Method for identification of sensor site by local skin spectrum data

• US 20080221410A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hoarau, Carine, Debreczeny, Martin P., Campbell, Shannon E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• 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 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres

Abstract

A method is provided for determining the location of the sensor. The method comprises determining a physiological parameter based on detected light and determining the location of the sensor based on the physiological parameter. In addition, a method is provided for operating a sensor that includes calibrating a sensor based on a patient-specific physiological parameter, in which the patient-specific physiological parameter is skin color, age, gender, pooled blood, venous blood pulsation, or abnormal tissue.

Claims

1. A method for determining the location of a sensor, comprising:

emitting light into a patient'"'"'s tissue with at least one emitter disposed on a sensor body;

detecting the light with at least one detector disposed on the sensor body;

determining a physiological parameter based on the detected light; and

determining the location of the sensor based on the parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising determining calibration information based on the location of the sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter comprises water content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter comprises epidermal thickness.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter comprises dermal thickness.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the sensor is the forehead of the patient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the sensor is the finger of the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pulse oximetry sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a fiber optic sensor.

10. A method of operating a sensor, comprising:

emitting light into a patient'"'"'s tissue with at least one emitter;

detecting the light with at least one detector;

determining a patient-specific physiological parameter based on the detected light, wherein the patient-specific physiological parameter comprises at least one of skin color, age, gender, pooled blood, venous blood pulsation, or abnormal tissue; and

determining calibration information based on the patient-specific physiological parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising determining blood oxygen saturation from the detected light.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the abnormal tissue comprises tissue edema.

13. The method of claim 10, comprising providing a notification based on the patient-specific physiological parameter.

14. The method of claim 10, comprising selecting one emitter and one detector based on the patient-specific physiological parameter.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor is a pulse oximetry sensor.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor is a fiber optic sensor.

17. A sensor assembly, comprising:

a sensor body having an emitter configured to emit light into a patient'"'"'s tissue and a detector configured to detect the light; and

a monitor comprising an algorithm configured to determine the location of the sensor based on the detected light.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the monitor comprises an algorithm configured to determine calibration information based on the location of the sensor.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to measure blood oxygen saturation.

20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the emitter comprises optic fibers.

21. A sensor assembly, comprising:

a sensor body having a plurality of emitters configured to emit light into a patient'"'"'s tissue and a plurality of detectors configured to detect the light; and

a monitor comprising being configured to determine a physiological parameter from the detected light and configured to select at least one emitter from the plurality of the emitters and at least one detector from the plurality of the detectors based on the physiological parameter.