Ear sensor

• US 20100217103A1
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Mason, Eugene, Schmidt, John, Ta, Virginia Thanh, Abdul-Hafiz, Yassir, Al-Ali, Ammar, Forrest, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6867 specially adapted to be attached or implanted in a specific body part A61B5/6847 takes precedence

Abstract

An ear sensor provides a sensor body having a base, legs extending from the base and an optical housing disposed at ends of the legs opposite the base. An optical assembly is disposed in the housing. The sensor body is flexed so as to position the housing over a concha site. The sensor body is unflexed so as to attach the housing to the concha site and position the optical assembly to illuminate the concha site. The optical assembly is configured to transmit optical radiation into concha site tissue and receive the optical radiation after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue.

Claims

1. An ear sensor for optically measuring physiological parameters related to blood constituents by transmitting multiple wavelengths of light into a concha site and receiving the light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the concha site, the ear sensor comprising a sensor body, a sensor connector and a sensor cable interconnecting the sensor body and the sensor connector, the sensor body comprising:

a base;

a first leg extending from the base to a detector housing;

a second leg extending from the base to an emitter housing;

an optical assembly having an emitter and a detector;

the emitter disposed in the emitter housing;

the detector disposed in the detector housing;

the legs having an unflexed position with the emitter housing proximate the detector housing and a flexed position with the emitter housing distal the detector housing;

the legs moved to the flexed position so as to position the detector housing and emitter housing over opposite sides of a concha site; and

the legs released to the unflexed position so that the concha site is grasped between the detector housing and emitter housing.

2. The ear sensor according to claim 1 further comprising:

a resilient frame; and

a one piece molded skin disposed over the resilient frame.

3. The ear sensor according to claim 2 further comprising:

a cup disposed proximate the detector housing; and

the cup having a surface that generally conforms to the curvature of the concha site so as to couple the detector to the concha site and so as to block ambient light.

4. The ear sensor according to claim 3 further comprising:

a sensor cable having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of wires disposed within the sensor cable;

the wires extending from the first end of the sensor cable and disposed within a plurality of channels defined by the resilient frame;

the wires electrically and mechanically attached to the optical assembly;

a connector attached to a second end of the sensor cable; and

the wires electrically and mechanically attached to the connector so as to provide communications between the connector and the optical assembly.

5. The ear sensor according to claim 4 further comprising a stabilizer that maintains the position of the detector housing and the emitter housing on the concha site.

6. The ear sensor according to claim 5 wherein the stabilizer comprises a a ring that encircles the legs;

the ring having a hold position disposed against the legs and a release position spaced from the legs;

a release that, when pressed, moves the ring from the hold position to the release position, allowing the ring to slidably move along the legs in a direction away from the base so as to increase the force of the emitter housing and detector housing on the concha site in the hold position and in a direction toward the base so as to decrease the force of the emitter housing and the detector housing on the concha site in the hold position.

7. The ear sensor according to claim 5 wherein the stabilizer comprises an ear hanger that rests along the back of the ear and couples to at least one of the legs and the sensor cable.

8. The ear sensor method comprising:

providing a sensor body having a base, legs extending from the base and an optical housing disposed at ends of the legs distal the base;

disposing an optical assembly in the housing;

flexing the sensor body so as to position the housing over a concha site; and

unflexing the sensor body so as to attach the housing to the concha site and position the optical assembly to illuminate the concha site.

9. The ear sensor method according to claim 8 further comprising molding an ear surface conforming member to at least a portion of the housing so as to physically couple the housing to the concha site and block ambient light from the optical assembly accordingly.

10. The ear sensor method according to claim 9 further comprising adjusting the force of the housing against the concha site.

11. The ear sensor method according to claim 10 wherein the adjusting step comprises positioning a force adjustment ring on the sensor body so as to encircle the legs.

12. The ear sensor method according to claim 11 wherein the positioning step comprises:

squeezing a ring release so as to move ring grips away from the legs;

moving the force adjustment ring along the legs and toward the housing so as to increase the force of the housing on the concha site; and

moving the force adjustment ring along the legs and away from the housing so as to decrease the force of the housing on the concha site.

13. The ear sensor method according to claim 9 further comprising supporting at least a portion of the weight of the sensor body and corresponding sensor cable so as to reduce the force needed to attach the housing to the concha site.

14. The ear sensor method according to claim 13 wherein the supporting comprises attaching at least one of the sensor body and sensor cable to an ear hook placed over the ear.

15. An ear sensor comprising:

a clip means having a flexed position and an unflexed position;

an optical means for transmitting multiple wavelength light into a tissue site when activated and for receiving the light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site;

the optical means disposed on the clip means so that the optical means can be positioned on a concha site in the flexed position and pinched against the concha site in the unflexed position;

a connector means for mechanically attaching to and electrically communicating with a monitor; and

a cable means for interconnecting the connector means with the optical means.

16. The ear sensor according to claim 15 wherein the clip means comprises a resilient frame means for securing the optical means in a fixed position relative to the tissue site.

17. The ear sensor according to claim 16 further comprising a skin means for enclosing the resilient frame means and the optical means.

18. The ear sensor according to claim 17 further comprising a cup means for physically coupling at least a portion of the optical means to the concha site and for blocking ambient light from the optical means.

19. The ear sensor according to claim 18 further comprising an adjustable force means holding the clip means to the concha site.

20. The ear sensor according to claim 18 further comprising a support means for holding the clip means to the concha site.