Ear sensor assembly

• US 20050033131A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
• Original Assignee: Vsm Medtech
• Inventors: Sun, Ming, Chen, Yunquan, Denny, Christopher Grant, Li, Luya, Sethi, Rakesh Kumar, Phillips, Scott Howard
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/344
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe

Abstract

A sensor assembly for monitoring physiological characteristics interfaces to a subject'"'"'s ear. The sensor assembly has a projection that projects into the subject'"'"'s concha. The projection may have a notch to accommodate the subject'"'"'s anti-tragus. A clip connected to the projection holds a sensor against the subject'"'"'s lobule. The sensor may comprise a pulse-oximetry-type sensor.

Claims

1. An ear sensor assembly comprising:

a projection insertable into the concha of a subject'"'"'s ear;

a clip connected to the projection, the clip comprising a first part biased toward a second part; and

,

a sensor on at least one of the first and second parts of the clip.

2. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the clip comprises a first part and a second part, one end of the second part is connected to the first part, a second end of the second part is movable toward and away from the first part, and the projection projects from the first part.

3. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises first and second parts, the first part of the sensor is on the first part of the clip and the second part of the sensor is on the second part of the clip.

4. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sensor is on the first part of the clip.

5. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sensor is on the second part of the clip.

6. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 2 wherein the first and second parts of the clip are hingedly connected to one another.

7. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 2 wherein the first and second parts of the clip are coupled together by a resilient member, the resilient member biases the second end of the second member toward the first member.

8. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 2 wherein the projection comprises a pair of spaced apart pins.

9. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 8 wherein the pins curve toward one another.

10. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 9 wherein the pins have lengths in the range of 8 mm to 16 mm.

11. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 8 wherein the pins are substantially straight.

12. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 11 wherein the pins have lengths in the range of 6 mm to 9 mm.

13. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 2 wherein the projection is penetrated by an aperture.

14. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 13 wherein the projection comprises a portion of a ring.

15. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 14 wherein the portion of a ring has a radius in the range of 3.5 mm to 6 mm.

16. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 15 wherein the portion of a ring has a thickness in the range of 1.5 mm to 3 mm.

17. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 13 wherein the projection comprises a half-ring.

18. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the projection has a surface characterized by a high coefficient of friction with human skin.

19. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 comprising a removable cover on the projection.

20. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 19 wherein the removable cover comprises an elastomeric material.

21. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a first component on the first part of the clip and a second component on the second part of the clip.

22. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 21 wherein one of the first and second components emits radiation and another one of the first and second components receives the radiation.

23. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a sensor component on one part of the clip.

24. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 23 wherein the sensor component emits radiation and receives the reflected radiation at the same time.

25. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the projection has a lower face projecting at an angle 90 degrees±

20 degrees to a plane of the sensor.

26. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the projection comprises a notch for holding the sensor clip on the anti-tragus at the subject'"'"'s ear.

27. An ear sensor assembly comprising:

a sensor holder comprising a projection insertable into a subject'"'"'s concha and a clip located to grasp a lobule of the subject'"'"'s ear when the projection is inserted into the concha; and

,

a sensor supported by the sensor holder and located to sense a physiological characteristic at a location on the subject'"'"'s ear.

28. An ear sensor assembly comprising:

grasping means for grasping a subject'"'"'s ear, the grasping means including sensor support means for supporting a sensor in a location proximate a lobule of the subject'"'"'s ear; and

,

holding means for preventing the grasping means from slipping off the subject'"'"'s ear, the holding means connected to the grasping means.

29. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 28 wherein the holding means comprises a projection insertable into a concha of the subject'"'"'s ear.

30. An ear sensor assembly according to claim 29 wherein the projection comprises a notch for holding the sensor clip on the anti-tragus at the subject'"'"'s ear.