OPTICAL SENSOR FOR MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20110190610A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Davis, Timothy, Kuhn, Jonathan L., Cinbis, Can, Carney, James K., Jelen, Jeffrey M., Anderson, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,406,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• 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 1/36557 controlled by chemical substances in blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An optical sensor for a medical device includes a fixed lens spacing between emit and receive modules to achieve target sensor sensitivity, while varying other sensor parameters in order to increase signal amplitude without increasing power demand. The arrangement of an opto-electronic component within an optical sensor receive module is improved by masking the receive module lens with an opaque member to create a masked lens leading edge that is aligned with a leading edge of the opto-electronic component.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a housing; and

an optical sensor module connected to the housing and comprising;

an opto-electronic component comprising a first edge;

a cavity within which the opto-electronic component is arranged;

a lens generally defining one end of the cavity offset from the opto-electronic component; and

an opaque member partially covering the lens to form a masked lens edge substantially aligned with the first edge of the opto-electronic component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the opaque member comprises a film.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity is further defined by a wall surrounding the opto-electronic component and a ferrule connected to the housing, the wall, and the lens, wherein the opaque member comprises a flange protruding from at least one of the wall and the ferrule.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a disc shape comprising a circular edge and the opto-electronic component comprises a rectilinear shape with the first edge comprising a linear edge, and wherein the opaque member partially covers the lens to form a linear masked lens edge substantially aligned with the linear first edge of the opto-electronic component.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the opto-electronic component comprises at least one of a light emitting diode, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, a photoresistor, a light dependent resistor, a photodiode, a phototransistor, a photovoltaic cell, or a charge-coupled device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity is further defined by a wall surrounding the opto-electronic device and a circuit board offset from the lens and to which the opto-electronic component is connected, and wherein an inner surface of the wall and a surface of the circuit board to which the opto-electronic component is connected each comprise a reflective material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity is at least partially filled with an index matching material.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor module comprises:

a wall surrounding the opto-electronic component;

a circuit board offset from the lens and to which the opto-electronic component and the wall are connected to define another end of the cavity; and

a ferrule connected to the housing, the wall, and the lens.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein an inner surface of the wall mates with an outer surface of the ferrule.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a transparent seal arranged over an outer surface of the lens.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the seal comprises a biocompatible polymeric material.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the seal comprises at least one of silicone or polyurethane.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises at least one of a pulse generator or a medical lead.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor module comprises a light receiving module.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising an optical sensor comprising the optical sensor module, wherein the optical sensor comprises at least one of a blood oxygen saturation, a blood glucose level, or a tissue perfusion sensor.

16. An optical sensor connected to a housing of an medical device, the sensor comprising:

an opto-electronic component comprising a first edge;

a cavity within which the opto-electronic component is arranged;

a lens generally defining one end of the cavity offset from the opto-electronic component; and

an opaque member partially covering the lens to form a masked lens edge substantially aligned with the first edge of the opto-electronic component.

17. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the opaque member comprises a film.

18. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the cavity is further defined by a wall surrounding the opto-electronic component and a ferrule connected to the housing, the wall, and the lens, wherein the opaque member comprises a flange protruding from at least one of the wall and the ferrule.

19. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the lens comprises a disc shape comprising a circular edge and the opto-electronic component comprises a rectilinear shape with the first edge comprising a linear edge, and wherein the opaque member partially covers the lens to form a linear masked lens edge substantially aligned with the linear first edge of the opto-electronic component.

20. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the opto-electronic component comprises at least one of a light emitting diode, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, a photoresistor, a light dependent resistor, a photodiode, a phototransistor, a photovoltaic cell, or a charge-coupled device.

21. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the cavity is further defined by a wall surrounding the opto-electronic component and a circuit board offset from the lens and to which the opto-electronic component is connected, and wherein an inner surface of the wall and a surface of the circuit board to which the opto-electronic component is connected each comprise a reflective material.

22. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the cavity is at least partially filled with an index matching material.

23. The sensor of claim 16 further comprising:

a wall surrounding the opto-electronic component;

a circuit board offset from the lens and to which the opto-electronic component and the wall are connected to define another end of the cavity; and

a ferrule connected to the housing, the wall, and the lens,

24. The sensor of claim 23, wherein an inner surface of the wall mates with an outer surface of the ferrule.

25. The sensor of claim 16 further comprising a transparent seal arranged over an outer surface of the lens.

26. The sensor of claim 25, wherein the seal comprises a biocompatible polymeric material.

27. The sensor of claim 25, wherein the seal comprises at least one of silicone or polyurethane.

28. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the optical sensor comprises at least one of a blood oxygen saturation, a blood glucose level, or a tissue perfusion sensor.

29. A method of constructing an optical sensor connected to a housing of an medical device, the method comprising:

arranging a light receiving opto-electronic component comprising a first edge within a cavity;

enclosing one end of the cavity offset from the light receiving opto-electronic component with a lens; and

covering a portion of the lens with an opaque member to form a masked lens edge substantially aligned with the first edge of the light receiving opto-electronic component.