Geometry of a Transcutaneous Sensor

• US 20130237851A1
• Filed: 03/09/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ivWatch, LLC
• Original Assignee: ivWatch, LLC
• Inventors: Warren, Gary P., Alley, Matthew S., Anchell, Scott J., Naramore, William J., Bonnema, Garret T.
• Application Number:
  US13/792,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0242 for varying or adjusting the optical path length in the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16836 by sensing tissue properties at the infusion site, e.g. for detecting infiltration detecting tissue temperature for diagnostic purposes A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 25/00 Auxiliary treatment of workpieces, before or during machining operations, to facilitate the action of the tool or the attainment of a desired final condition of the work, e.g. relief of internal stress
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49771 Quantitative measuring or gauging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49888 Subsequently coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4989 with spreading of cable strands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53052 including position sensor

Abstract

A transcutaneous electromagnetic signal sensor includes an emitter and a collector. The emitter includes an emitter end face configured to emit a first electromagnetic radiation signal that enters Animalia tissue. The collector includes a detector end face configured to collect a second electromagnetic radiation signal that exits the Animalia tissue. The second electromagnetic radiation signal includes a portion of the first electromagnetic radiation signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected from the Animalia tissue. The second electromagnetic radiation signal monitors anatomical changes over time in the Animalia tissue.

Claims

1. A sensor to aid in diagnosing at least one of infiltration and extravasation in Animalia tissue, the sensor comprising:

a housing including—

a first portion having a surface configured to confront an epidermis of the Animalia tissue; and

a second portion being coupled with the first portion to generally define an internal volume;

a set of emission optical fibers being at least partially disposed in the internal volume and configured to transmit a first transcutaneous near infrared signal;

a set of detection optical fibers being at least partially disposed in the internal volume and configured to transmit a second transcutaneous near infrared signal, the second transcutaneous near infrared signal including a portion of the first transcutaneous near infrared signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected from perivascular tissue underlying the epidermis; and

a substantially smooth superficies configured to overlie the epidermis, the superficies including—

the surface;

an aggregation of individual emitter end faces of the emission optical fibers, the emitter end faces being configured to emit the first transcutaneous near infrared signal that enters the epidermis; and

an aggregation of individual detector end faces of the detection optical fibers, the detector end faces being configured to collect the second transcutaneous near infrared signal that exits the epidermis;

wherein the emitter end faces are disposed in a first band, the individual detector end faces are disposed in a second band, and the first band is generally parallel to the second band.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first band extends generally along a first straight line and the second band extends generally along a second straight line, and the first straight line is generally parallel to the second straight line.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first band extends generally along a first curve and the second band extends generally along a second curve.

4. The sensor of claim 3 wherein the first curve is generally parallel to the second curve.

5. The sensor of claim 3 wherein the first curve is generally concentric with the second curve.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first band is spaced from the second band a distance between 3 millimeters and 5 millimeters.

7. The sensor of claim 6 wherein the distance is between 3.5 millimeters and 4.5 millimeters.

8. The sensor of claim 6 wherein the distance is approximately 4 millimeters.

9. The sensor of claim 1 wherein wavelengths of the first and second transcutaneous near infrared signals are between approximately 600 nanometers and approximately 1,800 nanometers.

10. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first and second transcutaneous near infrared signals are centered about approximately 940 nanometers.

11. The sensor of claim 1, comprising a filler disposed in the internal volume and generally cincturing portions of the sets of emission and detection optical fibers disposed in the internal volume.

12. The sensor of claim 11 wherein the filler comprises epoxy.

13. The sensor of claim 11 wherein the filler comprises near infrared energy absorbing material.

14. The sensor of claim 11 wherein the superficies comprises a facade of the filler.

15. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the superficies is generally convex.

16. The sensor of claim 1 wherein individual emission optical fibers intersect the superficies at a first angle and individual detection optical fibers intersect the superficies at a second angle.

17. The sensor of claim 16 wherein the first and second angles are approximately 90 degrees.

18. The sensor of claim 16 wherein a difference between the first and second angles is between approximately 15 degrees and approximately 45 degrees.

19. The sensor of claim 16 wherein the first angle is approximately 30 degrees less than the second angle.

20. The sensor of claim 16 wherein the first angle is approximately 60 degrees and the second angle is between approximately 80 degrees and approximately 90 degrees.