Shunt barrier in pulse oximeter sensor

• US 20010000790A1
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Published: 05/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hannula, Don, Fein, Michael E., Mannheimer, Paul D., Delonzor, Russ
• Granted Patent: US 6,430,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

A pulse oximeter sensor having an emitter(s) and a detector, with a layer having a first portion of the emitter and a second portion of layer over the detector is provided. A barrier is included between the first and second portions of the overlying layer to substantially block radiation of the wavelengths emitted by the emitter(s). Preferably, the barrier reduces the radiation shunted to less than 10% of the radiation detected, and more preferably to less than 1% of the radiation detected.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

at least one emitter;

a detector;

a covering layer having a first portion over the emitter and a second portion over the detector;

a shunt barrier positioned between said first and second portions of said covering layer to substantially block radiation of the wavelengths emitted by said emitter, such that less than 10% of the radiation detected by said detector is shunted radiation.

2. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier blocks said shunted radiation such that less than 1% of the radiation detected by said detector is shunted radiation.

3. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said radiation comprises a first wavelength spectrum in the red wavelength range and a second wavelength spectrum in the infrared range.

4. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said sensor is a pulse oximeter sensor.

5. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein there is a break between said first and second portions of said covering layer, said shunt barrier including a radiation absorbing layer in contact with said first and second portions of said covering layer.

6. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a break between said first and second portions of said covering layer, with one of said first and second portions having an end overlying the other of said first and second portions.

7. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a fibrous material.

8. The sensor of

claim 7

wherein said fibrous material is a woven material.

9. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a colored layer portion.

10. The sensor of

claim 9

wherein said colored layer portion extends substantially around at least one of said emitter and said detector.

11. The sensor of

claim 9

wherein said color is white.

12. The sensor of

claim 9

wherein said sensor is a pulse oximeter sensor for use with a pulse oximeter having calibration curves for wavelengths of said emitter, said first and second portions have a color compatible with said calibration curves in an area of said first and second portions within a radius extending at least 2 mm beyond the borders of said emitter or said detector.

13. The sensor of

claim 12

wherein said color compatible area is within a radius of 10 mm beyond the borders of said emitter and said detector.

14. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein there is a break between said first and second portions of said covering layer, said shunt barrier comprising an underlying layer bridging said break and having an adhesive surface.

15. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein there is a break between said first and second portions of said covering layer, said shunt barrier comprising a compressible foam mounted in said break.

16. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a plurality of perforations in said covering layer.

17. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a reduced thickness of said covering layer between said first and second portions.

18. The sensor of

claim 17

wherein said reduced thickness is the result of one of embossing, welding and heat sealing.

19. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a coloring in said covering layer including said first and second portions over said emitter and said detector, the thickness of said covering layer and the distance between said emitter and said detector being sufficient to substantially reduce shunting through said covering layer between said emitter and said detector, and to substantially allow transmission of said radiation through the thickness of said covering layer above said emitter and said detector.

20. The sensor of

claim 19

wherein said coloring blocks less than 10% of the light detected by said detector, and blocks shunting light so that less than 1% of said light detected by said detector is shunted light.

21. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier forces transmitted light to follow a tortuous path.

22. The sensor of

claim 21

wherein said shunt barrier comprises metal traces.

23. The sensor of

claim 1

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a stiff, substantially opaque barrier inserted at least partially through said covering layer.

24. The sensor of

claim 23

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a metal crimp.

25. A pulse oximeter sensor comprising:

a red wavelenth spectrum emitter and an infrared wavelength spectrum emitter;

a detector;

a covering layer having a first portion over said emitters and a second portion over said detector;

a shunt barrier positioned between said first and second portions of said covering layer to substantially block radiation of the wavelengths emitted by said emitters, such that less than 1% of the radiation detected by said detector is shunted radiation.

26. A modified pulse oximeter sensor, having at least one new layer, comprising:

at red wavelength spectrum emitter and an infrared wavelength spectrum emitter;

a detector;

a new layer having a first portion over said emitters and a second portion over the detector;

a shunt barrier positioned between said first and second portions of said new layer to substantially block radiation of the wavelengths emitted by said emitters, such that less than 5% of the radiation detected by said detector is shunted radiation.

27. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said new layer replaces a layer on an unmodified sensor.

28. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said new layer is an additional layer added to said sensor.

29. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said new layer is a laminated layer.

30. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said new layer is a sheath for holding said sensor.

31. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier blocks said shunted radiation such that less than 1% of the radiation detected by said detector is shunted radiation.

32. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein there is a break between said first and second portions of said new layer, said shunt barrier including a radiation absorbing layer in contact with said first and second portions of said new layer.

33. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a break between said first and second portions of said new layer, with one of said first and second portions having an end overlying the other of said first and second portions.

34. The modified ensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a fibrous material.

35. The modified sensor of

claim 34

wherein said fibrous material is a woven material.

36. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a colored layer portion.

37. The modified sensor of

claim 36

wherein said colored layer portion extends substantially around at least one of said emitters and said detector.

38. The modified sensor of

claim 36

wherein said color is white.

39. The modified sensor of

claim 36

wherein said sensor is a pulse oximeter sensor for use with a pulse oximeter having calibration curves for wavelengths of said emitters, said first and second portions have a color compatible with said calibration curves in an area of said first and second portions within a radius extending at least 2 mm beyond the borders of said emitters or said detector.

40. The modified sensor of

claim 39

wherein said color compatible area is within at radius extending at least 10 mm beyond the borders of said emitters and said detector.

41. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein there is a break between said first and second portions of said new layer, said shunt barrier comprising an underlying layer bridging said break and having an adhesive surface.

42. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein there is a break between said first and second portions of said new layer, said shunt barrier comprising a compressible foam mounted in said break.

43. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a plurality of perforations in said new layer.

44. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a reduced thickness of said new layer between said first and second portions.

45. The modified sensor of

claim 44

wherein said reduced thickness is the result of one of embossing, welding and heat sealing.

46. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a coloring in said new layer including said first and second portions over said emitters and said detector, the thickness of said new layer and the distance between said emitters and said detector being sufficient to substantially reduce shunting through said new layer between said emitters and said detector, and to substantially allow transmission of said radiation through the thickness of said new layer above said emitters and said detector.

47. The modified sensor of

claim 46

wherein said coloring blocks less than 10% of the light detected by said detector, and blocks shunting light so that less than 1% of said light detected by said detector is shunted light.

48. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier follows a tortuous path.

49. The modified sensor of

claim 48

wherein said shunt barrier comprises metal traces.

50. The modified sensor of

claim 26

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a stiff, substantially opaque barrier inserted at least partially through said covering layer.

51. The modified sensor of

claim 50

wherein said shunt barrier comprises a metal crimp.