Multiple wavelength sensor attachment

• US 20060229509A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Masimo Laboratories, Inc. (Masimo Corporation)
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar, Schultz, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,596,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00 Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04; for surgical purposes A61B17/00; endoscopic surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32; surgical instruments using a laser beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit A61B18/22; Illuminating arrangements therefor for the eyes A61B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/185 Optical shielding, e.g. baffles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0295 using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6829 Foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6832 : using adhesives A61B5/259 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 : Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 : Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 : using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 : Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 : using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 : Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 : for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 : Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A physiological sensor is adapted to removably attach an emitter assembly and a detector assembly to a fingertip. The emitter assembly is adapted to transmit optical radiation having multiple wavelengths into fingertip tissue. The detector assembly is adapted to receive the optical radiation after attenuation by the fingertip tissue. The sensor has a first shell and a second shell hinged to the first shell. A spring is disposed between the shells and urges the shells together. An emitter pad is fixedly attached to the first shell and configured to retain the emitter assembly. A detector pad is fixedly attached to the second shell and configured to retain the detector assembly. A detector aperture is defined within the detector pad and adapted to pass optical radiation to the detector assembly. A contour is defined along the detector pad and generally shaped to conform to a fingertip positioned over the detector aperture.

Claims

1. A physiological sensor adapted to removably attach an emitter assembly and a detector assembly to a fingertip, the emitter assembly adapted to transmit optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths into fingertip tissue, the detector assembly adapted to receive the optical radiation after attenuation by the fingertip tissue, the sensor comprising:

a first shell;

a second shell hinged to the first shell;

a spring disposed between and urging together the shells;

an emitter pad fixedly attached to the first shell and configured to retain the emitter assembly;

a detector pad fixedly attached to the second shell configured to retain the detector assembly;

a detector aperture defined within the detector pad and adapted to pass optical radiation to the detector assembly; and

a contour defined along the detector pad and generally shaped to conform to a fingertip positioned over the detector aperture.

2. The physiological sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a guide defined along, and raised from, the detector pad,

wherein the guide narrows from a first pad end to an opposite second pad end so as to increasingly conform to a fingertip inserted from the first pad end to the second pad end.

3. The physiological sensor according to claim 2 further comprising a stop raised from the detector pad and adapted to block the fingertip from extending beyond the second pad end.

4. The physiological sensor according to claim 3 further comprising:

a plurality of emitter pad flaps disposed along both sides of the emitter pad;

a plurality of detector pad flaps disposed along both sides of the detector pad,

wherein the emitter pad flaps and the detector pad flaps are configured to interleave so as to block ambient light from the detector assembly.

5. The physiological sensor according to claim 4 further comprising a plurality of isolating notches defined along the emitter pad and along the detector pad and adapted to mechanically decouple shell attachment areas from the remainder of the emitter pad and the detector pad.

6. The physiological sensor according to claim 5 further comprising a cavity defined within the detector pad so as to accommodate a shoe that contains the detector assembly.

7. The physiological sensor according to claim 6 wherein the spring is configured so as to create a pivot point along a finger gripped between the shells that is substantially behind a fingertip.

8. A physiological sensor comprising:

a first shell;

a second shell hinged to the first shell;

a spring disposed between and urging together the shells,

the spring configured so as to create a pivot point along a finger gripped between the shells that is substantially behind a fingertip; and

a pad configured to position the fingertip.

9. The physiological sensor according to claim 8 wherein the spring comprises:

a first leg pressing against a grip portion of the first shell; and

a second leg extending along a clip portion of the second shell.

10. The physiological sensor according to claim 9 further comprising a plate that slidably anchors the second leg to the clip portion of the second shell distal a grip portion of the second shell.

11. The physiological sensor according to claim 10 further comprising a contour defined along the pad and generally shaped to conform to the fingertip.

12. The physiological sensor according to claim 11 further comprising a guide raised from, and defined along, the pad and adapted to increasingly conform to a fingertip inserted along the pad.

13. The physiological sensor according to claim 12 further comprising a stop raised from the pad and adapted to block the fingertip from extending beyond the contour.

14. A physiological sensor method comprising:

providing a plurality of housing elements comprising pads and shells;

mounting a sensor assembly within the housing elements;

positioning a fingertip relative to the sensor assembly with a plurality of pad features; and

urging the housing elements against the fingertip so as to removably attach the sensor assembly to the fingertip.

15. The physiological sensor method according to claim 14 wherein the positioning comprises guiding a fingertip to a detector of the sensor assembly.

16. The physiological sensor method according to claim 15 wherein the positioning further comprises stopping the fingertip at the detector.

17. The physiological sensor method according to claim 16 wherein the positioning further comprises conforming to the fingertip at the detector.

18. The physiological sensor method according to claim 17 wherein the urging comprises pivotably gripping behind the fingertip with the housing elements.

19. The physiological sensor method according to claim 18 wherein the gripping comprises anchoring an extended spring leg to one of the shells distal the detector.