Medical sensor and technique for using the same

• US 20070083094A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mannheimer, Paul, Colburn, Joel, Hausmann, Gilbert, Campbell, Shannon, O'Neil, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/369,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083094A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth

Abstract

A sensor is provided that is appropriate for transcutaneous detection of tissue or blood constituents. An electrochemical sensor for tissue constituent detection may include sensing materials that may be dry stored without liquid calibrant. The sensor may also include a temperature sensor that detects variations in tissue temperature at the sensor site. The tissue constituent measurements may be corrected in light of temperature variations of the tissue.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a non-optical transducer, wherein the non-optical transducer is adapted to provide an electrical signal related to a tissue constituent; and

a gas collection chamber.

2. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tissue constituent comprises oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, helium, nitrogen, halothane, isoflurane, flurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, hydrocarbon 24, xenon, an anesthetic agent, amyl nitrite, acetone, ammonia, short-chain alkanes, propofol, dialdehydes, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, fentanyl, a volatile organic compound, a chemical warfare agent, or a narcotic.

3. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor body that is substantially impermeable to water.

4. The sensor, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the selective barrier is disposed on a surface of the non-optical transducer.

5. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, comprising a temperature sensor adapted to provide signal related to a tissue temperature.

6. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises an electrochemical transducer.

7. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a metal oxide.

8. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a quantum-restricted element.

9. A system comprising:

a monitor; and

a sensor adapted to be operatively coupled to the monitor, the sensor comprising;

a non-optical transducer, wherein the non-optical electrochemical transducer is adapted to provide an electrical signal related to a tissue constituent; and

a gas collection chamber.

10. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the tissue constituent comprises oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, helium, nitrogen, halothane, isoflurane, flurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, hydrocarbon 24, xenon, an anesthetic agent, amyl nitrite, acetone, ammonia, short-chain alkanes, propofol, dialdehydes, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, fentanyl, volatile organic compounds, a chemical warfare agent, or a narcotic.

11. The system, as set forth in claim 9, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor body that is substantially impermeable to water.

12. The system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the selective barrier is disposed on a surface of the non-optical transducer.

13. The system, as set forth in claim 9, comprising a temperature sensor adapted to provide signal related to a tissue temperature.

14. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises an electrochemical transducer.

15. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a metal oxide.

16. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a quantum-restricted element.

17. The system, as set forth in claim 9, comprising a multi-parameter monitor.

18. A method comprising:

contacting a tissue constituent collected in a gas collection chamber with a non-optical transducer, wherein the non-optical transducer is adapted to provide an electrical signal related to the tissue constituent.

19. The method, as set forth in claim 18, comprising contacting the tissue constituent with a selective barrier disposed that is substantially impermeable to water.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 18, comprising contacting a tissue or tissue constituent with a temperature sensor adapted to provide signal related to the tissue temperature.

21. The method, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a quantum-restricted element.

22. A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising:

providing a sensor body comprising a gas collection chamber; and

disposing a non-optical transducer on the sensor body, wherein the non-optical transducer is adapted to provide an electrical signal related to a tissue constituent.

23. The method, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the tissue constituent comprises carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.

24. The method, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the tissue constituent comprises oxygen.

25. The method, as set forth in claim 22, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor body that is substantially impermeable to water.

26. The method, as set forth in claim 22, comprising a temperature sensor adapted to provide signal related to a tissue temperature.

27. The method, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises an electrochemical transducer.

28. The method, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a metal oxide.

29. The method, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a quantum-restricted element

30. A sensor system comprising:

at least one sensor, the sensor comprising;

a sensor body comprising a gas collection chamber; and

a non-optical transducer layer disposed on the sensor body, wherein the non-optical transducer is adapted to provide a signal related to a tissue constituent.

31. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 30, comprising a protective package enclosing the sensor, wherein the protective package does not include calibration fluid.

32. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the tissue constituent comprises oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, helium, nitrogen, halothane, isoflurane, flurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, hydrocarbon 24, xenon, an anesthetic agent, amyl nitrite, acetone, ammonia, short-chain alkanes, propofol, dialdehydes, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, fentanyl, volatile organic compounds, a chemical warfare agent, or a narcotic.

33. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 30, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor body that is substantially impermeable to water.

34. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the selective barrier is disposed on a surface of the non-optical transducer.

35. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 30, comprising a temperature sensor adapted to provide signal related to a tissue temperature.

36. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises an electrochemical transducer.

37. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a metal oxide.

38. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a quantum-restricted element.

39. The sensor system, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the signal comprises an electrical signal.

40. A sensor comprising:

a sensor body comprising a gas collection chamber adapted to be placed against a patient'"'"'s tissue;

a transducer disposed on the sensor body adapted to provide signal related to a tissue constituent; and

a temperature sensor disposed on the sensor body adapted to provide signal related to the temperature of the patient'"'"'s tissue.

41. The sensor, as set forth in claim 40, wherein the tissue constituent comprises oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, helium, nitrogen, halothane, isoflurane, flurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, hydrocarbon 24, xenon, an anesthetic agent, amyl nitrite, acetone, ammonia, short-chain alkanes, propofol, dialdehydes, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, fentanyl, volatile organic compounds, a chemical warfare agent, or a narcotic.

42. The sensor, as set forth in claim 40, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor body that is substantially impermeable to water.

43. The sensor, as set forth in claim 40, wherein the selective barrier is disposed on a surface of the non-optical transducer.

44. The sensor, as set forth in claim 40, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on the transducer.

45. The sensor, as set forth in claim 40, wherein the transducer comprises an electrochemical transducer.

46. The sensor, as set forth in claim 40, wherein the transducer comprises a metal oxide.

47. The sensor, as set forth in claim 40, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a quantum-restricted element.

48. A system comprising:

a monitor; and

a sensor adapted to be operatively coupled to the monitor, the sensor comprising;

a sensor body comprising a gas collection chamber adapted to be placed against a patient'"'"'s tissue;

a transducer disposed on the sensor body adapted to provide signal related to a tissue constituent; and

a temperature sensor disposed on the sensor body adapted to provide signal related to the temperature of the patient'"'"'s tissue.

49. The system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the tissue constituent comprises oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, helium, nitrogen, halothane, isoflurane, flurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, hydrocarbon 24, xenon, an anesthetic agent, amyl nitrite, acetone, ammonia, short-chain alkanes, propofol, dialdehydes, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, fentanyl, volatile organic compounds, a chemical warfare agent, or a narcotic.

50. The system, as set forth in claim 48, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor body that is substantially impermeable to water.

51. The system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the selective barrier is disposed on a surface of the non-optical transducer.

52. The system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on the transducer.

53. The system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the transducer comprises an electrochemical transducer.

54. The system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the transducer comprises a metal oxide.

55. The system, as set forth in claim 48, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a quantum-restricted element.

56. The system, as set forth in claim 48, comprising a multi-parameter monitor.

57. A method comprising:

acquiring gas data related to a gas content of a tissue;

acquiring temperature data related to a temperature of the tissue;

obtaining a correction factor based on the temperature data; and

calculating temperature-corrected gas data based on the gas data and the correction factor.

58. The method, as set forth in claim 57, comprising displaying the temperature-corrected gas data.

59. A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising:

providing a sensor body comprising a gas collection chamber adapted to be placed against a patient'"'"'s tissue;

providing a transducer disposed on the sensor body adapted to provide signal related to a tissue constituent; and

providing a temperature sensor disposed on the sensor body adapted to provide signal related to the temperature of the patient'"'"'s tissue.

60. The method, as set forth in claim 59, wherein the tissue constituent comprises oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, helium, nitrogen, halothane, isoflurane, flurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, hydrocarbon 24, xenon, an anesthetic agent, amyl nitrite, acetone, ammonia, short-chain alkanes, propofol, dialdehydes, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, fentanyl, volatile organic compounds, a chemical warfare agent, or a narcotic.

61. The method, as set forth in claim 59, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor body that is substantially impermeable to water.

62. The method, as set forth in claim 59, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on the transducer.

63. The method, as set forth in claim 59, wherein the transducer comprises an electrochemical transducer.

64. The method, as set forth in claim 59, wherein the electrochemical transducer comprises a metal oxide.

65. The method, as set forth in claim 59, wherein the non-optical transducer comprises a quantum-restricted element.

66. A sensor comprising:

a sensor body adapted to form a gas collection chamber when placed against a patient'"'"'s tissue;

an electrochemical transducer disposed on the sensor body, wherein the electrochemical transducer is adapted to change its electrical properties in response to the presence of carbon dioxide; and

a cable electrically coupled to the electrochemical transducer.

67. A sensor comprising:

a sensor body adapted to be placed against a patient'"'"'s tissue; and

a quantum-restricted or semi-conductive transducer disposed on the sensor body, wherein the quantum-restricted or semi-conductive transducer is adapted to change its electrical properties in response to the presence of a tissue constituent.

68. The sensor, as set forth in claim 67, wherein the tissue constituent comprises oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, helium, nitrogen, halothane, isoflurane, flurane, desflurane, sevoflurane, hydrocarbon 24, xenon, an anesthetic agent, amyl nitrite, acetone, ammonia, short-chain alkanes, propofol, dialdehydes, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, fentanyl, volatile organic compounds, a chemical warfare agent, or a narcotic.

69. The sensor, as set forth in claim 67, comprising a selective barrier disposed on the sensor body that is substantially impermeable to water.

70. The sensor, as set forth in claim 69, wherein the selective barrier is disposed on a surface of the non-optical transducer.