Combination SPO2/temperature measuring apparatus

• US 20040019293A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Lia, Raymond A., Vivenzio, Robert L., Danna, Dominick, Burdick, Kenneth J., Schweitzer, Frederick F. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,850,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1491 Heated applicators

Abstract

A medical diagnostic instrument includes at least one blood oxygen saturation sensor and at least one temperature sensor. The sensors are being capable of measuring blood oxygen saturation and temperature simultaneously after insertion of a probe portion of the instrument relative to a defined body site, such as the axilla, rectum, or sublingual pocket of a patient. At least a portion of the probe portion of the instrument is disposable.

Claims

1. A medical diagnostic instrument comprising:

means for measuring the blood oxygen saturation of a patient; and

means for measuring the temperature of the patient, each of said measuring means being capable of measuring simultaneously with the other of said measuring means and used within a defined body site of a patient, said instrument including a probe portion which is insertable relative to said body site.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said body site is the axilla of a patient.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said probe portion is disposable.

4. The instrument of claim 1, further including means for measuring the pulse rate of a patient.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said blood oxygen saturation measuring means includes at least one light transmitter and at least one light detector and in which said temperature measuring means includes at least one temperature sensing element.

6. The instrument of claim 1, including display means for displaying at least one of said measured parameters.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said body site is the sublingual pocket of a patient.

8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said body site is the rectum.

9. The instrument of claim 5, wherein said probe portion includes an elongate member in which said temperature sensing element is disposed at a distal end thereof and in which said at least one light sensor and at least one light detector are arranged adjacent to said temperature sensing element.

10. The instrument of claim 9, wherein said at least one light transmitter and light receiver includes at least one optical fiber disposed in the distal end of said probe portion, said at least one optical fiber being capable of at least one of transmitting and receiving light relative to said oral cavity.

11. The instrument of claim 10, including at least one light source and one light sensor disposed in relation to said at least one optical fiber remotely from the distal end of said probe portion.

12. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said temperature measuring means includes at least one thermistor and resistance measuring means connected electrically to said at least one thermistor, wherein said at least one thermistor is disposed in a distal end of said probe portion.

13. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said temperature measuring means includes at least one thermocouple.

14. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said probe portion includes a substrate having said blood oxygen saturation means and said temperature measuring means disposed thereupon.

15. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said temperature measuring means includes at least one temperature sensing element and at least one heater element disposed in relation to said at least one temperature sensing element.

16. The instrument of claim 15, wherein said blood oxygen saturation volume measuring means includes a pulse oximeter portion including at least one light transmitter for transmitting light at said body site and at least one light detector for detecting light reflected from said body site, said at least one light transmitter and said at least one light detector being arranged such that heat generated from said pulse oximeter portion is isolated from said temperature measuring means.

17. An instrument as recited in claim 5, including a transparent sheath sized for covering said probe portion.

18. An instrument as recited in claim 17, wherein said transparent sheath provides a reflective path for said at least one of said at least one light transmitter and at least one light detector.

19. The instrument of claim 15, wherein said blood oxygen saturation measuring means includes a pulse oximeter portion, said pulse oximeter portion including at least one light transmitter for transmitting light at said body site and at least one light detector for detecting light reflected from said body site, said at least one light transmitter and said at least one light detector being arranged such that heat generated from said pulse oximeter portion can be used to heat the temperature sensing element to a predetermined temperature.

20. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said blood oxygen saturation measuring means includes a pulse oximeter portion, said pulse oximeter portion including at least one light transmitter for transmitting light at said body site and at least one light detector for detecting light reflected from said body site, said at least one light transmitter and said at least one light detector being arranged such that heat generated from said pulse oximeter portion can be used to heat the temperature sensing element to a predetermined temperature.

21. The instrument of claim 4, wherein said blood oxygen saturation measuring means permits a user to detect the time said instrument is inserted in relation to said body site.

22. The instrument of claim 21, wherein said body site is the sublingual pocket.