Shielded optical probe having an electrical connector

• US 20030162414A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ammar Al-Ali, Christian E. Schulz, Eugene E. Mason, Mike A. Mills
• Original Assignee: Ammar Al-Ali, Christian E. Schulz, Eugene E. Mason, Mike A. Mills
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar, Mills, Mike A., Mason, Eugene E., Schulz, Christian E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,132,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/62 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/26 Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

A noninvasive optical probe has an electrical connector for connecting the optical probe to a cable connector. According to one embodiment, the electrical connector includes a durable flexible tab suspended between the housing of the optical probe and a protective cover. The electrical connector also advantageously forms, according to various embodiments, a flexible, plugable, lockable, removable, and sealable electrical connection.

Claims

1. A pulse oximetry system comprising:

a reusable optical probe comprising;

a first housing having a light source capable of producing light of at least first and second wavelengths for transmission through body tissue carrying pulsing blood,

a second housing having a light-sensitive detector capable of detecting said light of at least first and second wavelengths, and

a first connector coupled to said light source and said light-sensitive detector, wherein said first connector forms a part of said first housing or said second housing; and

a second connector for transmission of electrical signals between said reusable optical probe and a patient monitoring apparatus,

wherein said first connector and said second connector are configured to releasably form a plugable electrical connection with one another.

2. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein said first and second housings are coupled together at a hinge-like joint.

3. The pulse oximetry system of claim 2, wherein said first and second housings comprise an injection moldable thermoplastic material.

4. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein said first connector comprises a durable tab having a flexible circuit mounted thereon.

5. The pulse oximetry system of claim 4, wherein said flexible circuit comprises a plurality of conductive paths comprising silver or copper.

6. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein said first connector comprises a locking mechanism configured to releasably secure a temporary connection between said first connector and said second connector.

7. The pulse oximetry system of claim 6, wherein said first connector comprises a durable tab and said locking mechanism comprises an aperture in said durable tab.

8. The pulse oximetry system of claim 6, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a protective housing configured to form a friction fit relationship between said first connector and said second connector.

9. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein said reusable optical probe comprises a protective housing at least partially covering said first connector.

10. The pulse oximetry system of claim 9, wherein said protective housing at least partially covers said second connector when a temporary connection is made between said first connector and said second connector.

11. The pulse oximetry system of claim 10, wherein said protective housing is configured to substantially seal a temporary connection between said first connector and said second connector against external environmental conditions.

12. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein said reusable optical probe comprises a sensor life indicator.

13. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein said reusable optical probe comprises a coding resistor.

14. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein said electrical signals are transmitted between said reusable optical probe and said patient monitoring apparatus via a wire.

15. The pulse oximetry system of claim 1, wherein said electrical signals are transmitted between said reusable optical probe and said patient monitoring apparatus via a wireless communication path.

16. A cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor comprising:

a light source capable of producing light of at least first and second wavelengths for transmission through body tissue carrying pulsing blood;

a light-sensitive detector capable of detecting said light of at least first and second wavelengths; and

a first connector having conductive paths in electrical communication with said light source and said light-sensitive detector,

wherein said first connector is configured to be releasably coupled to a second connector which enables electrical signals to be transmitted between said cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor and patient monitoring equipment.

17. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 16, further comprising an upper housing and a lower housing coupled together at a hinge-like joint.

18. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 17, wherein said upper and lower housings comprise an injection moldable thermoplastic material.

19. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 16, wherein said first connector comprises a durable tab having a flexible circuit mounted thereon.

20. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 19, wherein said flexible circuit comprises a plurality of conductive paths comprising silver or copper.

21. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 16, wherein said first connector comprises a locking mechanism configured to releasably secure a temporary connection between said first connector and said second connector.

22. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 21, wherein said first connector comprises a durable tab and said locking mechanism comprises an aperture in said durable tab.

23. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 21, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a protective housing configured to form a friction fit relationship between said first connector and said second connector.

24. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 16, further comprising a protective housing at least partially covering said first connector.

25. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 24, wherein said protective housing at least partially covers said second connector when a temporary connection is made between said first connector and said second connector.

26. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 25, wherein said protective housing is configured to substantially seal a temporary connection between said first connector and said second connector against external environmental conditions.

27. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 16, further comprising a sensor life indicator.

28. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 16, further comprising a coding resistor.

29. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 16, wherein said electrical signals are transmitted between said cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor and said patient monitoring equipment via a wire.

30. The cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor of claim 16, wherein said electrical signals are transmitted between said cableless reusable pulse oximetry sensor and said patient monitoring equipment via a wireless communication path.