Portable patient monitor

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure includes a portable pulse oximeter, such as a handheld pulse oximeter, that provides a user with intuitive key navigation for device operation, which reduces an amount of visual concentration needed to handle and operate the oximeter. In various embodiments, the portable pulse oximeter includes one or more of user input keys disposed along curve, an alignment edge providing guidance by feel of a user's digits to the input keys, raised convex keys also providing navigation by feel, a protective boot disposed around various portions of the oximeter housing to protect against impacts, a table-top stand, combinations of the same, or the like.

1 . A portable patient monitoring device comprising: 
 electronic circuitry capable of receiving a signal output from a light sensitive detector capable of detecting light attenuated by body tissue carrying pulsing blood, wherein the electronic circuitry is also capable of outputting audio or visual indicia indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the body tissue;    a housing including a top side;    a plurality of user input keys arranged on the top side of the housing along the periphery of one or more curves; and    a protective cover comprising a pliable material.    
     
     
         2 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a handheld housing.  
     
     
         3 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more curves is substantially diagonal to the housing and wherein each diagonal includes more than one user key.  
     
     
         4 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more curves is irregular.  
     
     
         5 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more curves roughly corresponds to a sweeping motion of a user's thumb across the top side of the housing on a hand in which the user holds the portable patient monitoring device.  
     
     
         6 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the one or more curves roughly corresponds to the sweeping motion.  
     
     
         7 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more curves includes a radius roughly corresponding to a user's thumb on a hand in which the user holds the portable patient monitoring device.  
     
     
         8 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 7 , wherein each of the one or more curves roughly corresponds to the radius.  
     
     
         9 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the user input keys are shaped to allow a user to differentiate by feel between the top side of the housing and the one or more of the user input keys.  
     
     
         10 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 9 , wherein the user input keys comprise a raised convex shape.  
     
     
         11 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one alignment edge substantially parallel to at least one of the one or more curves, thereby providing a user guidance to the location of the user input keys on the top side of the housing by feel of the alignment edge.  
     
     
         12 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one alignment edge is raised from a surface of the top side of the housing.  
     
     
         13 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one alignment edge partially surrounds the user input keys.  
     
     
         14 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one alignment edge forms a rough “V” shape.  
     
     
         15 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes one or more surfaces shaped to position a user's index fingers around the housing to form a secure grip.  
     
     
         16 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cover comprises a pliable impact resistive housing surrounding at least a portion of the housing of the portable patient monitoring device.  
     
     
         17 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , further comprising a table-top stand.  
     
     
         18 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicia comprises at least blood oxygen saturation data.  
     
     
         19 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicia comprises at pulse amplitude indication data.  
     
     
         20 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicia comprises at a pulse rate.  
     
     
         21 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the visual indicia comprises a measurement of perfusion through the body tissue.  
     
     
         22 . The portable patient monitoring device of  claim 1 , further comprising an impact resistant bezel.