DISPOSABLE ACTIVE PULSE SENSOR

• US 20140343436A1
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Kiani, Massi Joe E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,211,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/479
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0048 Detecting, measuring or recording by applying mechanical forces or stimuli A61B5/021, A61B5/4884 and A61B9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0051 by applying vibrations
• 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 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence

Abstract

A disposable active pulse sensor has an emitter that generates optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths, a detector that is responsive to the optical radiation and an unbalanced electrical motor that vibrates when energized. A tape assembly removably attaches the emitter, the detector and the unbalanced electrical motor to a tissue site. The tape assembly also physically mounts the emitter, the detector and the unbalanced electrical motor in a spatial arrangement so that vibration from the unbalanced electrical motor induces pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site, the emitter transmits the optical radiation into the tissue site and the detector generates a sensor signal responsive to the intensity of the optical radiation after attenuation by the pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. An active pulse sensor in communication with a monitor, the active pulse sensor comprising:

an emitter that generates optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths and transmits the optical radiation into a tissue site;

a detector that generates a sensor signal responsive to the intensity of the optical radiation after attenuation by the pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site;

a motor that vibrates when energized in response to an activation signal; and

a tape assembly that removably attaches the emitter, the detector and the motor to the tissue site so that vibration from the motor induces pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site when energized,

wherein the activation signal is provided to the motor by the monitor, based on a signal quality of the sensor signal indicative of pulsatile blood flow, so as to induce pulsatile blood flow.

3. The active pulse sensor of claim 2, wherein the signal quality of the sensor signal is further indicative of perfusion index.

4. The active pulse sensor of claim 2, wherein the motor is energized so as to induce pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site to increase the signal quality of the sensor signal toward a threshold.

5. The active pulse sensor of claim 2, wherein, in response to determining that the signal quality of the sensor signal indicative of pulsatile blood flow does not satisfy a threshold, the motor is activated.

6. The active pulse sensor of claim 5, wherein, in response to determining that the signal quality of the sensor signal indicative of pulsatile blood flow does satisfy the threshold, the motor is deactivated.

7. The active pulse sensor of claim 2, wherein the tape assembly comprises a face tape that is shaped so as to attach the emitter, the detector and the motor to a finger.

8. The active pulse sensor of claim 7, wherein the face tape comprises:

a first portion mounted proximate the emitter so as to place the emitter over a fingernail; and

a second portion mounted proximate the detector and the motor so as to place the detector and the motor against a fingertip opposite the fingernail.

9. The active pulse sensor of claim 8 further comprising a housing mounted to the tape assembly so as to accommodate the motor within the housing.

10. The active pulse sensor of claim 9, wherein the motor comprises:

a generally cylindrical body having a first face, a second face and a central axis;

a shaft rotatably mounted along the axis and protruding from the first face;

an electrical connector accessible from the second face;

an unbalanced flywheel mounted on the protruding portion of the shaft; and

a DC power source in communications with the electrical connector so as to rotate the shaft at a frequency responsive to the electrical power applied to the electrical connector,

wherein the applied electrical power corresponds to a predetermined pulse rate induced in the tissue site by the motor.

11. A method of inducing pulsatile blood flow at a tissue site, the method comprising:

obtaining a first measurement signal from a physiological sensor;

determining a signal quality of the first measurement signal;

in response to determining that the signal quality of the first measurement signal is low, activating a mechanical device configured to induce pulsatile blood flow;

obtaining a second measurement signal from the physiological sensor during activation of the mechanical device; and

determining a physiological measurement using the second measurement signal.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining a signal quality of the second measurement signal; and

in response to determining that the signal quality of the second measurement signal is high, deactivating the mechanical device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the physiological sensor includes the mechanical device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the signal quality of the sensor signal is indicative of a degree of blood perfusion at the tissue site.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a low signal quality is indicative of poor blood perfusion that is insufficient to measure a blood parameter.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a high signal quality is indicative of blood perfusion sufficient to measure a blood parameter.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the mechanical device is activated so as to induce pulsatile blood flow at the tissue site to increase the signal quality of the second measurement signal toward a threshold.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the activation signal comprises:

determining a desired induced pulse rate; and

transmitting DC power to the mechanical device at a level corresponding to the desired induced pulse rate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mechanical device is configured with a non-symmetrically weighted shaft so as to create vibration corresponding to rotations of the shaft.

20. An active pulse sensor in communication with a patient monitor, the active pulse sensor comprising:

a physiological parameter sensor means configured to sense at least pulsatile blood flow within a tissue site of a patient and generate a sensor signal;

an active pulse means configured to induce pulsatile blood flow when activated; and

a tape means that removably attaches the physiological parameter sensor means and the active pulse means to the tissue site in a spatial arrangement so that the active pulse means induces pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site when activated,

wherein the active pulse means is activated by the monitor, based on a signal quality of the sensor signal indicative of pulsatile blood flow, so as to induce pulsatile blood flow.

21. The active pulse sensor of claim 20, wherein the active pulse means comprises an unbalanced electrical motor means for vibrating the tissue site at a predetermined rate.

22. The active pulse sensor of claim 20, wherein the active pulse means is activated so as to induce pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site to increase the signal quality of the sensor signal toward a threshold.

23. The active pulse sensor of claim 20, wherein, in response to determining that the signal quality of the sensor signal indicative of pulsatile blood flow does not satisfy a threshold, the active pulse means is activated.

24. The active pulse sensor of claim 23, wherein, in response to determining that the signal quality of the sensor signal indicative of pulsatile blood flow does satisfy the threshold, the active pulse means is deactivated.