ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODES AND PHOTODETECTORS

• US 20120136227A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McKenna, Edward M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases

Abstract

A system and method for determining physiological parameters of a patient based on light transmitted through the patient. The light may be transmitted via a broadband light source and received by a detector. The light may be selectively detected at a detector. Based on material characteristic of the detector, specific wavelengths of light are detected by the detector for use in monitoring the physiological parameters of the patient.

Claims

1. A spectrophotometric sensor, comprising:

a sensor body,

a light emitting component disposed on the sensor body; and

a wavelength discriminating detector disposed on the sensor body, wherein the wavelength discriminating detector comprises an organic light emitting diode or organic photodetector.

2. The spectrophotometric sensor of claim 1, wherein the wavelength discriminating detector detects light at one or more discrete wavelengths.

3. The spectrophotometric sensor of claim 1, wherein the light emitting component emits light along a continuum.

4. The spectrophotometric sensor of claim 1, wherein the wavelength discriminating detector comprises a second organic light emitting diode or organic photodetector, wherein each of the organic light emitting diode or organic photodetector and the second organic light emitting diode or organic photodetector detects light at a distinct wavelength.

5. The spectrophotometric sensor of claim 4, wherein each of the organic light emitting diode or organic photodetector and the second organic light emitting diode or organic photodetector comprise:

an organic layer;

a substrate layer; and

one or more transparent electrode layers.

6. The spectrophotometric sensor of claim 5, wherein the organic layer comprises a doped organic layer.

7. The spectrophotometric sensor of claim 6, wherein the doped organic layer comprises a chromophore.

8. The spectrophotometric sensor of claim 5, wherein the substrate layer comprises an acrylic.

9. The spectrophotometric sensor of claim 5, wherein the one or more transparent electrode layers comprises indium tin oxide.

10. A pulse oximetry system comprising:

a pulse oximetry monitor; and

a sensor assembly configured to be coupled to the monitor, the sensor assembly comprising;

a broadband light emitter adapted to transmit light across a range of wavelengths;

a plurality of wavelength discriminating detectors adapted to receive the light from the broadband emitter, wherein each of the plurality of wavelength discriminating detectors is adapted to receive transmitted light across the range of wavelengths and to detect light transmitted from the broadband light emitter at a specific wavelength or at a subset of the range of wavelengths, and wherein each of the plurality of wavelength discriminating detectors comprises an organic light emitting diode.

11. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 10, comprising:

a first channel line configured to couple a first wavelength discriminating detector of the plurality of wavelength discriminating detectors to the monitor; and

a second channel line configured to couple a second wavelength discriminating detector of the plurality of wavelength discriminating detectors to the monitor, wherein the second channel line is independent from the first channel line.

12. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the specific wavelength or subset of the range of wavelengths differs for each of the plurality wavelength discriminating detectors.

13. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein a first wavelength discriminating detector of the plurality of wavelength discriminating detectors is configured to detect specific wavelength or subset is in a red range suitable for pulse oximetry measurements.

14. The pulse oximetry system, as set forth in claim 13, wherein a second wavelength discriminating detector of the plurality of wavelength discriminating detectors is configured to detect specific wavelength or subset is in an infrared range suitable for pulse oximetry measurements.

15. A physiological sensor comprising:

a broadband light emitter adapted to transmit light across a range of wavelengths;

a wavelength discriminating detector comprising an organic light emitting diode, wherein the light emitting diode is adapted to receive the light from the broadband emitter and to detect light transmitted from the broadband light emitter at a specific wavelength or at a subset of the range of wavelengths.

16. The physiological sensor of claim 15, wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises a dopant of neodymium or erbium.

17. The physiological sensor of claim 15, wherein the specific wavelength is approximately 660 nm.

18. The physiological sensor of claim 15, wherein the subset of the range of wavelengths is approximately 630 nm to 690 nm.

19. The physiological sensor of claim 15, comprising a second organic light emitting diode comprising a dopant of red fluorescent dye.

20. The physiological sensor of claim 19, wherein the second organic light emitting diode is adapted to detect light transmitted from the broadband light emitter at a specific wavelength of approximately 900 nm or at a subset of the range of wavelengths of approximately 870 nm to 930 nm.