HEADBAND FOR USE WITH MEDICAL SENSOR

• US 20130104288A1
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schlottau, Friso, Hayman, Sarah, Haisley, Charles, Lin, Andy S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/209.13
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 20/00 Wristbands or headbands, e.g. for absorbing sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/03 Intensive care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/18 elastic threads

Abstract

Headbands configured to provide pressure against a medical sensor secured to a patient'"'"'s forehead are provided. The headbands may include one or more low friction materials to enable an elastic band of a tensioning mechanism to evenly stretch. Additionally or alternatively, the headbands may include two or more bands adapted to secure the headband to various portions of a patient'"'"'s head. Still further, the headbands may be configured to independently vary the pressure created between two or more sensors and the patient'"'"'s head.

Claims

1. A headband, comprising:

a main headband portion comprising a first end and a second end and adapted to wrap around the circumference of a patient'"'"'s head;

a closure mechanism extending from the first end and adapted to couple the first end with the second end; and

a tensioning mechanism extending along the first end and comprising an elastic band coupling the main headband portion with the closure mechanism, wherein the main headband portion comprises a low friction material to enable the elastic band to evenly stretch along the first end as the closure mechanism is pulled in a direction generally away from the first end.

2. The headband of claim 1, wherein the low friction material comprises a low friction strip disposed between the main headband portion and the elastic band, wherein the low friction strip is adapted to prevent the elastic band from catching or sticking to the main headband portion.

3. The headband of claim 1, wherein the low friction material comprises at least one of a fluoropolymer, high density polyethylene, or a silicone-coated film.

4. The headband of claim 1, wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises a hard stop formed by an abutment surface of the elastic band and a loop disposed between the abutment surface and the closure mechanism, the loop is configured to contact the abutment surface of the elastic band at a maximum tension to prevent the elastic band from stretching substantially beyond the maximum tension, and the maximum tension is greater than a desired tension range for applying a desired amount of pressure between a medical sensor and the patient'"'"'s forehead.

5. The headband of claim 4, wherein the closure mechanism is configured to relax over a first distance after initially securing the first end to the second end at the maximum tension, and the relaxation over the first distance is sufficient to de-tension the headband from the maximum tension to a tension within the desired tension range.

6. The headband of claim 4, comprising a clip fastened to the elastic band and adapted to create folds in the elastic band to increase the stretch resistance of the elastic band, and the clip is configured to de-tension the elastic band when removed such that the headband is de-tensioned from the maximum tension to a tension within the desired tension range.

7. The headband of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism is configured to secure the first end to the second end without substantially de-tensioning the headband.

8. The headband of claim 7, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a hook and loop fastener having a density of hooks that is sufficient to prevent any substantial relaxation of the closure mechanism.

9. The headband of claim 1, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a hook configured to couple with any one of a plurality of eyelets disposed along the second end of the main headband portion, wherein the plurality of eyelets are spaced to enable a desired tension to be set for different patient head sizes or different medical sensors.

10. The headband of claim 1, wherein the headband comprises a non-elastic material to prevent stretching of the main headband portion.

11. The headband of claim 1, wherein the main headband material comprises a microporous material adapted to maintain function between the patient'"'"'s head and the headband by enabling moisture evaporation through the headband while preventing moisture absorption.

12. The headband of claim 1, comprising an additional band coupled to the main headband portion and configured to secure the headband to a top portion or a cup a back portion of the patient'"'"'s head.

13. The headband of claim 1, comprising a gripping material secured to an inner surface of the main headband material and adapted to increase friction between the headband and the patient.

14. The headband of claim 1, comprising an emitter adapted to transmit one or more wavelengths of light toward the patient tissue, and a detector adapted to receive the one or more wavelengths of light to measure a physiological parameter of the patient, wherein the emitter and the detector are integrated into the main headband portion of the headband.

15. The headband of claim 1, wherein the main headband portion comprises two or more relieves or pockets each adapted to hold a medical sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter of the patient, and the headband is configured to apply a different normal force for at least two of the relieves or pockets.

16. A headband, comprising:

a main headband portion comprising a first end and a second end, the main headband portion being adapted to wrap around the circumference of a patient'"'"'s head;

a first band coupled to the main headband portion and adapted to secure the headband to a top or a back portion of the patient'"'"'s head, wherein the first band and the main headband portion are configured to reduce movement of the headband in relation to the patient'"'"'s head;

a closure mechanism adapted to couple the first end with the second end of the main headband portion; and

a tensioning mechanism coupling the closure mechanism with the main headband portion and adapted to vary a normal force provided by the headband against a medical sensor secured to the patient'"'"'s head;

wherein the closure mechanism is configured to relax over a first distance after initially securing the first end to the second end at a maximum tension of the tensioning mechanism, and the relaxation over the first distance is sufficient to de-tension the headband from the maximum tension of the tensioning mechanism to a tension within a desired tension range.

17. The headband of claim 16, comprising a second band secured to the main headband portion and configured to secure the headband to the back portion of the patient'"'"'s head, wherein the first band is configured to secure the headband to the top portion of the patient'"'"'s head.

18. The headband of claim 17, wherein the first and second bands are stitched to the main headband portion at their respective ends, and the first and second bands are adapted to move in a crosswise direction relative to the circumference of the patient'"'"'s head.

19. The headband of claim 17, wherein the first and second bands are coupled at their respective ends to the main headband portion via a mechanical pivot joint adapted to enable radial movement of the first and second bands relative to the main headband portion.

20. The headband of claim 16, wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises:

an elastic band coupling the main headband portion with the closure mechanism, wherein the elastic band is configured to evenly stretch along the first end to tension the headband as the closure mechanism is pulled in a direction generally away from the first end; and

a hard stop formed by an abutment surface of the elastic band and a loop disposed between the abutment surface and the closure mechanism, wherein the loop is configured to contact the abutment surface of the elastic band at the maximum tension to prevent the elastic band from stretching substantially beyond the maximum tension.

21. The headband of claim 16, wherein the main headband portion comprises two or more reliefs or pockets each adapted to hold a medical sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter of the patient, and the headband is configured to apply a different normal force for at least two of the reliefs or pockets.

22. A medical sensor apparatus, comprising:

a first medical sensor adapted to be placed against the patient'"'"'s head and configured to measure a first physiological parameter of the patient;

a second medical sensor adapted to be placed against the patient'"'"'s head and configured to measure a second physiological parameter; and

a headband comprising a main headband portion adapted to wrap around the circumference of a patient'"'"'s head and configured to apply a first normal force to a first medical sensor secured to the patient'"'"'s head to enable the first medical sensor to measure a first physiological parameter of the patient, and configured to apply a second normal force to a second medical sensor secured to the patient'"'"'s head to enable the second medical sensor to measure a second physiological parameter of the patient, and the first normal force is different than the second normal force.

23. The medical sensor apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first and second medical sensors comprise respective contact areas with the patient'"'"'s head that are substantially the same.

24. The medical sensor apparatus of claim 23, wherein a first thickness of the first medical sensor is greater than a second thickness of the second medical sensor such that the first normal force provided to the first sensor by the headband is greater than the second normal force provided to the second sensor by the headband.

25. The medical sensor apparatus of claim 23, wherein the main headband portion comprises a relief or a pocket adapted to receive the first sensor such that the first normal force provided to the first sensor by the headband is less than the second normal force provided to the second sensor by the headband.

26. The medical sensor apparatus of claim 22, wherein the main headband portion comprises first and second elastic pockets adapted to hold the first and second medical sensors, respectively, and the first elastic pocket is adapted to provide the first normal force against the first sensor, and the second elastic pocket is adapted to provide the second normal force against the second sensor.

27. The medical sensor apparatus of claim 26, wherein a first elasticity of the first elastic pocket is different from a second elasticity of the second elastic pocket such that the first and second normal forces are different.

28. The medical sensor apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first and second elastic pockets are coupled to respective first and second tension adjustment bands, wherein the first tension adjustment band is configured to adjust a first tension of the first elastic pocket to vary the first normal force, and the second tension adjustment band is configured to adjust a second tension of the second elastic pocket to vary the second normal force.

29. The medical sensor apparatus of claim 22, wherein the headband comprises:

a closure mechanism extending from a first end of the main headband portion and adapted to couple the first end with a second end of the main headband portion; and

a tensioning mechanism extending along the first end and adapted to vary the tension of the headband, the tensioning mechanism comprising an elastic band coupling the main headband portion with the closure mechanism, wherein the elastic band is configured to evenly stretch along the first end to tension the headband as the closure mechanism is pulled in a direction generally away from the first end.

30. The medical sensor apparatus of claim 22, wherein the headband comprises a first band coupled to the main headband portion and adapted to secure the headband to a top or a back portion of the patient'"'"'s head, wherein the first band and the main headband portion are configured to reduce movement of the headband in relation to the patient'"'"'s head.