Apparatus and method for securing an oximeter probe to a patient

• US 20020116797A1
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OSI Optoelectronics, Inc. (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: UDT Sensors, Inc. (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Modgil, Onkar S., Chin, Christopher G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,681,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2708 Combined with diverse fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/33 having adhesive fastener

Abstract

A strap or fastener for removably securing an oximeter probe to the appendage of a patient. The strap is made of an elastic material that wraps around the outside of the oximeter probe and is secured to the oximeter probe by attachment mechanisms such as Velcro that can be readjusted after initial application without producing excessive stress on the spring hinge of the oximeter probe.

Claims

1. A strap for an oximeter probe, comprising:

a patch comprising a body and a tab, the tab being connected by a strip to the body;

a first attachment mechanism for removably securing said body to outer shells of the oximeter probe; and

a second attachment mechanism for removably securing said tab to a cord of the oximeter probe.

2. The strap of claim 1 wherein said first attachment mechanism is substantially parallel to said second attachment mechanism.

3. The strap of claim 1, said patch comprising an elastic hook engagable material.

4. The strap of claim 3, said elastic hook engagable material comprising foam laminate with a brushed nylon surface.

5. The strap of claim 1 wherein said patch material is approximately 3.0 inches from a proximal end to a distal end, said body portion is approximately 3.5 inches wide, and said tab is approximately 1.25 inches wide.

6. The strap of claim 1, said first and second attachment mechanisms comprising hook material.

7. The strap of claim 1, said first and second attachment mechanisms comprising hook material and at least one of the attachment mechanisms being adhesively laminated to said patch.

8. The strap of claim 1 wherein said first and second attachment mechanisms are adhesive strips.

9. A strap for an oximeter probe, comprising:

a patch having a first flap, a second flap, a neck joining said first flap and said second flap, and a tab connected to said second flap;

a first attachment mechanism for removably securing said first and second flaps to outer shells of the oximeter probe; and

a second attachment mechanism for removably securing said tab to a cord of the oximeter probe.

10. The strap of claim 9 wherein said first attachment mechanism is substantially perpendicular to said neck.

11. The strap of claim 9 wherein said first attachment mechanism is substantially parallel to said second attachment mechanism.

12. The strap of claim 9, said patch comprising an elastic hook engagable material.

13. The strap of claim 12, said elastic hook engagable material comprising foam laminate with a brushed nylon surface.

14. The strap of claim 9 wherein said flaps are approximately 1.5 inches square and said neck is approximately 1.5 inches in length.

15. The strap of claim 9 wherein said first and second attachment mechanisms are comprised of hook material.

16. The strap of claim 9 wherein said first and second attachment mechanisms are comprised of hook material, and at least one of the attachment mechanisms is adhesively laminated to said patch.

17. The strap of claim 9 wherein said first and second attachment mechanisms are adhesive strips.

19. The strap of claim 18 wherein said first attachment mechanism is substantially parallel to said second attachment mechanism.

20. The strap of claim 18 wherein said first attachment mechanism is substantially perpendicular to a length of the sock.

21. The strap of claim 18 wherein said second attachment mechanism is substantially perpendicular to a length of the sock.

22. The strap of claim 18, said sock comprised of an elastic hook engagable material.

23. The strap of claim 22, said elastic hook engagable material comprising foam laminate with a brushed nylon surface.

24. The strap of claim 18 wherein said first and second attachment mechanisms are comprised of hook material.

25. The strap of claim 18 wherein said first and second attachment mechanisms are comprised of hook material, and at least one of the attachment mechanisms is adhesively laminated to the sock.

26. The strap of claim 18 wherein said first and second attachment mechanisms are adhesive strips.

28. The strap of claim 27 wherein the body and the tab comprise an elastic hook engagable material.

29. The strap of claim 28 wherein the elastic hook engagable material comprises foam laminate with a brushed nylon surface.

30. The strap of claim 27 wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms comprise hook material.

31. The strap of claim 27 wherein the body has a width of approximately 3.5 inches, and the tab has a width of approximately 1.25 inches.

18. A strap for an oximeter probe, comprising:

a sock having an opening;

a first attachment mechanism for removably securing said sock to outer shells of the oximeter probe; and

a second attachment mechanism positioned between the first attachment mechanism and the opening for removably securing the sock to a cord of the oximeter probe.

27. A strap for an oximeter probe, comprising:

a body having a first attachment mechanism secured thereto, the body dimensioned to be removably secured to an oximeter probe via the first attachment mechanism;

a tab having a second attachment mechanism secured thereto, the tab dimensioned to be removably secured to a cord of the oximeter probe; and

a neck portion connecting the body to the tab.

32. A strap for an oximeter probe, comprising:

a patch comprising;

a flexible body dimensioned to firmly secure an oximeter probe to a finger of a patient via a first attachment mechanism;

a flexible tab dimensioned to be removably secured to a cord of the oximeter probe via a second attachment mechanism; and

a neck connecting the flexible body to the flexible tab.

33. The strap of claim 32 wherein the patch has a length from a proximal end to a distal end of approximately 3.0 inches.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of placing an extending tab of the oximeter probe through a slit in the strap during the step of placing the body over the oximeter probe.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising the steps of:

wrapping a third attachment mechanism located on a third portion of the body of the strap around a distal end of the oximeter probe; and

connecting the third attachment mechanism to a fourth portion of the body of the strap, such that longitudinal movement of the oximeter probe along the appendage of the patient is substantially prevented.

34. A method of securing an oximeter probe to an appendage of a patient with a strap, comprising the steps of:

placing the oximeter probe onto the appendage of the patient;

placing a body of the strap over the oximeter probe, and a tab of the strap over a cord of the oximeter probe;

wrapping the body around the oximeter probe;

securing a first attachment mechanism located on a first portion of the body to a second portion of the body, such that the body firmly secures the oximeter probe to the appendage of the patient;

wrapping the tab around the cord of the oximeter probe; and

securing a second attachment mechanism located on a first portion of the tab to a second portion of the tab, such that the tab is secured to the cord of the oximeter probe.