EAR SENSOR

• US 20140058230A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Abdul-Hafiz, Yassir, Al-Ali, Ammar, Forrest, Kevin, Mason, Eugene, Schmidt, John, Ta, Virginia Thanh
• Granted Patent: US 9,259,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02427 Details of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6867 specially adapted to be attached or implanted in a specific body part A61B5/6847 takes precedence

Abstract

An ear sensor provides a sensor body having a base, legs extending from the base and an optical housing disposed at ends of the legs opposite the base. An optical assembly is disposed in the housing. The sensor body is flexed so as to position the housing over a concha site. The sensor body is unflexed so as to attach the housing to the concha site and position the optical assembly to illuminate the concha site. The optical assembly is configured to transmit optical radiation into concha site tissue and receive the optical radiation after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue.

Claims

1. An ear sensor for optically measuring physiological parameters related to blood constituents by transmitting multiple wavelengths of light into a concha site and receiving the light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the concha site, the ear sensor comprising:

a generally u-shaped base;

a first leg extending from the generally u-shaped base to a detector housing, the first leg having a substantially straight and elongate shape;

a second leg extending from the generally u-shaped base to an emitter housing, the second leg having a substantially straight and elongate shape; and

an optical assembly having an emitter and a detector, the emitter disposed in the emitter housing, and the detector disposed in the detector housing.

2. The ear sensor of claim 1, wherein the first leg, second leg, and generally u-shaped base together form a generally u-shaped structure.

3. The ear sensor of claim 1, wherein the emitter housing has a convex surface generally conforming to the curvature of a concha site on an interior of an ear.

4. The ear sensor of claim 3, wherein the detector housing includes a generally circular portion that conforms to the curvature of a concha site on an exterior of the ear.

5. The ear sensor of claim 4, wherein the generally circular portion is a cup that extends from the detector housing.

6. The ear sensor of claim 1, wherein in an unflexed position the emitter housing is proximate the detector housing and in a flexed position the emitter housing is distal the detector housing, wherein the legs are configured to be moved to the flexed position so as to position the detector housing and emitter housing over opposite sides of the concha site, and wherein the legs are configured to be released to the unflexed position so that the concha site is grasped between the detector housing and emitter housing.

7. The ear sensor of claim 6, further comprising:

a sensor cable having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of wires disposed within the sensor cable;

the wires extending from the first end of the sensor cable and disposed within a plurality of channels defined by the resilient frame;

the wires electrically and mechanically attached to the optical assembly;

a connector attached to a second end of the sensor cable; and

the wires electrically and mechanically attached to the connector so as to provide communications between the connector and the optical assembly.

8. An ear sensor comprising:

a sensor body having a base with a generally u-shaped structure, elongate legs extending from the base, and optical housings disposed at ends of the legs distal the base;

optical assemblies disposed in the housings; and

an ear surface conforming member coupled to one of the housings so as to physically couple the housing to a concha site.

9. The ear sensor of claim 8, wherein the elongate legs include a generally straight portion so as to enable physical coupling of the housing to the concha site.

10. The ear sensor of claim 8, wherein the ear surface conforming member has a generally circular edge.

11. The ear sensor of claim 8, wherein the ear surface conforming member includes a convex surface generally conforming to the curvature of a concha site on an interior of an ear.

12. The ear sensor of claim 8, wherein the ear surface conforming member includes a cup extending from the housing.

13. The ear sensor of claim 8, wherein the ear surface conforming member is configured to block ambient light from an optical assembly when the housing is physically coupled to a concha site.

14. The ear sensor of claim 8, wherein the generally circular edge comprises an ellipse.

15. The ear sensor of claim 14, wherein the generally circular edge comprises a circle.

16. The ear sensor of claim 8, wherein the generally circular edge comprises a rectangle with rounded corners.

17. The ear sensor of claim 8, wherein the sensor body has a flexed position and an unflexed position, wherein in the flexed position the housings are configured to be placed on either side of the concha site, and wherein in an unflexed position the housings are configured to be attached to either side of the concha site and position the optical assemblies to illuminate the concha site and detect light attenuated by the concha site.

18. An ear sensor comprising:

a resilient frame including a base, legs extending from the base and optical housings disposed at the ends of the legs distal the base;

a one piece molded skin housing the resilient frame, the one piece molded skin including an ear surface conforming member having a generally circular edge;

an emitter disposed in a first leg of the resilient frame; and

a detector disposed in a second leg of the resilient frame.

19. The ear sensor of claim 18, wherein the ear surface conforming member is positioned on the one piece molded skin to be proximate at least one of the optical housings.

20. The ear sensor of claim 19, wherein the ear surface conforming member includes a convex surface generally conforming to the curvature of a concha site on an interior of an ear.

21. The ear sensor of claim 19, wherein the base is generally u-shaped, and the legs are generally straight and elongate.