Optical physiological sensor modules with reduced signal noise

• US 10,536,768 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yukka Magic LLC
• Original Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
• Inventors: Wagner, Wolfgang, Stephenson, Shawn, Just, Steven Matthew, Aumer, Michael Edward, Tucker, Jesse Berkley, Eschbach, Lawrence Christopher, LeBoeuf, Steven Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US15/324,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20170209095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083

Abstract

An optical sensor module for detecting and/or measuring physiological information that can be integrated into a wearable device, such as a headset, a wristband, a ring, etc., includes a housing supporting an optical source and an optical detector. The housing overlies the optical source and optical detector and includes a first light guide comprising light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide comprising light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical detector. The first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions that are outwardly diverging. When the sensor module is in use and placed adjacent the skin of a user, light rays emanating from the optical source and directed into the skin of the user cannot overlap with light rays returning through the skin of the user.

Claims

1. An optical sensor module for detecting and/or measuring physiological information from a subject, comprising:

a base comprising an optical source and an optical detector; and

a housing configured to be integrated within a wearable device and secured to the base and overlying the optical source and optical detector, wherein the housing comprises a first light guide in optical communication with the optical source and a second light guide in optical communication with the optical detector, wherein the first and second light guides define respective first and second axial directions, wherein the first axial direction has an angle relative to a plane defined by a surface of the optical source that is less than ninety degrees (90°

), and wherein the second axial direction has an angle relative to a plane defined by a surface of the optical detector that is less than ninety degrees (90°

) such that the first and second axial directions diverge outwardly from the housing.

2. The optical sensor module of claim 1, wherein, when the sensor module is in use and placed adjacent the skin of a subject, the first and second light guides are angled relative to each other such that light rays emanating from the optical source and directed into the skin of the subject via the first light guide cannot overlap with light rays collected by the second light guide when the housing is separated from the skin by a distance up to about three tenths of a centimeter (0.3 cm).

3. The optical sensor module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second light guides comprises optical filtering material.

4. The optical sensor module of claim 1, wherein the first and second light guides each comprise opposite proximal and distal ends, and wherein the proximal and distal ends of at least one of the first and second light guides have different sizes and/or wherein the proximal and distal ends of at least one of the first and second light guides have different configurations.

5. The optical sensor module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second light guides is cylindrical.

6. The optical sensor module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second light guides is non-cylindrical.

7. The optical sensor module of claim 1, wherein the first and second light guides each comprise opposite proximal and distal ends, and wherein the distal end of at least one of the first and second light guides has a curved surface and/or wherein the distal end of at least one of the first and second light guides has a textured surface.

8. The optical sensor module of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one light polarizing element in optical communication with the optical source and the optical detector, wherein the at least one polarizing element is configured to polarize light emitted by the optical source and polarize light detected by the optical detector.

9. The optical sensor module of claim 8, wherein the at least one light polarizing element is a light polarizing film or a light polarizing lens.

10. The optical sensor module of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises at least one window through which light from the optical source passes and/or through which light detected by the optical detector passes, and wherein the at least one window comprises the at least one polarizing element.

11. The optical sensor module of claim 8, wherein the at least one light polarizing element comprises a first light polarizing element in optical communication with the optical source and a second light polarizing element in optical communication with the optical detector.

12. The optical sensor module of claim 11, wherein the first and second light polarizing elements have parallel planes of polarization.

13. The optical sensor module of claim 11, wherein the first and second light polarizing elements have non-parallel planes of polarization.