EXTERNAL EAR-PLACED NON-INVASIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR

• US 20090275813A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: DAVIS, DANIEL
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

In one embodiment, a non-invasive physiological sensor assembly is capable of attachment to a tissue site of the ear comprising of cartilaginous structures of the ear, providing low latency of physiological measurements as well as a secure attachment.

Claims

1. A noninvasive physiological sensor assembly, the sensor assembly capable of attaching to a tissue site of an ear, the sensor assembly comprising:

one or more emitters configured to emit light;

a first housing configured to position said one or more emitters;

one or more detectors configured to detect light attenuated by said tissue of an ear of a wearer of said sensor assembly;

a second housing configured to position said one or more detectors opposite said one or more emitters, said first and second housing positioning one of said one or more emitters and said one or more detectors within an ear concha and the other of said one or more emitters and said one or more detectors behind the ear.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first housing comprises a shape smaller than that of the second housing.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion and second portion are configured to conform to cartilaginous structures of the ear.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hinge portion mechanically coupling the first housing and the second housing.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 4, wherein the first housing further comprises a first arm, the second housing further comprises a second arm, the first and second arms curving outwardly away from the tissue site.

6. A method of positioning a noninvasive physiological sensor assembly at a tissue site of an ear, the method comprising:

providing a sensor assembly, comprising a first portion comprising one or more emitters, the sensor assembly further comprising a second portion comprising a detector, wherein the first portion and second portion are biased towards each other; and

removably attaching the sensor assembly to the tissue site such that the tissue site is disposed between the first portion and second portion, wherein the tissue site comprises a cartilaginous structure of the ear.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the attaching comprises attaching within a concha of said ear.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the attaching the sensor assembly further comprises conforming the first portion within the concha of the ear.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the attaching the sensor assembly further comprises aligning the detector of the second portion behind the ear with the one or more emitters of the first portion.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the attaching the sensor assembly further comprises conforming the first portion and second portion to the cartilaginous structures of the ear.