CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A connector assembly in a noninvasive patient monitoring system, the connector assembly configured to communicate drive signals from a patient cable to a sensor circuit and to communicate detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue from the sensor circuit to the patient cable, the connector assembly comprising:
- a plurality of driver signal conduits including a plurality of emitter signal conduits;
one or more detector signal conduits;
a first connector portion comprising a housing;
a second connector portion comprising a housing and configured to removably attach with the first connector portion, the housing of the second connector portion housing a segment of each of the plurality of emitter signal conduits configured to couple with a corresponding segment of a corresponding emitter signal conduit housed by the housing of the first connector portion, the housing of the second connector portion further housing a segment of each of the one or more detector signal conduits configured to couple with a corresponding segment of a corresponding detector signal conduit housed by the housing of the first connector portion; and
a shielding mechanism configured to reduce unshielded areas surrounding the signal conduits, the shielding mechanism comprising one or more hollow cylindrical members, at least a portion of each of the one or more detector signal conduits disposed within a corresponding one of the one or more cylindrical members.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure is advantageously configured to allow a sensor connector to straightforwardly and efficiently join with and detach from a patient cable connector. Further, embodiments of the connector assembly advantageously reduce un-shielded area in an electrical connection between a patient cable and a sensor connector. In addition, embodiments of the connector assembly advantageously increase the shielding of detector signals coming from the patient sensor to the monitor.
135 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A connector assembly in a noninvasive patient monitoring system, the connector assembly configured to communicate drive signals from a patient cable to a sensor circuit and to communicate detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue from the sensor circuit to the patient cable, the connector assembly comprising:
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a plurality of driver signal conduits including a plurality of emitter signal conduits; one or more detector signal conduits; a first connector portion comprising a housing; a second connector portion comprising a housing and configured to removably attach with the first connector portion, the housing of the second connector portion housing a segment of each of the plurality of emitter signal conduits configured to couple with a corresponding segment of a corresponding emitter signal conduit housed by the housing of the first connector portion, the housing of the second connector portion further housing a segment of each of the one or more detector signal conduits configured to couple with a corresponding segment of a corresponding detector signal conduit housed by the housing of the first connector portion; and a shielding mechanism configured to reduce unshielded areas surrounding the signal conduits, the shielding mechanism comprising one or more hollow cylindrical members, at least a portion of each of the one or more detector signal conduits disposed within a corresponding one of the one or more cylindrical members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of enhancing the electrical shielding of signal conduits in a connector assembly in a noninvasive patient monitoring system, the connector assembly configured to communicate drive signals from a patient cable to a sensor circuit and to communicate detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue from the sensor circuit to the patient cable, the method comprising:
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providing a connector assembly comprising; a plurality of driver signal conduits including a plurality of emitter signal conduits; one or more detector signal conduits; a first connector portion comprising a housing and a second connector portion comprising a housing configured to removably attach with the first connector portion, the housing of the second connector portion housing a segment of each of the plurality of emitter signal conduits configured to mechanically and electrically couple with a corresponding segment of a corresponding emitter signal conduit housed by the housing of the first connector portion, the housing of the second connector portion further housing a segment of each of the one or more detector signal conduits configured to mechanically and electrically couple with a corresponding segment of a corresponding detector signal conduit housed by the housing of the first connector portion; and one or more hollow cylindrical members, at least a portion of each of the one or more detector signal conduits disposed within one of the one or more cylindrical members; removably attaching the first connector portion and the second connector portion to engage a first latching member on the first connector portion with a second latching member on the second connector portion; communicating drive signals from the patient cable to the sensor circuit at least partially via the connector assembly; and communicating detector signals indicative of attenuation of light by body tissue from the sensor circuit to the patient cable at least partially via the connector assembly. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification