OPTICAL PERFUSION SENSOR DETECTOR

• US 20090326346A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bhunia, Sourav Kumar, Kracker, Stefan G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,326,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting

Abstract

A reflectance optical perfusion sensor may include at least one light source and a plurality of detector elements arranged in a planar or nonplanar configuration, such as a three-dimensional array. The detector elements may sense light emitted by the at least one light source and reflected by a blood mass of a patient, such as blood within a blood vessel. In some examples, the detector elements may be arranged such that photodetection surfaces of at least two of the detector elements are nonparallel. In addition to or instead of the nonplanar arrangement of detector elements, an optical perfusion sensor may include a detector array including a plurality of detector elements at least partially surrounding a light source. Varying the location and orientations of detector elements may help increase a quantity of light emitted by the at least one light source and reflected toward the optical perfusion sensor by blood.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a light source; and

a plurality of detector elements arranged in a nonplanar configuration, wherein each detector element of the plurality of detector elements is configured to sense light emitted by the light source and reflected onto the respective detector element.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detector elements are arranged in a three-dimensional array of detector elements.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detector elements are arranged in a two-dimensional array of detector elements

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a housing that defines a surface comprising a parabolic cross-section, wherein at least some of the plurality of detector elements are coupled to the surface.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the detector elements comprises a photodiode.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detector elements are symmetrically arranged around the light source.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the light source and the detector elements are arranged on a common side of the housing.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 7, wherein the housing defines a recess and the light source and the detector elements are disposed in the recess.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 7, wherein the housing defines a curvilinear surface and the light source and the detector elements are disposed on the curvilinear surface.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 7, wherein the housing defines a first surface and a second surface, and the light source is coupled to the first surface and at least one of the detector elements of the detector array is coupled to the second surface.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detector elements at least partially surround the light source.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of detector elements substantially surround the light source.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein at least two detector elements of the plurality of detector elements have different angular orientations relative to each other.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein each detector element of the plurality of detector elements comprises a photodetection surface, wherein the photodetection surfaces of the at least two detector elements are substantially nonparallel.

15. The system implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one of a red light emitting diode or an infrared light emitting diode.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detector elements have a fixed position relative to the light source.

17. A implantable medical device comprising:

a light source; and

a detector that at least partially surrounds the light source, wherein the detector is configured to generate a signal indicative of an intensity of light emitted by the light source and reflected onto the detector.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the detector comprises an annular shape.

19. The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the detector comprises a plurality of detector elements arranged in a concentric pattern.

20. The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the detector is substantially planar.

21. The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the detector is substantially nonplanar.

22. The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the detector comprises a plurality of detector elements, and each of the detector elements is configured to generate the signal indicative of the intensity of light emitted by the light source and reflected onto the respective detector element.

23. The implantable medical device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of detector elements are arranged in a substantially nonplanar configuration.

24. The implantable medical device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of detector elements are arranged in three-dimensional array.

25. The implantable medical device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of detector elements are arranged in two-dimensional array.

26. The implantable medical device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of detector elements are arranged in a one-dimensional array.

27. The implantable medical device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of detector elements are located substantially equidistant from the light source.

28. The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the detector comprises a first detector element located on a first side of the light source and a second detector element located on a second side of the light source, wherein the first side is substantially opposite the second side.

29. A method comprising:

transmitting light from a light source positioned on a side of a housing of an implantable medical device; and

receiving the light at a detector positioned on the side of the housing, wherein the detector comprises a plurality of detector elements arranged in a nonplanar configuration.