Finger sensor for pulse oximetry system
First Claim
1. In apparatus for sensing light absorption through transillumination of blood perfused flesh by a light source and reception of light by an optical detector;
- a finger sensor comprising a sheet of flexible polymeric material which is overlapped and sealed about its periphery to form a pocket having a longitudinal length and an opening at one end of said length having a smaller width and a greater width, said pocket enclosing and retaining a light source and an optical detector which oppose each other from interior walls of said pocket, and a cable connected to said light source and said optical detector, said pocket having a resiliency such that, when a finger is inserted into said pocket to a position between said light source and said optical detector so as to expand said smaller width and decrease said greater width, said pocket has a tendency to oppose said expansion and said decrease.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A finger sensor for a pulse oximetry system is provided having a body of flexible, resilient polymeric material formed as a pocket. On the inside walls of the pocket toward the closed end are a LED light source and an opposing photodetector. The space within the pocket transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the pocket exhibits a relatively smaller width and a relatively greater width. As a finger is inserted into the pocket with the fingertip between the LED and the photodetector, the relatively smaller width of the pocket expands and the relatively greater width of the pocket decreases. This expansion and decrease of the pocket dimensions are resisted by the resilient polymeric material, causing the walls of the pocket containing the LED and the photodetector to securely contact and retain the finger within the pocket. The pocket preferably comprises a pocket having major walls containing the light source and photodetector adjoined on the longitudinal sides of the sensor by expansive side panels which expand and contract to engage fingers of varying sizes.
266 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. In apparatus for sensing light absorption through transillumination of blood perfused flesh by a light source and reception of light by an optical detector;
- a finger sensor comprising a sheet of flexible polymeric material which is overlapped and sealed about its periphery to form a pocket having a longitudinal length and an opening at one end of said length having a smaller width and a greater width, said pocket enclosing and retaining a light source and an optical detector which oppose each other from interior walls of said pocket, and a cable connected to said light source and said optical detector, said pocket having a resiliency such that, when a finger is inserted into said pocket to a position between said light source and said optical detector so as to expand said smaller width and decrease said greater width, said pocket has a tendency to oppose said expansion and said decrease.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification