Optical sensor including disposable and reusable elements

• US 20040147822A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Abdul-Hafiz, Yassir, Al-Ali, Ammar
• Granted Patent: US 6,920,345 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 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A pulse oximetry sensor includes reusable and disposable elements. To assemble the sensor, the reusable element is snapped or slid within assembly mechanisms of the disposable element. In one embodiment, the reusable element includes protrusions while the disposable element includes tabs which receive the protrusions. In another embodiment, the reusable element includes neck portions and the disposable element includes straps which receive the neck portions. In any event, the assembly provides longitudinal movement between elements.

Claims

1. A pulse oximetry sensor for outputting a signal indicative of one or more physiological parameters of tissue of a patient, the sensor comprising:

a reusable element comprising an energy emission device adapted to transmit energy into tissue of a patient, an energy detection device adapted to detect attenuated energy from the tissue and output a signal indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the tissue, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the reusable element; and

a disposable element comprising a tape adapted to removably attach to the tissue and a plurality of tabs each including a receiving slot, wherein each of the slots is adapted to receive one of the plurality of protrusions and adapted to permit the one protrusion to slide within a corresponding slot.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of tabs includes a sloped surface that displaces the tab allowing receipt of the protrusion.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions include protrusions that share a common substrate.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the reusable element is encapsulated with a pliable material.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tabs include tabs that share a common substrate.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the disposable element further comprises an information element adapted to provide information to a signal processor.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of tabs each include an aperture, wherein each aperture is adapted to receive one of the plurality of protrusions and adapted to substantially prevent the one protrusion from sliding within a corresponding aperture.

8. A sensor for outputting a signal indicative of one or more physiological parameters of tissue of a patient, the sensor comprising:

a reusable element comprising one or more energy emission devices, an energy detection device configured to output a signal indicative of one or more parameters of tissue of a patient, and a plurality of neck sections, each of which is narrower in cross section than adjacent sections of the reusable element; and

a disposable element comprising a bandage adapted to attach to the tissue, and a plurality of straps, each strap including a gap adapted to receive one of the plurality of neck sections, wherein the gap is narrower in cross section than the adjacent sections of the reusable element.

9. The sensor of claim 8, wherein the plurality of neck sections includes a long neck section and a short neck section, wherein the long neck section is longer than a width of a corresponding strap, and wherein the short neck section is about the width of another corresponding strap.

10. A method of attaching a pulse oximetry sensor comprising a reusable element and a disposable element around a measurement site of a patient, the method comprising:

inserting protrusions of a reusable element respectively into tabs of a disposable element; and

attaching the disposable element proximate a measurement site, wherein the tabs permit slidable movements of at least a portion of the reusable element with respect to the disposable element.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of the tabs each include a receiving slot respectively sized to receive a plurality of the protrusions, and wherein another plurality of the tabs each include an aperture.

12. A method of attaching a pulse oximetry sensor comprising a reusable element and a disposable element to a measurement site of a patient, the reusable element including a first neck section and a second neck section, each neck section being narrower than adjacent sections of the reusable element, the disposable element including a first strap and a second strap, wherein each of the straps includes a gap adapted to receive one of the neck sections, the method comprising:

placing a first neck section of a reusable sensor element within a gap of a first strap of a disposable sensor element;

placing a second neck section of the reusable sensor element within a gap of a second strap of the disposable sensor element; and

attaching the disposable element to a measurement site,

wherein the gap of the first strap permits the first neck section movement along a longitudinal axis of the disposable element, and wherein the gap of the second strap substantially prevents movement along a longitudinal axis of the disposable element.

13. A method of assembling and using a sensor, the method comprising:

snapping a reusable element into a disposable element to form a sensor, wherein, after assembly, at least a portion of the reusable element moves with respect to the disposable element to reduce stretching forces exerted on the reusable element during attachment of the sensor to a measurement site; and

removably attaching the disposable element to the measurement site.

14. A method of assembling a sensor capable of outputting a signal indicative of one or more physiological parameters of measurement site, the method comprising:

providing a reusable element including a first assembly mechanism;

providing a disposable element including a second assembly mechanism mateable with the first assembly mechanism; and

attaching the first and second assembly mechanisms forming an assembled sensor, such that after assembly, at least a portion of the reusable element moves longitudinally with respect to the disposable element, thereby reducing or eliminating stretching forces exerted on the reusable element when the assembled sensor is applied to a measurement site.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first assembly mechanism comprises protrusions, and wherein the second assembly mechanism comprises tabs having slots for receiving the protrusions.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first assembly mechanism comprises narrow neck portions and the second assembly mechanism comprises straps.

17. A pulse oximetry sensor for outputting a signal indicative of one or more physiological parameters of tissue of a patient, the sensor comprising:

a reusable element comprising an energy emission device adapted to transmit energy into tissue of a patient, an energy detection device adapted to detect energy from the tissue and output a signal indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the tissue, a protective cover, and a plurality of protrusions extending from said protective cover; and

a disposable element comprising a plurality of attachment members adapted to receive the protrusions of the reusable element and properly position the disposable element with respect to the reusable element.

18. The pulse oximetry sensor of claim 17, including an adhesive layer adapted to removably attach the disposable element to the tissue.

19. The pulse oximetry sensor of claim 17, wherein the plurality of attachment members of the disposable element further comprises tabs with grooves that receive the protrusions.

20. The pulse oximetry sensor of claim 19, wherein the grooves allow limited movement of the protrusions.

21. The pulse oximetry sensor of claim 17, wherein the protective cover further comprises a pliable coating.

22. The pulse oximetry sensor of claim 17, wherein the cover substantially encapsulates the reusable element.

23. A method of providing a pulse oximetry sensor, the method comprising:

providing a reusable element including an energy emission device adapted to transmit energy into tissue of a patient, an energy detection device adapted to detect energy from the tissue and output a signal indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the tissue, a protective cover, and a plurality of protrusions extending from said protective cover; and

providing a disposable element including a top layer with a plurality of attachment members adapted to receive the protrusions of the reusable element, and an adhesive adapted to removably attach to the tissue,

wherein the reusable element is configured to be combined with the disposable element to form a pulse oximetry sensor.

24. A method of providing a replaceable disposable element of an optical pulse oximetry sensor, the method comprising:

providing a first tape layer including a plurality of attachment members, wherein the first tape layer is configured to receive and position a reusable element of an optical sensor in a manner allowing for independent adjustment along an axis of the reusable element to avoid damaging portions of the reusable element; and

providing a second layer attached to the first layer and configured to removably attach the optical sensor to a measurement site.