Sensor and vital sign information processing system

Abstract

A vital sign information processing system includes a sensor configured to be attached to a living body, and an information acquisition apparatus configured to acquire vital sign information of the living body through the sensor. A first memory is disposed in the sensor and stores first site information indicative of a site at which the sensor is to be used. A second memory is disposed in the information acquisition apparatus and stores second site information indicative of a site at which the information acquisition apparatus is to be used. A processor disposed in the information acquisition apparatus causes the information acquisition apparatus to perform notification when the first site information and the second site information are not matched.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor configured to be attached to a living body to acquire vital sign information, and communicable with an information acquisition apparatus, wherein the sensor comprises a memory configured to store information indicative of a plurality of sites at which the sensor is to be used, and wherein the information is stored in the memory during manufacturing of the sensor. 
     
     
         2 . The sensor according to  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment configured to be attached to the living body, and a connector configured to allow communication with the information acquisition apparatus, wherein the memory is disposed in the connector. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the information acquisition apparatus is installed at one of the plurality of sites. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sites at which the sensor is to be used is a critical care medicine area, an intensive care unit, a neonatal intensive care unit, an operating room, a laboratory, a hospital ward, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) room. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of sites at which the sensor is to be used is a critical care medicine area, an intensive care unit, a neonatal intensive care unit, an operating room, a laboratory, a hospital ward, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) room. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sensor includes an SpO2 probe, electrocardiogram electrodes, brain wave electrodes, and a cuff, and   wherein the information acquisition apparatus includes a bedside monitor.   
     
     
         7 . The sensor according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the memory further stores an usage history information, the usage history information is the usage history of the sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The sensor according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the memory further stores a condition information, the condition information includes information indicative of operating conditions of the information acquisition apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The sensor according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the condition information includes background information of a patient and information of characteristics of the sensor.   
     
     
         10 . A vital sign information processing system comprising:
 a sensor configured to be attached to a living body;   an information acquisition apparatus configured to acquire vital sign information of the living body through the sensor;   a first memory disposed in the sensor, the first memory storing first site information indicative of a site at which the sensor is to be used;   a second memory disposed in the information acquisition apparatus, the second memory storing second site information indicative of a site at which the information acquisition apparatus is to be used; and   a processor disposed in the information acquisition apparatus,   wherein the processor causes the information acquisition apparatus to perform a notification when the first site information and the second site information are not matched,   wherein the notification is a visual notification, an audible notification, or a haptic notification,   wherein the processor is configured to prohibit use of the sensor or limit a number of uses of the sensor, when the first site information and the second site information are not matched, and   wherein the first site information and the second site information are written by a user via an information writing apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The vital sign information processing system according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the sensor includes an SpO2 probe, electrocardiogram electrodes, brain wave electrodes, and a cuff, and   wherein the information acquisition apparatus includes a bedside monitor.   
     
     
         12 . The vital sign information processing system according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first memory further stores an usage history information, the usage history information is the usage history of the sensor, and   wherein the information acquisition apparatus is configured to read the usage history information from the first memory and notify an external management device.   
     
     
         13 . The vital sign information processing system according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first memory further stores a condition information, the condition information includes information indicative of operating conditions of the information acquisition apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The vital sign information processing system according to  claim 10 , wherein the site at which the sensor is to be used is a critical care medicine area, an intensive care unit, a neonatal intensive care unit, an operating room, a laboratory, a hospital ward, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) room. 
     
     
         15 . The vital sign information processing system according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the processor is configured to cause the information acquisition apparatus to perform acquisition of the vital sign information based on setting according to a condition information.   
     
     
         16 . The vital sign information processing system according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the condition information includes background information of a patient and information of characteristics of the sensor.