Apparatus for Mitigating Noise Affecting a Signal

• US 20140309535A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ivWatch, LLC
• Original Assignee: ivWatch, LLC
• Inventors: Warren, Gary P., Alley, Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US14/314,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20140309535A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/185 Optical shielding, e.g. baffles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• 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: A61M 5/42 having means for desensitising skin, for protruding skin to facilitate piercing, or for locating point where body is to be pierced

Abstract

A sensor overlies a body to aid in detecting unintended fluid accumulation. The sensor includes an absorbent that minimizes noise in detected electromagnetic radiation to make it easier to analyze a signal that is indicative of fluid accumulation in the body.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a first optical fiber including a first end face emitting a first near-infrared signal into a body;

a second optical fiber including a second end face detecting a second near-infrared signal from the body, the second near-infrared signal including a first portion of the first near-infrared signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected in the body; and

a housing including;

a surface overlying the body, the surface cincturing the first and second end faces; and

a near-infrared energy absorber absorbing a third near-infrared signal impinging on the surface, the third near-infrared signal including;

a second portion of the first near-infrared signal that is at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected in the body; and

a third portion of the first near-infrared signal that is reflected in an imperfect cavity between the surface and the body.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the body comprises an outer layer covering a volume of interest.

3. The sensor of claim 2 wherein the first end face emits the first near-infrared signal through the outer layer to the volume of interest, the first and second portions of the first near-infrared signal are at least one of reflected, scattered and redirected from the volume of interest, the surface overlies the outer layer, and the imperfect cavity is defined by the surface and the outer layer.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber is disposed on the surface.

5. The sensor of claim 4 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber comprises at least one of a film and ink.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber is disposed in the housing.

7. The sensor of claim 6 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber comprises at least one of a powder, a pigment and a dye.

8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber comprises at least one of antimony-tin oxide, carbon black, copper phosphate, copper pyrophosphate, illite, indium-tin oxide, kaolin, lanthanum hexaboride, montmorillonite, nickel dithiolene dye, palladium dithiolene dye, platinum dithiolene dye, tungsten oxide, and tungsten trioxide.

9. The sensor of claim 1 wherein a superficies comprises the first end face, the second end face and the surface.

10. The sensor of claim 9 wherein the superficies is smooth.

11. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the imperfect cavity is disposed at an interface of the surface and the body.

12. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the imperfect cavity is defined by the surface and the body.

13. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises first and second housing portions, the first housing portion includes the surface, the second housing portion is coupled to the first housing portion so as to define a chamber, and the first and second optical fibers are at least partially disposed in the chamber.

14. The sensor of claim 13, comprising a potting material being disposed in the chamber and cincturing the first and second optical fibers.

15. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber is configured to absorb at least approximately 50% of the third near-infrared signal.

16. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber is configured to absorb at least approximately 90% of the third near-infrared signal.

17. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber is configured to absorb a band of wavelengths between approximately 600 nanometers and approximately 2,100 nanometers.

18. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber is configured to absorb a band of wavelengths between approximately 800 nanometers and approximately 1,050 nanometers.

19. The sensor of claim 18 wherein the near-infrared energy absorber is configured to absorb wavelengths centered about approximately 970 nanometers.