OPTICOUSTIC SENSOR

• US 20160045118A1
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Masimo Corporation
• Inventors: Kiani, Massi Joe E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• 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 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68335 including release sheets or liners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00

Abstract

A physiological sensor has an optic assembly, an acoustic assembly and an attachment assembly. The optic assembly has an optic transducer that is activated so as to transmit a plurality of wavelengths of light into a tissue site and to detect the light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site. The acoustic assembly has an acoustic transducer activated so as to respond to vibrations at the surface of the tissue site. The attachment assembly affixes the optic assembly and acoustic assembly to the tissue site, such as along one side of a person'"'"'s neck or the forehead. A sensor cable extends from the attachment assembly so as to transmit an optic transducer signal and an acoustic transducer signal to a monitor for calculation of physiological parameters.

Claims

1. A physiological sensor comprising:

an optic assembly having an optic transducer;

an acoustic assembly having an acoustic transducer;

an attachment assembly that affixes the optic assembly and acoustic assembly to a tissue site;

the optic assembly activated so that the optic transducer transmits a plurality of wavelengths of light into the tissue site and detects the light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site so as to generate an optic signal;

the acoustic assembly activated so that the acoustic transducer responds to vibrations at the surface of the tissue site so as to generate an acoustic signal; and

a sensor cable that transmits the optic signal and the acoustic signal to a monitor for calculation of a plurality of physiological parameters.

2. The physiological sensor according to claim 1 wherein the attachment assembly comprises:

a generally elongated body having a bottom side and a top side; and

the bottom side having an adhesive for skin attachment.

3. The physiological sensor according to claim 2 wherein the optic assembly comprises:

a plurality of emitters that transmit light having a plurality of wavelengths in response to drive current received from the monitor via the sensor cable;

a detector responsive to light from the emitters that is reflected from the tissue site after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site; and

the emitters and detector attached on the attachment assembly bottom side.

4. The physiological sensor according to claim 3 further comprising an interconnect assembly disposed along the attachment assembly bottom side so as to electrically connect the optic assembly and the acoustic assembly with the sensor cable.

5. The physiological sensor according to claim 4 wherein:

the interconnect assembly is an elongated flex circuit having a plurality of conductors; and

the sensor cable is electrically and mechanically mated with the interconnect assembly so that the sensor cable extends from an attachment assembly end.

6. The physiological sensor according to claim 5 further comprising a sensor cable anchor adhesively attached proximate the tissue site so as to stabilize the sensor cable.

7. The physiological sensor accordingly to claim 1 wherein the acoustic assembly is driven so that the acoustic transducer transmits acoustic vibrations into the tissue site so as to provide an active pulse for optical assembly measurements of pulsed, blood perfused tissue.

8. A physiological sensing method comprising:

providing an attachment assembly having an adhesive bottom side and a top side;

mechanically coupling an acoustic assembly to the bottom side generally central to the attachment assembly;

mounting an optic assembly along the bottom side;

adhering the attachment assembly to a tissue site; and

concurrently generating a blood constituent measure via the optic assembly;

and a body sound parameter measure via the acoustic assembly.

9. The physiological sensing method according to claim 8 wherein the concurrently generating step comprises:

illuminating a tissue site with multiple wavelength light;

detecting the light after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site;

receiving sound vibrations from the tissue site; and

processing the attenuated light and the sound vibrations so as to generate concurrent oxygen saturation and respiration rate measure from the tissue site.

10. The physiological sensing method according to claim 9 wherein the tissue site is a neck area and the parameters are respiration rate based upon tracheal airflow sounds and cerebral oxygen saturation based upon carotid artery blood flow.

11. The physiological sensing method according to claim 9 wherein the tissue site is a forehead area and the parameters are respiration rate based upon sinus airflow sounds and cerebral oxygen saturation based upon blood perfused brain tissue.

12. The physiological sensing method according to claim 9 wherein the tissue site is a neonate body and the parameters are respiration rate and core oxygen saturation.

13. The physiological sensing method according to claim 8 further comprising:

actively pulsing the tissue site with the acoustic assembly; and

sensing actively pulsed blood flow within blood perfused tissue so as to derive a blood constituent measure.

14. A physiological sensor comprising:

an optic means for measuring oxygen saturation;

an acoustic means for measuring respiration rate; and

an attachment means for adhering the optic means and the acoustic means to a tissue site.

15. The physiological sensor according to claim 14 further comprising an interconnect means for communication between a sensor cable attachable to a monitor and the optic means and the acoustic means.

16. The physiological sensor according to claim 15 wherein the optic means comprises a plurality of emitters and a reflectance-configured detector.

17. The physiological sensor according to claim 16 wherein the acoustic means comprises a piezoelectric membrane.

18. The physiological sensor according to claim 17 wherein:

the attachment means comprises a planar, flexible body having a top side and an adhesive bottom side;

the flexible body having a center, a first wing and a second wing;

the first wing and second wing extending in opposite directions from the center;

the acoustic means coupled to the center at the bottom side; and

the optic means disposed along the bottom side of the first wing.

19. The physiological sensor according to claim 14 further comprising a relatively high voltage drive of the acoustic means for generating an active pulse.