Medical sensor for reducing signal artifacts and technique for using the same

• US 20080076980A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hoarau, Carine
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7207 of noise induced by motion artifacts

Abstract

A sensor may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by mitigating the effects of the tissue moving within the sensor. A sensor is provided with an elastomeric sensor body adapted to accommodate patient motion. Further, a sensor is provided in which the sensor cable is arranged to mitigate its pressure on a patient'"'"'s tissue.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a sensor body;

at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body; and

a cable adapted to be electrically coupled to the sensing element, wherein the cable is disposed along the sensor body in a curvilinear configuration.

2. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction.

3. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a cable guide adapted to hold the cable in the curvilinear configuration.

4. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cable is embedded in the sensor body in a curvilinear configuration.

5. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cable emerges from the sensor body at a site not on the outer perimeter of the sensor body.

6. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cable emerges from the sensor body at an angle not in line with the plane of the sensor body.

7. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a reflectance-type sensor.

8. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a transmission-type sensor.

9. A system comprising:

a monitor; and

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

sensor comprising;

a sensor body;

at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body; and

a cable adapted to be electrically coupled to the sensing element, wherein the cable is disposed along the sensor body in a curvilinear configuration.

10. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction.

11. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a cable guide adapted to hold the cable in the curvilinear configuration.

12. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the cable is embedded in the sensor body in a curvilinear configuration.

13. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the cable emerges from the sensor body at a site not on the outer perimeter of the sensor body.

14. The sensor, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the cable emerges from the sensor body at an angle not in line with the plane of the sensor body.

15. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a reflectance-type sensor.

16. The system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a transmission-type sensor.

17. A method comprising:

electrically coupling a sensing element to a monitor with a cable, wherein sensing element is disposed on the sensor body and wherein the cable is disposed along the sensor body in a curvilinear configuration.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a cable guide adapted to hold the cable in the curvilinear configuration.

19. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the cable is embedded in the sensor body in a curvilinear configuration.

20. A method of manufacturing a sensor, comprising:

providing a sensor body;

providing at least one sensing element disposed on the sensor body; and

providing a cable adapted to be electrically coupled to the sensing element, wherein the cable is disposed along the sensor body in a curvilinear configuration.

21. The method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the sensor comprises a cable guide adapted to hold the cable in the curvilinear configuration.

22. The method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the cable is embedded in the sensor body in a curvilinear configuration.

23. The method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the cable emerges from the sensor body at a site not on the outer perimeter of the sensor body.

24. The method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the cable emerges from the sensor body at an angle not in line with the plane of the sensor body.