Finger oximeter with finger grip suspension system

• US 20030045784A1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical MD Incorporated
• Inventors: Palatnik, Sam, Donars, Dave, Rammel, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,654,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• 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 finger oximeter has a fixed first finger grip member and a second finger grip member that is movable relative to the first fixed finger grip member. The finger grip members are mounted to a casing, with the first finger grip member being fixedly coupled to a top portion of the casing and the second finger grip member being movable vertically within the casing. A force is continuously applied against the movable finger grip member to bias it towards the fixed finger gripping member. This biasing force has sufficient yield so that when a finger is inserted between the two finger grip members, the movable finger grip member would yield to the incoming finger. At the same time the biasing force is of a sufficient magnitude to push the movable finger grip member towards the fixed finger grip member to effect a firm grip of the finger. The biasing force is evenly distributed to the movable finger grip portion to effect a floating finger grip suspension system for the finger oximeter.

Claims

1. A finger oximeter, comprising:

a casing having a back wall and two sidewalls each extending from said back wall;

a first finger portion sandwiched by and movable vertically along said sidewalls;

a second finger portion in fixed relation with said casing to form an upper stop for the movement of said first finger portion;

wherein the respective surfaces of said first and second finger portions facing each other are configured to conform to a finger placed therebetween; and

spring means provided at said casing for applying a biasing force against said first finger portion so that a finger placed between said first and second finger portions is firmly gripped by said first and second finger portions due to said first finger portion being biased by said spring means towards said second finger portion.

2. Finger oximeter of claim 1, wherein each of said sidewalls of said casing comprises a ledge for forming a barrier to prevent said first finger portion from falling out of said casing, each of said sidewalls guiding the vertical movement of said first finger portion;

and

wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of springs at least two of which being secured to opposite ends of the ledge of each of said sidewalls for supporting and applying said biasing force vertically against said first finger portion.

3. Finger oximeter of claim 1, further comprising:

a printed circuit board having mounted thereon a plurality of electronic circuit components coupled to the top of said second finger portion, said second finger portion having an aperture for enabling the light from a light emitting source mounted to said circuit board to be directed toward said finger gripped by said first and second finger portions;

a display mounted on top of said circuit board for displaying at least readings of blood oxygen saturation of arterial blood measured from said finger; and

a cover positioned over said display and fixedly coupled to either said second finger portion or the top of said casing.

4. Finger oximeter of claim 3, further comprising:

a battery module removably coupled to the underside of said fist finger portion for supplying power to said electronic circuit components and said display.

5. Finger oximeter of claim 3, further comprising:

a switch mounted to said casing to enable a user to manually activate said electronic circuit components.

6. A pulse oximeter, comprising:

a fixed portion;

a non-fixed portion movable relative to said fixed portion, said fixed and non-fixed portions in combination providing an opening through which a finger is insertable; and

means biasing against said non-fixed portion so that when a finger is inserted between said fixed and non-fixed portions, said non-fixed portion is movable relative to said fixed portion to accommodate said finger but remains biased toward said fixed portion so that said finger is firmly gripped by said fixed and non-fixed portions.

7. Pulse oximeter of claim 6, further comprising:

a casing having two sidewalls extending from a back wall, said fixed portion being sandwiched by and in fixed relation with the upper parts of said sidewalls, said non-fixed portion being sandwiched by said sidewalls and movable vertically along the opposing surfaces of said sidewalls, respective ledges extending from the respective lower parts of said sidewalls forming a base support said non-fixed portion.

8. Pulse oximeter of claim 7, wherein said biasing means comprises a plurality of springs, at least two of said springs being secured to each of the ledges at a given distance away from each other to provide an evenly distributed biasing upward support force for said non-fixed portion, so that when a finger is inserted between said fixed and non-fixed portions, said non-fixed portion is movable vertically relative to said fixed portion with said non-fixed portion continuously being forced upward against said finger to thereby maintain a firm grip on said finger.

9. Pulse oximeter of claim 8, wherein said springs are compression coil springs.

10. Pulse oximeter of claim 6, wherein said fixed portion and said non-fixed portions are respective elongate members with respective opposing surfaces positioned in alignment with each other, said pulse oximeter further comprising:

respective finger pads each attached to a corresponding opposing surface of said elongate members, said finger pads are configured to follow the contour of a finger so as to enhance the gripping of a finger placed between said finger pads.

11. Pulse oximeter of claim 6, further comprising a circuit board coupled to the upper surface of said fixed portion, electronic components and a display being mounted to said circuit board, said fixed portion having an aperture through which a light from a light emitting device electrically connected to said circuit board passes for illuminating a finger placed below said fixed portion, a cover being placed over said circuit board and fixedly coupled to said casing.

12. Pulse oximeter of claim 11, further comprising a battery module removably coupled to the underside of said non-fixed portion for supplying power to said electronic circuit components and said display.

13. Pulse oximeter of claim 11, further comprising a switch mounted to said casing to enable a user to manually activate said electronic circuit components to measure the blood oxygen saturation of arterial blood from said finger gripped by said fixed and non-fixed portions.

14. Apparatus for gripping a finger, comprising:

first grip means;

second grip means opposing said first grip means, said first and second grip means having respective surfaces facing each other being contoured to enable the gripping of a finger placed therebetween;

wherein one of said first and second grip means is fixed while the other of said first and second grip means is movable relative to said one fixed grip means; and

bias means yieldingly forcing said movable grip means towards said fixed grip means so that a finger remains firmly gripped by said first and second grip means once it is placed therebetween.

15. Apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a casing having two sidewalls extending from a back wall, said fixed grip means being sandwiched by and in fixed relation with the upper parts of said sidewalls, said movable grip means being sandwiched by said sidewalls and movable vertically along the opposing surfaces of said sidewalls, respective ledges extending from the respective lower parts of said sidewalls;

wherein said bias means comprises a plurality of springs at least two of which being interposed between each of said ledges and a corresponding opposite side of said movable grip means, said springs providing a biasing force against said movable grip means.

16. Apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second grip means comprise respective one and other elongate members each having top and bottom surfaces, said elongate members being in alignment with each other so that the bottom surface of said one elongate member faces the top surface of said other elongate member, said elongate members having respective apertures, and respective finger pads each attached to a corresponding one of said bottom surface of said one elongate member and the top surface of said other elongate member, said finger pads being configured to conform to the contour of a finger, each of said finger pads having an aperture in alignment with the apertures of said one and other elongate members.

17. Apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a casing having two sidewalls extending from a back wall, said one elongate member being sandwiched by and fixedly coupled to the upper parts of said sidewalls, said other elongate member being sandwiched by said sidewalls and movable vertically along the opposing surfaces of said sidewalls, respective ledges extending from the respective lower parts of said sidewalls, said bias means comprising a plurality of springs at least two of which being interposed between each of said ledges and a corresponding one of respective ears extending from opposite sides of said other elongate member, said springs functioning as a suspension system for said other elongate member.

18. Apparatus of claim 16, further comprising electronic components and a display mounted on a circuit board coupled to the top surface of said one elongate member, a light emitting source outputting a light through the respective apertures of said one elongate member and the finger pad attached to the bottom surface of said one elongate member, a light detector in alignment with the respective apertures of said other elongate member and the finger pad attached to the top surface of said other elongate member for receiving the light output from said light emitting source passing through the finger gripped by said finger pads.

19. Apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a battery module removably coupled to the bottom surface of said other elongate member so as to move in unison with said other elongate member, said battery module supplying power to said electronic components and said display.

20. Apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a switch mounted to said back wall to enable a user to manually activate electronic circuit components mounted to said one grip means.