarow, Frank; (Pewaukee,
WI) ; Palatnik, Eugene; (Pewaukee, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOUIS WOO
LAW OFFICE OF LOUIS WOO
717 NORTH FAYETTE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
32174828 |
Appl. No.: |
10/284239 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/323 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/0002 20130101;
A61B 5/6826 20130101; Y10S 128/903 20130101; A61B 5/14552 20130101;
A61B 5/6838 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/323 |
International
Class: |
A61B 005/00 |
Claims
1. An oximeter, comprising: a housing having an opening through
which a finger of a patient is positioned; a radiation emitter
provided in said housing for outputting a multi-frequency radiation
to said finger; a sensor provided in said housing for detecting the
radiation from said emitter passing said finger so as to acquire
data relating to the physical attributes of said patient; at least
one circuit provided in said housing for effecting the respective
operations of said radiation emitter and said sensor, and to
calculate from the data acquired from said sensor at least the
oxygen saturation level of blood of said patient; and at least an
other circuit provided in said housing working cooperatively with
said one circuit for transmitting a RF signal representing the
calculated blood saturation level to a remote device.
2. Oximeter of claim 1, wherein said other circuit comprises a RF
transmitter circuit on a circuit board mounted within said housing
for transmitting said signal via an RF link to a remote RF receiver
of said remote device.
3. Oximeter of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises two halves
one of which has fitted thereto at least one circuit board whereon
at least one of said one and other circuit units is mounted.
4. Oximeter of claim 1, further comprising: a display for
displaying the oxygen saturation of blood of the patient; and a
switch for enabling a user to selectively activate said
oximeter.
5. Oximeter of claim 2, wherein said RF transmitter circuit can
transmit the signal at a selectable frequency.
6. Oximeter of claim 1, wherein said RF signal is sent via
Bluetooth protocol.
7. Oximeter of claim 1, further comprising: an energy source
provided in said housing; and a power circuit for supplying power
from said energy source to said radiation emitter, said sensor, and
said first and second circuits, said power circuit may be activated
or shut down by the activation of a switch located at said housing
or by a signal transmitted from said remote device.
8. Oximeter of claim 1, further comprising: a processor circuit for
controlling the respective operations of said radiation emitter,
said sensor, and said first and second circuits, the operation of
said processor circuit may be controlled by a signal transmitted
from said remote device.
9. In combination, a housing having an opening through which a
finger of a patient is positioned, a light emitter provided in said
housing for radiating the finger with a multi-frequency light, a
photo sensor provided in said housing for sensing the light passing
through the finger, a first circuit provided in said housing for
converting the sensed light to data representing physical
attributes of the patient including SpO.sub.2, a second circuit
working in cooperation with said first circuit for transmitting the
data in packet format to a remote device unattached to said housing
having a display, said remote device having a receiver circuit
attuned to receive data packets from said second circuit, the data
packets being converted by a processing circuit in said remote
device and displayed as the SpO.sub.2 of the patient at said remote
device.
10. Combination of claim 9, wherein said second circuit comprises a
RF transmitter circuit and wherein said receiver circuit comprises
a RF receiver circuit, both said RF transmitter and receiver
circuits being selected to operate at a given frequency.
11. Combination of claim 9, wherein said signal processing circuit
unpacks the data packets from said second circuit, said remote
device comprises a display driver circuit for displaying the
unpacked data as the SpO.sub.2 on said remote device.
12. Combination of claim 9, wherein said housing comprises a
display whereon the SpO.sub.2 of the patient can be displayed, so
that the SpO.sub.2 of the patient could be displayed at both said
housing and said remote device.
13. Combination of claim 9, wherein said housing comprises two
halves biased toward each other, respective circuit boards having
mounted thereon said first and second circuits fitted in one of
said halves, a switch provided to said housing to enable manual
activation of said light emitter, photo sensor, and said first and
second circuits.
14. Combination of claim 9, further comprising: a power circuit for
supplying power to said light emitter, said photo sensor, and said
first and second circuits, said power circuit may be activated or
shut down by the activation of a switch located at said housing or
by a signal transmitted from said remote device.
15. A system for remotely determining the blood oxygen level in the
blood of a patient, comprising: an oximeter having a housing with
an opening through which a finger of a patient is positioned; a
radiation emitter provided in said housing for radiating said
finger with a multi-frequency radiation; a sensor provided in said
housing for acquiring data from the radiation passing said finger;
a processor circuit provided in said housing for operating said
radiation emitter and said sensor, and for calculating from the
data acquired by said sensor at least the oxygen saturation level
of blood of said patient; and a transmitter circuit provided in
said housing for telecommunicatively transmitting the calculated
blood saturation level from said housing; and a monitor device
remote from said oximeter having a receiver circuit for receiving
the calculated blood saturation level from said oximeter; and a
display for displaying the received blood saturation level.
16. System of claim 15, wherein said transmitter circuit of said
oximeter comprises a RF transmitter circuit, the calculated blood
saturation level being transmitted by said RF transmitter circuit
as a RF signal; and wherein said receiver circuit comprises a RF
receiver for receiving the RF signal.
17. System of claim 16, wherein said monitor device comprises a
signal processing circuit for processing the RF signal and
displaying the processed signal as the blood saturation level of
the patient.
18. System of claim 15, wherein said monitor device comprises a
multi-functional medical monitor that displays, in addition the
blood saturation level, the EKG, pulse and blood pressure of the
patient.
19. System of claim 15, wherein said housing comprises two halves
biased toward each other, two circuit boards each having mounted
thereon one of said processor and transmitter circuits mounted to
one of said halves, a switch provided to said housing to enable
manual activation of said radiation emitter, said sensor, and said
processor and transmitter circuits.
20. System of claim 15, further comprising: a power circuit for
supplying power to said radiation emitter, said sensor, and said
processor and transmitter circuits, said power circuit may be
activated or shut down by the activation of a switch located at
said housing or by a signal transmitted from said remote
device.
21. An oximeter, comprising: a housing having an opening through
which a finger of a patient is positioned; a radiation emitter
provided in said housing for outputting radiation of multiple
frequencies to said finger; a photo sensor provided in said housing
for detecting the radiation passing said finger to acquire data
relating to oxygen saturation of blood of the patient; a processor
provided in said housing for calculating from the acquired data the
oxygen saturation level of blood of said patient; and a transmitter
provided in said housing for transmitting a RF signal representing
the calculated blood saturation level to a remote location.
22. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said housing includes a display
for displaying the calculated blood saturation level of the
patient.
23. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said transmitter comprises a RF
transmitter circuit for transmitting said signal via an RF link to
a remote RF receiver of a monitor device.
24. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said housing comprises two halves
one of which has fitted thereto at least one circuit board whereon
at least one of said one and other circuit units is mounted, and a
switch for selectively controlling power to said radiation emitter,
photo sensor, processor and transmitter.
25. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said transmitter circuit can
transmit said RF signal at a selectable frequency.
26. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said RF signal is sent via
Bluetooth protocol.
27. Oximeter of claim 21, wherein said processor circuit controls
the respective operations of said radiation emitter, said sensor,
and said transmitter, said oximeter further comprising a power
circuit and a power supply for supplying power to said radiation
emitter, said sensor, said transmitter and said processor circuit,
the operation of said power circuit may be selectively controlled
by a signal transmitted from said monitor device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to finger oximeters and more
particularly to a finger oximeter with remote telecommunications
capabilities and a system for monitoring the signals from such
finger oximeter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/940,418, assigned
to the same assignee as the instant application, a finger oximeter
with a unique finger grip suspension system is disclosed. The
disclosed finger oximeter is a standalone device. The finger
oximeter of the instant invention improves on the standalone finger
oximeter of the co-pending application by providing it with
telecommunications capabilities that enable it to transmit data
acquired from a patient to a remote device, such as a monitor
device, that allows remote monitoring of a patient.
[0003] In addition to the oximetry circuitry that controls the
operation of the radiation emitter that outputs a multi-frequency
light to the finger and the sensor for sensing the radiation
passing the finger for obtaining data from the patient and then
calculating the oxygen saturation level of blood from the acquired
data, the present invention oximeter further includes a
transmission circuit that may be a radio frequency RF circuit that
works in cooperation with the finger oximetry circuit so that a
signal such as for example a RF signal that contains the calculated
oxygen saturation level of blood of the patient may be transmitted
to a remote device. The RF circuit is provided on a PC circuit
board that is mounted to the housing of the finger oximeter, along
with a circuit board to which the finger oximetry circuit and other
circuits such as the power circuit and processor circuit are
mounted. Instead of separate printed circuit boards, a single
circuit board that contains all of the circuitries of the RF
transmitter equipped oximeter of the instant invention may be
mounted completely within the housing of the finger oximeter.
[0004] The present invention finger oximeter therefore includes a
housing having an opening through which a finger of a patient may
be placed, a radiation emitter provided in the housing for
outputting a multifrequency radiation to the finger, a sensor
provided in the housing for detecting the radiation from the
emitter that passes though, or reflects from, the finger of the
patient so that data relating to the physical attributes of the
patient may be acquired, at least one circuit provided in the
housing for operating the radiation emitter and the sensor, and to
calculate from the data acquired at least the oxygen saturation
level of blood of the patient, and another circuit provided in the
housing that transmits as a RF signal the calculated oxygen
saturation of blood of the patient to a remote site.
[0005] The instant invention also relates to the system in which
the RF signal transmitted by the finger oximeter is received by a
remote device, such as for example the Vital Signs Monitor being
sold by the assignee which has incorporated therein a RF receiver
attuned to receive the RF signal transmitted from the finger
oximeter. The remote device may be equipped with a transceiver that
allows the observer at the remote monitor device to control the
operation of the finger oximeter. This is done by the observer at
the remote monitoring system activating a switch that sends out a
signal that can activate/deactivate the remote finger oximeter.
[0006] The RF signal sent by the finger oximeter may be sent in the
form of data packets. A depacking component which may include a
processing circuit and a converter circuit is provided at the
remote monitor device for unpacking the data packets and converting
the unpacked data from digital to analog so that the physical
attributes of the patient being monitored may be shown on the
display of the monitor device. The transmission of the RF signal,
and the control of the finger oximeter by the remote monitor
device, may be effected by a telecommunications protocol such as
for example Bluetooth.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0007] The instant invention will become apparent and will be best
understood by reference to the following description of an
embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIGS. 1a-1d are different views of a finger oximeter,
particularly the housing thereof, of the instant invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is the finger oximetry circuit for the operation of
the finger oximeter of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a transmission circuit that works in cooperation
with the oximetry circuit of FIG. 2 for transmitting the measured
physical attributes of the patient to a remote location;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates the printed circuit board (PCB) onto
which the circuit of FIG. 3 is mounted;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the upper half of the
housing of the instant invention, with the cover removed, that
shows the mounting of the circuitries of the instant invention
finger oximeter;
[0013] FIG. 6 is block diagram illustrating the transmission of a
RF signal from the finger oximeter of the instant invention to a
remote monitor device;
[0014] FIG. 7 shows the various components of the remote monitor
device of the system of the instant invention; and
[0015] FIG. 8. is a block diagram illustrating the interaction of
the finger oximeter and the remote monitor device equipped to
control the operation of the finger oximeter of the instant
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] FIGS. 1a-1d illustrate the housing of a finger oximeter that
is disclosed in the aforenoted co-pending application Ser. No.
09/940,418, the disclosure of which being incorporated by reference
herein. The housing of the finger oximeter of the instant invention
may have the same housing as that of the '418 application.
Accordingly, finger oximeter 2, as shown in the plan view of FIG.
1a, has a display 4 that enables the finger oximeter to display the
various physical attributes of a patient including for example the
oxygen saturation level of blood (SpO.sub.2) the heart rate and the
blood pressure of the patient.
[0017] As shown in the front view of FIG. 1b, finger oximeter 2 is
made up of two housing portions 6 and 8, with the lower housing 8
movable relative to the upper housing 6 vertically as shown by
directional arrow 10. Upper housing 6 is protected by a cover 12.
Mounted in upper housing portion 6 and protected by cover 12 are
the display and circuit boards as shown in FIG. 5. An opening 14 is
formed between upper and lower housing portions 6 and 8. Each of
the finger portions 6 and 8 is fitted with a finger pad that
together form a contour for gripping a finger that is placed into
or positioned in opening 14. The respective finger pads mounted to
the upper housing portion 6 and the lower housing portion 8 are
designated 16 and 18, respectively. By a plurality of springs, not
shown, upper housing portion 6 and lower housing portion 8 are
vertically biased towards each other so as to securely grip a
finger positioned between them into opening 14. The system for
gripping a finger placed between upper housing portion 6 and lower
housing portion 8 of the finger oximeter 2 is given in detail in
the aforenoted '418 application.
[0018] With the finger oximeter of the '418 application, in order
to read the oxygen concentration of blood of the patient, a nurse
or doctor has to be near the patient so that she can read the
display mounted to the finger oximeter. This is fine only if a
single reading at a given point of time is needed. However, for
those instances where a continuous monitoring of the patient's
physical attributes including the SpO.sub.2, is needed, and where
the medical practitioner could not possibly be in close proximity
of the patient at all times, remote monitoring of the data being
collected from the patient is desired.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1c, finger oximeter 2 has a backside that
has mounted thereto a switch 20, which enables a user to manually
activate the device, i.e. by energizing the various circuits of the
printed circuit board(s) mounted in the housing of the finger
oximeter. The battery module required for energizing the various
components and mounted to the lower portion of housing portion 8 is
designated 22. Although shown with a switch 20 and a display 4, the
finger oximeter of the instant invention may actually be configured
not to include any display 4, or switch 20, if it is determined
that the operation of the finger oximeter and the monitoring of the
data acquired from the patient from the finger oximeter should be
done remotely from the finger oximeter and, of course, the patient
to which the finger oximeter is fitted.
[0020] FIG. 1d is a side view of the finger oximeter which shows
cover 12 attached to a casing 24.
[0021] The schematic of the oximetry circuit of the finger oximeter
is shown in FIG. 2. For ease of discussion, the various major
functions of the circuit are separately grouped together as
functional circuits by dotted lines.
[0022] The photodetector (D1) is provided in the housing, more
specifically in lower housing portion 8 of the embodiment of the
finger oximeter of the instant invention as shown in FIGS. 1a-1d.
Switch 20, designated SW1 in FIG. 2, is also provided on flexible
strip 26 fitted to the lower housing portion, or the lower finger
grip 18, of the finger oximeter of the instant invention. When
pushed on, power is provided to a radiation emitter, made up of
LEDs having different frequencies that are a part of functional
circuit 28. The multi-frequency light from the LEDs, in the form of
radiation, is directed to the finger placed between the upper and
lower finger grip portions 6 and 8 of the finger oximeter. Once the
finger is removed from opening 16 and therefore away from the upper
and lower grip portion 6 and 8, microprocessor U1 would turn off
the device after a predetermined time period, for example 8
seconds, to conserve energy.
[0023] The flexible strip 26 is connected to a functional circuit
30 by a conventional coupling. Functional circuit 30 is the analog
detector preconditioning circuit that measures the input electrical
current signal from the finger of the patient, where the analog
current signal is converted to an analog voltage signal. The analog
voltage signal is amplified by an op amp U2C, which outputs an
amplified analog voltage signal VSIG. The dynamic range of the
signal is controlled by IC circuit U4, which acts as an integrated
digital potentiometer.
[0024] The amplified analog voltage signal VSIG is input to
microprocessor U1 at input A2. The analog voltage signal is
converted by processor U1 to a corresponding digital signal and
output to functional circuit 32, which is a LED driver circuit
comprising driver IC circuits U8 and U9. The driver circuit 32
provides the signal to the various digits DIG 1 to DIG 6 for
displaying the information collected from the patient on display 4.
If no display is provided on the finger oximeter of the instant
invention, then functional circuit 32 and the LED display 4 may be
removed from the circuit. On the other hand, both display 4 and
functional circuit 32 may be provided on the finger oximeter of the
instant invention even if the measured physical attributes of the
patient may be displayed remotely from the finger oximeter, so that
both the patient as well as the medical practitioner may monitor
the patient data.
[0025] Another functional circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 is function
circuit 28, which is a variable LED driver circuit that drives the
two LEDs that emit the multi-frequency light directed to the finger
of the patient through apertures provided in the upper half 6 of
the finger oximeter. The apertures provided in the upper and lower
portions 6, 8 of the housing, as well as the finger pads 16, 18,
enable the multi-frequency light from the LEDs of the light emitter
to be directed to the finger, and the defused light through the
finger of the patient being sensed by the photodetector D1. The
resulting current signal sensed by detector D1 is provided to the
analog detector preconditioning circuit 30.
[0026] Functional circuit 34 is a switching power supply circuit
that regulates the power to be supplied to the various components
of the FIG. 2 oximetry circuitry. Functional circuit 36 is a
battery voltage divider circuit that identifies whether the voltage
from the battery pack 22 is low.
[0027] Functional circuit 38 is a timing circuit for the components
of the finger oximeter. A clock pulse is generated from circuit 38
for microprocessor U1 by component U6A. Components U6B and U6C in
combination ensure that there is enough voltage from battery pack
22 if the voltage output is less than three volts so that the
appropriate clocking signals are provided for the various
components of the finger oximetry circuit of FIG. 2.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic of the RF transmitting circuit of the
finger oximeter of the instant invention. In addition to ground,
the RF transmitter circuit of FIG. 3 has an input, identified as
DATA, that is connected to the SDI output, i.e., pin 24 of
microprocessor U1 as shown in the FIG. 2 circuit. The FIG. 3
circuit is moreover connected to the FIG. 2 circuit by means of its
input power of +3.3 VDC, which is connected to the output from
capacitor C21 of functional circuit 34 of the FIG. 2 oximetry
circuit. For the FIG. 3 circuit, component 40, which is a SAW
ceramic resonator, defines the frequency of the RF signal to be
output by the FIG. 3 circuit. The frequency is selectable by the
user for the transmitter circuit, and be attuned to the receiver
circuit of the remote monitor device. Transistor Q1, designated 42,
acts as both an amplifier and an oscillator, together with
components C2, L1 and C3, for outputting the RF signal to the
antenna of the transmitter circuit, which is represented by the
loop of inductors L1, L2 and capacitors C4, C5. The power for the
circuit is provided by the 3.3 VDC.
[0029] The looped antenna 44 is best shown in the printed circuit
board 46 of FIG. 4. Note that the various components are etched and
mounted to circuit board 46 of FIG. 4.
[0030] As best shown in FIG. 5, with cover 12 removed, the upper
portion 6 of housing 2 of the finger oximeter is shown to include
display 4 and a printed circuit board 48 upon which most of the
various components of the oximetry circuit of FIG. 2 are mounted.
Also mounted to the side of circuit board 48 is circuit board 46
which has the RF transmitter circuit thereon. Circuit board 46 is
shown to be attached to the sidewall of upper portion 6 and is
fitted and held thereto by a shoulder 50 that mates with a slot 52
(FIG. 4) notched to printed circuit board 46.
[0031] The system to which the finger oximeter of the instant
invention is part of is illustrated in FIG. 6. As shown, the
patient data, once collected by the oximetry circuit, is forwarded
to the RF transmitter. There, an RF signal is sent by means of a RF
link to a remote monitor device, for example a Vital Signs monitor
being sold by the assignee. To enable it to receive the RF signal
from the RF transmitter, a RF receiver 52 is built into the remote
monitor device. The device further includes a data unpacking and
displaying device 54. Upon receipt of the RF signal, RF receiver 52
sends the signal to device 54, which may include a processing
unit/circuit and a converter unit/circuit. The processing circuit
processes the received RF signal, which may be sent in the form of
data packets. The data packets are unpacked or processed by the
processing circuit and converted by the converter circuit from
digital to analog. The analog signal could then be displayed on the
monitor of the remote monitoring device.
[0032] The data unpacking device 54 is further shown in FIG. 7,
which shows the device to include a processing unit 56 and a
converter unit 58. When converted from digital to analog, the
analog signals are displayed either as graphics or alphanumeric
data per the display 60. The unpacked signal could also be provided
as an audio alarm per an alarm indicator 62 provided at the remote
monitor device. Visual alarm indicators 64 may also be provided at
the remote monitor device to provide visual alarms to the nurse or
user, if a certain undesirable threshold of the being measured
physical attribute of the patient is reached or exceeded. A printer
66 may also be provided to the remote monitor device for the
purpose of printing out a copy of the SpO.sub.2, or other
attributes of the patient being monitored.
[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the instant invention in
which bidirectional transmission takes place between the finger
oximeter and the remote monitor device. In this instance, instead
of an RF transmitter circuit, the finger oximeter is equipped with
a RF transceiver circuit 68 that enables the oximeter to transmit
its oximetry signals to the RF transceiver circuit 70 of the remote
monitor device by the bidirectional RF link. The RF devices 68, 70
of the FIG. 8 embodiment is adaptable to operate in a Bluetooth
protocol so that signals may be transmitted bidirectionally between
the finger oximeter and the remote monitor device. As discussed per
the FIG. 6 system, the RF signal received from RF transceiver 68 is
unpacked and converted by the data unpacking and displaying device
72 so that the being monitored blood oxygen saturation of the
patient is displayed at the remote monitor device.
[0034] In addition to the remote monitoring of the patient, the
remote monitor device of the system of FIG. 8 has an activation
circuit 74 that enables the user of the remote monitor device to
activate/deactivate the finger oximeter being worn by the patient.
This is desirable in those instances where the patient has to wear
the finger oximeter for an extended period of time, and for the
conservation of energy for the finger oximeter. Thus, a signal may
be sent out by the activation circuit 74 to either activate the
finger oximeter or deactivate it.
[0035] As noted above, even though the finger oximeter illustrated
in FIGS. 1a-1d does include a display that displays to the patient
the being measured SpO.sub.2 and other physical parameters, and a
switch to allow the user to manually turn the device on, it should
be appreciated that the display on the finger oximeter may be
omitted insofar as the remote monitoring of the patient's physical
parameters at a remote location means that readings at the finger
oximeter may not be necessary. So, too, by being able to remotely
control the activation of the finger oximeter, the switch provided
for the finger oximeter as shown in FIGS. 1a-1d may not be
necessary. Also, by being able to deactivate the finger oximeter
remotely so as to overcome the automatic deactivation of the finger
oximeter (provided that the finger is removed from the finger
oximeter) if it is not being used for a period of time, the energy
of the battery pack for the finger oximeter is conserved.
* * * * *