Pulse oximeter sensor with widened metal strip

• US 20020038082A1
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Chin, Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 6,694,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• 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 opaque, metalized layer to shield from ambient light. The metalized layer surrounds the area of the light detector. In one embodiment, the sensor has a transparent portion, with the opaque, metalized layer covering only the portions around the light detector and other areas, such as a strip extending between the light detector and the emitter. In a preferred embodiment, the opaque, metalized layer is a strip which has a widened portion in the area around the light detector.

Claims

1. A pulse oximeter sensor comprising:

a flexible, transparent substrate;

an opaque, metalized layer mounted on a first side of said transparent substrate, said metalized layer covering only a portion of said transparent substrate;

a light emitter mounted on a first side of said metalized layer to emit light away from said metalized layer;

a light detector mounted on said first side of said metalized layer;

a non-transparent layer mounted over said light emitter and said detector, said non-transparent layer having holes over said light emitter and detector; and

an adhesive layer disposed on said non-transparent layer and a portion of said transparent layer not covered by said metalized layer and said non-transparent layer.

2. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a second flexible, non-transparent layer mounted between said transparent layer and said metalized layer.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said metalized layer comprises a strip extending at least from said emitter to said detector, said strip having a wider portion adjacent said detector.

4. The sensor of claim 3 wherein said wider portion of said strip has a curved perimeter.

5. The sensor of claim 4 wherein said curved perimeter extends along at least three quarters of an inch on both sides of said strip adjacent said detector, and extends outward at least an eighth of an inch from said strip at a maximum point of extension.

6. The sensor of claim 3 wherein said non-transparent layer comprises a strip having a wider portion matching said wider portion of said metalized layer.

7. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a cable extending into said sensor, said detector being mounted closer to said cable than said emitter, and further comprising wires from said cable connecting to said emitter, said wires crossing over a line between said emitter and said detector in a region between said emitter and said detector.

8. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a Faraday shield at least partially surrounding said detector, said Faraday shield being connected to said metalized layer.

9. A pulse oximeter sensor comprising:

a flexible, transparent substrate;

an opaque, metalized layer mounted on a first side of said transparent substrate, said metalized layer covering only a portion of said transparent substrate, said metalized layer being a strip extending at least from said emitter to said detector, said strip having a wider portion adjacent said detector, said wider portion of said strip having a curved perimeter;

a light emitter mounted on a first side of said metalized layer to emit light away from said metalized layer;

a light detector mounted on said first side of said metalized layer;

a first non-transparent layer mounted over said light emitter and said detector, said non-transparent layer having holes over said light emitter and detector;

a second flexible, non-transparent layer mounted between said transparent layer and said metalized layer; and

an adhesive layer disposed on said non-transparent layer and a portion of said transparent layer not covered by said metalized layer and said non-transparent layer.

10. The sensor of claim 9 wherein said curved perimeter extends along at least three quarters of an inch on both sides of said strip adjacent said detector, and extends outward at least an eighth of an inch from said strip at a maximum point of extension.

11. The sensor of claim 9 further comprising a cable extending into said sensor, said detector being mounted closer to said cable than said emitter, and further comprising wires from said cable connecting to said emitter, said wires crossing over a line between said emitter and said detector in a region between said emitter and said detector.

12. The sensor of claim 9 further comprising a Faraday shield at least partially surrounding said detector, said Faraday shield being connected to said metalized layer.

14. The sensor of claim 13 further comprising:

a flexible, transparent substrate mounted on an outside of said first non-transparent strip opposite said emitter and detector, said transparent substrate having a portion extending beyond said first non-transparent strip, and said adhesive layer also being disposed on a said portion of said transparent layer extending beyond said first non-transparent layer.

15. The sensor of claim 13 further comprising a cable extending into said sensor, said detector being mounted closer to said cable than said emitter, and further comprising wires from said cable connecting to said emitter, said wires crossing over a line between said emitter and said detector in a region between said emitter and said detector.

13. A pulse oximeter sensor comprising:

a first non-transparent strip having a wider portion, said wider portion having a curved perimeter;

a light emitter mounted on a first side of said first non-transparent strip to emit light away from said first non-transparent strip;

a light detector mounted on said first side of said first non-transparent strip adjacent said wider portion of said first non-transparent strip;

said first non-transparent strip extending at least from said emitter to said detector;

a second non-transparent strip mounted over said light emitter and said detector, said second non-transparent strip having holes over said light emitter and detector, said second non-transparent strip having a wider portion matching the shape of said wider portion of said first non-transparent strip;

an adhesive layer disposed on said second non-transparent strip.