RESPOSABLE PULSE OXIMETRY SENSOR

• US 20110301444A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ammar Al-Ali
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar
• Granted Patent: US 9,386,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/344
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4478 Line condition change responsive

Abstract

A pulse oximeter sensor has both a reusable and a disposable portion. The reusable portion of the sensor preserves the relatively long-lived and costly emitter, detector and connector components. The disposable portion of the sensor is the relatively inexpensive adhesive tape component that is used to secure the sensor to a measurement site, typically a patient'"'"'s finger or toe. The disposable portion of the sensor is removably attached to the reusable portion in a manner that allows the disposable portion to be readily replaced when the adhesive is expended or the tape becomes soiled or excessively worn. The disposable portion may also contain an information element useful for sensor identification or for security purposes to insure patient safety.

Claims

1. A method of sterilizing a reusable portion of a noninvasive optical probe to assemble a new noninvasive optical probe, the method comprising:

removing said noninvasive optical probe from a patient, said probe comprising an information element, a reusable element and a disposable positioning mechanism, the mechanism including an adhesive side capable of removably securing the reusable element to a measurement site on said patient, the reusable element including a light source capable of emitting light at different wavelengths, a light detector capable of detecting the light after it has been attenuated by the body tissue, and a plurality of conductors;

separating said reusable element from said disposable positioning mechanism;

sterilizing at least said reusable element; and

combining said reusable element with an unused disposable positioning mechanism to form said new optical probe, said combining including electrically connecting said information element of said probe, wherein said information element forms a portion of at least one of said reusable element and said disposable positioning mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising creating a communication link between said new optical probe and a patient monitor configured to provide drive signals to said light source and receive signals responsive to physiological parameters of said patient from said light detector over said link, wherein said creating causes said monitor to receive data responsive to information stored on said information element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said creating said link comprises electrically and mechanically attaching a cable associated with said reusable element to said monitor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said combining comprises sandwiching said reusable element between tape layers, one tape layer including said adhesive side capable of removably securing the reusable element to the measurement site.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information element comprises a resistor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information element comprises a memory chip.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information element comprises an identification device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information element comprises an active circuit.

9. A method of assembling a noninvasive optical probe, the method comprising:

selecting a reusable element including a light source capable of emitting light at different wavelengths, a light detector capable of detecting the light after it has been attenuated by the body tissue, and a plurality of conductors;

selecting one of a plurality of a disposable positioning mechanisms, the mechanism including an adhesive side capable of removably securing the reusable element to a measurement site on said patient and an information element; and

combining said reusable element with one of said plurality of said disposable positioning mechanisms to form said optical probe, said combining including electrically connecting said information element of mechanism to ones of said conductors of said reusable element.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said combining comprises sandwiching said reusable element between tape layers, one tape layer including said adhesive side capable of removably securing the reusable element to the measurement site.

11. A noninvasive optical probe including a disposable portion and a reusable portion, the optical probe comprising:

a reusable portion including a light emitting source, a detector, a flexible circuit positioning a plurality of conductors; and

a disposable portion including an information element electrically communicating with ones of the plurality of conductors.

12. The noninvasive optical probe of claim 11, wherein the information element comprises a resistor.

13. The noninvasive optical probe of claim 11, wherein the information element comprises a memory chip.

14. The noninvasive optical probe of claim 11, wherein the information element comprises an identification device.

15. The noninvasive optical probe of claim 11, wherein the information element comprises a transistor network.

16. The noninvasive optical probe of claim 11, wherein the information element comprises an active circuit.