Remote oximetry monitoring system and method

Abstract

A medical monitoring system in which information related to ischemia or an oxygenation to be determined is transmitted by a sending unit ( 167 ) using radiofrequency signals to a receiver ( 183 ), and the results are displayed on an external and remote monitor ( 313 ). The entire device may be encapsulated by a biocompatible shell ( 102 ) to permit implantation.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A medical information system for monitoring of living tissue at a distance comprising:
 (a) a medical device configured to generate at least one measure that is a function of oxygenation or ischemia; and,   (b) a sending unit coupled to the device and configured to send out a transmission based on the measure.   (c) a receiver arranged to receive the transmission; and,   (d) a display arranged to show a result based on the transmission received.   
     
     
         15 . A medical information system for monitoring of tissue oxygenation at a distance comprising:
 (a) a tissue oximeter configured to generate at least one measure that is a function of tissue oxygenation;   (b) a sending unit coupled to the oximeter and configured to send out a transmission based on the measure;   (c) a receiver arranged to receive the transmission; and,   (d) a display arranged to show at least one tissue oxygenation based upon the transmission received.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the receiver and the display are configured to operate as an external monitor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the receiver or the sending unit is configured to communicate using at least a reception or transmission via radiofrequency. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the receiver or the sending unit is a cell phone. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the receiver or sending unit is configured to communicate using at least a reception or transmission via wire. 
     
     
         20 . A method monitoring oxygenation at a distance including the steps of:
 generating a measure that is a function of tissue ischemia or oxygenation;   transmitting data representing the measure;   receiving the data; and,   displaying a result that is a function of the tissue ischemia or oxygenation based upon the received data.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the receiving or transmitting is achieved using at least a reception or transmission via radiofrequency. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a cell phone is configured to achieve the reception or transmission via radiofrequency. 
     
     
         23 . A medical information software application, said application configured to operate in a remote monitoring device with a receiving unit and a display, said receiving unit operatively configured to receive data from a sending unit configured to transmit data representing a biometric measure of oxygenation, and said application further configured to output to the display a result that is a function of tissue ischemia or oxygenation based upon the received data. 
     
     
         24 . The application of  claim 23  wherein the application further includes an alarm function for alerting when the result is beyond predetermined limits.