PORTABLE ST02 SPECTROMETER

• US 20100210929A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Gelfman, Daniel M., Trettin, Bradley L., Jossart, Paul J., Schmitz, Roger W., Scheele, Bryan J., Maher, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes 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 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for measuring tissue oxygen saturation (StO₂) within the body are disclosed. A patient interface for use with a tissue measurement instrument can include a spring clip having a first arm and a second arm, a spring configured to bias the first and second arms together, and a means for optically connecting the patient interface to the tissue measurement instrument. The patient interface can be used in conjunction with an optical sourcing and receiving unit of a monitor for measuring tissue oxygen saturation at a measurement site on the patient. A testing interface on an external portion of the instrument housing and a testing module can be used to perform tests on the instrument.

Claims

1. A patient interface for a tissue measurement instrument, the patient interface comprising:

a spring clip including a first arm member and a second arm member, the first and second arm members configured to provide a clamping force on a measurement site of a patient;

a plurality of radiation ports disposed in one or both of the first and second arm members, the radiation ports configured for light transmission therethrough;

a spring configured to bias the first and second arm members together; and

a means for optically connecting the patient interface to the tissue measurement instrument.

2. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the first and second arm members are pivotally coupled to each other.

3. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the first and second arm members and the spring comprise a single member.

4. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the second arm member and the spring comprise a single member separate from the first arm member.

5. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the first and second arm members comprise separate members releasably coupled to each other.

6. The patient interface of claim 5, further including a release button configured for engaging a tab that secures the first arm member to the second arm member.

7. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the spring includes a plurality of bending spring elements.

8. The patient interface of claim 7, wherein the spring elements are zigzags.

9. The patient interface of claim 1, further including a pressure dispersion pad coupled to at least one of the first and second arm members.

10. The patient interface of claim 9, wherein the pressure dispersion pad is a cup-shaped pad.

11. The patient interface of claim 9, wherein the pressure dispersion pad is a gimballing pressure pad.

12. The patient interface of claim 9, wherein the pressure dispersion pad includes a number of locating features configured to align the patient interface to the measurement site on the patient.

13. The patient interface of claim 1, wherein the radiation ports comprise a first radiation port configured for transmitting light and a second radiation port configured for receiving reflected light.

14. The patient interface of claim 1, further including a light shield coupled to at least one of the first and second arm members, the light shield including a number of shield radiation ports in optical communication with the radiation ports.

15. The patient interface of claim 9, wherein the pressure dispersion pad comprises an opaque pressure dispersion pad configured to shield light from the measurement site.

16. A tissue measurement instrument, comprising:

a housing including an external clip area configured to receive a patient interface, the clip area including one or more optical ports configured to optically communicate with a number of radiation ports on the patient interface; and

a test module disposed within an interior of the housing and in optical communication with the optical ports.

17. The tissue measurement instrument of claim 16, wherein the test module includes a shell, a number of windows, an enclosure, and a bulk scattering member.

18. The tissue measurement instrument of claim 16, wherein the tissue measurement instrument comprises a tissue oxygen saturation (StO₂) monitor.

19. A system for releasably connecting a patient interface to a tissue measurement instrument, the system comprising:

a receiver coupled to or formed integrally with the tissue measurement instrument, the receiver including a tab with a wedge configured to engage a notch; and

an electro-optical connector releasably coupled to the receiver, the electro-optical connector including;

a connector housing;

a push button coupled to the connector housing, the push button including a wedge configured to engage the wedge on the receiver tab;

a ferrule surrounding a number of electrical connectors; and

a spring coupled to the ferrule and configured to bias the ferrule towards the receiver.

20. The system of claim 19, further including a seal configured to provide a seal between the receiver and the connector housing.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein, during engagement of the push button, the receive wedge is configured to move along the push button wedge until the tab is engaged within the notch.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the push button further includes a second wedge configured to engage the notch, and wherein actuation of the second wedge releases the connector housing from the receiver.

23. A system for measuring tissue oxygen saturation within the body, the system comprising:

a patient interface configured for transmitting measurement radiation to a measurement site of a patient and receiving reflected radiation from the measurement site;

an optical sourcing and receiving unit, including;

a plurality of near-infrared light sources each configured to transmit infrared light at a different wavelength;

a mixer bar;

a fiber optic fountain including a plurality of fiber optic bundles in optical communication with the near-infrared light sources and the mixer bar, each fiber optic bundle configured to redirect measurement light transmitted from the light sources towards a second end of the unit optically coupled to the patient interface; and

conditioning optics optically coupled to the fiber optic fountain and the light sources, the conditioning optics configured to direct radiation from each light source onto a corresponding fiber optic bundle within the fiber optic fountain;

an optical signal converter coupled to the optical sourcing and receiving unit, the optical signal converter configured for converting reflected radiation received from the patient interface into a digital electrical signal; and

processing means configured for converting the digital electrical signal into at least one parameter related to tissue oxygenation.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein, for each light source, the conditioning optics include a collimiating lens, a band pass filter, and a focusing lens.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the mixer bar comprises a square mixer bar.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the square mixer bar is enclosed within a housing containing a glass-filled epoxy.