FOLDABLE SENSOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING SAME
First Claim
1. A sensor device comprising:
- a foldable member carrying one or more sensor elements;
a communications link configured to transmit data from said one or more sensor elements; and
a frame engaging said foldable member, together said frame and foldable member adapted to be deformed from an initial shape into a customized form providing said one or more sensor elements in a desired orientation relative to a tissue field, with said frame maintaining said foldable member in said customized form.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A physiologic sensor device configured to be placed on an appendage. The sensor device includes a foldable portion designed to be deformed around the tip of the appendage. In some embodiments the foldable portion is a soft compressible material. In other embodiments a stabilization component is provided to isolate sensing elements from external forces. Some embodiments also include a deformable frame that folds in response to a bending force as the sensing device is placed on the appendage. The deformable frame holds the sensor device in place until another bending force is applied. In other embodiments the frame and/or sensor elements are removable and disposable relative to other components of the sensor device.
37 Citations
82 Claims
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1. A sensor device comprising:
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a foldable member carrying one or more sensor elements; a communications link configured to transmit data from said one or more sensor elements; and a frame engaging said foldable member, together said frame and foldable member adapted to be deformed from an initial shape into a customized form providing said one or more sensor elements in a desired orientation relative to a tissue field, with said frame maintaining said foldable member in said customized form. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A sensor device configured to be placed on an appendage of an animal, comprising:
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a foldable member carrying one or more sensor elements; and a pliant frame connected to said foldable member, said frame and foldable member being configured by a deforming force to conform to an appendage, said frame and foldable member positioning said one or more sensor elements proximate to a tissue field of said appendage, and said frame maintaining said foldable member in a deformed orientation upon release of the deforming force. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of attaching a foldable sensor device to an appendage comprising:
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placing the sensor device at a portion of the appendage; folding the sensor device over said appendage portion into a folded orientation; and biasing the sensor device in the folded orientation so as to retain said appendage portion within said folded sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method of attaching a foldable sensor device to an appendage comprising:
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bending a deformable sensor device over an appendage portion so as position optical sensor elements on either side of the appendage; and biasing said sensor device in a bent position so as to retain said appendage portion within said sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method of adapting an oximeter sensor to an appendage comprising:
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bending a deformable sensor device over an appendage into a customized form so as conform portions of said sensor device to said appendage and position elements of a light sensor at a tissue field of the appendage; and maintaining said sensor device in said customized form with a biasing element so as to retain said sensor device upon said appendage and said light sensor elements at the tissue field. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. An assembly comprising:
a plurality of preformed sensor devices each having a deformable body, optical sensor components and a communications link, each sensor device being customized prior to use by deformation of said body from a preformed shape into a form fit to a unique patient morphology, and each sensor having a frame for maintaining said sensor in said form during a sensor process. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74)
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75. A method of customizing a sensor device to a unique user comprising:
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applying a bending force to a preformed sensor device having a deformable body, optical sensor components and a communications link, said bending force causing the body to deform into a shape unique to an appendage of said user; and biasing said deformable body in said unique shape upon removal of said bending force, said biasing relying at least in part on a frame deformed by said bending force. - View Dependent Claims (76)
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77. A method of manufacturing a sensor device comprising:
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attaching optical sensor elements to a flexible substrate, said substrate sized to conform to at least a portion of a patient appendage; coupling said optical sensor elements to a communications link extending away from said substrate; and connecting a deformable frame to the substrate, said frame being sized to maintain the substrate to said portion of the patient appendage. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79)
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80. A sensor device comprising:
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a foldable member carrying one or more sensor elements; and deformable means connected to said foldable member, said deformable means and foldable member being reconfigured by a deforming force to conform to an appendage, said deformable means and foldable member positioning said one or more sensor elements proximate to a tissue field of said appendage, and said deformable means providing forces tending to maintain the foldable member in a deformed orientation upon release of said deforming force. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82)
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Specification