REPROCESSING OF A PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSOR

• US 20140142401A1
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Ali, Ammar, Abdul-Hafiz, Yassir, Kiani, Massi Joe E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,662,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• 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 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/00 Restoring or reconditioning objects straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49007 Indicating transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

Because reprocessing or refurbishing of physiological sensors reuses large portions of an existing sensor, the material costs for refurbishing sensors is significantly lower than the material costs for making an entirely new sensor. Typically, existing reprocessors replace only the adhesive portion of an adhesive physiological sensor and reuse the sensing components. However, re-using the sensing components can reduce the reliability of the refurbished sensor and/or reduce the number of sensors eligible for refurbishing due to out-of-specification sensor components. It is therefore desirable to provide a process for refurbishing physiological sensors that replaces the sensing components of the sensor. While sensing components are replaced, generally, sensor cable and/or patient monitor attachments are retained, resulting in cost savings over producing new sensors.

Claims

1. A method for reprocessing a previously used physiological sensor, the sensor including a physiological sensor component and a cable component, the method comprising:

determining the physiological sensor components is to be replaced;

detaching the physiological sensor component to be replaced from the cable component; and

splicing a replacement physiological sensor component to the cable component to form reprocessed physiological sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the physiological sensor component is to be replaced comprises:

testing performance of the physiological sensor component; and

determining the performance is not within a specification of the physiological sensor component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detaching the physiological sensor component comprises:

cutting the physiological sensor component from the cable component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological sensor component includes at least one of an emitter or a detector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reprocessed physiological sensor is a pulse oximetry sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

testing performance of the reprocessed physiological sensor.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

cleaning the cable component in order to remove visible contaminants.

8. A reprocessed physiological sensor comprising:

a physiological sensor assembly including a plurality of physiological sensing components, at least one of the physiological sensing components being a replacement sensing component; and

a cable assembly attached to the physiological sensor assembly,

wherein the replacement sensing component replaces a used sensing component, the used sensing component having been detached from the cable assembly, the replacement sensing component having been spliced to the cable assembly.

9. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 8, wherein the replacement sensing component includes at least one of an emitter or a detector.

10. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 8, wherein the used sensing component is detached from the cable assembly by cutting the used sensing component from the cable assembly.

11. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 8, wherein performance of the reprocessed physiological sensor is tested prior to use.

12. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 8, wherein the physiological sensor assembly measures SpO2.

13. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 8, wherein the cable assembly is sterilized in preparation for use.

14. A reprocessed physiological sensor comprising:

a cable component;

a physiological sensor component coupled to the cable component; and

a replacement physiological sensor component also coupled to the cable component, the replacement physiological sensor component being a replacement for a previously used physiological sensor component, a performance of the previously used physiological sensor component having been determined to not satisfy a threshold,

wherein the replacement physiological sensor component is coupled to the cable component after the previously used physiological sensor component is cut from the cable component.

15. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 14, wherein the replacement physiological sensor component is coupled to the cable component by splicing.

16. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 14, wherein the replacement physiological sensor component includes at least one of an emitter or a detector.

17. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 14, wherein performance of the reprocessed physiological sensor is tested prior to use.

18. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 14, wherein the reprocessed physiological sensor is a pulse oximetry sensor.

19. The reprocessed physiological sensor of claim 14, wherein the cable component is sterilized in preparation for use.