Reusable pulse oximeter probe and disposable bandage method

• US 20010029325A1
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sensidyne Inc.
• Inventors: Parker, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 6,684,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/344
• 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 method of facilitating the intra-departmental or inter-institutional transport of a patient or patients requiring the pulse oximeter monitoring, and wherein the pulse oximeters used for monitoring the patient may be of different manufacturers, comprising affixing to the patient a bandage apparatus having a modular emitter and detector receptacles incorporated thereon. Each different manufacturers pulse oximeter probe is provided with modular housings adapted to matedly engage and/or disengage the receptacles of the disposable bandage apparatus, thus enabling the patient to be monitored by pulse oximeters of different manufacturers without changing the bandage apparatus.

Claims

1. The method of facilitating the intra-departmental or inter-institutional transport of a patient or patients requiring the pulse oximeter monitoring, and wherein said pulse oximeters used for monitoring said patient may be of different manufacturers, comprising:

affixing to said patient a bandage apparatus having a modular emitter and detector receptacles incorporated thereon,

providing each said different manufacturers'"'"' pulse oximeter probe with modular housings adapted to matedly engage and/or disengage said receptacles of said disposable bandage apparatus, thus enabling said patient to be monitored by pulse oximeters of different manufacturers without changing said bandage apparatus.

2. For use with an MRI machine where no ferrous material can be located and in which a pulse oximeter is located at some remote location from the MRI machine and fiberoptic cables connect the light-emitter and detector of the pulse oximeter to the patient, and the patient is fitted with a oximeter bandage in which there are receptacles positioned on each side of a digit of the patient, the improvement wherein said fiberoptic cable has at its end, a pair of housings, one housing adapted to serve as a light-emitter and the other housing adapted to serve as light receptor and adapted to be inserted into said receptacles on said bandage.