The World Leader in ECG Technology

News Releases

Mortara Instrument Announces Patent Application for Low Power Pulse Oximetry

MILWAUKEE, Wis. USA,

16 November 2001

Today Mortara Instrument announced its patent application for low power pulse oximetry. The patent, entitled, "Low Power Pulse Oximeter" details the design for a pulse oximeter acquisition technology with extremely low power consumption characteristics. Utilizing this design, typical power consumption for signal acquisition and digitization, including LED drive, is less than 25 mW.

Mortara Instrument's ECG technology is used by several partner companies on an OEM basis. In the world of ECG, the company has created a wide array of innovative technologies for its customers including complete system development, acquisition hardware, signal processing algorithms and RF telemetry. Today's announcement heralds the expansion of Mortara's capabilities beyond ECG to include other vital signs as well. The creation of the low power consumption pulse oximetry solution is part of Mortara's overall goal to provide practical telemetry monitoring for all vital signs. This new technology will be made available on an OEM basis in combination with low power ECG acquisition components or as a stand-alone solution for pulse oximetry.

Commenting on the addition of pulse oximetry to Mortara's vital signs technology, founder and president David W. Mortara, Ph.D. stated, "Healthcare providers are increasingly requesting monitoring solutions which permit both ease of patient transport and patient ambulation. Today, the most significant limit to widespread expansion of this technology is battery longevity. As monitoring products are created, medical device companies are faced with an unpleasant choice of either increasing the device size and weight to accommodate additional batteries or limiting the operation time. Utilizing our low power consumption technology in ECG and pulse oximetry, these compromises can be avoided."

The expansion of the company's technology base in vital signs reflects a consistent focus on signal acquisition and processing. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Justin L. Mortara, Ph.D. noted, "As our OEM customers in patient monitoring are increasingly focused on user interfaces, system-wide integration and information management, Mortara's emphasis on the signal acquisition and processing technologies provides an extremely complimentary match of R&D resources. Companies that adopt Mortara technology for signal acquisition and processing are able to reallocate their precious R&D resources to other important system developments, while Mortara focuses on the advancement of the signal acquisition and processing technologies which make up a small, but essential component of the total systems offered today."

Mortara Instrument offers both components and complete systems for telemetry monitoring on an OEM basis to the medical device industry. For additional information on Mortara technology, please contact solutions@mortara.com or visit www.mortara.com.

About Mortara

Mortara Instrument's headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wis., with European operations based in Bologna, Italy. Mortara Instrument is distinguished in the field of non-invasive cardiology for the innovations that are the core of the company's complete line of ECG products. These product innovations include the integration of 12-lead ECG technology in bedside monitoring, wireless stress testing, Holter and telemetry monitoring systems. The company's web site is www.mortara.com.