MOLDABLE EAR SENSOR

• US 20120253159A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Medina, Casey V., Lippe, Paul Von Der, Haisley, Charles, Besko, David P., Battista, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/340
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4236 characterised by adhesive patches

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to sensors for use on a patient'"'"'s ear. The sensors as provided may include a moldable member, such as a putty. The moldable member may be molded in place to affix the optical components of the sensor to a patient'"'"'s ear tissue. For example, the moldable member may be sculpted around a curvature of a patient'"'"'s earlobe. In particular embodiments, the moldable member may be activated, e.g., hardened, by exposure to particular temperatures or by exposure to light.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a sensor body comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to be applied to opposing sides of an ear;

an emitter disposed on the sensor body and configured to emit light into a tissue;

a light detector disposed on the sensor body and configured to receive the transmitted light from the tissue; and

a moldable member disposed on the sensor body, wherein the moldable member is configured to conform to the tissue when the sensor is applied to the ear.

2. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a release layer disposed on the moldable member such that the moldable member is between the sensor body and the release layer.

3. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moldable member comprises a putty.

4. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moldable member comprises a room temperature vulcanizing silicone.

5. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moldable member is configured to harden or cure when exposed to a particular wavelength of light.

6. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moldable member partially surrounds at least one of the emitter or the detector.

7. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moldable member has a hardness of 20 Shore OO or less.

8. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moldable member is adhesive.

9. The sensor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a pulse oximetry sensor.

10. An ear sensor comprising:

an electrical connector coupled to an emitter adapted to transmit light into a tissue and a light detector configured to receive the transmitted light from the tissue; and

a moldable member configured to be molded around a portion of the electrical connector such that the moldable member covers at least a portion of the electrical connector when the ear sensor is applied to a patient.

11. The ear sensor, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the moldable member partially surrounds the emitter and the detector.

12. The ear sensor, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the moldable member comprises a dental impression material.

13. The ear sensor, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a backing layer disposed on a surface of the moldable material.

14. The car sensor, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the electrical connector comprises a flexible circuit and wherein the moldable material is disposed on a non-tissue contacting side of the flexible circuit.

15. A method comprising:

applying an emitter adapted to transmit light into a patient'"'"'s tissue and a light detector configured to receive the transmitted light from the tissue onto an ear; and

molding a putty around the emitter and the detector to affix the emitter and the detector onto the ear.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising molding the putty around an electrical connector coupled to the emitter and the detector to affix the electrical connector to the ear.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein molding the putty around the emitter and the detector comprises molding the putty around an earlobe.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein molding the putty around the emitter and the detector comprises molding the putty around a helix of the ear.

19. The method of claim 15, comprising exposing the putty to a temperature at which the putty is configured to harden.

20. The method of claim 15, comprising exposing the putty to a predetermined wavelength of light configured to harden the putty,