PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR HAVING REDUCED SENSITIVITY TO INTERFERENCE

• US 20100301215A1
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gonopolskiy, Oleg, Anderson, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 8,188,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/338.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68335 including release sheets or liners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker

Abstract

A physiological sensor having reduced sensitivity to interference includes a light source, a light detector in optical communication with the light source, and a sensor pad at least partially housing the light source and the light detector. The sensor pad is configured to be capacitively isolated from a patient. Moreover, the physiological sensor may be electrically connected to an amplifier having a signal ground and a monitor.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a light source;

a light detector in optical communication with said light source; and

a sensor pad at least partially housing said light source and said light detector,

wherein said sensor pad is configured to be capacitively isolated from a patient.

2. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor pad includes a first surface at least partially coated with a conductive adhesive and a second surface at least partially coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

3. A sensor as set forth in claim 2, wherein said conductive adhesive is spaced from a patient.

4. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light source is configured to generate light in a near-infrared region of an electromagnetic spectrum.

5. A sensor as set forth in claim 4, wherein said light detector is configured to receive light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

6. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board having traces configured to minimize a field effected created by said traces, and wherein said light source and said light detector are disposed on said printed circuit board.

7. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a light-blocking pad disposed on sensor pad.

8. A sensor as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a spacer disposed between said sensor pad and said light-blocking pad.

9. A physiological sensor system comprising:

a sensor having a light source and a light detector; and

an amplifier in communication with said sensor, said amplifier including a signal ground and a monitor,

wherein said sensor is configured to be capacitively isolated from a patient.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said sensor includes a sensor pad having a first surface at least partially coated with a conductive adhesive and a second surface at least partially coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said sensor includes a printed circuit board and said conductive adhesive is in communication with said signal ground via an exposed area of said printed circuit board.

12. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said signal ground is capacitively isolated from said monitor.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the capacitance between said signal ground and said monitor is 0.1 pF to 1.0 pF.

14. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein a capacitance between said sensor pad and the patient is greater than a capacitance between said signal ground and said monitor.

15. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the capacitance between said sensor pad and the patient and the capacitance between said signal ground and said monitor creates a voltage divider that decreases an electrical potential between the patient and the light source.

16. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said light source is configured to generate light in a near-infrared region of an electromagnetic spectrum.

17. A system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said light detector is configured to receive light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

18. A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said sensor includes a printed circuit board having traces configured to minimize a field effect created by said traces, and wherein said light source and said light detector are disposed on said printed circuit board.

19. A system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising an electronic device in proximity with said sensor, wherein capacitively isolating said sensor from the patient reduces interference caused by said electronic device.